Thursday, June 5th, 2014. Edition.

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Vol. 13 No. 78

Thursday, June 5, 2014

. . . putting the people first

Sha’aban 6, 1435 5 AH

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SURE-P: Plateau lawmakers quarrel over missing N70bn >>Pg 3 Killing of Fulani: Lamido threatens to take FG to ICC From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

J

igawa state governor, Sule Lamido, yesterday threatened to drag the federal government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The

Hague to ensure that justice is done to the six Fulani herdsmen allegedly killed by some military personnel in the state.

Lamido issued the threat while receiving the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle

Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Muhammad Kirawo and his entourage, who paid him a condolence visit over the killing of the Fulani in his state.

The governor said his con-

science will not allow him any peace if his Fulani kinsmen would be extra-judicially killed by people that are supposed to be the protectors of lives and properties.

Lamido said already, a bill in that regard had been sent to the

state Assembly, and that the parliament had already started acting on same by visiting the scene of the killings in Saminaka local government area of Kaduna state.

“We would also intimate our Contd on Page 2

Constitution amendment:

Senate may veto president’s assent  Empowers INEC to deregister parties >>Pg 2 Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (5th left), with people prepared to rehabilitate the 57 girls who escaped out of the abducted students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, during their visit to the governor, yesterday at the Government House, in Maiduguri. Photo: NAN

>>> PAGE 2

Shekarau makes S Jonathan's ministerial list

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Niger dislodges Islamic sect in Lapai

>>> PAGE 2

Woman fleeing Boko Haram delivers in forest

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 2

News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch S/Report

23 24-25

Earth

27

Update

29

Senate may veto president’s assent

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Senate may today strip the president of powers of assent to any new draft Constitution before it comes into effect as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This is just as the upper legislative chamber yesterday empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister any political party which fails to win an elective position in the country, including the offices of the president, governor, local government chairman, federal or state Assembly seats.

The imminent overrule of the Presidential assent in bringing to force a new Constitution followed the alteration of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution by adding subsection (3A) which reads: "For the purposes of altering the provisions of this Constitution, the assent of the President shall not be required".

The above subsection, if passed today by the senators, as it appears very likely, will now re-

quire only the consent of simple majority of Nigerians in two-third of states of the federation for any draft Constitution to become new Constitution of Nigeria.

This simple majority vote in two-third of the states would be arrived at through a referendum to be conducted by INEC, within six months of receipt of the draft Constitution from the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Other subsections added to the amended Section (9) of the Constitution seek to restrict the process of drafting a new Constitution to only the federal legislature, in as much as it bars the sitting president from initiating the process of drafting new Constitution.

It would be recalled that attempt by the Constitution Review Committee of the Senate, led by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to empower the president to initiate the process of drafting new Constitution met a brick wall, as majority of senators argued that it was a plot to delegate the duty of the legislative

arm to the executive.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday altered Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution to include new Section 225A, which says "The Independent National Electoral Commission shall have power to deregister political parties on any of the following grounds. "(i) breach of any of the requirements for registration. (ii) failure to win Presidential, Governorship, Chairmanship of a Local Government Area Council or a seat in the National Assembly".

The Senate also extended the time for conducting a rerun election from 7 to 21 days, following the confirmation of the alteration of Section 134 by the Constitution amendment committee.

In addition, the Senate approved the alteration of Clause (8) of the 1999 Constitution which gives constitutional rights to the presidents of the Senate, all former presidents of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and all former speakers of the House of Representatives to become members of the Council

of State.

The Senate also conferred exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to try offences arising from violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, and any other election related Act of the National Assembly, saying this will ensure standard and uniformity.

It further approved that the Clerk of the National Assembly or State House of Assembly shall notify INEC within seven days to conduct a bye-election to fill any vacant seat in the respective parliament, which may arise from death, resignation or vacation by a lawmaker.

The lawmakers would today continue to vote on the alterations made by the Senate review committee on Section 9 of the Constitution, which requires the approval of 87 senators to scale the hurdle.

The senators had earlier rejected this entire section because it empowered a sitting president to initiate the process of writing new constitution.

#BringBackOurGirls campaigners Killing of seek IGP’s protection Fulani:

By Stanley Onyekwere

Aviation: Reps order return of bullet-proof cars – Page 4

Int’l

31

S/World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37

Newsxtra

39

Sports

41

Columnist

48

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F

ollowing the clarification by the Police High Command on the purported banning of all protests, in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to demand for the rescue of the over 250 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in Borno state, the #BringBackOurGirls campaign team, otherwise known as Abuja Family, yesterday said it intend to go ahead with its court proceedings today, on a N200 million suit it filed at the Federal High Court, in Maitama, challenging the legality of the hitherto FCT police declaration of ban on its activities.

Also, the group suspended its planned resumption of sit-out meeting at the Unity Fountain, in Abuja.

According to the group, the

suspension was due to its decision to write the Inspector General of Police (IGP), for protection cover for the group, during its usual meeting, to demand the rescue of the abducted Chibok school girls.

In an email the group’s media officer, Rotimi Olawale, sent to its members, yesterday, the group said “in line with the advice from our legal counsel Femi Falana SAN, we are writing a letter (today) to the Inspector General of Police, seeking police protection going forward.

“We will be meeting in court tomorrow (Thursday); details of the court room number and time would be communicated later.

Hence we will not be meeting today but tomorrow in court.”

It would be recalled that the FCT police authority had on Monday announced the ban, citing

security concerns about the possible hijacking of the situation by insurgents and other criminal elements.

Consequently, the campaigners on Tuesday cancelled similar gathering at the Fountain, being the usual venue for their meeting, which they vacated following last week’s attack by members of a suspected government-sponsored rival group, seeking the release of the girls by their captors.

But, in what appears to be a subtle reversal on the said ban, the Force denied that it has not issued any order banning peaceful assemblies or protests anywhere in Nigeria.

The Force spokesman, Frank Mba, in a statement issued in Abuja, said it only issued advisory notice, enjoining citizens to apply caution in the said rallies, particularly in the FCT and its environs.

Jonathan appoints Shekarau, 3 others as ministers

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday appointed former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, including three other nominees as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a letter forwarded to the Senate President, David Mark, titled: "Confirmation of ministerial nominees",, President Jonathan also appointed former National Publicity Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) from Ekiti state, Adedayo Adeyeye for ministerial appointment.

Also on the list as ministerial nominees read on the floor of the Senate yesterday by the Senate President during plenary, were

Abdul Bulama, from Yobe State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South zonal ViceChairman, Stphen Oruh, who is from Delta state.

As the Senate President read the letter, the name of the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ruling PDP, caused some uproar in the Senate with hailing and murmuring from PDP and APC senators respectively.

It was gathered that three out of the four ministerial nominees will fill the gap created by the exit of the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe (Delta), the minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade (Ekiti), and

the former minister of state for finance, Yerima Ngama (Yobe).

It will be recalled that Jamila Salik, from Kano state, was among the twelve ministerial nominees forwarded to the senate for confirmation by President Jonathan in January this year, but was not screened along with the eleven others at the time Shekarau dumped APC for PDP. However, the latest nomination indicates that Kwara and Anambra states are yet to get ministerial nominees to fill the slots of their states, following the removal of Bolaji Abdullahi from Kwara state as Sports Minister in March this year and Stella Odua as minister of Aviation, who hails from Anambra state.

Lamido threatens to take FG to ICC

Contd from Front Page members at the National Assembly on the issue while I will personally meet the president on how to bring justice to the affected people, and ensure that the culprits face appropriate prosecution.

“And after exhausting these avenues and we do not get the desired justice from the government, I assure you that our next point of call would be The Hague”, he stated.

Governor Lamido, who was named the ‘Garkuwan Fulanin Nijeriya’, meaning ‘the Shield of the Fulani in Nigeria’, vowed never to let go the killings, which he termed as cruel and a manifestation of hatred for the Fulani.

“We would demand for full compensation and prosecution of the perpetrators of this evil and barbaric act”, he further assured.

In his speech, Kirawo commended Lamido on the motion he presented during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum meeting, which paved way for a meeting of the governors with leaders of Fulani pastoralists, who were affected by series of crises in the region.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

News 2015: Jonathan ‘considers petroleum minister's sack’

By Lawrence Olaoye with agency reports

T

here are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan May be seriously considering the sack of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

An on-line report yesterday hinted that the President may have resolved to ease the super minister out because of the groundswell of 'scandals' around her.

Though the source cautioned that Jonathan’s resolve may not be absolute because there have been speculations in the past that he would sack the Petroleum Minister without him doing so, it was said that there are serious pressure on Jonathan's administration to shed the toga of corruption by easing out Alison-Madueke,

who has been the most criticized minister in his cabinet.

The source told The Cable online that “don’t bet on it yet, because the matter has been on the president’s table for a while without him taking any action”.

According to the source, the President, after sacking the minister may not appoint a substantive replacement till the end of his tenure.

There are speculations however that a Mining Engineer, who was once Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), may be favored for the job. If Jonathan goes ahead with the plan, the arrangement will be similar to what obtained under former President Olusegun Obasanjo who operated with a special adviser for six out of his eight years in office.

The source further said that it

has become clear to the President that his second term bid will be affected by the Alison-Madueke baggage. Last month, there was a litany of negative editorials against Jonathan in the international media in which his government was labelled as corrupt based mainly on the allegations against the petroleum minister.

An Aso Rock insider said: “If it is true that the president has finally decided to fire Diezani, then the spell has been broken.”

A minister told TheCable that the conduct of Alison-Madueke at cabinet meetings had been “very embarrassing” at times.

“There was a day she engaged the President in a hot argument over a memo. Everybody went quiet, totally embarrassed. The president had to stamp his feet before she backed out,” he said.

She is also said to be in the

habit of leaving Federal Executive Council (FEC)'s meetings midway. “She developed a style in which she would leave her bag on her seat, go to a corner, bow to the President to take an excuse as if she was going to use the loo and that would be it for the day; her aides will come for her bag later.

Most times, she is at the Presidential Villa while bundles of files are lying untreated on her desk,” the minister said.

It is yet unclear if Jonathan will see through his latest move to drop her from the cabinet, but a source told TheCable “the likelihood is higher than ever before”.

Efforts made to confirm the story from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, was unsuccessful as calls and text messages put across to him were neither answered nor replied.

ASSCN, FG on collision course over appointment of PCC scribe

By Evelyn Okakwu

T

he appointment of Mr. Peter Nwakpa Nwafia as Secretary, Public Complaints Commission (PCC), has set the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASSCN) and the federal government on a collision course.

The ASSCN has threatened a strike if the appointment is not reversed. According to it, Mr. Nwafia’s selection was “illegal and offensive”.

A statement by the union’s secretary, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, has alleged that the officer was “compulsorily retired” by his former employer, the Ebonyi state government, but then he was “smuggled” into the federal civil service as a director, over and above his superiors who were still assistant directors and deputy directors.

Even as director in the Federal Ministry of labour, Mr. Nwafia spent “just few months” in that position and was appointed as secretary to the PCC, which already had “17 substantive directors” who were the officer’s seniors”, said Lawal.

According to Lawal, the ASCN took up the matter with the Chairman of PCC but nothing was done afterwards to “redress the anomaly”.

After a 21-day ultimatum, warning of an industrial action by ASCN if Mr. Nwafia was removed, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity eventually came into the matter but three meetings of stakeholders failed to resolve the matter one way or the other, Lawal said.

R-L: Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), being welcomed by Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, during the general’s condolence visit yesterday to Gombe, over the death of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, recently. Photo: NAN

Woman fleeing Boko Haram delivers in forest From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

M

embers of Kala-Balge local government area in Borno state have appealed to federal government to redeploy more troops in the area for their safety just as a pregnant woman fleeing from one of the attacks of Boko Haram at the community delivered a baby girl in the bush.

It could be recalled that the Kala-Balge community was recently celebrated for successfully defending the community from the attack of Boko-Haram, killing over 200 members of the insurgents in the process.

An indigene if the area, Abba Adulmumuni told journalists in Bauchi that, "As a result of that

attack one month ago, the BokoHaram members have regrouped and are massively killing the people of Kala-Balge community. Infact, as I am talking to you now, almost all the people of KalaBalge villages and towns have fled. Some of them are in the border between Cameroun and Nigeria while some are in the bush".

Abba who said that he has not heard from his mother and many of his relations who fled since the sustained attacks on Kala-Balge, appealed to the federal government to immediately deploy troops and bring relief materials to the people.

"The people of Kala-Balge are calling on the federal government to deploy troops to that area because in the next few days there

will be humanitarian crisis if something urgent is not done.

"The people are suffering.

They have started dying because of starvation and we want the federal government to urgently send troops that will protect these poor suffering Nigerians.

"Nobody is speaking for these people and saying anything, even the member that is representing the area in the state assembly, even the local government chairman is not saying anything.

“What the people of KalaBalge need at the moment are one: security protection and relief materials. The federal government should kindly save these people from hunger and starvation because they are Nigerians", Abba stated.

PAGE 3

SURE - P funds: Plateau Assembly in rowdy session over missing N70bn From Ado Abubakar, Musa, Jos

T

he Plateau state House of Assembly went into a rowdy session yesterday over an alleged missing N70 billion Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE– P) funds.

The rowdy session ensued in the Assembly following a sharp disagreement among the lawmakers over whether or not they should deliberate a petition alleging that the said N70 billion SURE-P funds were missing.

Prior to yesterday’s sitting, a group called Plateau Patriotic Forum had petitioned the Assembly, accusing the Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, Titus Alams, and other members of being compromised by the state governor, Jonah David Jang.

However, after hours of deliberations of the Assembly yesterday, Speaker Alams said: “We are all aware that there was a document sent to the House by a group known as Plateau Patriotic Forum, and I hope all members have copies and what do you have to say.”

Responding however, a former Speaker of the House who was recently impeached, IstifanusMwansat, called on the speaker to let the Clerk of the House present the petition before every member of the Assembly.

In the petition, the group alleged that: “Year in year out, budgets are rubber-stamped by members without bothering whether the interests of their constituencies are taken care of or not.

“And further, you look the other way while the state is being systematically milked dry through highly inflated contracts.

“It is further alleged that N50 billion SURE-P funds accrued to the state were misappropriated

by Governor Jang and had failed to remit the sum of N20 billion to the 17 local government councils of the state”, the forum said, and urged the Assembly to reopen investigation into the matter.

“He (Jang) has denied these LGCs of much needed funds to provide essential services to their impoverished people.

“Yet the house under your leadership is not bothered that the activities of that tier of government, which could have impacted positively on your people, has been emasculated. How can you remain so disinterested?”, the group queried.

The Plateau Patriotic Forum also frowned at the what it described as “illegal collection of loans from First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Ecobank Plc and FCMB” by the state government, decrying further that: “And your members have remained characteristically quiet over the N30 billion without any resolutions and authorization from the House, which contravenes Section 120 of the Constitution”.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

News Aviation: Reps order return of bullet-proof cars From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he House of Representatives, yesterday, ordered the return of the twocontroversial bullet-proof vehicles purportedly bought for former minister of aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah by

Death toll from Borno attack snow

the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and seeks the refund of money paid for them.

The committee on aviation also sought for a review of some contractual agreements entered into by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), citing controversial clauses and loopholes in the transactions.

After a tour of airport facilities and on-going projects in Lagos, members of the lower house of the National Assembly expressed misgiving over some of the activities of agencies in the sectors and order a review of certain agreement that has been terminated.

The members, during an interactive session with heads of agen-

cies at the FAAN headquarters in Lagos, ordered for a return of the controversial vehicles to Coscharis Motors and seek the refund of N255 million said to have been paid for them.

Chairman of the committee, Nkiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha said that the agency havs no business in keeping the cars, stressing

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

T

he death toll from Tuesday night’s bloody attack in three villages of Gwoza local government area of Borno state has increased to 83, a resident of Maiduguri who lost brother in the attack told newsmen.

Yunus Joseph told newsmen that several other dead bodies of victims who fled into the bush but were trailed and killed by the gunmen, were discovered the following day.

He explained that armed men, in military camouflage uniforms, rode into the three communities of Attagara, Agapalawa and Ngoshe, in military vehicles, gathered the villagers and opened fire on them.

“The community actually thought the gunmen are military personnel. It didn’t occur to them that they are Boko Haram.

Over 83 corpses are lying in the villages now, yet to be buried,” Joseph further said.

According to him, several other residents were shot by the gunmen but managed to escape into the bush, but died later due to excessive bleedings.

He said local hunters and vigilante were mobilised into the bush for a search-and-rescue mission the following day and recovered additional 53 corpses, some with bullet wounds, while others were slaughtered.

He added: “As I’m talking to you know, I’m in touch with two of my relations who fled after the attack. Though one of my brothers was killed, as we were lucky to have escaped the attack but had to return to the village again fearing we could be traced by the Boko Haram in the bush.

Our correspondent reports that various hilly communities in Gwoza Chad, had in recent times witnessed series of deadly attacks launched by the Boko Haram gunmen, which claimed hundreds of lives.

The first-class monarch of the area, the late Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timata was among the latest victims.

….seek review of concession agreements that the contract terms between NCAA and Coscharis Motors should be cancelled and the money recovered from the supplier.

“What we said about the bullet-proof cars is that, that contract should be cancelled, because NCAA don’t have any business keeping the cars, it should be returned to the supplier and then they recover our money” She said due process was not followed during the purchase of the cars and said “We recommended that they should cancel the contract and recover our money, so those cars are not supposed to be parked, therefore, send the cars to the seller”.

The acting Director-General of NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka had earlier informed the visiting members that the bullet-proof cars were parked at the NCAA’s office in Abuja.

The members also ordered the cancellation of concession agreement entered into by FAAN and FirstBank Nigeria Limited as they stressed that the agreement was not favourable to FAAN and wondered how the bank has become a revenue collection agency for the federal government.

Also, the lawmakers asked FAAN to take another look at some of its agreement with the bank which they described as the “worst agreement” FAAN entered into behalf of the federal government.

FG approves N32bn R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan welcoming the visiting Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Rev Justin Welby, during the latter’s visit to the president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe for Lagos Oroye Chibok girls: Okupe’s remarks designed to development

manipulate c’ttee’s report-Borno govt

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

B

orno state government yesterday alleged that the recent media remarks made by the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe over the abducted Chibok girls, was a clever design aimed at manipulating report of the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on Abducted Schoolgirls in Chibok.

The government was responding to comments by the Presidency, in which Dr. Okupe, at a BBC discussion programme: ‘Hard-talk’, aired on Tuesday, alleged that only God, Governor Shettima, state commissioner for education and school principal of the affected school know the truth of what happened in Chibok as they all gave different accounts on how over 200 girls were abducted.

However, Special Adviser to

Governor Shettima on Communications, Isa Gusau, in a statement on behalf of the government, described the comments as diversionary, given the feelers that facts on ground do not favor the Presidency’s desperate plot to pronounce a major victim, guilty as speculated.

“One must suspect and indeed question Okupe’s rather calculated remarks at the time Presidency’s committee, which Okupe works for, is rounding One would expect that the committee is writing it’s report by now and given the facts already in public domain, it is clear that the likes of Okupe are jittery that the findings are unlikely to be what they had wickedly presumed, hence the saying of things that will manipulate and mislead members of the Presidential Committee”, Gusau stated.

“Okupe knows very well, that on the night the President met with the governor, the com-

missioner of education and the principal, the commissioner of police and DPO of Chibok were also there in connection with fact-finding by the President.

So, why did Okupe deliberately keep out the police in his innuendos?” he queried.

“He was being clever by half; he kept out the police, because he must have seen the letter written by Borno state government to the Police prior to the attack. He also knows what the police DPO told the President the night they met; Okupe also knows that exonerating the police is keeping out the Presidency out of his innuendos”, the statement reads in part.

“It should be importantly recalled, that after that unfortunate attack and abduction, Dr. Okupe and his likes had come up with different conspiracy theories and all the theories have failed and have been confined to the dustbin where they belong”, it further stated.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he federal government has directed the ministry of finance to obtain additional credit facility in the sum of N32 billion from the International Development Association (IDA), in support of the second Lagos state development operation.

In another development, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded to the Senate, a letter seeking their approval for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the sum of N320 billion, 600 million for the 2014 fiscal year.

Following a memo brought by the coordinating minister of the economy/minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, seeking the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to obtain additional credit facility from the (IDA) in support of the Second Lagos State Development Policy Operation, the FEC gave its approval.

Meanwhile, the letter to the Senate President by President Jonathan indicated that the amount is against the N315 billion which the Commission spent in 2013.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 5

News

Chibok girls: Emotions run high at national prayers

By Maryam Garba Hassan

E

motion ran high yesterday, at the national prayer session organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, where Muslims and Christian faithful gathered for the special prayer for the release of the over 200 school girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect almost two months ago.

The over 1,000 people at the event, representing the two major religious bodies in the country, various interfaith groups, school

children and parents broke down in tears when female students from Government Science Secondary School, Tungan-Maje, Abuja prayed for the quick release of the abducted girls.

In her opening remarks, Minister of Women Hajiya Zainab Maina, said the objectives of the prayer session is to galvanise national support for peace and security, sustain the momentum and continued support for the release of the girls, to stimulate continued awareness of the need for all to contribute to ensure that ter-

rorism is brought to an end in the country.

She said the actions of terrorists have destribalised Nigeria, adding that apart from directly traumatising Nigerians particularly, the present abduction has inflicted immense pain on the psyche of young female folks to the extent that they have become afraid of going to school.

Chief Imam of National Mosque, Malam Musa Mohammed, who also prayed for peace to return to the country and for the release of the school girls, ap-

Tourism: FCTA to spend N334bn on Jabi Lake

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n its efforts to boost tourism in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is spending a whooping sum of over N334 billion (about 2 billion US Dollars), to develop the Ultra-Modern Jabi Lake Resort in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who made this

disclosure when he received the Executive members of Nigeria Young Professionals Forum, who paid him a courtesy call, in Abuja, said the Administration in partnership with private investors has already commenced development of the resort.

According to the minister, when the resort is completed it would take Abuja to the next level in promoting tourism, and by extension generating the required

revenue to augment budgetary allocation from the Federal Government.

He added that government was presently considering collaboration and partnership with competent private investors to complete the multi billion Naira Abuja Millennium Towers landmark project at the Central Business District, where work at the site has reached an appreciable stage of completion.

plauded the ministry for organising the event, describing it as “apt’.

He said as human we are expected to seek for the intervention of our creator in whatever we do, especially in matters that is of national interest.

He expressed optimism in the prayer session saying it has united Nigerians irrespective of their religions and tribes adding that the prayer from the children at the event is a sign that the nations’ problem is coming to end.

Residents allege persecution over pipeline contracts From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

R

esidents of Uvwie community and its environs, in Okpe local government area of Delta state are said to be living in constant fear for their safety owing to alleged activities of some politicians within the community.

Uvwie community has been engrossed in crisis over its portion of the N2 billion Pipeline Surveillance Fund given to Delta state government by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which they claim was not well handled by some elders of the community.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, a resident, who claimed to have fled the community for her safety, Mrs. Ese Egboto said some politicians who have been dropping the names of some officials of the state government have been terrorizing them.

Egboto stated that their ordeal might not be unconnected to queries raised by some prominent members of the community to some elders on how the Federal Government’s pipeline security project was carried out.

According to her, the mastermind of the agitation for ensuring probity on how the project was carried out, one Ogbe Onokpite, was killed some three years ago, leaving many of his comrades who had been agitating alongside with him to scamper to safety.

“Our lives are in danger; we have been marked down for elimination, we hardly sleep with our two eyes closed. Many of us, whose activities have been considered too inimical to what they are doing, are being killed and those who are lucky have scampered to safety including my brother Ovie Akpotor”, she said.

We will embark on an indefinite strike if – NARD president From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

T

L-R: Mai of Kaltungo, Alhaji Saleh Mohammed, in a handshake with former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, during the general’s condolence visit to Gombe state yesterday, over the death of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, recently.

Photo: NAN

Jonathan seeks N322.6bn Reps’ approval for NDDC …..As Ihedioha heads Constitution review conference c’ttee

By Umar Muhammad Puma

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sent a proposal of N322.6 billion to the House of Representatives as the 2014 Budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In a letter addressed to the House Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and read at plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Jonathan said the 2014 N322.6 billion NDDC budget was against last year’s N315.8 billion.

He explained that the personnel cost would gulp over N15 billion; recurrent expenditure, N10 billion; capital expenditure with over N2 billion, while special projects would gulp over N295 billion.

Out of the amount, Federal Government would contribute N23 billion, while N50 billion would be from the Excess Crude Account and N5 billion from oil companies with N130 billion contribution from ecological fund among others.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ehedioha is to head the ad-hoc Constitution Review Conference Committee.

The nine member committee has among its members House Leader, Hon. Mulikat AdeolaAkande, Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie.

The rest include Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudy, Hon. Binta Bello Maigari and Hon. Datti Garba among others.

he national president of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Jibril Abdullahi, has reiterated their stand to embark on an indefinite strike should the federal government failed to meet its demands.

Abdullahi spoke to our reporter in a telephone interview yesterday, accused the federal government failing to adhere to previous agreements reached with the association.

He hinted that an indefinite strike is underway by July 1, should the government fail to reach the agreements, adding that their decision was for the interest of the citizens of the country for development of healthcare services. “ We must continue with the strike until tomorrow (today) 9:00

a.m., to show our grievances for the failure of the government to adhere strictly to the agreement reached with us previously. We have become worried about the government’s lackadaisical attitudes towards reaching the agreement”, he said Dr. Abdullahi also assured the association’s readiness to call-off the strike or cease taking further industrial actions should the government keep to its promises, adding that the government had invited them for a meeting, adding that the invitation reached them late but that they would still listen to the government to resolve the long conflict.

Meanwhile, on a visit to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), our reporter observed that while other doctors were discharging their normal services, no resident doctor was on duty in the hospital.

…as warning strike takes toll in Benin From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), University of Benin chapter three day nationwide warning strike has begun to take a toll.

President of the branch, Dr. Goodluck Imoudu said there was no reason for members of the branch to have exempted themselves from the action.

According to him, “As you can see for yourself, it is only our members that are not working for now, while consultants and other medical personnel are working.

“Let me quickly remind you

that it is a warning strike and we hope to resume work on Thursday (today) and if our demands are not met we will embark on an indefinite strike action on July 1.”

The resident doctors embarked on a nationwide three day-warning strike to demand for the implementation of the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, the issues of relativity in salary between doctors and other health workers as well as skipping of grade level 12.

A staff of the hospital said the strike did not affect delivery wards and the Accident and Emergency Department and staff.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 6

News

Buhari, IBB commiserate with Gombe over Emir’s death From David Hassan, Gombe

F

ormer Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has commiserated with the Gombe state government over the death of its Emir, Shehu Usman Abubakar, who died recently in London.

Buhari described the late Emir as a man of peace, who dedicated his life to peaceful, harmonious living among his peoples.

Also sympathizing with the people of the state yesterday, in Gombe, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) described the late Emir as a man of peace, noting that the late Emir until his death, contributed immensely for the development of state.

He prayed to God to give the family and the state the fortitude to bear the loss, urging that the new Emir to emerge should emulate him to enable peace reign in the state.

Niger NSCDC warns vandals to relocate or face arrest From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger sate Commander of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Emmanuel Ojeniyi, has cautioned the hoodlums vandalizing pipelines in the state to stop such criminal behaviours and relocate from the state to avoid the wrath of the law.

Ojeniyi made the statement

yesterday, in an interview with journalists in Minna. He said his men have been adequately mobilised to patrol flash points with a view to arresting and clearing the state of vandals.

“We have detailed some officers to comb areas where pipelines are located and also meet with traditional rulers in such places for their maximum support in the efforts to eradicate vandalism

in the state. The Emirs and other royal fathers in the state have given us their words to work with us in flushing out vandals hibernating in villages with petroleum products pipelines”, he said.

He assured that NSCDC will continue to work assiduously towards providing security to the people, adding that the organisation will also continue to work in synergy with other

L-R: President/ CEO, 1st International Road Federation Africa Regional Congress (IRF), Mr. Patrick Sankey, Minister OF Works, ARC. Mike Onolememen, and Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, 1st International Road Federation Africa Regional Congress, yesterday in Abuja.

Lagos blames LASU crisis on opposition From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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agos state government yesterday said the crisis rocking the Lagos State University (LASU) are being fueled by fifth columnists bent on derailing government’s plans to reposition the ivory tower.

The enraged students of LASU had on Tuesday paralysed traffic on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as they protested vehemently over the hike in tuition fees.

The rampaging students demanded that the state government should reduce the school fees from N390,000 to N48,500 maximum or face their wrath.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and his counterpart in the Ministry of Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said certain individuals were hiding under the crises to foment trouble in the state .

They said the government had before now reached an agreement with the stakeholders on the way out of the lingering crisis, wondering why the crises has continued to escalate despite assurances from the government.

According to Ibirogba, the state government has put in place measures to ensure that no student of the institution is left behind for inability to pay the fees, saying the government had given so many of the students scholarships , bursary and increased research budget in the university.

security outfits so that “people can sleep with all eyes closed in the state”.

The commandant noted that undercover operatives were being deployed to motor parks in the state while members of the NURTW and other stakeholders in the transport industries were being sensitized on the need to be vigilant in fishing out suspicious persons in the parks.

Photo: Joe Oroye

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has slammed the Akwa Ibom state lawmakers for passing N14m Pension Bill proposed by the state Governor Godswill Akpabio for former deputy governors and governors, describing it as a waste of public funds.

The body also called on the National Assembly to use its extant powers to reverse the passage of the Bill by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

NLC, in a statement issued yesterday by its National President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said the recent passage within eleven days, of the Bill, entitled; ‘Former Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill 2014’ by the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, which makes it

NLC slams Akwa Ibom lawmakers over passage of N140m Akpabio’s bill possible for the governor to draw a pension allowance of N140m annually, is as shocking as it is absurd.

“We, at the Nigeria Labour Congress believe it is a perfect example of how not to make a law and a clear demonstration of what the electorate have always feared, that most states’ Houses of Assembly are in the pockets of the governors, thus defeating the principle of checks and balances in the polity.

“In a state where pension benefits of retired civil servants have not been fully paid in accordance with the provisions of the National Minimum Wage,

and pensions of some categories of the state employees, especially teachers, health workers and local government employees have not been harmonized, it is totally unacceptable and absolutely abhorrent to fix the pension benefit of the governor (in spite of countless advantages and perquisite of office) in this manner.

“It is a demonstration of unbridled power and callous disdain for the ordinary citizen who deserves a better life from those he elected into office. The fact that the state has evidently witnessed infrastructural improvement under the watch of Mr. Godswill Akpabio is no justification for this level of greed, waste and

self aggrandizement”, NLC said.

The statement further said that there was no end to infrastructural or service upgrade as a process for improving the quality of life for the people, which ultimately impacts on the national economy.

“He has done his bit, by building on the effort of his predecessor, Obong Victor Attah. Those coming after him will also do theirs. There is no end to this cycle.

It is therefore economically illogical and politically suicidal to so commit the state’s meager resources to oiling the personal estates of people upon whom so much has been vested already”, it further stated.

Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Lampese, Edo

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rainstorm, on Tuesday, destroyed shops and r es ident ia l buildin gs , rendering many people homeless in Lampese, Akoko Edo local government area of Edo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Some of the victims told NAN on Wednesday that they lost personal property worth hundreds of thousands of naira.

A resident, Mrs. Augustina Ajulon, whose house was destroyed, said that the rain started about 5 p.m. and lasted for about three hours.

“The roof of my house was blown off and all my property scattered outside and soaked,’’ she said.

Mr. Gani Mohammed, another resident, said that not

only were his property destroyed, he was forced to seek alternative accommodation.

A trader, who identified himself as Ajayi, said he lost his goods worth thousands of naira.

“We are appealing to the government to assist us as our property have been destroyed due to the rainstorm disaster,’’ he said.

However, the Chairman of the council, Mr. Joseph Akerejola, who visited the area, promised that the government would assist the victims.

The chairman said that the council would construct camps to provide shelter for victims who were rendered homeless and in addition, provide relief materials.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 7

News

Oshiomhole to supervise demolition of houses used by kidnappers

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

E

do state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday vowed to supervise the demolition of two houses used by suspected kidnappers in some parts of the

State.

The 4-bedroom flat, located on 5, Osagie Street, at Ekabere Street, off old Benin-Sapele Road and a mansion in Oredo local government area of the state is slated for demolition before the end

of the week.

The Governor gave the indication at the state headquarters of the Department Security Service (DSS), in Benin City, where a suspected four-man kidnap syndicate along with two other

suspected criminals were paraded.

Oshiomhole commended the joint security operations of DSS and 4-Brigade Nigerian Army for the rescue operation of the abduction of three children and other victims.

He recalled the ordeal of a

L-R: Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and Minister of State for Agriculture, Hajiya Asma’u Ahmed, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

NDLEA officer testifies in court against 3 men over alleged drug trafficking

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Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday commenced the trial of three men over alleged trafficking in 50 grammes of cocaine.

The accused, Paul Okeke, Chinedu Egwu and Solomon Onah, are standing trial on a twocount charge bordering on drug trafficking.

The Prosecutor, Orji Kalu, had told the court that the trio committed the offence on July 3, 2013.

Kalu said that the accused persons were caught by some officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at

Ajao Estate area of Lagos.

He said that the accused were unlawfully in possession of 50g of cocaine.

At the resumed hearing, Mr. Lawrence Odede, an Exhibit Keeper attached to NDLEA, Ikeja, testified in court against the accused.

Odede told the court that the accused were brought to him with some white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.

He said that the trio confirmed that the substance was recovered from them.

Odede said that a test was carried out on the substance and

it proved positive to cocaine.

He said the sample of the substance was also taken to a forensic expert, for further clarification.

Odede said some forms were issued out after the substance was tested, adding that they were the certificate of test analysis, parking of substance form and request for scientific aid form.

The prosecutor tendered them to the court and they were admitted in evidence.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. O. Ojakovo, cross-examined the witness, to ascertain if he was among the officers that arrested

the accused.

The prosecutor urged the court to adjourn the case, to enable him call other witnesses.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, however, adjourned the case till July 7, for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused were first arraigned on Oct 24, 2012 but were granted bail.

The case was before retired Justice B. Molokwu, before it was transferred to Aneke.

NAN also reports that a drug trafficking offence could attract life imprisonment, if convicted.

(NAN)

Bus conductor remanded in prison over stealing

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n Oshodi Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, yesterday remanded a bus conductor, Sunday Edeh, charged with conspiracy and stealing N20,000 from a motorist, in prison custody.

The Magistrate, Mr. Akeem Fashola, remanded Edeh, 24, in Kirikiri Prisons, Apapa after he admitted stealing the money.

Fashola adjourned the case till June 26 for facts and sentencing.

Edeh, of no fixed address, was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 23 at Oshodi Oworonsoki Expressway, Ilupeju, Lagos.

He said that the accused and others at large conspired to steal N20,000 from one Mr. Tunde Anjorin. ``The accused forcefully removed N20,000 from the pocket of the complainant,” Olatunde said.

He said that the complainant was driving his car in traffic when

the accused approached him and demanded for money. ``The accused and others accosted the complainant, demanded money from him, and threatened to damage his car with stones and bottles if he refused to grant their demand,” he said.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant ignored them and continued driving his car. ``When they noticed that the complainant did not respond to their demand, they forcefully removed N20,000 from his front

pocket and took to their heels. ``The complainant raised alarm shouting ‘thief ‘; the accused were pursued and one of them was apprehended, while the rest escaped with the money,” he said.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011.

Section 285 provides that if convicted of stealing, an accused is liable to three years imprisonment. (NAN)

brother in-law to one of his Special Assistant, Mr. Gani Audi, shot in the eye during his encounter with the some of the suspects, with a caution on residents of the state to report such incidents to the relevant authorities. ``I have listened to the various narrations of the suspects, those properties that they have used for this heinous crimes will be demolished this week under my supervision...It is time for us to start implementing the law’’, he said.

State Director of DSS, Alhaji Bello-Tukur Bakori offered explanations on how the suspects were arrested at various locations in the state.

Bakori identified Sunday Okperamen, Joshua Igbinovia, Nkpedem Ibrahim (23) and Christian David (26) in connivance with one JK masterminded the kidnap a Medical Doctor attached to the university of Benin teaching hospital, a Proprietor of a popular hotel and three Children before they were arrested.

Two other suspects: ThankGod Itekpu, alleged Internet frauster and Michael Onyekachi, who was said to have defrauded three persons millions of Naira under the guise of procuring Turkish and German visa for them.

The kidnap suspects, who spoke on their alleged involvement, alleged that they were lured into the crime by JK, believed to be the leader of the gang.

ThankGod Itekpo, Banking and Finance final year Student in Edo State owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) was accused of posing as Agent to Dangote cement company and in the process lured unsuspecting public who parted with undisclosed money into secure the product for them at discounted prices, an adventure which turns out to be false.

2 docked over mace theft

T

wo men, Ahmed Jimoh, 25, and Nurudeen Saubana, 23, were yesterday arraigned in an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court over theft of mace valued N2.5million.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp.

Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that they stole the mace in Akomoje, Abeokuta North Local Government Legislative Chamber, on May 23, at about 11.00 a.m. ``The two accused, aided by a counsellor, stole the mace’’, he said.

Eigbejiale said they were charged with conspiracy and stealing, offences which contravened sections 516, 383 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The two accused persons, who had no lawyer to defend them, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mr. Martins Akinyemi, admitted the duo to bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case till Oct. 6 for definite hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 8

Conference cancels payment of pensions, insurance for legislators, govs

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

D

elegates at the national conference yesterday adopted a recommendation by its committee on public service which proposed that pensions, life insurance, and severance payments for legislators be put to a stop, going further to adopt an amendment to expand the recommendation to include state governors.

In addition, the conference agreed that legislators at both the national and state level should operate on a part time basis.

The committee, chaired

by Mrs Ebele Okeke received praise from the 140 delegates who weighed in on its report.

The committee saw most of its recommendations adopted, including the creation of a separate Foreign Service and Foreign Service commission to be headed by a chairman and made up of six permanent commissioners representing the six geo-political zones,

membership of which will include former ambassadors, a person of permanent secretary status as secretary and three or four directorates.

Meanwhile, the Confab on Tuesday adopted a recommendation by its committee on public finance and revenue to put a limit on the amount of money the Government is permitted to borrow.

There was however confusion over a recommendation that borrowing should be by way of bonds only as many delegates were not even clear on the technicalities of the recommendation, with a delegate having to explain to the floor how bonds worked.

The conference also put a stop to the indiscriminate approval of tax waivers by the Government, calling for it to review the available fiscal incentives i.e. granting of waivers and tax exemptions in order to reduce revenue losses.

L-R: National Conference Delegates, Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, Ambassador Adamu Aliyu, and Mrs Felicia Sani, at the National Conference, yesterday in Abuja, Photo: Mahmud Isa

Govt should be restricted to consular roles during religious pilgrimage- Amb. Mamman

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n this interview, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, a delegate at the on-going National conference representing the North West geo-political zone shares his thoughts with Hassan Haruna Ginsau on whether or not pilgrims’ welfare boards should be scrapped and the progress of the conference thus far.

There was a heated debate over whether or not pilgrims’ welfare boards should be scrapped or not and the matter is still unresolved, what are your thoughts on this issue?

There are a lot of people that benefit in the name of religion. For example public funds are the rights of the people, but when someone

attains a certain position he will pack his in-laws and relatives and pay for them to go for Hajj using the people’s money, so you see the aim is defeated. Meanwhile pilgrims have been abandoned in Saudi Arabia, left in harsh conditions. Therefore the Government should help only in consular services and assist Nigerians whether he/she is there on holiday or pilgrimage, simply to make sure he/she doesn’t get into a difficult situation.

It is these consular services I think are better, instead of setting up a body for pilgrims whereby people are crying out about over corruption, or someone goes to Saudi and disappears with pilgrims’ money, or the person that is supposed to

assist pilgrims is nowhere to be found upon getting to the holy land. Some Christian pilgrims go to Jerusalem for their holy pilgrimage and stay back, so you see it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure the well-being of its citizens.

There are a lot of Nigerians living illegally in Saudi Arabia.

Someone will go there with his wife and she says she won’t come back, and before you know it she has disappeared, maybe she is somewhere selling food or begging for money. When you consider all of these things you then ask how much is being spent and who is benefitting from these funds?

If the purpose is to help the people, then people that are illegally benefitting from religion must be stopped. So you see what brought about this confusion.

What are your thoughts on the national conference thus far?

Thanks to God, most of the issues that people thought were going to create divisions among delegates have been resolved, though not all the issues because some delegates are here with a certain ideology or stance on some issues. But there have been numerous discussions and it has been resolved that any time there is a disagreement then the issue will be looked at carefully in order to find a way out before it

goes to a vote.

We still haven’t gotten to the stage of casting ballots, because before you do this you have to sit down and discuss about three or four times, then you can vote.

Hopefully though there will be no need for that, we will try our best to reach a consensus because everybody knows there is a need for us to live in peace, development, and patience with ourselves in Nigeria at large.

Finally, we pray for peace and all the crises in the North to come to an end, and may God bring us closer to each other, and give us peace in Nigeria. Also, may God grant us the opportunity to hold peaceful elections next year.

Confab rejects increment of retirement age

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

T

he National conference has rejected the upward review of the retirement age in the public service by five years, from 60 years of age or 35 years in service to 65 years of age or 40 years in service as proposed by its committee on Public service.

The recommendation to increase the retirement age by the committee was the main point of

discussion during deliberations by delegates. Majority of the speakers in their’ remarks argued that there was a need for workers currently in the public service approaching retirement age to create room for the millions of unemployed youth in desperate need of jobs.

Others went as far as to say that the almost retiring workers didn’t have anything more to offer. In her remarks, a

youth delegate, Yadomah Bukar Mandara who is also a civil servant called on her colleagues to use their real ages and not their’ “civil service” age, adding that she also hoped to leave the service after she completed her 35 years of service.

Delegates also agreed that civil servants should adopt the bank employee’s declaration of assets act that requires staff to; make a full disclosure of

his assets within 14 days of the commencement of the act; and in the case of a new employee, he will declare his assets within 14 days of employment.

The conference also adopted recommendations stating that; the chairman and members of the federal character commission shall be appointed by the president; there should be no external transfer into the directorate level; mandatory

training for promotion into levels 12-17.

Other proposals adopted were that; the appointment to the head of the civil service shall only be from among serving state and federal permanent secretaries; that the civil service should adopt common rules and practices in both the federal and state levels; to establish state character commissions to cater for minorities.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 9

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY

Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/ Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754 and 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833 and 08191778888.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT KANO STATE

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT In its commitment to ensure proper management and maintenance of public properties in the State, Kano State Government is hereby notifying the general public on its intention to commercialize the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata under the Public Private Partnership PPP arrangement.

Government therefore wishes to invite Companies interested in the participation of the commercialization of the Stadium to submit proposal for the expression of interest to partner with the State Government on the management of the Stadium.

All applications must be accompanied with necessary documents and should specifically and clearly state the following: 1. Profile of the Company 2. Experiences in management 3. Evidence of technical partnership with a company that has previous Experience undertaking similar responsibilities, 4. Evidence of payment of taxes and financial capabilities 5. Banker Reference Letter 6. Audited Accounts for 3 years 7. Spreadsheet of commercial analysis and revenue projection of the:a. Main Bowl b. Medical Centre c. Indoor Sports Hall d. Pitch Panels e. Outdoor Advertisement f. Hospitality g. Car Parking facility h. Any other commercial analysis that can enhance the applicant’s proposal will be an added advantage. i. Shortlisted Companies will be contacted for oral presentations and negotiations.

Accordingly, interested Companies are invited to submit their applications to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, at No 1, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano within two weeks from the date of this publication.

Announcer;Office of the Secretary to the State Government Kano State www.kn.gov.ng/new

Conference adopts recommendation targeting “ill-gotten gains”

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

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elegates at the national conference adopted a recommendation which states that the Government should enact an ill-gotten gains act to discourage public office holders from looting public funds.

The recommendation will place the burden of proof of innocence on the accused, in other words an accused would be guilty until he/she proves his/her innocence.

In explaining the recommendation to delegates, deputy chairman of the conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi said “Once government says you’ve built a house costing 500 million you must have stolen the money. The onus

is on the accused to say I didn’t steal the money and prove where he got the money.”

During yesterday’s adoption of recommendations from the committee, delegates also agreed that the legislature should strengthen its oversight functions and the fiscal responsibility commission should be fully empowered to carry out its monitoring responsibilities.

The Adamu Aleiro headed committee also had its recommendation that a minimum of 50% of funds available in the excess crude account at any time should be used for funding the Nigerian sovereign investment authorities’ account adopted, defeating an amendment which proposed a minimum of

Gen. Abdulsalami

30% funds as opposed to the recommendation’s figure of 50%.

Other recommendations adopted were that; debt monitoring offices should be set up in each state to monitor projects tied to borrowed funds; and that 10% of funds from the excess crude account should be set aside for the proposed agricultural development fund.

Delegates however rejected a proposal that ports development and ownership should be on the concurrent legislative list.

Following the presentation by the chairman, committee on public service, Mrs Ebele Okeke on her committees recommendations, deliberations will commence today.

@72

General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) GCFR It has been 15 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria.

In the euphoria, it can be easy to forget the man who made it all possibble.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) GCFR, ‘the father of our democracy’ will Celebrate his 72nd birthday on Friday, June 13, 2014.

To commemorate this special day, PEOPLES DAILY will package a publications of tributes and goodwill messages to him.

To participate please contact:Patrick: 08065648620 Helen: 08036473253

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 10

News

UDUTH to perform first kidney transplant soon - VC From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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he Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDTH, Sokoto is set to perform first-ever kidney transplant operation, the outgoing vice-chancellor, Professor Riskuwa Arabu Shehu had said.

Prof. Shehu disclosed this on Tuesday, in Sokoto, at the induction and oath-taking ceremony of for fresh graduands of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences into

the professional body, held at the faculty’s auditorium.

He said the inaugural operation would be possible in less than two months, adding that medical personnel from the hospital have already acquired technical know-how to mount specialised equipment already on ground.

“It is a good news to tell this gathering that our medical team would soon commence the first kidney surgical operation at our Teaching Hospital. It is a ground

breakthrough on our part. Our medical personnel are received overseas training on that”, he explained.

He said the commencement of the surgery in the teaching hospital would no doubt reduce the high demand of medical treatment in foreign countries.

The VC charged the graduands to be more profession while discharging their responsibilities, saying “I enjoin you to be good team players with other healthcare

professionals in the best interest and benefit of your patients and society at large.”

In her remark, the Acting Registrar of the Council, Mrs. Gloria Abumere, respresented by Pastor (Mrs.) Adenike Ajayi, congratulated the new members and charged them on moral behaviour.

Her words: “You are expected to do your jobs with sincerity and with all your heart and use your knowledge and skills for the advancement of the country.”

L-R: Representative of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Reverend Isreal Akanji, Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Muahammad, and Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, during the national prayer for the release of Chibok school girls organised by Ministry of Women Affairs, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Zamfara recruits 200 health personnel From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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he Zamfara state government, in its efforts to fill vacuum of shortage of the cadres in many facilities of the state health, has recruited 200 personnel.

This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman, State Civil Service Commission (CSC), Alhaji Ahmad Zabarma Gusau, addressed to the Secretary, State Hospital Service Management Board (HSMB), and made available to reporters yesterday in Gusau, the state capital.

According to the statement, the

lists of the successful candidates that were interviewed by the Commission in the 2014 special recruitment exercise, were released, and offers of employment were shared to the successful candidates.

The statement revealed that the development was also aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment among the state indigenes, and subsequent approval of the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar for the recruitment of 1,400 indigenous who are holders of Degree, HND and ND,NCE as well as nurses and midwives.

The statement directed all the successful candidates to ensure they complete their documentation on or before the end of the week.

Meanwhile, the maternal newborn and child health coalition of civil society organisations in the state have applauded the state government for the recruitment of the 200 cadres of health workers in the state.

A statement, signed by the state secretary of the coalition Muhammad Namadi, and made available to newsmen in Gusau, however, expressed concern over the delay in the release of

letters of appointment to the candidates that were interviewed in December 2013, saying that some might have secured appointment elsewhere as a result of the delay in the release of appointment letters.

He said the 200 candidates employed into the state civil service are inadequate, in view of the high number of health workers that left the state service due to low motivation and inability of the government to fully implement consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) for health workers of the state.

Bauchi govt to provide adequate security in schools From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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n its efforts to provide adequate securities in schools, the Bauchi state government has reiterated its commitment to provide adequate security in all schools in the state, as a result of alleged several threats to attack schools in the state.

The state’s commissioner of education, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Aminu gave the

assurance yesterday, while speaking with journalists in Bauchi.

He said the threat to attack schools was not a new thing, saying, “We don’t neglect any information we receive; we took measures through the security agencies, parents and the communities to ensure that all our schools are safe.

Aminu added that sometimes, some of the threats come every third term, as some of the threats came from students who feel they

will not pass the promotion exam and that after investigation, some students were held as responsible for the threat by the security agencies.

He said government had educated both teachers and students on what to do if they see a strange face.

Aminu said, “We are aware of the threats; any information we receive, we immediately take necessary action and pro-active

measures and send it to the security agencies and we investigate it to the letter and take all the necessary measures; we don’t joke with threats and useful information, we act on it immediately “.

Recently, teachers and students of boarding secondary schools and two tertiary institution in the state told journalists that they received a threat letter from armed men that they will come and attack their schools.

Niger govt dislodges Islamic sect in Lapai LGA From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna

A

nother Islamic fundamentalists sect, identified as MadinatuMuheenuHamdallah has been dislodged by the Niger state government, following a security report about the sect.

The pro-active measure of the state government is coming barely four years after a suspected sect, known as Darul-Salam, was dislodged at Mokwa, in Mokwa Local government of the State.

The disloadgment of this sect, MadinatuMuheenuHandallah, with over 300 followers on Tuesday, was carried out at Cheche, near Lapai, by the Task Force led by Col. A. Y. Yakubu, of the 313 Artillery Brigade, Minna, who said they did not resist evacuation as the operation was successful.

Speaking with the journalists during the evacuation of the sect members to their various local government areas of the state, Permanent Secretary Security Matters office of the SSG, Mr. James Kolo, revealed that the sect illegally occupied a total of 208.88 hectres of land.

According to our findings, the sect has been operating since 2008 indoctrinating innocent followers who now believe in the Sheikh Mohammad Abubakar, the head of the group, from a rich family in Lapai who believed in the true preaching and teaching of Tijaniyya.

The sect, whose headquarters is close to IBB University, Lapai, has some students as its adherent, who subsequently established a chapel with a stronghold in the university.

Denying all the allegations of extremist levied against the group by the people of the area and the security report which indicted them, the spokesman of the sect, Malam Yusuf Uthman, who spoke in English language, said “it not a new thing for a prophet or messenger of Allah and those spreading the good words to the people to be persecuted, but its very unfortunate; we have explained intensively to the security agencies, we are Nigerian and Nigerlites; the Emir of Lapai and state government is aware of our being here and we have C of O for this land we occupy here”.

Niger State Secretary to State Government (SSG) Hon. Idris Ndako Kpaki disclosed that they were occupying the land illegally, as the issued C of O has been revoked since last year August and were ordered to evacuate the land or be forced to do so but their leader refused to abide by the law and went to court.

Ndako stated that the land was issued to him for the construction of Primary / Secondary Islamic/ Western Education but was violated as noting of such kind was seen there as it ended up been a settlement as government was proactive to avoid a situation which will not be controllable by security in the future.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

KATSINA STATE AGENCY FOR THE CONTROL OF AIDS GENERAL HOSPITAL KATSINA PREMISES GOVERNOR’S OFFICE P.M.B2051 Email: katsaca30gmail.com

Tel: 08033029995

Publication for Contract (Grants) Awarded by QCBS Name of Project: (HPDP11) Nigeria Contract description: HAF11 Disbursement Duration:16 months

Project ID:PI0 2119

Disclosure Report for Contract (Grants) Awarded by QCBS (Modified) Name & address of firm/NGO

Technical Financial Thematic Area score score (Overall 100) (overall 20) 11

Target Population

Coverage Area/Location

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCS

KATSINA AREWA

ABUZAR ISLAMIC PROPAGATION AND EMPOWERMENT CENTRE No. 7 Sabuwa Street Kofar Kaura, Lay out, Katsina, Katsina State.

76

ASSOCIATION OF OVC NGOs IN NIGERIA (AONN) No. 212 IBB Way, Mobil Filling Station, Katsina, Katsina State.

77.5

19

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCS

KATSINA & FUNTUA

ASSOCIATION OF POSITIVE YOUTH LIVING WITH HIV/ AIDS IN NIGERIA (APYIN) NO. 23 ATM House, Ring road GRA Katsina, Katsina State.

70.5

15

PREVENTION

PLWHIV & OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

KAITA & BAKORI

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL REFORM AWARENESS OF NIGERIA (ASRAN) No. 52 Yahaya Madaki way, Kofar Kaura, Katsina, Katsina State.

71.5

15

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCs

FUNTUA NORTH

DAAWAH FAMILY SUPPORT ASSOCIATION KATSINA No. 2 Daura road, Off Yahaya Madaki Way, Katsina, Katsina State.

77.5

14

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCs

KATSINA GABAS

FAHUZ SUPPORT GROUP No. 102 Zaria Road, Funtua, Katsina State.

85

14

CARE AND SUPPORT

PLWHIV

FUNTUA & FASKARI

FAMILY HEALTH & YOUTH EMPOWEREMENT ORGANISATION (FAHYE) IBB Way Former Federal Mortgage Bank Building , Katsina.

92

14

PREVENTION

LONG DISTANCE DRIVERS, UNIFORM SERVICE PERSONNEL & YOUTH OUT OF SCHOOL

KATSINA & MAIADUA (LDD) KAITA & JIBIA (USP), MUSAWA OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

GENDER DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD PROMOTION INITIATIVE No. 9 Ruman Road Barhim Housing Estate Katsina, Katsina State

71

FEMALE SEX WORKERS, LONG DISTANCE DRIVERS & GENERAL POPULATION

SABUWA (FSW), KANKIA, DUTSINMA, CHARANCHI & MASHI (LDD) KATSINA KUSADA & DUTSINMA (GEN. POP)

HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION SUPPORT INITIATIVES (HESI) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari House Kangiwa Square, Katsina

87

PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT) & OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

DAURA & DUTSINMA

HIDIMA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (HIYODE) No. 5 Atile Road Makera Estate Daura Road, Katsina, Katsina State.

79.5

LONG DISTANCE DRIVERS, PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT) & GENERAL POPULATION

BATSARI, DAURA, KANKIA, JIBIA AND BAURE

INITIATIVEFOR MEDICAL ENHENCEMENT ON HIV/ AIDS AND MALARIA (IMEM) No. 4 Yahaya Madaki Way, Kofar Kaura Round about, Katsina, Katsina State.

76.5

IN SCHOOL YOUTH & YOUTH OUT OF SCHOOL

KATSINA, KURFI AND SANDAMU

JAMA ATUL IZALATUL BID A WA IKAMATUSSUNNAH (JIBWIS) No. 174 IBB Way,Modibbo Central Mosque, Katsina, Katsina State

74.5

14

PREVENTION

IN SCHOOL YOUTH, OUT OF SCHOOL AND LONG DISTANCE DRIVERS

DUTSINMA, FUNTUA & MANI

KANKIA YOUTH FORUM AGAINST HIV/AIDS Zonal Youth Development Office opposite, Isah Brothers filling Station, Katsina Road, Kankia, Katsina State.

74

14

PREVENTION

OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH AND IN SCHOOL YOUTH

KANKIA, INGAWA, KUSADA AND SAFANA

13

12.5

15

14

CR NO.45960 UNI Scope of contract: Prevention, Care and Support Contract signature date: 21st May, 2014

PREVENTION

PREVENTION

PREVENTION

PREVENTION

KATSINA STATE YOUTH COALITAION AGAINST HIV/AIDS, DRUGS AND VIOLANCE No.19 Barhim Plaza, Katsina.

Ktsina State.

73.5

12

PREVENTION

IN SCHOOL YOUTH & OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

MALUMFASHI, MATAZU & DUTSI

MOTHER AND CHILD SURVIVAL ENHENCEMENT INITIATIVE Mallamawa Street, Daura (Fegi),Katsina State

77.5

19

PREVENTION

OVCs & PLWHIV

DAURA & BATAGARAWA

MURNA FOUNDATION Opposite Former NSCDC Head quarters Dandagoro, Along Kano Road Batagarawa LGA, Katsina State.

87.5

11

PREVENTION

LONG DISTANCE DRIVERS, OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH, PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT) & GENERAL POPULATION

RIMI, KAFUR, DANDUME, KATSINA, KAITA, & SABUWA

NETWORK OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA KATSINA STATE CHAPTER (NEPHWAN) Opposite Maje Mainasara Filling Station Katsina, Katsina State.

PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE KATSINA (PD&I) No. 3 Daura Road Lambun Khadija, Katsina State.

71.5

14

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCs & PLWHIV

KATSINA, BINDAWA, KANKIA & DUTSINMA

79

11

PREVENTION

FUNTUA, RIMI, KATSINA & JIBIA

PAN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM (PADEAP NIGERIA) No. 135 Zaria Road Funtua, Katsina State.

84.5

13

PREVENTION

FEMALE SEX WORKERS, INTRAVENUOUS DRUGS USERS & MEN SEX WITH MEN LONG DISTANCE DRIVERS, OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH, PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION & GENERAL POPULATION

FUNTUA, DANDUME, SABUWA, DANJA, FASKARI

SERVICE TO HUMANITY FOUNDATION Behind New PDP Secretariat Commercial Layout, Gidan Dawa, Katsina.

SOCIETY FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWEREMENT OF NIGERIA (SWODEN) No. 158 Kofar Kaura Opposite Access Bank, Tashar Mangoro, Katsina, Katsina State.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN LIFE ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE (WACLAI) F1B 33 Mangal Plaza IBB Way, Katsina, Katsina State.

86.5

18

CARE AND SUPPORT

PLWHIV

KATSINA

83

15

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCs

DAURA SOUTH

84.5

14

PREVENTION

FEMALE SEX WORKERS & UNIFORM SERVICE PERSONNEL

JIBIA, KAITA, MAIADUA, DANDUME & KATSINA

WALIN HAUSA FOUNDATION Yahaya Madaki Way, Katsina, Katsina State.

WOMEN AND YOUTH OPINION LEADERS FORUM (WOLF) Down stairs Niger Insurance PLC Opposite Fagaci Quarters IBB Way Katsina, Katsina State.

79.5

20

CARE AND SUPPORT

OVCs

KATSINA KUDU

71.5

14

PREVENTION

FEMALE SEX WORKERS & UNIFORM SERVICE PERSONNEL

KATSINA, KANKIA, BAURE & CHARANCHI

YOUNG MUSLIM CONGRESS (MUNAZZAMAUTUL FITYANUL ISLAM) Opposite Danmarna, Dutsinma Road Katsina, Katsina State.

76.5

12

PREVENTION

IN SCHOOL YOUTH & OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

BATAGARAWA, DAURA & DANMUSA

In addition to the above, a Firm/NGO who wishes to ascertain the grounds on which its proposal was not selected may request for an explanation in writing from the address given below within 2 weeks time from the date of the advert.

THE PROJECT MANAGER, KATSINA STATE AGENCY FOR THE CONTROL OF AIDS GENERAL HOSPITAL PREMISES TEL: +234 8033029995/08034269128/08036141986 E-mail: Katsaca30@gmail.com The Firm/NGO shall be provided promptly an explanation of why such proposal was not selected, either in writing and/ or in a de-briefing meeting, at the option of the Client. The requesting Firm/ NGO shall bear all the costs of attending such a de-briefing. All other information can be obtained from KATSINA STATE AGENCY FOR THE CONTROL OF AIDS.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

EDITORIAL

Gov Al-Makura: Good thinking but… the negative response of the state legislators to his planned mass employment scheme, AlMakura said that he would use the security vote to do more towards empowering people of the state not captured by “the statutory and bureaucratic enclave of the

“

N

asarawa state governor, UmaruTanko Al-Makura, on Sunday said that his administration has resorted to using the security vote his office receives to pay over 1,400 youths engaged by the state government under the Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES). The governor, who disclosed this in Lafia, shortly after inspecting road projects in Adudu, Keana and Agyaragu areas, explained that his resort to the security vote was because of the zero allocation to the scheme in the 2014 budget approved by the Nasarawa state House of Assembly. “I have decided to pay the money for NAYES from my own security vote and I have already converted them to my own Special Assistants(SAs); let them do the work,” he said, adding, “It is not about nomenclature, but about service and about engaging them so that they don’t become liabilities on the streets”.

Although Governor Al-Makura did not state precisely why the state Assembly withheld accent to his proposed spending on the youth empowerment scheme, it was all too obvious that the proposal was a victim of the state’s bitter opposition politics.

Nasarawa state is controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the state Assembly is under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, not deterred by

We salute Al-Makura’s vision that allows him to think out of the box to meet the yearnings and expectations of his people. government”.He said, “Let me extend and expand the scope of that distribution of the dividends of democracy. I am going to do that for the youth, the disabled, market women and the aged.Each of these categories of people will get N20,000 monthly support called “seed money”. He assured of “conventional employment opportunities whenever Nasarawa’s revenue improves.”

We salute Al-Makura’s vision that allows him to think out of the box to meet the yearnings and expectations of his people. It is the first time that a governor would declare openly to allocate the often abused and misused security vote to a worthy cause such as a

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

youth empowerment scheme.

Many of his colleagues fritter away this vote in unproductive ventures, including politicking.

But while commending AlMakura’s vision in this regard, we hasten to advise him explore the numerous other funding options available to him that would guarantee the sustainability of the youth empowerment scheme, even after he leaves office. We need not remind the governor that the security vote is a tenuous source of funding for his NAYES which his successor may not welcome. Conversely, he should bend over a little to persuade the adamant state legislators to approve funding of the scheme.

We do not recommend bribing them, however. Besides, he can push through legislation to institutionalise the scheme. This may be difficult with this crop of legislators, but again some diplomacy may do the trick.

What more, we believe that education is the key to empowering the youth. AlMakura should emulate his Kano state colleague, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, by offering special scholarships to sons and daughters of Nasarawa state from poor homes to acquire higher and qualitative education that will offer better job prospects. The “seed money” he is giving out may serve the immediate purpose of keeping the unemployed youths off the streets. But for how long?

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM MANAGING EDITOR ABDUL-AZEEZ ABDULLAHI

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EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

EDITOR, WEEKEND HAMEED M. BELLO

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 13

Opinion Boko Haram, Muslims and northerners

By Yushau Shuaib

A

fter the chief Imam ended the prayer in the mosque, his deputy collected the microphone and delivered strong worded condemnation on insurgents for the killing of innocent people in the name of Islam. The deputy ended by saying “terrorists will roast in hell-fire!”

Surprisingly, the Chief Imam retrieved the microphone from his deputy and declared to the bewildered congregation: “Salam Alaikum. I am the Chief Imam of the mosque. The man who just condemned Boko Haram ‘citizens’ is the deputy Imam and his house is the one painted in white and blue behind the Emir’s palace by the right-hand corner...”

Sometimes the silence of Northerners and Muslims over monumental atrocities being committed in some parts of the North, is being viewed either as a sign of complicity or endorsement of atrocities being perpetrated by insurgents. The reality however, is that most of the victims of the attacks are actually northerners and many are even notable traditional rulers and Islamic clerics who dared to condemn such activities just like the killing of Emir of Gwoza. On the contrary, challenges against complacency should rather be directed at the political class that has the resources and network

to address the insecurity even during its infancy. It became clearly evident that there was trouble earlier on when there was proliferation of groups that are now challenging our corporate existence.

There are various conspiracy theories being parroted about the crises being engineered by outsiders against the north and northerners. This is a cheap argument that someone will use northerners to fight northerners in the north where ringleaders and arrested suspects are mostly

“

Northerners without a trace of the so-called outsiders or Southern collaborators. It is also doubtful if top Northern security officers at the national level and commanders on the battlefields will be willing tools in the plan to destroy their own region.

Could the so-called northern conspirators intend to relocate to the South after the total destruction of the North? Some conspiracy theories don’t just make sense.

As northerners, we should be wary of those playing politics

with the lives of our people and face the real challenges of good governance. We should realise that only very few states in Nigeria can survive without revenue from the federal government in the name of the Federation Account. We should question our leaders about what they have done with all the resources which are meant to address the stark backwardness of the Northern region. We should also urge them that rather than merely expecting monthly revenue from Cheap oil Money, they should diversify and

As northerners, we should be wary of those playing politics with the lives of our people and face the real challenges of good governance. We should realise that only very few states in Nigeria can survive without revenue from the federal government in the name of the Federation Account. We should question our leaders about what they have done with all the resources which are meant to address the stark backwardness of the Northern region. We should also urge them that rather than merely expecting monthly revenue from Cheap oil Money, they should diversify and invest in the productive sector that could improve the economic bases of their respective states and make our people self-reliant and independent from revenue from the central government

invest in the productive sector that could improve the economic bases of their respective states and make our people self-reliant and independent from revenue from the central government.

Our leaders should also stop flaunting ill-gotten wealth through accumulations of mansions and ostentatious marriage ceremonies to the envy of the uneducated and poor in the society which to some extent also provoke militancy.

We should de-emphasise debate on imaginary conspiracy theories by being constructive in our engagements as well as work on practical actions to tame widespread insecurity presently threatening to completely destroy our region. Our leaders should not exhibit traits that portray them as overly ambitious and selfish. We can’t continue to remain silent when this crisis is razing and may consume everyone.

As a Muslim, I believe Islamic leaders need to do more to promote and protect the faith from activities of some followers that give a contrary image to the religion of peace. Common sense dictates that Daawah or preaching for good conduct and morality should start within by advocating religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence so that our great nation will not disintegrate by 2015.

Yushau A. Shuaib via yashuaib@yahoo.com

Plateau 2015 and political shenanigans

By Vincent Girma

P

olitical observers within and outside Plateau state must have been dismayed by the recent declaration by a group known as Plateau North Political Front (PNPF) to the effect that the Northern Senatorial Zone reserves the right to seek for the gubernatorial position of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.The chairman of the group, Evangelist Daniel Izang, at a press briefing in Jos, denied allegation of a zoning agreement in the state and challenged anybody with “such claims to step forward and present their case and facts if ever there have been such an agreement entered into in our political history.”Evangelist Izang said that the three senatorial districts of the state comprising Plateau North, Central and South had each produced “a governor of the state and Governor Jonah Jang’s eight years tenure only completes the circle.”The group then called on citizens of the other zones to queue behind another candidate from the zone that will be completing the circle in 2015, saying that the “zone still has a lot to offer and it is only logical that it should be accorded the right and privilege to present a candidate of northern extraction because we have been tested and found trustworthy in good governance.”

In a similar vein, PDP stakeholders in the Plateau Central Senatorial District met in Pankshin

and issued a communiqué, arguing that it was their turn to replace Governor Jang, “especially since all the three senatorial zones have had their slots.” See page 46, Blueprint of May 29, 2014).The communiqué which was read by the PDP national vice chairman, North Central, Mr. Yusuf Tokit, stated that since all the three zones had occupied the governorship seat, the zoning formula should start (or is it continue?) with the central zone.

It is quite interesting watching the shenanigans currently unfolding on the Plateau. And where does this leave the Plateau South Senatorial Zone? Perhaps, we shall find the right answer by going down the democratic memory lane and setting the records straight.

“

The argument about zoning or no zoning arrangement does not fly in the face of equity, justice and fair play which are the hallmarks of democracy.

Since the evolution of democratic dispensation in the state, it has been the norm to rotate the leadership of the state among the three zones.

The first beneficiary was the late elder statesman, Chief Solomon DaushepLar, a Tarok, who emerged from the Southern Senatorial Zone in 1979 on the platform of Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP). Chief Lar ran a first term (1979 – 83) and got re-elected for the second term but his tenure was truncated by the Buhari/Idiagbon coup of December 31, 1983.

During the everlasting transition programme of military president, Ibrahim Babangida, Sir Fidelis Tapgun from Plateau South was elected as governor of Plateau state and was at the helms of affairs (for less than two years - 1992 and 1993 until the collapse of the regime occasioned by the June 12 crisis. Tapgun was as unlucky as Solomon Lar, the two ex-governors of Plateau south extractions who had the misfortune of running truncated tenures.

It is noteworthy that among the three zones of the state, it is only the North that is poised to complete two uninterrupted terms.

Both Chiefs Solomon Lar and Joshua Dariye had their tenures truncated by circumstances beyond

Everybody knows the unseen hand behind this political charade and where the stooge that is being schemed to take over from the incumbent governor is coming.

It will be naïve to assume that power cannot change hands in the state come 2015. A typical example of this possibility is the next-door Nasarawa state, governed by the PDP until 2011 when the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) swept its way into power. Power is, indeed, very sweet, intoxicating and corruptive. No one likes to give it up easily. Lord John Acton (1834 – 1902), the British historian, had the clowns in the PNPF in mind when he declared and I quote: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

their control. It is inconceivable for the clowns in the PNPF to scheme to hang on to power come 2015 on the premise that there has never been any zoning agreement in the party. If there were no such arrangement, how come the office of the governor of Plateau state is being rotated among the three zones and not monopolized by a section of the state all along?

The PNPF shot itself in the foot by admitting that the incumbent “governor’s eight years tenure completes the CIRCLE (my emphasis).” Why did the Front talk about the CIRCLE if there was no such rotational understanding in the party ab initio?

Everybody knows the unseen hand behind this political charade and where the stooge that is being schemed to take over from the incumbent governor is coming. It will be naïve to assume that power cannot change hands in the state come 2015. A typical example of this possibility is the next-door Nasarawa state, governed by the PDP until 2011 when the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) swept its way into power. Power is, indeed, very sweet, intoxicating and corruptive. No one likes to give it up easily. Lord John Acton (1834 – 1902), the British historian, had the clowns in the PNPF in mind when he declared and I quote: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Vincent Girma, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Kaduna.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

World, laughers and criers

By Odimegwu Onwumere

I

t was William Shakespeare, an English poet and playwright, extensively revered as the greatest writer in the English, born on 26 April 1564 (baptised) – 23 April 1616, who said in his book – As You Like It (2/7) – thus: All the world’s a stage/And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts… The world we are living in is, indeed, a stage that is characterized by the good, bad and ugly. These three words were once my motto till I changed them to World, Laughers and Criers with many reasons, as we shall see on the burgeoning sentences. The Laughers don’t mind the Criers, and the Criers want the Laughers to sympathise with them. But due to the human worldly ego, hence the aphorism, “I don’t give a dime.”

The world is such a wonderful place blessed by nature, but cursed by man. Man is parasitic and has dislocated the world from its original form for the lucre of economic interest. It has become obvious that people are ever ready to sacrifice the World in the manner that a Dalai Lama describes the actions of human beings against the world in the following sentences: Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.

Then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present: the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

The world is suffering a lot of things at the same time today because of man’s subtraction from nature. Man feels that words and ideas can change the world, without minding the detriments he was to incur.

There was nothing wrong with the world; man is the problem with the world. In the sweetness of the world, many are

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laughers. Some undertake judgment against truth just to see that they laugh always. They share pleasure to the detriment of the world. They are refreshed by the many lies they tell or the truths untold. They laugh and laugh to the scorn of everything around them and see such as a weapon to destroy the world.

What man does not know is that their laughter can turn the world into painful situations, or painful situations into laughter.

The Dalai Lama does not subscribe to this feigned peace and happiness of individuals, thereby saying: World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not the absence of violence; peace is the manifestation of human compassion. These laughers see money as the medium to measure worldly success. They do not care to find the inner peace, which creates the ability for the world’s people to live in harmony with

them. But is laughter not also a rejoinder of both aggravation and overtiredness? Did this not come to be as man found out that he was suffering much and needed his own method to cheer up? Walter Russell sufficed it to say: You may command nature to the extent only in which you are willing to obey her.

There was a saying ‘East, West, Home is the best’. But this is no more as one’s home may be his or her most dangerous place to dwell. He or she will not be free from wars, rumours of wars, bombs killing, poverty and sundry negative issues, which have characterised the world and made different people to become criers in their respective capabilities.

Home is where one is free from damages.

Many have full cause for crying, because they are afraid of what the next minute would bring to them. Many are criers in their

heart without showing off their beautiful teeth or have to clean up their faces, while others do. The former set of people grief and wear the flaws of their heart around. But no matter that they do not shed tears, when you see them, agony has shown all over them.

Stanley Elkin, in his “Criers & Kibitzers, Kibitzers & Criers”, writes that there’s something comforting, almost soothing, about realism, and it has nothing to do with shocks of recognition — well it wouldn’t, since shocks never console — or even with the familiarity that breeds content so much that the realistic world of literature is the one that always makes sense from a certain perspective even in its bum deals and tragedies, inasmuch as it plays — even showboats and grandstands — to our passion for reason.

He goes further to write that the realistic tradition presumes to deal, he means, with cause and effect, with some deep need in readers — in all of us — for justice, with the demand for the explicable reap/sow benefits (or punishments), with the law of just desserts… and Nature’s organic

bookkeeping. And since form fits and follows function, style is instructed not to make waves but merely to tag along, easy as pie, taking in everything that can be seen along the way but not much more and nothing at all of what isn’t immediately available to the naked eye.

As I have shown above, we can see that the world is full of inscrutabilities and things that can be investigated. It is a world of amour, but it is left for the individuals to grasp the life that the world gives or not. The world is a place replaced with anger, antipathy and hurt, which a lot of people are holding unto. It is a world that it is impossible to be angry and laugh at the same time.

This is why I chose the World, Laughers and Criers, as my motto.

Those who may be crying today may not be those who will be laughing tomorrow. The hardship and success of the world are not static. They are monumental, as far as the world is concerned.

It is our right and obligation to separate laughter and pain, pleasantry and catastrophe, funniness and damage. We must know that the World is stronger than Laughers and Criers, just as imagination is stronger than knowledge and, myth is more compelling than history. I chose my motto with the three words, because I have a belief that dreams are more persuasive than facts and, experience will never prevail against hope. I have a belief that laughter is the only cure for sorrow, but both complement each other for the world’s growth.

Odimegwu Onwumere via apoet_25@yahoo.com

Before Akpabio is crucified

By Joseph Okon

O

rdinarily, the Amendment of Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law amendment bill passed by Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly which received Governor Godswill Akpabio’s assent ought not to have hugged the headlines orif the action was taken in another state other than Akwa Ibom. We say this taking into cognizance that similar laws have been passed by other States’ legislatures in the country and yet they did not attract media hysteria and opprobrium that the one done in Akwa Ibom is currently eliciting.

Those criticizing the amended law should do so from a position of knowledge and not from the point of ignorance of the facts as contained in the law. For the avoidance of doubts, the law is never meant to enrich any former governor or deputy governor as being insinuatedby a section of the media. It is common knowledge that the media hoopla that greeted the amended pension law stemmed from misunderstanding of the facts and further amplified by the virulent opposition in the state that will never see anything good in Akpabio’s administration. In fact, the drama over the pension

law cannot be divorced from the 2015 politics in the state. We shall return to this theme shortly in the article.

It is unfortunate that the amended pension law in the state has been largely misunderstood and even misinterpreted by a section of the media. The law as explained by the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Sam Ikon, is not a new law. The law was first enacted in 2000 by former governor, Obong Victor Attah, and was later amended by the same administration in 2006.

Ikon also explained that the latest amendment to the law was due to a lacuna in the old law which was open-ended on several provisions particularly medical expenses for former governors and deputy governors.

As a result of this lacuna, Ikon continues, the House decided to put a ceiling to the medical expenses of the affected political office holders. The Speaker further observed that experience showed that former governors and deputy governors could expend several hundreds of millions of naira on medical bills without infringing on the provisions of the law hence the amendment.

With the latest amendment, an expenditure ceiling of N100

million for medical treatment for former governors and N50 million for former deputy governors has been put in place.

Ikon explained that the money can only be paid directly to the health institutions involved in the medicare of the respective persons and are not accessed by or paid to former governors or former deputy governors directly as being bandied in the media. If a governor or a deputy governor is not ill, this law cannot be activated and the money cannot be spent. In order words, the medical allowance cannot be paid to the governors or the deputy governors. The allotted medicalexpenditure is like a health insurance cover that only the healthcare providercan be paid from.

The only innovation in the new law, according to the Speaker, is that N1 million is provided in the law as monthly medical allowance for surviving spouses of former governors.

Besides, the law provides that a former governor should be entitled to at least one unit of a 5-bedroom house in Uyo or Abuja and 300 percent annual basic salary as rent for former deputy governor in addition to salaries and allowances for their personal aides. The law also states that former governors

can get 300 percent of the basic salary of incumbent governor for yearly maintenance and fuel allowance as stipulated by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission(RMFAC).

With these explanations from the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, it is obvious that Akwa Ibom State has not done what other states in the federation have not done in respect of pension for exgovernors and deputy governors and stipulated aides. The only difference is that Akwa Ibom own was ab initio very much misunderstood, misinterpreted and sensationalized.

Indeed, what the House of Assembly has done is not different from what Rivers State House of Assembly did in 2012 under the watch of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

That of Rivers State hugged the headlines then but not as sensationalized like the one of Akwa Ibom.

The new pension law which intends to streamline existing one and close the gap for siphoning of state funds should be commended and not vilified.

This amendment does not call for the bashing and pillorying of a performing governor or members of the State House of Assembly for doing what is right by putting

a ceiling to what has been a drain pipe for public funds. Therefore, the media hysteria that attended the law is uncalled for.

Before Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio is crucified for no just cause, let the pension law of all states in the country as relates to the governors and deputy governors be made public for a detailed comparative analysis. Isolating one state for condemnation is not right in a democratic dispensation more so when it is a mere amendment to an existing law and meant to save costs. Let media practitioners be circumspect in their criticisms and do so from point of knowledge and understanding of the issues involved. They owe the public a duty to give them the right and correct information on any issue in discourse.

As members of the fourth estate of the realm, journalists should always verify their facts before publishing. Even public commentators are not immune from this fact check procedure either. Therefore let it be stated clearly that the Akwa Ibom State amended pension law for governors and deputy governors is not meant to enrich the political officer holders as being reported in the media.

Joseph Okon is on linkedIn

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 15

Comment The Children’s Day message to Dame Patience Jonathan

By Joy Bello

I

n line with the general mood of the nation, this year’s Children’s Day was on May 27 without the usual funfair when the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame (Dr.) Patience Faka Jonathan, hosted children in the State House, Abuja. The young people present used the opportunity of the occasion to express their views and unburden their minds to the First Lady. An ancient African proverb states that, “One of the greatest gifts you can give to children is the patience of a listening ear.” This gift was generously offered to the children as Dame Jonathan sat with rapt attention, listening to the words expressed by child after child.

It is hard not to be philosophical because at times, the most perceptive remarks and uncanny wisdom comes from the simple purity of a child’s mind. The children spoke freely, sometimes emotionally and as

children often do, they asked questions such as: “Do we not all worship the same God?” “Does any religion ask adults to hurt or kill children?” “Why is Boko Haram kidnapping our innocent sisters?” “If we were not educated, would we be able to make the guns and cars that Boko Haram makes use of?” Their questions were as numerous as their appeal to the insurgent group – “Please let our sisters in your captivity come home; please Boko Haram, let us go to school so that we can have an education and contribute to our communities; Boko Haram, please stop killing us.”

A letter written by some children to Boko Haram was read out by a child representative. The passionate appeal to the militant sect to release the Chibok schoolgirls left many who listened, enveloped with emotion.

The letter was subsequently presented to the First Lady who promised to ensure it gets to the National Security Adviser or the Chief of Defence Staff, “Who will

submit your letter accordingly.”

One of the significant features of the celebration was a special sitting of the National Children’s Parliament, with children representing their various Federal constituencies in attendance. The young parliamentarians at times spoke far beyond the wisdom of their years. They came with the message of hope, peace, and unity. Their discourse centered on current national issues. At the end of the deliberations, their resolutions were presented to the First Lady for onward delivery to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The young parliamentarians resolved, among others, that Federal Government should set up a Safety Assurance Committee that will be tasked with assuring the children of government’s commitment to child safety in Nigeria and their role to ensure safety.

Also, in view of the security

challenges, they resolved that all public and private schools nationwide should be properly fenced and their premises adequately secured, while there should be training for Child Protection Officers as experts to be deployed to all schools to complement the efforts of the Police and Army.

In order for individuals of different faiths to better appreciate one another so as to prevent religious misunderstanding, the young parliamentarians resolved that Federal Government should consider the establishment of a Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs that will have the mandate of sensitizing and creating awareness of religious issues, which will help to further unite all religious sects in Nigeria. All of the resolutions passed reflected the concerns of young school children.

The First Lady used the occasion to counsel the youth, stressing that it was the right of every child to go to school.

She observed that it is only

by acquiring education that children will be able to realize their dreams and contribute meaningfully to the nation.

Dame Jonathan, who is an indefatigable proponent of peaceful coexistence, repeated her appeal for peace across the length and breadth of Nigeria. “We desire peace in our communities, we desire peace in our local governments, we desire peace in our states and we desire peace in our nation” she declared.

The 2014 Children’s Day hosted by the First Lady was a priceless demonstration of the children’s rights to freedom of expression. As they spoke, their voices resonated; they expressed themselves movingly and shared the essence of their youthful wisdom. Listening to them, one could easily recall the old Gaelic saying, “Blessed is childhood, which brings down blessings from heaven into the midst of our rough earthliness.”

Joy Bello is on Twitter:@ joybello

The Boko Haram videos

By Michael Egbejumi-David

A

s Boko Haram sadly dominates our lives, all manner of views and theories abound. And that is how it should be. We have to allow for all shades of opinion as we try to make sense of the calamity that has been forced upon our country. But I think that in all of this, the goals of the terrorists must not escape our minds. One of the chief objectives of terrorist organizations is to spread panic and disharmony amongst people. It is left for the rest of us to remain alert and to be so astute that we do not play into the hands of the terror traders.

One of the theories I find difficult to understand is the idea that the federal government is actually orchestrating all the mayhem in parts of the country; that the government is killing its citizens, slaughtering villagers and children in large numbers for some incoherent political gains. As hard as I have looked at this school of thought, I just don’t see its merit. It seems illogical, garbed in too much sentimentalism, and the reward to the federal government is all in the negatives. It is not like this is an illegal military dictatorship that is going after dissenting political voices or individuals. This is mass killing of completely innocent people.

Although, the government has got to stop obsessing about re-election and enemies at the gate so some people don’t keep

questioning its motives – real or imagined.

However, there is sabotage and skulduggery within the ranks of the security forces.

There has to be; otherwise, I don’t see how Boko Haram could remain so successful for so long. They always seem to be at least two steps ahead of the government and always seem to find their way past curfewed and locked-down areas leisurely – driving in long convoys, singing off key and probably smoking cigars. Another thing I am struggling with the ongoing insurgency is the prominence being given to video releases by the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. I am not sure what benefits accrue to the general public from regular broadcast of these videos. Yes,

“

those videos are important to the security forces and I’m sure that they are doing the needful by them. However, I don’t see any benefit of showing us, the general public, the odious, hallucinatory face of this criminal. Apart from his mug spoiling my dinner, I don’t think any other purpose is served at all.

What regular showing of those videos does is garner for the perverts cheap publicity and I think that should be denied them. As it is with the fat boy in North Korea, that publicity and ‘notice me’ is their life blood and I think that should be cut off. Do that and hopefully this urchin will slink back into the dross from where he emerged.

By the way, how are these videos hosted? Which domain

holds them online? Someone is obviously editing these nauseating messages. So much for hatred of Western education and technology, eh?

Of course the Security agencies should have complete access to the videos and other forms of messages from the terrorists. I think the security agencies should then liaise with the public at large or with particular persons (i.e., the parents of the missing school girls) only as relevant. The media could work in close collaboration with the security forces in this regard. I know there might be the temptation to argue that such videos being made public perhaps serves the purpose of getting messages across. But we know that there are other more ‘insider’ channels

However, there is sabotage and skulduggery within the ranks of the security forces. There has to be; otherwise, I don’t see how Boko Haram could remain so successful for so long. They always seem to be at least two steps ahead of the government and always seem to find their way past curfewed and locked-down areas leisurely – driving in long convoys, singing off key and probably smoking cigars. Another thing I am struggling with the ongoing insurgency is the prominence being given to video releases by the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

I am not sure what benefits accrue to the general public from regular broadcast of these videos

of getting such messages to government as has been done several times in the past.

Furthermore, in some quarters – especially within the military – it is believed that the original Shekau has been killed, dispatched to a celibate Hades a long while ago. It could be possible therefore that we are now looking at a Shekau, mark 2.

The original Shekau is thought to be older and more genteel than his present day druggedout, inarticulate reincarnation.

Really, I’d rather not see any more Boko Haram video and publicity stunts. One of their more recent ones talked about swapping a number of kidnapped girls for captured Boko killers. That just ruined my dinner even more. It was all I could do to stop myself from hauling my small stout at the television screen. But I didn’t; the price of Guinness has gone up.

Imagine that: Boko Haram wants to swap innocent, noncombatant school girls for their brethrens in various lock-downs nationwide. My instinct of course is that the government shouldn’t even give this any serious consideration. I mean, it will just open the floodgates to all manners of perversion and unimaginable levels of criminality in the country, wouldn’t it? But…would this remain my position if I were a parent of one of the abducted girls?

Michael Egbedemdem@ hotmail.co.uk

PAGE 16

Gwagwalada market chair tasks traders on security

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he newly elected chairman of the Gwagwalada main market Traders Association, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaj iNuru Mohammed Rimi, has charged traders to security conscious while carrying out their activities in the market.

He advised the traders to be on the alert at all times especially during transactions with their customers, saying that security should be everybody’s business.

The Chairman gave the charge, after he and other officials of association were sworn-in, to pilot the affairs of the association for four years.

He said that his administration would gear towards the welfare of the traders in the market, adding that his leadership would join hands with the government of Gwagwalada Area Council to move the market to a greater height.

He however, pleaded with the developers of the market to provide social amenities such as electricity, water as well as rehabilitation of roads to fast track development in the market.

Meanwhile, while performing the swearing-in ceremony, Barrister Suleiman Umaru, who administered the oath of office, urged the executives to carry their members along in the scheme of things.

He also charged the officials to give priority attention to the security of their members in the market, at all times.

He appealed to the officials not to allow the Okada riders as well as motorists to pack indiscriminately especially in the entrance of the market to guarantee the safety of the people in the area.

Similarly, the Chairman of Kuje main market Traders Association in the FCT, Alhaj iYunusa Isah, urged the new officials of the Gwagwalada market, to partner with the law enforcement agencies to safeguard the lives and property in the market.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Allocation: Area councils share N1.7bn for May

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he sum of 1, 176.3 billion naira was shared among the six area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as net balance of the nation’s capital N2.506bn total allocation for the month of May. The amount which represents over 47 percent of the total sum of its total allocation for the month was shared by the FCT Joint Account Allocation

Committee (JAAC), after statutory deductions of various sums amounting to N1.3bn.

A breakdown of the sharing, shows that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) received the highest sum of N272.7m; Bwari got N194.9m, followed

by Gwagwalada which received N187.1m; Kuje got N178.9m while Kwali and Abaji received N172.0m and N170.5m, respectively.

Addressing newsmen on the allocation, the Assistant Director,

FCT-Head of Funds, Jimoh Abiodun, said the amounts was a blend of revenue from the federal statutory allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT); statutory 10 percent of the Territory’s Internally generated revenue (IGR), Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), for the month of April and May. He said the statutory deductions are for Primary school Teachers Funds; 15% pension funds: 1% Training funds; Health

A Plantain merchant loading her goods after a purchase from the hinterland, yesterday in Karishi, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Medical expert calls for increased tax on cigarette

By Usman Shuaibu

A

medical expert with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Ummulkhulthum Bajoga, has called on the government to deem it necessary to increase tax on cigarette, so as to reduce the level of smoking among the youths and adults in the Territory and the country at

large.

Bajoga, who made the call in an interview with newsmen, after presenting a paper entitled “Smoking and the Youth” at an occasion to commemorate the2014 World No Tobacco Day, noted that smoking was a common cause of death all over the world.

The event was organised by the Association of Public Health

Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) in Gwagwalada, FCT. She urgedmedical professionals to continue preaching against smoking among the people, pointing out that smoking is very dangerous to our health.

While advising the youths to desist from smoking of any kind of tobacco, as it has negative effects on them, she

Mother, son in court over assault

T

he police have arraigned a mother, Theresa Idris, and her son, Abdulhameed, before a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ court, Abuja, for alleged assault and criminal intimidation.

Theresa, 51, and Abduhameed, 30, both of Block 16, Flat 95, CBN Quarters, Abuja, were alleged to have assaulted and intimidated

Insurance Contribution Funds; Arrears of LEA teachers; 7.5% employer pension contribution; Sanitation contribution and Immunization plus- day, for the Month of June.

The latest net balance for the month of May is 40 percent less the amount of N1.948bn shared by the councils in the previous month (April).

“After the deductions we have a total of N1.3bn, which has taken care of the mandatory deductions, leaving a net balance of the sum of N1.176.3bn as net allocations to the Councils,” he explained.

Except for withholding of assent by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will henceforth collect tax on every property, with the exception of those owned by government or its agencies in the city.

It would be recalled that the Senate had on Tuesday passed a Bill sponsored by the chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Smart Adeyemi, establishing FCT Inland Revenue Board, after its third reading.

The Bill, except for withholding of assent by President Goodluck Jonathan, FCT Administration will henceforth collect tax on every property, with the exception of those owned by government or its agencies in the city. It aims at generating revenue for the development of the Territory.

the complainant through series of text messages.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, told the court that on May 21, at about 4.30 a.m., one Mr. Abu Idris of No. 26, Contonou Crescent, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, lodged a report at the police station.

Adamu said that between October and May, the accused

had been threatening the complainant and his family with series of text messages.

The prosecutor informed the court that the offences contravened sections 263 and 397 of the Penal code respectively.

The accused persons, if convicted, could be punished with a term which might extend to two years or fine.

However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor prayed the court to grant him a date to open the case against the accused.

The counsel for the accused, Mr. Bernard Afu, prayed the court to grant his clients bail in liberal term for the matter was a family affair.

Afu further informed the

however pleaded with students in the tertiary institutions to join tobacco free clubs in schools, to enable them to know the benefits of quitting smoking.

On his part, the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Bawa Abimuku, who is also the chairman of Nigeria Cancer Society, also frowned at the current high level of tobacco smoking in the Society. court that the complainant was husband to the second accused and father to the first accused.

The Magistrate, Ms Binta Dogonyaro, granted the accused bail for N20, 000 and a surety each.

Dogonyaro said that the surety must have a reliable means of livelihood and be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, with traceable address.

The magistrate adjourned the matter until July 21 for hearing.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 17

Metro

A cobbler polishes a client’s shoes, yesterday at Garki village, in Abuja.

Young girls hawking groundnut, yesterday in Utako District of Abuja.

A tailor doing what he knows best, yesterday in Nyanya.

A tailor mending clothes, yesterday at Kubwa, in Abuja.

Traditional drummers entertaining guests at the inauguration of education centre of excellence, recently in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Metro

Creation of FCT Revenue Board will ensure optimal services to residents – Director INTERVIEW How does operate?

FCT

Audit

T

here are two categories of auditors. The internal auditors’ resident in the Satellite Development Areas (SDAs) and area councils carry out daily activities of the Administration. It is a continuous exercise; because they carry out pre-payment audit, financial records, financial operations and other areas. But as for the FCT Audit,quarterly, we go out for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) audit. We have broken it down to monthly now, following the directive of the Honourable minister of the FCT. Again, by the end of the year, we look at the financial record, with the view tocertify and give our report annually. We also give special report which can come up anytime. Since we have Special Investigation Unit, we can look at any area we deem fit at any time and if we notice any problem; like a Medical Doctor, if we diagnose any malignant or disease, we will go ahead to recommend drugs to be administered and you can be sure that our recommendation will certainly bring cure.

How would you assess the performance of the department under the administration of FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed?

The Administration of

In this interview with some journalists, the Director, Audit Department, of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Alhaji Awwal Musa Abdullahi, believes that the establishment of FCT Revenue Board will help theFCT Administration to harness resources and optimize revenue generation for the benefit of residents of the Territory. He also touches on other sundry issues affecting the workings of the department. Stanley Onyekwere was there. Excerpts: Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mahammed, the Kauran Bauchi has really changed FCT Audit.

The Minister has never stopped supporting us. He has instilled confidence in the staff and we are grateful to him. The Minister has brought FCT to a certain level. As I speak, we have full complement of staff to go round the FCT to carry out all the activities. I want to beg the FCT Management to look at Order 1 of 2004 once again, so that we can properly place FCT on a better path .Because we have been having challenges from external bodies, such as Auditor General Office, EFFC and other relevant bodies that have mandate in FCT. Since I came to FCT audit

Alhaji Awwal Musa Abdullahi from Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and Federal Capital Development

“

Infact, we need FCT Revenue Board to harness our resources and optimise revenue generation so that we can get all that we suppose to get to enable us render full and optimal services to the residents of FCT

Authority (FCDA) which are covered in the FCT law of 1976,no other Agency in the FCT has a law backing them.

Infact, we need FCT Revenue Board to harness our resources and optimisze revenue generation so that we can get all that we suppose to get to enable us render full and optimal services to the residents of FCT. I expect FCT to run around to ensure that the Audit Committees in the Senate and House of Representatives are given certain powers to enact laws and to ensure that provisions are

made in a way that they can go in any time without deliberations to bring out laws just like Public Account Committee (PAC).

Sometimes, people called me Mr. Due Process. But I don’t always agree with them. Because I always insist on doing what is in line with extant rules and regulations and also because I always ensure that what the Administration gives to the Department is used for the purpose it is meant for.

How do you strike a balance between your hectic working schedule and relaxation?

Truly speaking, for anybody who has reached certain level in service, it is not easy. You have to keep working,even in your dream and bed. Sometimes, even in vehicle, I keep working, whenever I come from operations, straight away I will commence work.

Sometimes, I even carry files home to work on them. So I don’t really have time to relax. And since the Honourable minister is somebody that pushes you to do your best and breathe is always on your throat. Anytime, you think you are finished, another work comes and so with the complexity of FCT, you don’t really have time to rest.

Housewife defrauds applicants using forged FCDA letters, Witness tells court

A

prosecution witness has told a Chief Magistrates’ court, Karu, Abuja, of how one Roseline Ojo allegedly forged employment letters of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to defraud two job seekers of N300, 000.

Ojo, a housewife, was arraigned by the police on February 13 on two counts of criminal conspiracy and forgery, which she denied.

Led in evidence by the

Prosecutor, Mr. Atteh Effiong, the witness, Insp. Hassandy Waziri, who was the Investigative Police Officer (IPO), identified the two victims as Peter Iduh and David Edache.

He said; “a case of criminal conspiracy and forgery was transferred from Garki Police Station to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for proper investigation.

“We were briefed that two job seekers, Iduh and Edache, were arrested with fake

employment letters stating that they were administrative staff of FCDA. “Investigation into the matter revealed that the signed letters, which were issued on the FCDA letterhead, originated from the accused, and that she collected the sum of N150, 000 each from her victims.’’

According to him, further investigation reveals that the accused conspired with her brother, who is now at large, to commit the crime.

A search was carried out on the accused person’s apartment where police investigators found nine other fake letters of employment.

“Among the fake letters of employment, was one bearing the accused person’s name and the sum of N300, 000 was also recovered from her,’’ Waziri further alleged.

The prosecutor then tendered a written statement allegedly made by the accused at the station, the fake letters

and the N300,000 recovered from her as exhibits.

The exhibits were admitted by the court.

Counsel to the accused, Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwunyere, asked the court for a short adjournment to enable her to prepare herself for cross-examination of the IPO. After listening to the testimony, Chief Magistrate Hadiza Shagari adjourned the case until June 17, for crossexamination by the counsel to the accused. (NAN)

Car wash attendant bags 90 days for stealing N3,500

A

Senior Magistrates’ court sitting in Life Camp, Abuja, yesterday sentenced a car wash attendant, Isah Ibrahim, 18, to 90 days in prison for stealing N3,500 from an unpainted cab operator.

Ibrahim, who is resides at Kado Village in Abuja, was

charged with theft.

The senior magistrate, Mr AbdullahiIllelah, sentenced Ibrahim after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He, however, gave him an option of N3.000 fine.

The senior magistrate said, “Though the accused person

admitted committing the crime and did not waste the time of the court, he must punished.’’

He advised him to avoid indulging in criminal acts at such young age.

Earlier, the prosecutor, PC Odigiri Onah, told the court that one Mr. Solomon Tama of SMA

House in Jabi, Abuja, lodged a complaint against the convict at the Life Camp Police Station on May 22.

Onah said on the same date, at about 5 p.m. after the complainant dropped around Kado Estate roundabout, he discovered that Ibrahim had

stolen his wallet.

He said the wallet contained the sum of N3, 500, an indigene form and an identity card.

The prosecutor said during police investigation the accused confessed that he committed the offence but refused to produce the stolen items. (NAN)

PAGE 19

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

INSIDE

etuka2012@gmail.com/meetetus@rocketmail.com 08066605655,08182721672

Jang NGF charges new CBN governor on patriotism -Pg 20

Power: Senate urges NERC on more stringent enforcement -Pg 21 L-R; Chairman, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Ledum Mitee, Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Down Stream), Hon. Dakuku Peterside, and Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu during a one-day interactive enlightenment workshop on Petroleum Industry Bill, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Tourism: FCTA to spend N334bn on Jabi Lake

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n its efforts to boost tourism in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is spending a whooping sum of over N334 billion (about 2 billion US Dollars), to develop the Ultra-Modern Jabi Lake Resort in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who made this disclosure when he received the Executive members of Nigeria Young Professionals Forum, who paid him a courtesy call, in Abuja, said the Administration in partnership with private investors has already

commenced development of the resort.

According to the minister, when the resort is completed it would take Abuja to the next level in promoting tourism, and by extension generating the required revenue to augment budgetary allocation from the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government has made a lot of investment in the FCT by providing seed money and now the time has come for the FCT Administration to create institutions, structures in terms of legal framework to leverage on private funding by way of competition to take Abuja to the next level.

“The FCT Administration

has received marching order from President Goodluck Jonathan to build human capital and institution as well as partnership in accordance with the global best practice.

“Conscious of the need to promote tourism, the FCT Administration gave priority to the on-going construction of the Abuja Millennium Towers at the Central Business District where work at the site has reached an appreciable stage of completion,” a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, quoted the minister.

He added that government was presently considering

Katsina IGR now stands at N800m monthly From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Katsina state government said that its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from N200 million to N800 million per month.

The commissioner of finance, Alhaji Lawal Jari disclosed this on Tuesday in Katsina at the commissioning of the permanent office of Salih Barau Tax Consultants, named ‘Karimatu House’.

The company was employed by the state government into the service of revenue generation.

The commissioner stressed the importance of revenue generation to the development of any nation, saying that the state government would continue to attach great importance to tax collection.

Jari said that would enable the government to finance its expenditure and provide more dividends of democracy to people of the state.

He explained that the state government wanted to reach N1 billion revenue monthly before the end of the year.

Jari urged people of the state to continue to pay their taxes as and when due to enable the government

provides services to people.

In his remarks, the Managing Partner, Alhaji Salih Barau said that about 80 per cent of the revenue generated monthly comes from Board of Internal Revenue.

He particularly urged the ministry of lands and survey, and agencies to intensify efforts toward improving revenue generation because they have a lot of opportunities to change their current revenue profile.

Barau assured that to reach the target of N1 billion and abve with the continued support of tax payers and revenue generation bodies in the state.

collaboration and partnership with competent private investors to complete the multi billion Naira landmark project.

Mohammed therefore urged the Forum to use its contacts across the globe to woo investors to come and invest in Abuja; saying that Abuja is a haven for genuine investors.

Speaking earlier, Forum, Moses Siloko Siasia, said the Forum is yearning for positive change and called for partnership with the FCT Administration.

The Chairman called for support to enable the Forum take the drivers’ seat to bring about the much-needed development of the entire country.

SMEDAN: Showcasing Nigeria’s investment opportunities -Pg 22

Exchange Rates CBN as at 5th JUNE, 2014 Buying

Selling

$

154.7

155.74

€

256.94

258.60

£

212.44

213.81

Riyal

41.25

41.52

YEN

1.49

1.50

CFA

0.30

0.32

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY Boost performance by managing mindfully

M

indfulness is the process of actively noticing new things. Paying attention to what’s going on around you, instead of operating on autopilot, can reduce stress, unlock creativity, and boost performance.

To be more mindful and encourage the practice within your team: • Make not knowing okay.

Encourage your team to ask, “Why? What are the benefits of doing it this way versus another way?” Such questioning helps you recognize and take advantage of

new opportunities.

• Imagine that your thoughts are completely transparent. If they were, you wouldn’t think awful things about other people; you’d find a way to understand their perspectives.

• Remember that stress comes from how you look at events, not from the events themselves. If you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, question the belief that you’re the only one who can do a task or that there’s only one way to do it.

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Business Anti-tobacco group calls for high taxes on tobacco From Ayodele Samuel and Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

N

igeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has called on the Federal government to use high taxes as an imperative measures to reduced and clap down tobacco intake among Nigerians.

According to the group, it said Nigeria is one of the few countries that tobacco’s products like cigarette is sold at a cheaper price saying Nigeria needs to use taxes on tobacco product to levels that reduced tobacco consumption.

Speaking at press briefing to mark the 2014 World No Tobacco Day with the theme “Raise Tobacco Taxes” held yesterday in Lagos, The Alliance Manager of NTCA, Mr Gbenga Ajuwon said raising the tax on tobacco will be a good avenue to generate funds by the Nigerian government.

“We strongly believe that the Nigeria government will be contributing to protecting present and future generations not only from devastating health consequences due to tobacco, but also from the social, environmental and economic scourges of exposure to tobacco by increasing taxes on tobacco products and then channeling generated funds into treating patients of tobacco-induced illness and other illnesses that currently lacks adequate funding.

“The recommendation on increasing taxes is a key endorsement of a WHO research which confirmed that higher taxes are especially effective in reducing tobacco use among lower-income groups and preventing young people from starting to smoke. A tax increase that jerks up tobacco prices by 10% decreases tobacco consumption by about 4% in high income countries and by up to 8% in most low and middle income countries.

“Furthermore, increasing excise taxes on tobacco is considered to be the most cost-effective tobacco control measure. A recent WHO report also indicted that a 50% increase in tobacco excise taxes would generate a little more than $1.4 billion in additional funds in 22 low-income countries. If allocated to health, government health spending in these countries could increase by up to 50%.” Adejuwon said.

He later urged the National Assembly to fastrack work on the repackaged National Tobacco Control Bill saying no time is too short to act rightly in saving the lives of Nigerians.

He said, “It is in the light of the above that we are urging the National Assembly to fasttrack work on the repackaged National Tobacco Control Bill. We commend the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for heeding the cries of Nigerians expressed either on the pages of newspapers, on radio and television and recent poll by the NOIPolls Limited which confirmed that 9 out of every 10 Nigerians sampled demand tough legislation to stop BATN and other tobacco transnationals gambling with our lives and that

Benue Scholarship Board decries Keystone Bank’s obnoxious act in disbursing

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

T

he executive secretary, Benue State Scholarship Board Mr. Solomon Tor Gba has frowned at the attitude of Keystone bank in frustrating the payment of scholarship funds to students of tertiary institutions in the State.

Mr. Solomon who made this lamentation during an interaction with newsmen in Makurdi yesterday, said while

two other banks, Fidelity Bank and First Monumental Banks are cooperating with the board in disbursing funds to the students, keystone Bank has remained insistence in withholding one thousand naira out of the five thousand naira paid to the students.

“I have passionately appealed to them to stop this and even reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police and the State Security Services, SSS who

invited the bank officials but they remained adamant. These are students why should they withhold their money, it is unfair”, he said.

He added that the board has over N13 million with Keystone, intimating that it would soon stop remittance of scholarship funds to the bank.

The board boss explained that the introduction of e-payment of scholarship funds has gone a long way in checking fraud which hitherto was associated with the

board. This is even as he decried the manner the immediate past leadership of National Union of Benue State Students led by its president Matthew Mamwoo embezzled the sum of N13 million meant for the local chapters of the union across the country.

“There is a lot of mischief by the students. Some use fictitious names and different universities to collect money. This is what we are trying to check and we are bent on doing this”, Tor Gba maintained.

L-R: Consultant, Orlean Investment, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, Communication Manager, Intels, Mr. Kalio Daeretaka- Harcourt, Special Project Manager, Intels, Mr. Chibuisi Onyebueke, Crown Prince, Onne Kingdom, Prince Obarijima Osaronu, and Government and Public Relations Manager, Intels, Mr. Rexford Asaikpuka, during the presentation of Onne historical books by the crown prince, during a visit by the officials of Orlean Investment, on Monday in Onne, Rivers state.

Kwara business coalition seeks huge fund for private sector From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara State Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (KWACOBPA) has urged the state government to make huge sum of fund available for it members in private sector as revolving loan to boost economy of the state and reduced unemployment.

The Coalition noted that out of the total population of 2,365,353 of Kwara State, the state government only employed 14,500 into civil service leaving others at the mercy of private sector.

KWACOBPA Chairman,Chief Hezekiah Oladipo Adediji

who stated this during a press conference on Wednesday in Ilorin said small and medium scales enterprises were not having access to soft loans to expand their businesses and employ the largest unemployed number population of the state.

Adediji said what the coalition want is loan scheme for his members which will involve Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), that will be monitor and corrupt free, stressing that the loan should be repay with one digit interest rate.

“KWACOBPA believes that the proposed credit scheme will provide more access to finance

by SMEs in Kwara State and

increase business activities which will in turn translate into more employment, reduction of crime rates and increased revenue for development of the state.

“The scheme will ensure proper registration of Businesses in the State for inclusion in the tax net.”

The Coalition Chairman explained that they would seek for permanent legislation in the state to ensure the loan scheme policy is not jettisoned by new governments for political reasons.

The Coalition which includes 21 professional bodies and business associations noted that in 2012, a German Technical

Corporation Agency (GIZ) undertook a comprehensive survey of 685 business entities in five states, Plateau, Oyo, Niger, Kwara and Ogun state.

“The outcome of the Enterprise Baseline Survey (EBS 2012) revealed that in Kwara State,lack of access to finance is the second most critical obstacle to business expansion after power”.

The Coalition lamented over the rate of corruption in micro finance loans to SMS in the state stressing that at a time when N250 million were to disbursed out, less than N100 million were distributed while the remaining disappear along the line.

Jang NGF charges new CBN governor on patriotism

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) led by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has charged the newly appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the need to put the interest of the nation first.

The Forum also called on him

to make the nation, the people of Nigeria and the government he is serving his top priorities as he assumes duties as the boss of the apex bank.

NGF, in a statement by its administrator, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, encouraged the new CBN governor to stay faithful to the roles and functions of his job while also admonishing him to

beware of those who may want to use their relationship with him for personal gain rather than for collective good.

The statement further said the governors of the forum were looking forward to working with Emefiele and hope his vision for the CBN will be one that will encourage fiscal responsibility in both the public and private sectors

and usher in an era that will enhance the growth of small and medium scale enterprise through policies that will encourage lending to this sector by commercial banks.

NGF also asked Nigerians and those in the relevant sectors in particular to support the CBN Governor in his new role with a view to ensuring monetary stability for the common good.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 21

Business Power: Senate urges NERC on more stringent enforcement

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Senate Committee on Privatisation has urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to be more stringent in the enforcement of rules.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Olugbenga Obadara who made the call when the committee paid an oversight visit to the commission said that the Commissions needs to wheel the big stick to make sure rules are followed.

Senator Olugbenga Obadara said that the committee was well aware of the enormity of the job before the Commission, pointing out that NERC is the bridge between the operators and the people.

He asserted that the committee believes wholeheartedly in the privatisation exercise and want to ensure that it doesn’t go the way of other reforms in the past. He suggested that it will be helpful to “think out of the box” for solutions to some of the problems facing the sector.

Also speaking, the Chairman/ CEO of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, represented by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Muhammed Lawal Bello, commended the members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation for giving them the necessary support to complete the huge transactions that ushered in the privatized electricity market, stating that, “...there was no reference point before this. The issue now is to pursue the reform to make sure it succeeds”.

A statement by the Head,

Public Affairs Department, NERC, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi quoted the NERC Vice-Chairman to have reassured the members of the committee that NERC was doing everything in its power to find solutions.

He also informed them on the open and transparent discussions that the Commission holds monthly with the Chief Executive Officers of the Generation and Distribution companies in order to proactively deal with any issues that arise that could detrimentally affect the electricity sector reform.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Bravo Group, Greg Boulle, Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Peju Adebajo, and Operation Executive Africa, Bravo Group, Roger Little, during the birth of Belimi Limited and grand launch of Sealy posturepedic mattress, on Monday in Lagos.

NBC reschedules Jos digital campaign flag-off to June 30

By Chris Alu

T

he National Broadcasting Commission NBC has postponed the flagging -off mobilization campaign of the analogue television broadcasting switch over to digital terrestrial television, earlier scheduled on June 5th in Jos plateau state,it has now been reschedule for 30th of June.

Speaking to Peoples Daily Correspondent on Phone, the NBC Head of Media and publicity, Alhaji Awwalu Salihu, said that the flag-off ceremony was postponed due to the security situation that bedeviled the state capital recently.

According to him, the plateau state governor, Jonah Jang who is the chief host after several meeting with the NBC boss Frank Mba resolved to postponed the date and shift it to 30th of June, in order to enable the present situation calm down.

He explained that the present security situation was not ripped for such event to take place,adding that the new date would be overtaking by other event therefore allowing the programme to be successful.

Salihu said that the mobilization campaign was to test the digital television switch over so as to enhance multiple viewing in a digital arena.

He said that the commission

selected the city of Jos because it was the first to test the analogue television and that several equipment have been installed in preparation for the switch over test in order to give satisfaction to the people.

Salihu also said that after the jos test, equipment would be install in other test centers from different parts of the country, to ensure a hitch free digital switch over next year June 17.

He said the massive orientation campaign is in collaboration with state governors, government agencies, institutions as well as other parastatals such as, Environmental Protection Agency, National

Orientation Agency so as to sensitise Nigerians on how to connect to the digital television via set up boxes .

He said that the federal government had already placed a ban on analogue television sets importation into the country, in preparation for the digital switch over, and assured Nigerians that Government would do anything to ensure that the country,s switch over date is realized in June 2015.

He also said that the commission was already working alongside international satellite providers with Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), to provide satellite communications as well as Etisalat on various services.

Oteh applauds EAX over support to small farmers

By Clem Khena-Ogbena

D

irector General, Securities and Exchnage Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh has commended the East African Exchange ( EAX)for supporting smallholder farmers, in order to reduce their post-harvest losses as well as improve their income and progress made in linking commodity markets across the East African Community area.

A statement from the Commission said Oteh gave the commendation when a delegation from SEC paid a visit to the East Africa Exchange (EAX), during the 49th Annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meetings in Kigali,

Rwanda, last week. She also expressed delight at the activities of EAX in promoting cross-border trade across the region.

Oteh who called in, according to the statement, to acquaint her group with the Exchange’s operations as well as witness the progress the Exchange has made, since it began operations in 2013, stressed that Nigeria had a similar effort. She added that the two countries could share common experiences.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the EAE, Mr. Paul Kukubo, who briefed the delegation on the Exchange’s current activities in Rwanda and expansion strategies for the East

African region, explained the Exchange’s regional focus and launching of new offices in Kenya and Uganda.

Kukubo also explained that the Rwandan government had recently made available thirteen warehouses located in several grain production sites of the country, in support of farmer cooperative groups.

The statement further said that among others, the Exchange would support farmers to address post-harvest losses, through better storage and collateral management.

The Exchange, he said, had signed up Collateral Management International, a highly reputable collateral manager worldwide to support the farmers in addressing

post-harvest losses and improve farmer’s income.

The statement quoted him as saying, “The Exchange will also provide the farmers access to finance, linking them to Banks through its electronic warehouse receipts program, as well as providing a trading platform for the farmers to trade their product.

“An electronic warehouse receipt represents commodities stored in an exchange-accredited warehouse with specific quality, quantity, ownership, and reference location stated on the receipt. The integrity of the receipt is guaranteed by a collateral manager who maintains the quality and quantity of stored commodities.”

Wakil urges tiers of govt to protect Power Infrastructure

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil has called on States and Local governments nationwide to join in the campaign to protect power infrastructure in the country.

Wakil made the call at Kumbotso, Kano state after commissioning three transmission sub-stations completed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Power. The Minister had earlier commissioned two other substations at Tamburawa and Kwanar Dangora, all in Kano state.

Addressing the audience after commissioning the facilities, the Minister called on “States, local governments and good people of Kano State to join hands with the Federal Government in protecting all power installation and equipment located in the state from unscrupulous activities of vandals. “It is our collective responsibility as good citizens of Nigeria to protect all key power equipment and installation located within our areas”.

“The government should be encouraged to spend scarce resources on improving and expanding the nation’s power infrastructure rather than replacing the vandalized ones, it makes more economic sense to do so”. Also, my appeal goes to the state government to urge the good people of Kano State to desist from encroaching on the TCN’s Right of Way in order to prevent unnecessary deaths resulting from electrocution or other accidents arising from such encroachment. This is more so, as such encroachments hamper access to transmission infrastructure when there is need to work on them, with a view to rectifying the faults”, the Minister implored.

In a statement by the SA, Media to the Minister of State for Power, Olawale Rasheed, he described the commissioning of the sub stations as “a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts at improving power supply in Kano State and its environs. This is in realization of the cosmopolitan nature of the state as the hub for commerce and economic activities, which dates back to centuries.

Hon Wakil explained that with “the upgrade, the Kumbotso substation is now capable of delivering more reliable and qualitative power up to 450MW to Kano metropolis, Kankia in Katsina State, and other towns in Jigawa State. The Tamburawa station will also improve power supply in Challawa, Madobi, Kwankwaso and Panshekara.

“Additionally, the construction of Kwanar Dan Gora will facilitate more improvement in power supply to Kano Law School, Karaye and Tudunwada, all in Kano State”, the Minister noted.

To take care of future needs of Kano, Hon. Wakil also told the jubilant audience that the Federal Government is exploring options of generating power from mini-hydro dams and other renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of TCN, Mr. Mack Kast said the Challawa industrial area and the Tamburawa water works stands to benefit while the Kwanar Dangora community and its environs have enjoyed uninterrupted power supply since the completion of the project.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Business

SMEDAN: Showcasing Nigeria’s investment opportunities

By Abdullahi Yusuf

E

xperts say, with an estimated population of over 160 million, large oil and gas reserves, agricultural resources and mineral deposits; Nigeria possesses abundant investment opportunities waiting to be harnessed.

They say that these opportunities need not only to be showcased to local and foreign investors in order to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), but also require competent government organs to execute the task.

That responsibility falls within the mandate of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), established by the SMEDAN Act of 2003, to promote the development of micro, small and medium enterprises [MSME] sector of the Nigerian economy.

The agency positions itself as a One-Stop Shop for MSME development.

Alhaji Bature Masari, the Director-General of SMEDAN, at a recent interactive session in Abuja with Japanese investors showcased the investment potential in Nigeria.

The interactive session was organised by the Japanese Trade Mission to Nigeria and the Embassy of Nigeria in Tokyo, Japan.

About 44 chief executives of 29 Japanese companies attended the session.

In his paper titled: ``Investment Opportunities in the Nigerian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Sub-Sector,” Masari said the sector hold the key to Nigeria’s industrial development.

He informed the session that there were currently 17.2 million MSMEs in Nigeria that accounted for 80 per cent of the total number of enterprises in the country and 75 per cent of the nation’s total employment base. ``The sub-sector has been identified as one of the important elements to achieving the Nigerian Vision 20:2020 and the Transformation Agenda of Mr President,” the DirectorGeneral said.

He said that the MSMEs were spread across economic sectors with the highest proportion being in the

SMEDAN Tasks S/East Governors on Small Business Development

Director-General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Masari,

agricultural sector.

According to him, majority of the MSMEs are located in Lagos and Kano States due to the ``large population of the two states, awareness and exposure and the availability of ready markets.’’

Masari said that President Jonathan had on Feb. 11, officially launched the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP), aimed at generating five million direct and indirect jobs.

NEDEP, according to him, is meant to revitalise the rural economy, improve employment opportunities, create wealth and alleviate poverty in rural areas. ``This will be done through the establishment of sustainable MSMEs in the 774 local government areas in the country, based on comparative

and competitive advantages. ``NEDEP will also help to entrench entrepreneurial culture, industrialisation of rural areas, enhanced industrial cluster development, increased MSMEs contribution to GDP, increased export potential,” he said.

According to him, there are vast investment opportunities under NEDEP that were embedded in the nation’s Vision 20:2020. ``The vast investment opportunities exist in ICT and modernisation of existing value chain in the agro and agro-allied sector, with regard to production and processing,’’ he said.

The Director-General listed some of the agro and agro-allied products for both domestic and exports market

and the states in which they were found.

Masari informed the session that fish, coconut and raffia palm could be harnessed in Lagos State, palm oil in Abia; and fish and plantain in Bayelsa.

He also said that leather, groundnut oil and rice were being produced in Kano State, while Kaduna State produced millet and ginger and Niger produced yam, shea nuts and groundnut oil. ``You will also find tie and dye and timber in Ogun, solid minerals, potato and tomato in Plateau, cotton and leather in Katsina State, and shea nuts and fruits in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. ``The other vital area is storage, packaging and marketing as well as distribution of food-related items,’’ Masari told the session.

He also informed the Japanese investors that the role of SMEDAN was to coordinate and facilitate the development of the MSMEs sub-sector. ``The potential of the MSMEs sub-sector are huge, both for social and economic reasons, implying a vast landscape for investing in small businesses, whether to achieve Millennium Development Goals or to create employment and wealth to reduce poverty. ``The economic reform programme of the Federal Government, especially Mr

President’s Transformation Agenda, is making the environment even more friendly and rewarding,” he said.

In his opening remarks, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji, said the Japanese Government would continue to invest in Nigeria.

Shoji told the session that the Japanese Government would also encourage its citizens to invest in Nigeria, describing Nigeria as a huge market.

He said his country would also help Nigeria to develop its market and boost its economy.

The development of the economy would indeed help to check the current security challenge, as it could be attributed to unemployment.

Alhaji Muhammad Nadada Umar, a former DirectorGeneral of SMEDAN, had advised stakeholders to give attention to job creation, as a way of tackling the challenges facing the country.

He said that developing MSMEs was the best crusade ever undertaken in the country.

Umar added that it had become imperative to tackle the problems of poverty and unemployment for peace to stand a chance in the country.

“And without peace, neither the small nor the big businesses would grow or survive in Nigeria.” he said.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Wednesday, June 4, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

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Special Report

Harvesting budding talents for sound entrepreneurship footing T

he rising number of unemployed youths in Nigeria has remained a grave and great concern to many, including the government, corporate organisations, Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals alike. The era of white collar jobs is long gone, while most companies or industries that would normally have provided jobs have either folded up or on the verge of doing so.

In some cases, due to better business or investment climate, some industries have relocated from Nigeria to other countries, such as Ghana, Senegal, Sierra- Leone, to mention but a few, a development which has further fuelled the unemployment situation in the country. Lack of jobs for the ever teeming population of Nigeria’s youths has resulted in the youths channelling their energy towards all kinds of crimes, such as armed robbery, kidnapping, advance-fee fraud (419), drug peddling, among others. Most of our graduateyouths are not employable, because they are bereft of special and relevant skills, which can offer them a place in the job market.

However, there is no known place in the world today, where government alone provides employment for all. Since every economy is private sector-driven, jobs, therefore, are usually generated by this sector, after the government may have fulfilled its own side of the bargain, by providing

Recently, a good number of young Nigerians, talented in diverse areas of human endeavours, ranging from entertainment to fashion design, gathered in Abuja to showcase their talents, with the ultimate view to making them entrepreneurs of repute in the country’s business community, at the instance of ICON Afrique and Naomi Davids Ltd. Clem Khena-Ogbena of our business desk, present on the occasion, reports: the enabling environment for the private sector, comprising the SMEs, to operate. The economies of the Asian Tigers are SMEs-dependent. ***The Federal Government of Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda and the Vision 20: 2020 might be jeopardised if the SME sector is not strengthened.

Imperatively, therefore, concerted efforts of well-meaning and patriotic individuals, corporate organisations, NGOs and other sectors, are urgently required to reverse the undesirable trend.

The intervention of ICON Afrique to harness and prepare the country’s budding talents for sound entrepreneurship footing, with a view to making them self- employed individuals in the society, is a welcome development, which should be emulated by many more Nigerians, NGOs, private organisations and corporate bodies, among others.

Having identified varied, promising, trainable and potentially marketable budding talents among the Nigerian youths, but who apparently are unable to improve and project themselves to the outside world, due to certain limitations, ICON Afrique, an Abuja-based NGO, with the

resources of Naomi Davids at its disposal, has volunteered to provide generously the missing gap and bring hope to such youths in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director, ICON Afrique and Naomi Davies Ltd, Mrs. Jackie Ola, has emphasised the dire need to harvest and harness as well as maximise youths’ latent entrepreneurship potentials in Nigeria, for the overall national growth and development.

However, she expressed regret over the rising youth unemployment in the country, saying many youths in the country have potentials and dreams but lack the opportunities to maximise such gifts and keep their dreams alive.

Ola stated this at the ICON Afrique Youth Empowerment Showcase/Exhibition, held April 26, 2014, in Abuja, where she also expressed the view that if the potentials of the youths are harnessed and developed through capacity building training, they can be useful to themselves and the society.

ICON Afrique is a youthfocused non-governmental organisation (NGO) Ola assured that after the latest Showcase/Exhibition,

designed to drive self-employed youths and those with skills and potentials to showcase their talents and endeavours, Noami Davids would further organise capacity building training for the participants in the Exhibition, at the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum’s (NEF) capacity building training centre, at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. She added that those who would qualify at the end of the training would be assisted to secure funds, to support their businesses, thus create employment for the affected persons.

Ola explained that ICON Afrique, which focuses on youth empowerment in the country, has affiliated groups that provide capacity building training for self-employment and entrepreneurship, adding that ICON Afrique, which is a non-governmental organisation , provides an enrichment training for, assists, supports and promotes upcoming fashion designers, designers in other areas, song writers, singers, and the likes.

Ola stated: “Since I was appointed a year ago as CEO of ICON Afrique, I decided to combine the training I

have already been doing professionally in collaboration with NEF, SMEDAN and CBN. Nami Davis provides training free for those who come under ICON Afrique. Naomi Davids is an international people’s development and human resources consultancy company, which offers entrepreneurship training for free for those who come under ICON Afrique.

“However, at its own expense, Naomi Davids provides such training in collaboration with Nigeria Entrepreneurship Forum (NEF), which is domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in Abuja; at the end of the training, qualified trainees will be assisted with funds, to support their businesses.”

Ola noted with concern that so many people have skills which they can use to fend for themselves, but unaware of existing opportunities through which they can access the assistance and support they may require. The ICON Afrique boss stated, “We focus on youth empowerment. I know a lot of people here who have talents, who have gifts but do not have platform to showcase

Rita Nova, budding artiste and song writer

A cross section participants with MD/CEO, ICON Afrique. what they are, and also, we have our affiliated groups that are responsible for training certain more people within the situation of joblessness in the country to become self employed, as entrepreneurs.

“There are so many people who have skills and who can use such skills to fend for themselves, but they do not know of the existing opportunities for them in the country to access the help they need.

“That is why we are here.

Also, there are some people who would showcase the talents they have. So, we have young fashion designers, designers in other areas, song writers, singers, dancers and many others. We have entrepreneurs generally. We have people who manufacture things from the little materials they have. We have people in the entertainment. We all know how well the entertainment sector is doing at present in the country.”

Mrs Jackie Ola, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICON Afrique,

a youth-focused NGO and NaomiDavids Limited, a people development company, stated: “We focus on youth empowerment. I know a lot of people here who have talents, who have gifts but do not have platform to showcase what they are. Nevertheless, we are on ground to render free training to such talents. Also, our affiliated groups in the country are responsible for training certain more people within the situation of joblessness, in order to make them selfemployed entrepreneurs.

“Nigeria is highly blessed with a huge and diverse human asset base, yet so many people with skills and talents, which they can use to fend for themselves and their families, have no opportunities to access the help they need in terms of skills development, funding and general awareness. We are here to help promote and showcase the various talents and potentials of these young men and women.

“Among them are young fashion designers, song writers, singers, dancers, farmers, caterers, and so on; we have entrepreneurs generally. We have people who manufacture things from the little materials they have and are surviving this

way. Considering the benefits of entrepreneurship to any society and economy, with the right tools given to these people to maximise their potentials and reach their goals, the benefits will be to all of us Nigerians as a whole.”

Speaking earlier, the founder of ICON Afrique, Mr. Dan JumaaOjei, who works with youths on empowerment issues, what each letter of the word ICON stands for is: I =Integrity, C=Creativity , O= Originality and N=Nobility. Ojei, also a social entrepreneur, further stressed, “I work with youths on issues of empowerment, making the youths have a new value and believe in themselves and then, leading a life of integrity; I also make young people know that they can make it in life without indulging themselves in dubious activities and businesses.” According to him, ICON is a project of the African Institute for Governance and Integrity, a project that each of the alumni of the institute was charged with the responsibility of going back to his or her home or country to meet a need. He added, “And in my own case, I saw the need to engage my community youths in Jos, where I live. So, it was in Jos

“

Mrs. Jackie Ola, MD/CEO, ICON Afrique and Naomi Davids with Founder, ICON Afrique, Dan Jumaa Ojei.

Members of Blaack Gold team (fashion designers)

There are so many people who have skills and who can use such skills to fend for themselves, but they do not know of the existing opportunities for them in the country to access the help they need

community I saw the need to engage the youths, because most of them then were not employed. So, they don’t just sit back and get involved in all sorts of vices; let them be able to create sources of livelihood.

On the other hand, we have those that have the mindset of going to public sector or go into government to loot or cut a portion or part of the national cake. This is what I kept hearing. So, I came up with the concept of modifying the mindset; let them know that if nobody is baking, one day the cake will get finished.

So, let us be productive. ICON means Integrity, we can make it without cutting corners; Originality, believe in yourself, be unique, even if everybody is doing the same thing, you stand out; Nobility, each one is a noble person, we are a royalty , we are unique people and our acts are noble acts.

That is where our leadership dimension comes in. The leadership aspect of ICON Afrique is that each young person is a leader, each young person is meant to serve.

Rita Nova, a young, promising, upcoming musician, song writer and singer, bursting with so much &n bsp; zest and confidence, said she has been doing music basically all her life but confessed her lack of confidence and courage to come up strong with it. She said she is giving music the full attention it requires to make a good living from it.

Nova further explained: “I am a musician and song writer. I have been doing this basically all my life, but have not really mustered the courage or confidence to come up with it.

But I officially started like a year ago, and if something is your passion is done with ease.

I do music with a passion. I am not a shy person, I am very out spoken, but when it comes to singing, for some reasons, I am muffled. I don’t know why;

may be because of the society.

When people hear music, they just figure out is one of those unserious things. Nigeria is not really open to music per se.

So, I just got up one day and decided that I could sing, and I asked myself why shouldn’t I sing for a living? Just like that.

I summoned the confidence, courage and inspiration from only God knows where and I started singing.”

Rita, 23, a Plateau-born budding singer, said she is gifted in different artistic dimensions or genres, stating, “I have a very vast taste for music, because I listen to everything from jazz to rock .

I do not really have a particular musician as my role model. I can see myself in every good artiste.”

The National President, Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum, Dr Sidney Inegbedion, urged theup coming entrepreneurs to embrace the business principle of networking by which they could share business-related ideas, information or vision among themselves. He said, however, on the contrary that most competitors and potential entrepreneurs in Nigeria usually keep such information, vision and ideas to themselves , a practice which, according to him, is against global best practice.

Inegbedion stressed, “All over the world, for business to thrive, most competitors, would-be entrepreneurs and everybody get together to share information. But in Nigeria, what you have is that when you have business ideas, you think is the best idea, you tend to keep it to yourself without bothering to give to other people or share your vision or ideas with other people.”

He also noted with regret that “many Nigerian businessmen when you exposed them to international forum for business discussions, even when they invest a lot of money, they do not present the best.”

Inegbedion further pointed out that funding is very necessary for the sustenance and success of any business, stressing, “No matter what talent you have, no matter what idea you have if you do not have money, your vision will die”, adding that institutional support and assistance is also germane to entrepreneurial development and growth.

He, however, pledged NEF’s assistance in the area of fundingto the budding and the would-be entrepreneurs, through fundsourcing mechanism.

In his remark, the leader of Da Chronicles Dancers, Ramsey Osaghae, who said the group is taking dancing to the next level, appreciated ICON Afrique and the NaomiDavids for the exposure given the group through the event. He assuredthat the group is poised to get to the top, going beyond the shores of Nigeria.

While introducing the products of his company, Black Gold, a fashion- designer and maker of T-Shirts, said 100 percent of the raw materials used was locally sourced in Nigeria, with his mind focused on exporting the products in commercial quantity abroad any time soon; all he just requires for now, according to him, is funding.

Another youth-participant, Michael Mosiudi (a.k.a Supreme Solar), noted with satisfaction that the event was an eye opener, inspiring and encouraging, while commending the organisers.

Similarly, a youth-disc jockey (DJ), OyikraFidelix Tom, a.k.a DJ Kell, who constantly kept the participants jumping, with his hip-pop vibes and other genres of music from the dial, said he earns a good living from his passion, ‘disc jockeying’. DJ Kelly, who is both a student and Radio DJ on Aso Radio 93.5 FM, said his dream is to make it big in life, as DJ in the entertainment industry.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Feature WED that encourages grassroots environmentalism Ambrose Inusa Sule,

mnes

ENVIRONMENT WATCH globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only)

C

elebrating World Environment Day every year on June 5th is becoming ‘just another event’ for many organizations and institutions across the globe.

Not a few environmentalists are saying that it should not be just a one-off event to show that one is environmentally conscious and that one cares for our Planet Earth? Doing that they say may be easy but what about personal commitments and actions in our daily lives?

Therefore, it is time that we all care to learn more about such environmental issues and become a conscious and responsible global citizen. After all, we are all stewards for our one and only Planet Earth.

We owe it not just to ourselves but to our future generation to ensure that the Earth they inherit is as sustainable as it is supposed to be.

Today is ‘The World Environment Day 2014’ which is being hosted by Barbados, a small

Caribbean island nation among others that are facing the threat of world climate change.

In support of the UN designation of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States, this year’s Environment Day adopts the theme of “Raise your voice, not the sea level.”

According to the United Nations Environment Program, UNEP, the host of World Environment Day this year, Barbados, faces many challenges like climate-induced sea level rise and vulnerability to natural disasters such as flash flooding, surface flooding from high rainfall, coastal flooding from storm surges, shoreline erosion, riverbank erosion and upslope erosion as the country is overcoming these challenges through its work in transition to a green economy.

Just imagine that our Planet Earth is an island about to be inundated by the rising sea level? Where else can we go?

This is exactly what small island nations are faced with? Their very existence is being threatened not just because of their actions but due to the negative impacts of global warming which is being accelerated by unsustainable practices across nations. They are the victims of actions committed hundreds and thousands of miles away. Maybe each one of us, even here in Nigeria is also contributing to it. World Environment Day provides us that opportunity for us to reflect on our actions and commitments. It is a day of reckoning - to realize that our ‘Mother Earth’ is ill and we need to take care of her.

In celebrating World Environment Day, the country’s goal is to maintain the place of Barbados firmly in the mainstream of the discourse and action on the future of Small

Island Developing Nations.

The World Environment Day celebrated every year on June 5 is to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the environment.

Over the years, it has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries.

It also serves as people’s day for doing something positive for the environment, galvanizing individual actions into a collective power that generates an exponential positive impact on the planet.

Even if you cannot do anything with others, at least, make a personal commitment to be a responsible and committed citizen and become an example for others.

This world is our only island and unless each one of us contribute to the collective goodness and actions, nothing much can be achieved to save it. Let us be responsible and committed to a lifestyle that is sustainable and waste-free. After all, “in acting together…people can accomplish things that no individual alone can ever hope to accomplish” (Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1822-1945).

Let the WED 2014 be the year that we do something positive not just for us, our future generation for also for our one and only

“

Therefore, it is time that we all care to learn more about such environmental issues and become a conscious and responsible global citizen. After all, we are all stewards for our one and only Planet Earth.

Poor environment can affect health of livestock

planet.

Celebrating WED therefore encourages us to organize our family, friends or community to discuss and deliberate upon the issue of “Raise your voice and not the sea level”; to raise awareness of people by organizing events such as community workshops, fairs, concerts or even street plays; take advantage of and participate in programs and highlight the issues of “Raising your voice and not the sea level”. It could be a sermon, a song, a drama or even a poster display; or possibly write to your politicians, public leaders, government officials ‘raising your voice’ against the ‘raising sea level’ and get people on board to be responsible.

Once you are aware and have garnered the courage, commitment and sense of responsibility, ‘Raise Your Voice’ and communicate what it is that you wish to do or say, as the solution lies in our collective action and responsibility.

There is no gainsaying the fact that what each one of does every day has a direct impact on our environment. The impacts can be negative or positive. I’d rather that we all choose the ‘positive’ and one of the easiest and simplest positive action is to simply ‘raise your voice’.

Happy Environment Day!

World

P A G E

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Environment News

Waste manager warns Lagos residents against blocking drains

T

A blocked drainage in Lagos

What you need to know about acid rain

A

cid rain is the rain that carries the chemicals sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

Acid “rain” isn’t just rain; acid snow, acid fog or mist, acid gas, and acid dust all have the same effect as acid rain.

Most acid rain problems are caused by large coal burner plants in the West.

Lakes and streams are normally acidic, but acid rain can make them so acidic that it damages animal and plant life.

Acid rain can cause a mass killing to trees.

Area’s can become very hazy and foggy due to acid rain.

Acid rain (which is linked with acid air pollution) has been linked

to breathing and lung problems in childeren, and people who have asthma.

Even people in exceptional health

ome 208 people have now died from the Ebola virus in Guinea after a deadly spike in recent days, world health officials say.

At least 21 people died and 37 new cases of suspected Ebola were found between 29 May and 1 June, bringing the total number of cases in the West African country to 328.

Of these, 193 have been confirmed by laboratory tests.

There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola one of the world’s deadliest viruses.

More than half of the new deaths were in the southern Guekedou region, where the outbreak is centred.

Three confirmed and 10 suspected new cases were recorded in neighbouring Sierra Leone over the same period.

Six people are believed to have died there, as well as 10 in Liberia.

could have their lungs damaged by this acid air.

Stone buildings and monuments are targets of damage from acid rain.

he Chairman, Association of Wastes Managers of Nigeria (AWAM), Mr Olabode Coker, has warned residents of Lagos State on the dangers of blocking the drains with refuse.

Coker told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently on phone that doing this might lead to heavy flooding, especially during the approaching rains.

He said that flash floods after heavy downpour in some areas in the state were mostly caused by blockage of the drains by refuse.

“It is disheartening that a day or two after gutters and the drainage are cleared, you discover refuse dumped again in them.

“The state government has gone a long way in trying to open up the drainage in some local government areas, but the efforts are thwarted by residents’ refusal to properly dispose their wastes,’’ he said.

The manager said that most of the refuse cleared from the gutters

were heavy materials that were directly blocking water from flowing to the main drains and the canals.

According to him, the state alone cannot tackle the issue of flooding caused by human beings without the assistance of residents.

Coker said that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the state government had set up a task force to arrest, prosecute and impose fines on anyone disposing refuse wrongly.

“People are yet to understand the damage that excessive flooding can cause.

“The state is determined to eradicate flooding and its effects on both human lives and property,’’ he said.

NAN reports that heavy flooding were reported in some parts of Lagos due to the rainfall on Sunday.

The affected areas included Ogba, Ikeja, Surulere, Orile, and Mile 2. NAN

Adulteration: CPC shuts paint manufacturing coy in Gezawa

Acid rain effect on fish in a pool

Why Ebola is still dangerous S

Medical charities say one reason for the increase is that some people are refusing to go to hospital for treatment, preferring to seek help from traditional healers.

Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever, can kill up to 90% of those infected and is passed on through contact with the fluids of infected people or animals, such as urine, sweat and blood.

BBC Africa

Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

T Ebola virus

he Consumer Protection Council (CPC) said it had shut down a paint manufacturing company in Kano State over alleged adulteration and illegal operation.

The Executive Secretary of the council, Alhaji Nuhu Bello, who led a CPC team to the company’s site at Dausayi, Gezawa Local Government Area of the state, announced this to newsmen in Kano.

He said that a consumer, who purchased a large quantity of the company’s product and discovered that it was adulterated, reported the matter to the state’s “Hisbah” board.

Hisbah is the law enforcement arm of

the shariah law.

He said the board referred the case to the council, which investigated and discovered that the company was not only adulterating paint, but was operating illegally.

According to Bello, the company is a local factory which has no licence of operation from any authority and has no definite name.

He advised consumers to endeavour to have full knowledge of any product they wished to buy, to avoid being cheated.

He also urged consumers, who were victims of adulterated or sub-standard products, to report the cases to relevant authorities. NAN

PAGE 28

Emergency Update

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

DG NEMA advocates collective action against disasters in West Africa W

ith the global increase in the occurrence of disasters, Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mohammed Sani Sidi has urged disaster managers in the West African countries to work together towards reducing the impacts on communities in the sub-region.

Addressing the Executive Board Meeting of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa in Dakar, Senegal, sometimes ago, Muhammad Sani Sidi who is the Board President said the cross boundary nature of disaster and

the impacts require collective actions from all of the countries.

He said “according to statistics there was flooding in The Republic of Benin, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal between the months of June and December 2013.

“This highlights the facts that occurrences of natural disasters in West Africa is now on the increase and it has been attributed to climate change coupled with vulnerability of the sub-region in relation to the rest of the world.

“Until a permanent solution is found to reverse or abate the menace of climate change, it is

our responsibility as disaster managers to reduce its impacts on the populace.

“Since disaster is crossboundary in nature, it is necessary for the sub-region to work together to move disaster management in West Africa forward. Fortunately, this is our objective in GECEAO (being the French acronym of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa).”

The Director General of NEMA and Regional President of the West African Committee of the disaster managers said the group has designed an action plan for 20132014 which covers “more efficient

use of hydro-meteorological information, harmonization of preparedness and response tools, financial resources mobilization and effective implementation of the Oslo guidelines on the use of military and civil defense assets in disaster relief,” among others.

He said through the committee, member countries would benefit from the opportunity it provides for cross fertilization of ideas and experiences as well as available training opportunities for their disaster managers.

The meeting in Dakar, Senegal which opened Wednesday with the Nigerian DG NEMA Mohammed

Sani Sidi presiding is facilitated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) with the participants drawn from governmental, regional and international agencies engaged in disaster management from all countries in the West African Sub-Region.

It will be recalled that the Director General of NEMA Mohammed Sani Sidi was elected as President of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa at its consultative meeting last year in Abuja.

Agency to assist 220 persons to rebuild homes in Kaduna

F

ollowing the recent attack in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed building materials to more than 220 persons to rebuild their homes that were destroyed by unknown gunmen.

According to a press statement signed by the Press officer of NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, the materials were distributed at the weekend in Bondon Model Primary School located in Kaura where most of the persons displaced by the attack are presently taking refuge; the Kaduna State Government also presented some cash to the beneficiaries to further assist them in the rebuilding of their homes.

Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the affected persons and said the gesture was in addition to the earlier relief assistance delivered to the communities immediately after the unfortunate incidence to further support them.

While commending the Kaduna State Government for being responsive to the needs

of the displaced communities, he re-assured the commitment of NEMA to partner with the state governments towards efficient and effective disaster management as well as in provision of necessary assistance to communities in distress.

The Director General of NEMA who was represented by its Director of Administration Dr Zanna Mohammed said the items distributed were 1, 105 bundles of roofing sheets, 600 bags of cement, 1, 000 pieces of ceiling boards, 663 packets of zinc nails and 884 bags of roofing nails.

Responding, the Governor of Kaduna State Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero who was represented by his Deputy Mr Nuhu Audu Bajoga thanked the Federal Government through NEMA for the prompt assistance to the people that were affected by the attacks from unknown gunmen in March this year.

Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area Mr Kumai Badu spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, appreciated the Federal and Kaduna State Governments for the assistances given to them to rebuild their homes.

NEMA official addressing displaced persons in Kaduna

. . . develops humanitarian response plan for Chibok girls

A

s the Federal Government intensifies efforts toward the rescue of the abducted Chibok school girls, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has convened a meeting of humanitarian stakeholders to develop a suitable response plan for the social re-integration of the girls and appropriate support to the community.

Addressing the stakeholders meeting in Abuja, Director General of the NEMA Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said it

is expected to validate a draft humanitarian response plan for Chibok and has become imperative to build synergy as well as strengthen coordination mechanism for humanitarian assistance to the affected persons and community.

He said “while the Federal Government is working assiduously towards the safe release of the abducted girls and reunite them with their families members, it is important that a sectoral response plan be

prepared for their rehabilitation and re-integration back to normal life.

He further said that “the objective of this meeting is to integrate all plans into one holistic multi-sector response plan to avoid duplication of efforts, strengthen interagency collaboration and mobilize supports towards the humanitarian challenges being faced by the affected population of Chibok Local Government. “ While noting that NEMA

has already commenced humanitarian intervention in Chibok, the Director General observed the existence of yet some gaps in the requirement of the affected persons, “hence the call for collective action in the priority sectors of protection, health, education, emergency food and non food items, water and sanitation as well as provision of durable solutions.”

Also speaking, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria Mr. Dauda

Toure urged the stakeholders to support the initiative of NEMA by making useful contribution towards its success.

The Chairman of Chibok Local Government who was represented at the meeting by Mr Musa Elijah Kolo appreciated the Federal Government for coming to the aid of the people but requested for speedy rescue of the abducted girls, rehabilitation and upgrading of public infrastructures in the area.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Emergency Update

1

2

3

1. Cross section of participants at a meeting of humanitarian response plan for abducted Chibok girls 2. NEMA DG, Muhammad Sani Sidi and UN resident coordinator, Mr Daouda Toure at One-day stakeholders’ meeting for validation of draft humanitarian response plan for the abducted Chibok recently in Abuja.

3. A photograph of NEMA EMVs in Osun state and NEMA Ekiti Operations Office Staff during the Awareness campaign on the effects of flood disaster and ways of aversion in Osogbo the Osun State Capital.

4. NEMA officials tackling emergency case in a community

4

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 30

Feature

The evolution of NAGIS, Nasarawa’s reformed lands mgt T

he total land size of 27,300 square kilometers of Nasarawa state, sharing boundary with five other states, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all within the North-Central and North-East zones of the country: FCT in the North-West, Plateau in the North-East, Kaduna in the North, Benue in the South, Kogi in the South-West and Taraba in the South-East - are now in aerial images called Orthophotos.

Aeroprecisa Limited, the firm handling the provision of Digital Aerial Mapping (DAM) of Nasarawa, in what has led to the computerisation of the land management and administration in the state, completed flying the state to capture the images, in the late days of December, 2013.

The maps, generated from the aerial images taken during the flights, according to NAGIS Project Manager, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, are available for various uses, as they have been processed to give line details showing transportation and information about hydrography or waterways, as well as landmarks – natural and man-made alike.

The maps also provide detailed information about contour or land cover type to aid town planners and developers in site selection, urban renewal and general civil engineering.

The maps, according to the project manager, will also come handy for government’s disaster management, planning for education, agriculture, commercial facilities and general development because decision making can be taken from an informed position with maps in the hands of authorities. The maps are also helping the project in the making of land titles because survey errors committed previously due to assumptions mapping, are now being corrected as the coordinates are now easier to locate.

This is just as 25,000 land files which existed in hard copies, and another 21,750 which were also in hard files; have been captured as computerized files called Lands Information System (LIS), Documents Management System (DMS), respectively.

There are now over 520 pages of lands files collapsed from the shelves into soft copies with computer codes to track the files in both Lafia, designated as headquarters of NAGIS, and Mararaba, at the gateway to Abuja, designated as the complex of the 21st Century lands management technology. This component of the project is handled by GIS Transport.

Added to this, a new certifi-

Nasarawa State commissioner of Lands and Urban Development, Sonny Agassi (middle), receiving 25 military officers participating in the Senior Course 35 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, on a “Nigeria Study Tour” at the Nasarawa Geographic Information System (NAGIS) in Mararaba, recently. cation system which produces a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) in less than two weeks from application, has been introduced. It is a leash onto property owners, from whose purse the state hopes to be generating not less than N5 billion monthly, in lands charges on a land size of 27,300 square kilometers, over and above what the FCT is generating – N2 billion on the land size of 8,000 Sq. Kms, monthly; when the project is fully executed.

There is a planning component, which has seen 11 districts in the state, especially at the gateway to Abuja, been planned to give the fifth generation state an outlook

of a twin city to the FCT. The planning and design of 11 districts which will address the growth of slums in major urban centres of Karu, Keffi, Akwanga, Nasarawa and Doma, to add up to what is already being executed in Lafia, is handled by a team of Nigeria’s leading town planners: Pragmatic Solutions Consult Nigeria, Envicons, and National Environmental Design Associates.

This is just as this reporter recalls the Lands and Urban Development ministry, last year, acquired about 50 hectares of land behind Government house along Shendam Road for the development of a new layout in a bid to

“

There are now over 520 pages of lands files collapsed from the shelves into soft copies with computer codes to track the files in both Lafia, designated as headquarters of NAGIS, and Mararaba, at the gateway to Abuja, designated as the complex of the 21st Century lands management technology.

decongest the town. It runs in a curve behind Government House, and adjoins the slums of LafiaEast, and the highbrow Project Quarters.

The new layout is part of the design of the Nasarawa Development Platform (NDP), an initiation of Siraj Consulting Engineers, Aeroprecisa Limited, and GIS Transport, and Nasarawa State Ministry of Lands, on which shoulders have been added Urban Development - partners in the totality of a habitat project which execution is expected to phase out slums, and in their place, build liveable and sustainable cities.

There is also a new narrative to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state. IGR from the state has been poor over the years.

This has always stunted annual budget performance. For example, of the N16.3 billion IGR forecast for the fiscal year ended December of 2013, the state could only yield N4.1 billion from the IGR base, which includes Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE).

But of this amount, the revenue raked in from lands related charges over the land size of 27,300 square kilometers, within the same period was N448,020,842.68, representing about 15 percent of the total earnings of the year in IGR, making the subsector the highest contributor to IGR in Nasarawa.

The leap forward broke the re-

cords of the ministry in the last two years when the commitment began to change the narrative of IGR in the state. The ministry contributed one percent in 2011, and five percent in 2012. In previous years before the assumption in office by Al-Makura, the ministry’s contributions were mere minuscule.

Records from the lands ministry show some commitment where, if sustained, will also show a paradigm shift from what it used to be in the same sub sector. First, there is a new value at the ministry, where staffs used to take their duty post as merely a place to go earn income, regardless of what they put in. In the same ministry today, the value re-orientation introduced there by Sonny Agassi, who is implementing the lands reforms introduced by Al-Makura to success; staffs look at government office with is a different perspective.

For two straight years now, their commitment to work, in what earned the ministry the big nickname of “Petro-Ministry” because of the revenue accruing from there; has earned both management and staffs performance bonus to the envy of other ministries.

Al-Makura had declared that the state was building a dependable revenue base from lands, through the computerized land administration programme.

Already, through NAGIS, the state has stepped up revenue generation, in what has shown that in 2013 alone the sum of over N448,020,842.68 million was raked in, far supposing what the immediate past government of Aliyu Akwe Doma raked in, which stood at N178 million naira in four years.

Supervisor of this first world order project, Sonny Agassi, who is also the commissioner in charge of Lands and Urban Development, said the earnings from that ministry are just a tip of what the state should expect when NAGIS comes into full implementation.

All these achievements are traceable to NAGIS, a N2.7 billion project which execution has just clocked two years. The project is handled by a consortium of firms under Siraj Consulting Engineers, to provide Geospatial services, Digital Area Mapping and the planning of towns to conform with international best practices.

It is from the execution of the totality of the project, comprising three components of Geographic Information Service (GIS), Digital Area Mapping, and Districts Planning – all costing the N2.7 billion (US$16,876,561); that all of these are streamed to take Nasarawa from an agrarian society, to a sophisticated place.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

ANALYSIS

R

obin Zia lives a full life has a family, a business, owns property in Lahore and goes to church every Sunday.

The fact that 12 years back he had butchered his sister Zeenat with her husband, whom she had married against their will, does not have any bearing on his conscience. When I went to meet him at his house, he was very respectful, offered me lunch and called me “Aapi”- an Urdu word for an elder sister. While he remembers the act of killing his sister with a butcher knife with a pained expression, he would not accept that the idea of “honour” or his fear of society’s reaction to his sister marrying out of her own free will was misplaced, let alone a crime.

To him and his courteous brother Salman Zia - who abetted the murder, while the act of killing was committed by Robin - they were men with the burden of avenging the wrong done by their sister. As they tried to explain their reasons for the murders, they did not see any other course than killing their sister and her husband.

“When one’s daughter or sister runs away from home, a man’s mind cannot see beyond that betrayal of trust by the woman. And please tell us what could be the alternative solution, in such circumstances?”

While there were moments of remorse, their imaginations stopped there.

Robin and his brother were released after a few months in prison through statement of forgiveness by their mother, through the “qisas” and “diyat” ordinance - stipulations based on an interpretation of Sharia or Islamic law, that permit compoundability of murder. While their mother grieved for her daughter, she could not lose her sons. Human rights defenders have been suggesting for years that the state should not use this compoundability - at least in cases of women’s honour killings.

‘Killings every day’ This casual bargain between blood relations over a dead body of a female relative is what Farzana Parveen’s family is counting on as well. On May 27, when 25-year-old Farzana Parveen was brutally killed with bricks outside the Lahore High Court, condemnations came pouring in through international and domestic press. This uproar against the killing was loud enough that the Pakistani prime minister eventually “took notice”. In cases where the prime minister or chief minister of provinces take notice of incidents of gross human rights violation, the result at best is an investigation, a trial and maybe a just verdict.

However, expecting consequential structural changes is a bit much in Pakistan. We are still at a point where rights groups and defenders are struggling to convince parliamentarians to throw their weight behind legislation that protects women and ensures effective implementation.

PAGE 31

International

Pakistan’s honour killing epidemic

Honour killings are regularly reported in English-language Pakistani media

The furor over the bad publicity for Pakistan and the fact that we were being painted as a society tolerant of barbaric acts such as killings, has also resulted in a few clerics who call themselves moderate declaring “fatwas”, or Islamic edicts, against killing women in the name of honour.

At the same time, these same clerics have repeatedly taken and continue to take - heinous stances against religious minorities in Pakistan and endorse the controversial blasphemy laws.

Therefore, such moves may help burnish the state’s image a little, but there is not much hope of this decree being effective.

Following Farzana’s killing, it

was soon reported that her husband had killed his first wife to marry Farzana out of love, and that he had already paid her family a price, which was not enough for her family - and that was what led to her bludgeoning in broad daylight. Just like thousands of murders of women over the socalled honour of men, all it reveals is the impunity with which women can be murdered here, and the role the lack of legislation has played in perpetuating the barbaric practice.

English-language newspapers in Pakistan frequently publish news briefs with stories of honour killings and violence against women.

Often within a week, two or three incidents of femicides are recorded.

“

Sometimes, honour is not even the motive; women are just burnt or killed by the family members for not bringing enough dowry. Yes, that still happens too.

This is the value of a woman’s murder in the name of what the society still refers to as “honour” in a now comparatively sensitised Pakistan. The distance of such crimes from the provincial capitals is another reason for lack of focus and investigation by the press. As a society, we are desensitised to cases of violence against women, acid attacks and honour killings, because the general view is that these crimes are committed mostly against women who are poor or in villages.

In fact to us, the aforementioned

At the same time, these same clerics have repeatedly taken - and continue to take - heinous stances against religious minorities in Pakistan and endorse the controversial blasphemy laws.

crimes are just numbers released by women’s rights organisation after every six months, or at the end of a year, which are then highlighted by certain liberal newspapers.

Rights activists who investigate honour killings and cases of violence against women have detected a pattern in which women bear the brunt of a political fight over land and face sexual harassment from landlords. Such crimes are sometimes passed off as honour killings. For instance, most murders happen when there is time for harvesting in rural areas across Pakistan. Women’s rights activist and lawyer Maliha Zia of Aurat Foundation says that unless the state takes responsibility and considers these murders crimes against the state instead crimes against ordinary individuals, we will remain stuck.

How many Farzanas and Zeenats will catch the public’s eye or have their murders highlighted so that we may see the perpetrators charged is a problem that unfortunately in the foreseeable future I do not see any resolution for. I am not wondering about an eradication of honour killing entirely because that would be just my fantasy.

Courtesy; Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 32

International

US and UK congratulate Sisi on election win Bomber targets renegade Libyan general

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suicide car bomber has targeted the home of a renegade Libyan general who has been leading an offensive against armed groups in Benghazi, military officials say.

The attack on the home of General Khalifa Haftar on Wednesday left three people dead and injured four others.

There were conflicting reports on whether Haftar was injured in the attack, which took place in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Haftar’s spokesman, Colonel Mohamed Higazy, said the general was not hurt but military officials said he was wounded and taken to a Benghazi hospital.

Several messages were posted on Haftar’s Twitter account, quoting Quranic verses and prophetic sayings to condemn “Takfeeris”, a term used to condemn Islamic groups that are considered extreme.

“God is the best protector”, said one message on his account, although it cannot be confirmed whether he wrote the messages himself.

Several reports suggested that the general would make a televised address shortly.

The Libyan air force’s chief of staff, Saqr al-Garoushi, was also wounded in the explosion and taken to Benghazi hospital.

It was unclear if the attacker detonated his explosives-laden car outside Haftar’s residence or if he had actually gotten inside the compound.

No one claimed responsibility for the bombing, which bore all the hallmarks of the armed groups whom Haftar has pledged to crush since launching his offensive last month.

Haftar’s residence is less than a mile away from Benghazi’s military command in the Benghazi suburb of al-Abyar.

A former army chief under the late Muammar Gaddafi, Haftar and army units loyal to him have been battling what they call terrorist groups, mainly in eastern Libya.

Army units loyal to General Haftar has been carrying out an offensive against armed groups in Libya’s east

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Sisi’s road to the presidency began with the overthrow of Egypt’s first freely elected president Mohamed Morsi

he US and the UK have said they look forward to working with Egypt’s newly elected President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, while warning the former general to take steps to guarantee freedom of expression.

The White House said it hoped to advance its strategic partnership with Cairo and the “many interests”

the countries shares, in a statment published on Wednesday.

A day earlier, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he looked forward to working with the former army chief’s government to strengthen the “broad and productive” relationship between Egypt and the UK. Both countries urged Sisi, who

won Egypt’s presidential poll with more than 96 percent of the vote, to ensure freedom of expression was allowed.

“We also share concerns raised by observation groups about the restrictive political environment in which this election took place,” the White House statement said.

The statement said observers

found the elections were wer held in accordance with Egyptian law.

Sisi’s road to the pr presidency started with the overt overthrow of the country’s first freely freel elected president, Mohamed Morsi, last July.

Washington refrained from calling the change of government a coup, an assessment that would have forced it under US law to stop providing Egypt with billions in annual aid.

Sisi’s election has also been welcomed by his main Arab allies, including Saudi Arabia.

Saudi King Abdullah on Tuesday hailed the election of Sisi to the presidency as a “historic day”, and called for a donors conference to help Egypt through its economic troubles.

The king said Sisi’s sweeping win with 96.9 percent of the vote represents “a new stage for Egypt,” in a telegram published by Saudi state news agency SPA. “To the brothers and friends of Egypt ... I invite all to a donors conference ... to help it overcome its economic crisis,” he said, the AFP news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia pledged billions of dollars in aid to Egypt’s new authorities after the overthrow of Morsi last July, with Riyadh long seeing Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood as a threat.

After his ousting, it quickly pledged $5bn in aid to Cairo, with Kuwait and the UAE offering a combined $7bn.

CAR suspends SMS amid security threats

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he Central African Republic has suspended the country’s mobile text messaging service SMS, the telecommunications ministry in Bangui, the capital, said.

In a letter to mobile phone operators in the country on Tuesday, the ministry said they had suspended the service because it posed a security threat.

“The use of any SMS by all mobile phone subscribers is suspended from Monday June 2, 2014, until further notice,” the ministry said.

The ministry said the decision had been made by Prime Minister Andre Nzapayeke.

Nzapayeke on Sunday had made an appeal for people to return to work in Bangui following several days of

protests that had paralysed the capital.

Since last week there has been a resurgence of violence in Bangui, as well as a call for a general strike relayed by SMS in the past few days.

A source in the government told the AFP news agency the suspension of text messages would last “for several days”.

Mobile phone users in the CAR

who try to send text messages were receiving the response: “SMS not allowed” from their operators.

The majority Christian country has been struggling to restore security in the face of relentless titfor-tat attacks between Christian vigilante groups and Muslimled ex-Seleka rebels who seized control in a coup last year but were forced from power in January.

US to name first envoy to Somalia in decades

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resident Barack Obama is set to announce the first American ambassador to Somalia since the civil war erupted more than 20 years ago, according to a US diplomat.

“As a reflection both of our deepening relationship with the country and of our faith that better times are ahead, the president will propose the first US ambassador to Somalia in more than two decades,” Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told a US think tank on Tuesday.

Sherman would only say the announcement from Obama, who is in Europe, was expected “soon” and confirmed that, initially, the

new ambassador would be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Although the US never formally severed ties, the embassy in Mogadishu was closed in 1991 as Somalia descended into chaos amid a bloody power struggle among brutal clan chiefs.

The darkest chapter in ties came in 1993 when the bodies of US soldiers were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu by a mob after fighters loyal to Mohamed Farah Aideed, who was on US wanted list, shot down two Black Hawk helicopters.

Thousands of Somalis and 18 American soldiers died in the ensuing battle between fighters loyal to the Aideed and US

President Obama is expected to name the new ambassador “soon”

soldiers.

The Somali government that finally took power in August 2012 was the first to be given global

recognition since the regime of dictator Siad Barre fell in 1991.

The US recognised the new government in January, 2013.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 33

International Asia & Middle East

Review reveals big rise Deaths in fresh wave in Saudi MERS deaths of Iraq

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audi Arabia has announced a jump of nearly 50 percent in deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) after re-examining old data that also showed the number of infections since 2012 was a fifth higher than previously reported.

The increase in total confirmed cases of the virus rose to 688 from 575, while the rise in deaths jumped to 282 from 190, after a review of data ordered by the health ministry last month.

The sharp increase in deaths now attributed to MERS, which causes coughing, fever and pneumonia in some, means the mortality rate from the virus in Saudi Arabia is now 41 percent, instead of the 33 percent previously thought.

However, the ministry said on Tuesday that although the total number of historical cases had risen, the rate of infection in the most recent outbreak appeared to be slowing.

Of the total, 53 patients were still being treated, while 353 had recovered, the statement said.

“While the review has resulted in higher total number of previously unreported cases, we still see a decline in the number of new cases reported over the past few weeks,” Tariq Madani, head of the health ministry’s scientific advisory board, was quoted as saying in an emailed statement.

The health ministry said it had put in place new measures to

make sure better data gathering, reporting and transparency were being observed, including standardisation of testing and better guidelines for labelling and storing samples.

Saudi authorities had been criticised by some international scientists for their handling of the crisis, including what they saw as a lack of collaboration with specialist laboratories offering to help investigate the outbreak.

“Clearly any backward look will push the total numbers up but that does not signify any change in the virus, only previous under-reporting,” said Ian Jones, a virologist at Britain’s University of Reading.

“Infectious disease does not respect country, cultural or religious boundaries, so absolute clarity and the adoption of best practice for isolation and treatment are the most effective

means of minimising numbers until such time as the source and route of infection are identified and avoided.”

The health ministry said on Sunday it had set up a new command and control centre to tackle MERS and any future public health crisis more effectively.

The new centre will work with the World Health Organisation and the US Centre for Disease Control, it said.

The mortality rate from the MERS virus in Saudi Arabia is now 41 percent

Beijing boosts Tiananmen Square security

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eijing tightened security around Tiananmen Square on Wednesday, the 25th anniversary of the June 4, 1989, crackdown on student-led protests.

Dozens of riot police and police patrol cars could be seen parked around the square, as well as at intersections several blocks away on

the avenue of Eternal Peace.

“This time 25 years ago today you could not enter Tiananmen Square as a journalist. And 25 years on you still can’t,” said Al Jazeera’s Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing.

“This really is a reflection of the official nervousness for this very sensitive anniversary. They are

A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks from entering Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989

trying to erase all public memory of what happened here 25 years ago.”

Despite the date’s sensitivity, operations at the square seemed to resume as they would on a normal day in Beijing.

However, there was a different situation in Hong Kong where people were able to gather in their tens of thousands to commemorate the historical day due to freer legislation provided by the semiautonomous status of the city.

Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Hong Kong, said: “It is an annual event here to keep alive symbolically the flame of democracy that was lit 25 years ago. People here think they have a bond with those students who came out in Tiananmen Square all those years ago.”

In mainland China, activists and commentators said the country’s determination to quell any mention of the event was especially strong this year, and authorities had made mass arrests just before the anniversary.

Rights group Amnesty International said 48 people had been detained, placed under house arrest, questioned by police or had gone missing ahead of the anniversary.

In an apparent sign of government nervousness, connections to the internet appeared to have been disrupted leading up to the anniversary Police have also warned foreign reporters from visiting “sensitive places” and prevented them from interviewing people on the topic.

The government has never issued a complete and formal account of the crackdown and the number of casualties.

William Nee, China researcher with Amnesty International rights group, told Al Jazeera that the government keeps the facts about the event secret is because otherwise it would have to conduct a thorough investigation, hold the people responsible for the violence accountable and pay contributions to the relatives of the victims.

violence

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ednesday’s violence, which struck in and around Baghdad, as well as in Salaheddin and Kirkuk provinces also wounded at least 50 people.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Sunni fighters have frequently detonated bombs in the disputed northern territory.

Two people were killed when a suicide bomber set off a truck bomb in Suleiman Bek, while a corpse booby-trapped with explosives killed a policeman in nearby Tuz Khurmatu. Both towns, like Kirkuk, lie in the disputed territory, which stretches from Iraq’s border with Iran to its frontier with Syria.

In the adjoining province of Salaheddin, two separate bombings left a policeman and a soldier dead.

And in Baghdad, a car bomb killed four people in a shopping area of the Sunni-majority northern neighbourhood of Saba Abkar, while a policeman was shot dead in another Sunni-dominated district in the south.

Two policemen were also killed by roadside bombs in the capital’s northern outskirts.

Violence is running at its highest levels since 2006-2007 when Iraq was gripped by a brutal Sunni-Shia sectarian war that killed tens of thousands.

More than 900 people were killed in Iraq last month, according to figures separately compiled by the United Nations and the Iraqi government, while AFP news agency’s tally indicates that more than 4,000 people have been killed so far this year.

On Tuesday, one of the leaders of Iraq’s pro-government Sunni armed groups was killed by a suicide bomber in the western Anbar province’s capital of Ramadi, one of his men said.

Mohammed Khamis Abu Risha was touring a checkpoint manned by his fighters in Ramadi when a suicide bomber hugged him, said one of his men. Four of Abu Risha’s bodyguards were also killed in the blast, Reuters news agency reported.

Abu Risha was the commander of hundreds of men in the desert province’s capital, where security forces and a smaller number of pro-government Sunni tribal fighters have for months been battling tribesmen furious at Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and fighters hailing from the armed group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 34

International Europe and Americas

Obama and Putin spar over Ukraine violence

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S President Barack Obama has condemned what he called Russia’s “dark tactics” and “bullying” in Ukraine, prompting President Vladimir Putin to hit back at American “aggression,” as diplomatic wrangling between the two countries escalated.

Obama met Ukraine’s presidentelect Petro Poroshenko in the Polish capital of Warsaw on Wednesday, and promised years of US support, then blasted Russia and vowed to protect former Soviet states and domains in NATO, in a speech marking Poland’s 25 years of democracy.

“How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th century to define this new century?” Obama asked, adopting the mantle of ‘leader of the West’ worn by previous presidents during the Cold War. “Bigger nations must not be allowed to bully the small, or impose their will at the barrel of a gun or with masked men taking over buildings,” he said.

“So we will not accept Russia’s occupation of Crimea or its violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Obama said, before he left for Belgium and a G7 summit dedicated to coordinating policy towards Moscow.

In a clear reference to Russia’s action in Crimea and wider Ukraine, Obama warned that “the days of empires and spheres of influence are over.”

“Bigger nations must not be allowed to bully the small, or impose their will at the barrel of a gun or with masked men taking over buildings.”

During his visit to Poland, Obama also proposed a $1bn fund to finance new US air, naval and troop rotations through Eastern Europe, launching his regional tour designed to bolster NATO resolve and capacity against Moscow.

Obama will come face-to-face with Putin on Friday in France.

Several European leaders are also meeting the Russian leader and hope to pursue dialogue to ease the Ukraine crisis.

Putin said that he could not understand why Obama, who has spent months trying to isolate him over Ukraine, would not hold a formal meeting with him during 70th anniversary commemorations in Normandy.

“It is his choice, I am ready for dialogue,” Putin said in an interview with French broadcasters Europe1 and TF1 conducted at his dacha in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The Russian leader accused the US of hypocrisy in its “aggressive” attempts to punish Russia over Ukraine.

Venice Mayor arrested in corruption scandal

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talian police have placed the mayor of Venice under house arrest in a corruption investigation over the construction of a flood barrier to preserve the island city.

Mayor Giorgio Orsoni, arrested on Wednesday along with 34 others including politicians, business people and a retired police general, was accused of embezzling $27m in public funds.

The money was allegedly sent into foreign bank accounts and used to finance political parties, Italian media reported.

Orsoni’s lawyers said in a statement that the allegations “appear hardly credible” and said the accusations were coming from people who were already under investigation.

Venice prosecutors have also requested the arrest of the former governor of the Venice region Giancarlo Galan, who is a member of parliament and a former culture minister. A parliament vote is required to lift Galan’s immunity.

Galan is from former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s

Lawyers of Mayor Giorgio Orsoni say the allegations “appear hardly credible”

centre-right opposition Forza Italia party while Orsoni is from the ruling centre-left Democratic Party. Galan launched the project in 2003 with Berlusconi.

The “Mose” (Moses) project started in 2003 and has cost more than $7bn. It was scheduled for

completion this year but has been repeatedly hit by delays.

The operation involves about 50 subcontractors working on more than 20km of the Venice lagoon to build 78 mobile barriers against high tides and flooding.

Venice is badly in need of

protection due to yearly flooding known as “acqua alta” (high water) - due to a combination of tides, currents and strong winds.

The city sank 23 cm during the whole of the 20th century and is increasingly vulnerable as sea levels rise.

Kerry in Lebanon to pledge more refugee aid

The State Department said the money will go to organisations aiding Syrian refugees across the Middle East

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S Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Lebanon, where he will pledge more aid to help Syria’s neighbours deal with an influx of refugees and press Lebanese parliamentarians to swiftly choose a new president.

Lebanon has been unable to agree on a consensus candidate for president, creating a political vacuum at a time when the country

is struggling to contain domestic sectarian violence while also grappling with a flood of Syrian refugees and declining economic growth.

“It is an important period now to show support for the Lebanese government,” a senior State Department official told reporters.

The State Department said Kerry - whose visit to Lebanon came unannounced - will pledge more

than $290m in additional aid for UN agencies and non-governmental organisations working with the nearly 3 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

Some $51m of the funds, the largest chunk of the aid, will go to helping Lebanon, which now hosts the highest concentration of refugees as a percentage of population in the world.

The influx has burdened public services and been a drag on the economy. Unlike some of Syria’s other neighbours, Lebanon does not have formal refugee camps, leaving many families to find refuge within host communities.

More than $35m of the additional funds will go to helping refugees in Jordan, $15m to Turkey and the same amount to Iraq, while $4.5m will support Egypt, the State Department said.

‘Lebanon needs president’ Lebanon has been without a president since May 25 when Michel Suleiman’s six-year term expired. Attempts by politicians to pick a successor have foundered on longstanding rifts exacerbated by tensions over the Syrian war.

The presidency, allocated to the Maronite Christian community under Lebanon’s sectarian division of power, is one of the three main political offices alongside the prime minister - a Sunni Muslim, and the parliamentary speaker - a Shia.

The war in Syria has split Lebanon’s Christians just as it has divided Muslims. Shias mostly support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Sunnis mainly back the rebels.

Regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose endorsement is crucial to any political deal in Lebanon, are also in opposing camps over Syria.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 35

Strange World

Lack of toilet breaks forces Thai bus conductors to wear diapers

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f you have access to a clean toilet at your workplace, you’ll probably appreciate it a lot more after reading this. We usually take common things like toilets for granted, without once thinking about how luck we are! Bus conductors in Bangkok, Thailand, don’t even get toilet breaks – they wear adult diapers instead, and are forced to answer nature’s call on the job.

That might sound gross, but it’s actually kind of sad. The story is the same in several parts of Thailand – blue collar workers aren’t even provided with basic amenities.

Bus conductors have it the worst – without any work breaks to tend to their physiological needs, they have to wear adult diapers all day long .

It’s no laughing matter – the diapers are actually making them ill.

One of those affected is Watcharee Viriya, a conductor who developed urinary tract infection because she spent several hours away from a restroom. So she started wearing diapers, which only made matters worse. “It was uncomfortable when I moved, especially when I urinated inside,” she said.

“When I arrived at the bus terminal, I had to run to get changed.

I used at least two diapers a day.”

Watcharee was recently diagnosed with cancer of the uterus, for which she needs to undergo surgery. “The doctor told me that it was because of wearing dirty diapers and the substances from them going into the uterus.”

According to a survey conducted by the Thai Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation,

28 percent of female bus conductors wear diapers during their 16-hour shifts. “We were shocked,” said Jaded Chouwilai, director of the foundation. “We also found that many of them suffer urinary tract infections and stones in their bladders. Many of the female bus conductors also have uterus cancer.”

This issue is only one of several that Thai workers face on a daily basis, due to a huge disparity between the rich and the working

class. Problems like these and many other factors have actually resulted in a complex political crisis in the nation, leading to a military coup on May 22.

Somchai Jitsuchon, research director for inclusive development at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said: “Even though it has shrunk, the rich-poor gap is still considered quite wide. Our social and political systems have given more opportunities to people

in the establishment such as the rich and big business people.”

Thankfully, Bangkok’s bus conductors and unionists are starting to demand better working conditions. “Their working conditions are not good,” said Chutima Boonjai, secretary of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority labor union. “They have to work long hours in the heat and when they are hungry, they cannot eat. When they want to go to the toilet, they cannot.”

Wealthy New Yorkers are hiring professional organizers to pack their kids’ summer camp bags

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s much as I hate packing, I do think this is overdoing it a bit – some rich mothers in New York are actually hiring professional organizers to pack their kids’ trunks for summer camp. Believe it or not, each bag takes a whopping four hours to pack and costs no less than $250 per hour.

So what exactly goes into a bag that needs four hours of packing, you ask? Well, the idea is to fit in all the comforts of home in the luggage, including scented candles, delicate soap and 1,000-thread count sheets (nope, not kidding).

According to Barbara Reich of Resourceful Consultants, several mothers have approached her to do the job. “For a lot of mothers, particularly when their child is going away for the first time, it’s very stressful,” she said. “Clients will say, ‘I need to touch and feel the sheets for softness.’ But these are the kind of things they can control. They’re paying $10,000 for sleep-away camp, so they shouldn’t feel so bad for their child.”

The ‘trunk requests’ have been catching on gradually – Barbara said she had just one client two years ago, five trunks last year, and 10 this year. Professional organizer Dayna Brandoff of Chaos Theory has already done four requests this year, and expects another 15 in June. Some of Dayna’s clients have even asked her to recreate

their child’s bedroom within their bunks at camp.

“It’s really about bringing the feel of home to camp,” said Dayna.

“A lot of the parents that I work with want to duplicate the bedding that they have at home. They’re sending plastic boxes and shelving to give their kids more space.”

It’s nice that these moms are

super-concerned for their children, but some believe that this kind of hyperfocus might not be good for them. According to social researcher Wednesday Martin, “Women who are Type A, harddriving, competitive career moms – that is, being a mom is their career – can hire staff, assistants, professional organizers to help

them do it better.”

It might make sense to some, but personally, I don’t see the point of spending over $1,000 to pack kids’ luggage. They’re probably going to mess up everything the moment they get to camp, anyway. Some might call this overparenting, but it sounds more like under-parenting to me?

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Digest

Fruit juice time bomb

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he appalling diets of the nation’s teenagers have been exposed by a report which shows that many are already putting themselves at risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

And last night health experts warned that fruit juice – seen by many as a healthy option – should be drunk no more than once a day because of its high sugar content.

Girls and boys aged 11 to 19 typically eat 42 per cent too much sugar and 14 per cent too much saturated fat.

Only 10 per cent of teenage boys and 7 per cent of teenage girls

Health experts have warned people to stick to one glass of fruit juice a day due to its high sugar content

Health experts have warned that young people aged 11 to 19 are consuming, on average, 47 per cent too much sugar, with the main sources being fruit juice, soft drinks, cereal bars, biscuits and cakes

manage to get their five m five portions of ffruit and veg a day.

Adults do not fare a great deal b better. Only a third get their five-ad day and the diet of the average adult eexceeds recommended sugar limits by 10 per cent. b The report, the Government’s N National Diet and Nutrition Survey, a also shows that children aged ten a and under typically exceed the rrecommended daily limit of sugar b by 34 per cent.

Their main sources of sugar are fruit juice, soft drinks, cereal bars, biscuits and cakes.

It reveals that adults are eating half the recommended weekly amount of oily fish – which protects against heart disease, cancer and

dementia – while teenagers and children only manage a fifth of this amount.

The survey, which involved 4,000 adults and children between 2008 and 2012, says 48 per cent of men and women have above-normal levels of cholesterol, putting them at higher risk of heart disease and strokes.

Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘This study paints a clear picture that too many people, especially children, are not eating healthily enough.

‘This puts them at greater risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity now or in the

future future. There is no magic bullet to solve this problem. Parents, schools, restaurants, retailers and the food industry all have a role to play.

‘But the Government can fire the first shot by implementing a 9pm watershed ban on junk food marketing to stop children being bombarded with advertising about products high in fats, salts and sugars. We also need stringent regulation to protect children from online marketing tactics.’

There is also concern that policies such as the NHS’s Change4Life programme are having little effect because only healthy adults and children pay any attention.

The initiative, which has cost

taxpayers £65million since its launch in January 2009, consists of television adverts, a website, a helpline and locally-run sports clubs all aimed at curbing the obesity epidemic.

The scheme also produces posters for schools, community clubs, GP surgeries and hospitals urging the public to eat their fivea-day, take regular exercise and cut portion sizes.

Dr Ian Campbell, of the National Obesity Forum, said: ‘In spite of a raft of measures designed to encourage us to eat a healthier diet we are, as a nation, failing miserably.

‘If we really care about the health of our children we need to take far more decisive action.

‘We need to regulate the food industry to make healthy choices easier, more attractive and cheaper.’

Dr Alison Tedstone, the chief nutritionist at Public Health England, the Government agency that released the report, said fruit juice was a good option as one of the recommended five fruit portions a day.

But she warned: ‘It should only be drunk once a day and with a meal because it can be high in sugar.’

In March, Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, said the Government may have to introduce a sugar tax to help make the nation’s diet more healthy.

Later that month the World Health Organisation urged the public to cut their sugar intake by half to six teaspoons a day.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

How using a smartphone or tablet could make you fat

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sing a computer or smartphone at night can cause us to pile on the pounds, new research has revealed.

The study found a link between blue light exposure - blue light is emitted by smartphones and tablets - and increased hunger It found that exposure to the light increases hunger levels for several hours and even increases hunger levels after eating a meal.

Results of the US study show that blue-enriched light exposure, compared with dim light exposure,

was associated with an increase in hunger that began 15 minutes after light onset and was still present almost two hours after the meal.

Blue light exposure has also already been shown to decreased sleepiness in the evening increasing the risk of insomnia.

Study co-author Ivy Cheung, of Northwestern University, in Chicago, said: ‘A single three-hour exposure to blue-enriched light in the evening acutely impacted hunger and glucose metabolism.

‘These results are important because they suggest that

Exposure to the blue light these devices emit increases people’s hunger levels meaning they tend to eat more and are more likely to gain weight

Using a computer or smartphone at night can cause people to pile on the pounds, new research has revealed

m i l ti environmental i t l li ht manipulating light eexposure for humans may represent a novel approach of influencing food iintake patterns and metabolism.’

The findings are published iin the science journal Sleep a and were presented today at an a annual meeting of the Associated P Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis.

The study group comprised 10

h lth adults healthy d lt with ith regular l sleep l and eating schedules who received identical carbohydrate-rich meals.

They completed a four-day trial under dim light conditions, which involved exposure to less than 20 lux during 16 hours awake and less than three lux during eight hours of sleep.

On day three they were exposed to three hours of 260 lux, blue-

i h d light li ht starting t ti 10.5 10 5 hours h enriched after waking up, and the effects were compared with dim light exposure on day two.

Ms Cheung said more research is needed to determine the mechanisms of action involved in the relationship between light exposure, hunger and metabolism.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 37

PDP, a complete failure, says Kebbi APC From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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L-R: Managing-Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria,(FAAN), Mr. Saleh Danoma, Leader of delegation, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkiru Onyejeocha, and Hon. Ricco Mohammed, during the committee’s inspection of facilities at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Post-election violence: Group seeks closer ties among parties

By Lawrence Olaoye

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n advocacy group, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), yesterday called on all political parties in the country to seize the opportunity of the oncoming All Nigeria Parties and Political Stakeholders Summit to brainstorm on how to avoid post election violence in the country.

TAN, in a press statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Dr. Udenta O. Udenta, not only endorsed the June 12 summit but believed that the on-going National Conference will benefit from the insights of such a summit whose conclusions and recommendations will go a long way in strengthening the work of its delegates in political related matters.

According to Udenta, “the organization believes that since the All Politicians summit of 1995, this is perhaps the most important gathering of Nigeria’s political stakeholders given the giant strides the nation’s democracy has recorded since 1999 and the persistent political, economic

and security challenges it still confronts.”

“TAN also believes that the summit will have a salutary impact on the nation’s democratic process, especially the overall political tone of the 2015 general elections in the areas of issue based campaigns that are decent, decorous and civilized, the adherence by political parties and politicians to the code of conduct that they willingly subscribed to in 2011, and the need for non-violent, fraud-free 2015 elections.

It charged Nigerian politicians “to take advantage of this historic opportunity and seize this moment in re-committing themselves to the high moral and political ideals of the fatherland as well as apply their collective weight to ensure that the decisions reached therein will have a positive impact in the quest to consolidate Nigerian democracy”.

TAN also cautioned that the political interaction should not be a one-off affair but must be institutionalized as a permanent feature of the nation’s on-going democratic dialogue and intergroup conversation.

Continuing, Udenta stated that “apart from making this summit an annual affair, there is the extra urgency that it does not become yet another one event talk shop. Rather, the decisions and recommendations reached at the summit should be implemented at the post-summit phase by a broad, consensus front that should emerge at the end of the gathering. Such a structure should develop and implement a robust plan of action beyond even the 2015 general elections”.

The summit which is jointly convened by the Office of the National Security Adviser to the President and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs will attract delegates from all the registered political parties, sociopolitical pressure groups, civil society organizations, youth and women structures, international democracy building institutions and members of the diplomatic corps. The summit will be chaired

by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Nigerian Head of State, and declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan.

... Another cautions political leaders to stop using youths as thugs

By Lawrence Olaoye

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oncerned Nigerian Youths Forum (CNYF) has called on the politicians to stop using the nation’s youth as political thugs during elections.

The group’s National Coordinator, Hon. Yusuf Achor, while addressing newsmen recently urged the leaders to bring the youths up to responsible citizens useful for the development of the country.

The youth coordinator also charged the people to see insurgency as common enemy and assist the federal government to curb the strange menace ravaging the nation.

He said that the continued unity of Nigeria is one that cannot be negotiated, adding, “like every nations of the world we continue to grapple with our immediate challenges, the quest to move the country forward is one that entails all hands to be on deck.”

Condemning the adoption of the Chibok girls, killing of Emir of Gwoza and other incessant killings across the country, CNYF called on the Boko Haram to embrace the amnesty opportunity giving to it by the federal government.

The group coordinator implored Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous politicians as agent of destruction particularly during electioneering.

he Kebbi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state as a complete failure, insisting that the APC is the only party that can bring change in the lives of the masses.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in BirninKebbi, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sani Dododo, said that the PDP administration in the state and Nigeria at large has nothing to show to the electorates; rather they would showcase the killing of innocent souls. He said, “you see that they would show the persistence killing of people, Nigeria is facing insecurity which is one of the major factors of their failure.

Dododo, while reeling out

the catalogues of what he called PDP maladministration in the country, pointed out that the abducted girls in the school has shown that the Nigeria government is incapacitated.

The APC spokesman who said the opposition party has been docile all this while averred that it will no longer be business as usual for the ruling party in Nigeria and state as the APC is now out to challenge the mismanagement and the misplaced priority that has characterized the PDP administration in the country over the years.

Dododo also carpeted the ruling party in the state on what he called poor state of the civil service, pointing out that civil servants in the state are the most poorly remunerated and that there was no better retirement benefit for retired civil servants.

The PDP administration in the state was also accused of lacking respect for legislative and judicial arms of the government.

Insist on good leadership, Amaechi charges Nigerians From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

R

ivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has called on Nigerians to resist all forms tyranny and dictatorship currently manifesting in the nation’s polity.

Amaechi, who made the call while speaking as guest lecturer at the 3rd annual lecture of the Ogun State Correspondents’ Chapel held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat, Iwe Irohin, Abeokuta, noted that for the country to make headway politically, socially and economically, Nigerians must be ready to rise against bad leadership and install the one that will be passionate about the country and its people.

He said, “Nigerians must say no to tyranny. Nigerians must say no to dictatorship. The people get the kind of leadership they deserve. It appears that Nigerians have been docile.

Nigerians should insist that they deserve more than they are getting.”

Amaechi, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, spoke on the theme: “Nigeria: The Leadership Question”.

He described “Leadership as an extremely important factor that determines the future of the country and its people. Unless

and until we have leaders with ability, integrity, commitment and vision, we cannot succeed as a country. We cannot succeed by leadership that is not functional.

“It is in your hands to choose and to change the leadership.

Nigerians must begin to insist that they deserve better than they are getting. We believe that Nigeria of our dream is Nigeria with leaders who are not only consistent, transparent but also passionate about our country.”

“Can we say that the crop of leadership at various levels is passionate about us as a country?

Can we say that the current crop of leadership at the federal level is transparent in their dealings? Is it consistent with policies that will build the nation. I think that the answers to those questions were some of the reasons why some of us left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress”, Amaechi said.

On the present state of federalism as being practiced in Nigeria, he noted that a situation whereby the federal government determines what allocation should accrue to states must be reviewed.

He also condemned other forms of absurdities where a state commissioner of police would wake up one morning and make a pronouncement that was unconstitutional, by banning people from holding a peaceful rally.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Politics

2015 general elections: Stay clear of thugs, Wada advises politicians

Chief Victor Umeh (middle), addressing journalists, yesterday at the High Court in Awka, after the sitting of Election Petition Tribunal on Anambra governorship election.

From Omale Adama, Lokoja

A

Photo: NAN

APC’ll revive Nigeria, says Lai Mohammed From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Interim Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday said his party will bring Nigeria backs to its feet.

Speaking yesterday at the 4th Annual Student Week of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Lagos Lai Mohammad said Nigeria is at the cross-roads.

“We face perhaps the biggest threat to our survival as a nation since the civil war. Nigeria has never been this fractious in peace time, with our people being increasingly divided along ethnic and religious lines, even as what

started as a rag tag insurgency has morphed into a slow motion warfare.”

Lai Mohammad who spoke on the topic “The Role of the Opposition in Deepening Nigeria’s Democracy” said his party has performed well saying their consistent effort will bring about the needed change in the country.

“Let me say, with all humility, that my party, the APC, has performed this role creditably and effectively through our daily media intervention, through our stimulation of debate on critical national issues and by our consistent effort to offer our long-suffering people a credible

democratic alternative to what we have at the Centre at the moment.”

“And in achieving this, my party has been guided by the highest principles, based on our recognition of the centrality of the opposition not only in ensuring the survival, deepening and expansion of democracy, but also in preserving human liberty and guaranteeing justice, particularly in a plural state and society such as Nigeria.” He said.

Speaking on the BokoHaram insurgents, he described the group as an enemy to all Nigerians.

“The truth is that Boko Haram is an enemy of the

whole of Nigeria, nay the entire world: Christians and Muslims, Northerners and Southerners; the high and the lowly, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. Had the government seen it like that, and had the government not tried to profit from it politically, Boko Haram may have been history by now, or be considerably weakened.”

“It is therefore important for the Jonathan-led, PDPled federal government to quit seeing Boko Haram as one grand conspiracy against it, so that it can then forge a united front against a group that is an enemy of the entire country,” he said.

PDP holds NEC meeting today

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded arrangements to hold its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today ahead of its mid term convention tentatively scheduled to hold in June, this year.

The Board of Trustees (BoT), headed by Chief Tony Anenih met yesterday to further streamline the NEC’s agenda.

Sources however informed our reporters that the caucus and BoT meetings would specifically appraise current moves to contain insurgency as well as the leadership of Alhaji Ahmadu Mu’azu who took over the national chairmanship of the party at the last NEC meeting.

It was learnt that the composition of membership and how to organise a successful National Convention for the election of its candidates for the 2015 general election would be top on the agenda.

Already, it was agreed that a former governor from the north would be nominated to head the National Convention Committee.

It was also learnt that strengthening party membership and cohesion as well as reports of the various zonal executive committees on proposed return of high-profile politicians like former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia) and Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani

(Enugu) whose desires to return to their original fold have polarized the party, would also be resolved.

While Governors Theodore Orji and Sullivan Chime (Abia and Enugu) respectively are opposed to their return, the national leadership are contending that denying them such rights would constrain the PDP constitution.

Also the crises in the South West of the party as well as the

long standing Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto state chapter crises would be resolved at the meeting.

The effects of the permanent voters card and re-registration of members being carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the party membership would also top discussions with reports from the various zones. holds NEC meeting today.

Kogi APC youth accuse former Gov Audu of selling out’

By Umar Muhammad Puma

Y

outh from Kogi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their hundreds yesterday besieged the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja in protest, demanding that the former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, should leave the party.

The youths shouting on top

of their voices said in different placards that Audu should “ bring back Kogi state APC’, ‘APC will not die’, ‘APC is not family affairs’, ‘Release our party now, ‘Audu must go’, ‘Leaders don’t discriminate, ‘Time out for Audu, ‘Audu is a sell out’.

But reacting to the allegations on phone, the former governor said the protesters were PDP members who were not known in APC. Audu also debunked the allegation that he single

handedly conducted state congress in his house, saying the national headquarters of APC sent representatives to witness the congress.

He said, “They are being sponsored by PDP members.

They were paid to do what they are doing. I can tell you that all the petitions they have written against me were thrown out by APC national secretariat. I am full member of APC and I am very loyal to the party.”

s the campaigns for the 2015 general election gathers momentum, Kogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada, has warned the political class in the state to stay clear of patronizing thuggery activities that have over the years dragged the name of the state into the mud.

The warning came yesterday at a valedictory session to mark the end of the state lawmakers third- year of plenary session at the Assembly complex, Lokoja.

He said that the use of thugs as a means of achieving political goal was not certainly providential and therefore not ordained by God. Wada said his administration has done enough to eliminate thuggery in the state, stressing that whoever is caught enthroning thuggery to score political victory will not be spared, no matter the status of the individual in the society.

“We will deal with anybody caught patronising thugs as political activities are about to kick off; no sacred cow at all. Your body language is as important as your words. No need sacrificing anybody before wining an election for leadership comes from God”, he said.

The governor who assured that his government has the necessary capacity to deal with those rearing thugs in the state advised those concerned to note that posterity will judge their actions and deeds.

“The state is large enough that some people can come and settle in an area without the knowledge of security details and operate to endanger the state. Let us all be very vigilant to avoid being caught napping”, he advised.

The governor therefore advised the state legislators to expedite action over some state bills that needed their urgent attention for the administration to address matters of public interest on time.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Momoh Jimoh Lawal, said the legislators have worked very hard using the instrument of legislation and oversight machinery to effectively drive the economy and accelerate development in the state for the past three years.

At the closing of this year plenary session, the House had sat for 197 days, considered 22bills, out of which 16 are executive bills and 6 private bills. Of this number, 12 have been passed into law while 10 of the bills are being considered at different stages at committee level.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 39

News Extra

Shema, FMBN boss bag international awards From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

Diaspora magazine, based in South Africa, has given an award of excellence in efficient service delivery to Katsina state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema and the Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria

(FMBN), Alhaji Gimba Ya’u Kumo.

Presenting the award to the recipient at an award ceremony, organized yesterday in Katsina, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, Miss Madelein Mkunu noted that the recipients have distinguished themselves in their various place of assignments.

Mkunu noted that the

magazine was committed to recongnizing leaders who have made their mark in the service of their communities, adding that the duo have have succeeded in making a difference in their respective position of leadership.

The editor-in-chief stated that Governor Shema had brought positive changes to

the state especially in the area of infrastructure development, where according to her, “We see in Katsina the beautiful roads network, the housing scheme, and infrastuructures in the health and education sector”.

On the Federal Morgage Bank’s boss, Alhaji Kumo, the editor-in-chief noted that for the past 20 years the bank has

been operating at a loss until the coming of the incumbent, whereby profit was declared by the bank.

She equally noted that their team on the visit to Nigeria include some prospective investors in various sectors of the economy, especially investment in the agricultural sector.

Edo fire fighters save 103 lives From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

total of 103 lives and property worth N1,507,708,450 billion in Edo state, have been saved

by Fire Fighting and Rescue services of the state’s Ministry of Transport in different parts of the state.

The rescue was a result of combat fire incidents at private dwelling, pipe line explosions, tankers, industrial establishments, hotels, electricity

transformer and stalls.

Others include bus-stop, markets, petrol stations, automobiles, shopping complex and finance houses in the last quarter of 2013 and first quarter of 2014, according to statistical document from the Planning, Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry and made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday.

Two lives and property worth N116,417,625:5 million were lost during the period, according to the document.

Jigawa gov’s wife doles out gifts, cash to school kids President, Campaign for Democracy and Woman Arise, Dr. Joe Odumakin (3rd left), NADECO Chairman, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (middle), former Secretary General, National Conscience Party (NCP), Comrade Femi Aborisade (right), a NADECO member, Fred Agbayegbe, (2nd right), daughter of late Kudirat Abiola and President, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola (2nd left), and Comrade Raji Rasheed(left), during the Kudirat Abiola 18th anniversary, organised by Campaign for Democracy in collaboration with Women Arise, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi

NADECO wants nation to go back to regionalism From Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

T

he Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADEC0), Rear Admiral (rtd) Ndubuisi Kanu, yesterday reiterated the call for Nigeria to go back to regionalism.

Kanu made the call at the 18th year wreath-laying ceremony in honour of late Kudirat Abiola, organised by the Campaign for Democracy (CD), in Lagos.

The late Kudirat Abiola was killed on June 4, 1996 while struggling to actualise the mandate of her husband, late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election in Nigeria.

Speaking, the one-time governor of Lagos state, said that for Nigeria to continue as a country of different people, equal in all respects, it must go back to regionalism.

“All of us in government and out of government must go back to the road we have abandoned.

Its not just about military or civilian rule but that Nigeria must survive” he said.

According to him, the strength of Nigeria is in the diversity of its people and ignoring the diversit will be detrimental to the unity of the nation.

In her remarks, Dr Joe Odumakin, the President of CD, lamented that 18 years after

Kudirat’s death, terror continued to reign in Nigeria.

Odumakin said that Nigerians must remain vigilant and rise in unison to say enough was enough.

“It is disheartning that Nigeria is yet to rid itself of terror, brutal murders and kidnapps” she said.

Also Speaking, Kudirat’s’ Daughter, Hasfat, urged Nigerians to remain courageous like her late mother in the face of insurgency, corruption and poverty.

She said the problems in Nigeria was not created by the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, hence the need to support the fight against terrorism.

FG committed to motivating paramilitary officers - Moro

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

M

inister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has said that the federal government is committed to motivate the para-military officers and other security officers in the fight against terror.

Moro stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, while commissioning 200 KIA motors acquired for the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He explained that the cars,

which was part of the corps welfare scheme, is in line with the federal government’s resolve to bolster staff morale and thereby concentrate on enhancing efficiency and productivity.

“The commissioning of two hundred (200) KIA vehicles under this second phase of the programme is a testimony to our collective sincerity as a government to uplift the standard of living of security personnel and ameliorate any form of difficulties they face in the discharge of their duties”, he

stated.

He further said the government, on its part, was committed to completing the paramilitary village for the purpose of providing accommodation for personnel, assuring that the NSCDC personnel would benefit from the scheme.

Earlier, the Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin explained that the programme was part of efforts to ensure that staff are properly motivated to keep them away from unwholesome acts.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

T

he wife of Jigawa state governor, Hajiya Amina Sule Lamido has doled out gift items and undisclosed amount of cash to various schools within Dutse metropolis, as her mark of a belated Children’s Day celebration.

The first lady, who was being represented on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, said the geture was aimed to celebrate with the children on the occassion of the Children’s Day. She told the students at the various schools visited to uphold the virtues of true children of good moral and educational upbringing.

She said the girls amongst them should also be thankful to Allah, for making it possible for them to enjoy free education as long as they want to study courtesy the state government under Alhaji Sule Lamido.

The commissioner enjoined them to desist from any immoral act capable of jeopardising their future as the future leaders of the country, adding that drugs and cultism are vices that should not be contemplated by anyone of them that wants to have a realistic future”, she said.

Amongst the schools she visited include Danmasara Primary school, Dutse Standard Nursery and Primary school, Dutse capital school and many others.

Wakil mourns late Emir of Gwoza From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, has described the death of the late Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, as a sacrifice that should propel the military to finding a solution to the Boko Haram menace.

Wakil said this as the body of the late monarch was laid to rest on Friday, in accordance with Islamic law.

He also condemned the killing of the monarch as barbaric, disrespectful and utterly unislamic, saying it was reprehensible for the sect to attack revered emirs of Askira, Abdullahi Ibn Muhammed Askirama II, the late emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta and the Emir of Uba, Ali IbnIsmaila

Mamza II. “Words cannot express my sadness. I am heart broken and nothing can comfort us on this tragic occasion. Our late Emir is a community leader of repute who dedicated his life to peaceful, harmonious living among people of Borno and other Nigerians,” he said in a statement signed by Olawale Rasheed, his spokesman.

“Our consolation is that the Emir lived a fulfilled life, served humanity and Allah to the last and remained committed to one indivisible Nigeria despite the insurgency. This death and that of our many compatriots in this conflict will further propel the Nigerian state to intensify operations which will restore peace to our dear state,” the minister said.

PAGE 40

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

L-R: Assistant Corps Commander (Operations), Federal Roads Safety Corps, Mr. Joshua Niniola, Deputy Corps Commander (Operations), Mr. Danjuma Garba, and Oyo state Sector Commander, Mr. Godwin Ogagaoghene, during a sensitisation programme for articulated vehicle drivers, yesterday in Ibadan.

Muslims and Christians offered prayers for the release of Chibok girls, during the national prayer organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, yesterday in Abuja.

L-R: Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Major-General Emmanuel Atawe, presenting a plaque to visiting Army Chief of Training and Operations, Major-General Ebibowei Awala, yesterday at JTF’S headquarters, Opollo, in Yenagoa.

L-R: Adamawa state Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), presenting equipment to a beneficiary, Binta Hassan, under the Adamawa state MDG poultry project, yesterday in Yola.

L-R: The Village Head of Inkil, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani, Director, Al-Muhibbah Foundation, Hajiya Ladi Ibrahim, presenting empowerment item donated by AlMuhibbah Foundation to Mrs. Rhoda Ishaku, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: Mahmud Isa and NAN

SPORT 41 PAGE

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046, 08036258222, albertakota@yahoo.com

7 Days to World Cup

Peters urges Nigeria to support Keshi’s World Cup list

Gay set for Diamond League NFF set to restore meeting after FA Cup glory drug ban

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Sports

World Cup: Score the goals, bring back the cup, Aduda tells Eagles

T

he Senator Representing the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Philip Aduda has urged the Super Eagles to go all out for victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Aduda who disclosed this in Abuja, said that his message to Eagles was to go Brazil, score all the goals and bring back the cup.

“For me, the World Cup finals is more than just football, it’s about our national pride as the African champions at stake.

“We cannot afford to dash the hopes of the African continent.

“Also, in a time of violence and so on, when the whole world is waiting to hear the latest negative news from Nigeria, this is the time we need the Super Eagles most.

“They are the only once who can unify our nation and change the mindset of the world towards Nigeria.

“I expect the Eagles to exert as much energy and resolve to triumph just as they did at the African Cup of Nations,” he said.

Adudu also praised the team for putting up a good performance

during Wednesday night’s international friendly against Scotland.

He thanked Coach Stephen Keshi for giving some of the new players an opportunity to show what they could offer to the team.

“Even though coach Keshi opted to use a largely experimental Nigeria side to execute the match, I must say the lads gave a good account of themselves.

“It was good to see the likes of Shola Ameobi given the opportunity to lead the attack for the Eagles alongside Michael Uchebo with support on the flanks from Michael Babatunde.

“I can just imagine what our first eleven would look like. I am sure if the coach had fielded a stronger side we could have easily beaten the Scots,” he said.

The Super Eagles on Wednesday held Scotland to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage and also held to goalless draw with Greece.

The law maker also backed the National Sports Commission DG, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye to

help steer the country’s sports in the right direction, adding that, he was a goal-getter.

He noted that Elegbeleye’s wealth of experience both in the Executive and Judiciary arms of government would ensure that the World Cup comes to the country.

“I know him (Elegbeleye) to be very passionate about sports, most especially the game of football which he loves so much.

“When he was Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports then, he did very well and we were proud of him.

“His experience, exceptional intelligence, dedication and commendable track record will no doubt act as a helpful asset to accomplishing this highly challenging task,” Aduda said.

The 20th FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil between June 12 and July 13, 2014.

Nigeria is in Group F of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, alongside Argentina, BosniaHerzegovina and Iran.

Sen. Philip Aduda

Peters urges Nigeria World Cup: Iran in Brazil waiting for Eagles’ arrival to support Keshi’s World Cup list

T

Iranians

T

he Super Eagles World Cup Group F opponents, Iran became the second countries, to arrive in Brazil for the global showpiece.

The world football governing body, FIFA, in a statement on its official website yesterday, said that Iran landed, shortly before Croatia,

at the Sao Paulo International Airport, Brazil at 4:10p.m. (local time).

Australia was the first of the 32 teams to land in Brazilian territory last week.

The Iranians will start their World Cup campaign against Nigeria on June 16 in Curitiba, after

which they are to face Argentina on June 21 and Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 25.

According to FIFA, upon arrival in Sao Paulo, Iranian Coach, Carlos Queiroz, said that his team would do everything possible to have a successful campaign at the World Cup.

he Super Eagles striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie says he has missed the team for the last two years and is desperate to make contribution to the team before he calls it quits with football.

Describing the team as having raised its standards, which other countries especially in Africa will struggle to catch up with.

“Luckily, I have been picked to go and do battle for the nation in Brazil and I can assure you that

I will give my all to the team. The talent is there, the stars are here and we work as a family. Yes I have been away but now that I’m back I want to give my all and ensure that we do well in Brazil”, Eagles Media Officer Ben Alaiya quotes Osaze as

he Former Super Eagles assistant coach, James Peters has described the Super Eagles’ final 23man squad named by Coach Stephen Keshi for the FIFA World Cup as “the best” available and called for support for the team.

Despite eyebrows being raised by Nigerians, Peters, who is the assistant technicaldirector of the Nigeria Football Federation, said that the 23man list presented by Keshi would do well in Brazil.

“Yea, I think, without understatement that is the best list any coach can produce or present at this moment.

“Well, if you come through the number of players Keshi has invited to camp and if you follow them critically from day one till today. He has used so many players, but at the same time he was eliminating by

Expect my best in Brazil-Osaze T

saying.

The Stoke City striker took time off to thank fans in Nigeria and across the world that stood by him why he was away from national duties and promised that he will not fail them come Brazil 2014.

substitution.

“And he has come to this last stage, to pick the best and I think this is best. If I’m there, that is what I would have done.

There won’t have been any other player better from which he has picked,” Peters said.

When asked over his areas of concerns for the team, Peters explained that Keshi’s selection in all departments was best of players he had at hand, stressing that he may not have made any better choice if in his shoes.

“I think he has taken care of every department. The defence is okay, that is why I said there couldn’t have been anybody better than what he has taken.

So, if there is anybody better, we would have complained, but the whole positions he has taken care of them.

“So, I don’t think there is any need for anybody to complain. All we need to do now is to concentrate and support him and support the team to get to the next stage of the competition.

“Keshi has chosen this way; all we need to do is give him support. We can’t do anything, saying he must put Uche, which could be counterproductive. So all needed is for the nation to support Keshi,” he explained.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 43

Sports

NFF set to restore FA Cup glory Bosnia end Mexico’s

By Albert Akota

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he Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Musa Amadu, said that that the federation would continue to do its best to bring back the glory of the Federation Cup, otherwise known as FA cup.

He said in Abuja during the FA Cup draws that efforts were being intensified to ensure the competition had substantive sponsors.

“We are trying our best for the past three; four years to bring back the glamour of the FA Cup now christened the Federation Cup. “Of course it has been largely sponsored by both NFF and the Lagos State Government; we are still on the lookout for a substantive sponsor of the Federation Cup. “Probably in a couple of years we should be able to get a title sponsor so that the federation cup can continue to be as glamorous as it used to be.”

At the draws, 20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) got what could be described as easy pairing.

20 NPFL clubs, 17 Nigeria National League (NNL) clubs, 14 Nigeria Nation-Wide League clubs and 13 non-league clubs will face each other in the competition.

The NPFL clubs are Enyimba of Aba, Nembe City of Brass, Heartland of Owerri, Sharks of Port Harcourt, Gombe United, Warri Wolves, Nasarawa United, Sunshine Stars of Akure and

Rangers International of Enugu.

Others are Giwa FC of Jos, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, FC Taraba, Abia Warriors, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, Bayelsa United, Akwa United FC of Uyo and Kano Pillars.

The draw will see Enyimba engage Sokoto United, while CBN Cashless FC of Jigawa will square up against Nembe City of Brass.

Heartland of Owerri will engage Ebonyi United while Ikpeazu FC of Anambra will have their hands full when they confront Enugu Rangers.

Sharks FC of Port Harcourt will trade tackles with Kwara United; Young Elephants of Bauchi will test their might against Nasarawa United while Kaduna United tackle Leopard FC of Cross River.

In other encounters Crown FC of Ogbomosho face Bright Stars of Ebonyi, Remo Stars are up against

Bayelsa United, Akwa United meet FC Abuja, Gateway FC engage Kano Pillars, while Giwa FC face ABS FC, Ilorin.

Elsewhere, Lobi Stars will slug it out with Tornadoes Feeders of Minna, FC Taraba against AS Racine of Lagos, Abia Warriors tackle Mafara United FC of Zamfara, while Wikki Tourists of Bauchi will test El-Kanemi of Maiduguri.

Dolphins were paired to face Ingas FC of Enugu, as Gombe United play Patin FC of Imo, while Warri Wolves square up against Dan Buran FC of Katsina.

Draw for the Women FA Competition was also conducted with 10 Women Premier League teams, five Professional League teams and three non-league team to encounter each other.

The competition has been tentatively scheduled to commence on July 3.

Falconets battle Black Princess of Ghana in friendly

By Albert Akota

T

he Nigeria’s U-20 women national team, the Falconets, departed Abuja yesterday for Accra, Ghana for an international friendly match against the Black Princess.

The Falconets will play two matches on Friday 6 June and Sunday 8 June with Ghana as part of their preparation for the FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup

slated for August in Canada.

Head coach, Peter Dedevbo says 22 players have been listed to play the two matches.

“I need to give all players the opportunity to show their skills and seek a place in the final list for Canada, especially the new players,” the coach said.

The Falconets are expected to return to Nigeria on Monday 9 June.

unbeaten record

Edin Dzeko

I

zet Hajrovic’s first half goal gave Bosnia and Herzegovina a deserved 1-0 win over Mexico in an international friendly between two World Cupbound sides at Soldier Field in Chicago, ending ‘El Tri’s’ eightgame unbeaten run.

Bosnia dominated the first half and could easily have gone to the break with a bigger advantage but, in the end, had goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to thank for two great saves to deny Mexico an equaliser.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera experimented with his line-up but the performance of his team will have disappointed an overwhelmingly Mexican capacity crowd of 60 707.

Edin Dzeko, whose two goals gave Bosnia a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, was a

menace to the Mexican defence from the outset and went close to scoring three times in the opening eight minutes.

After forcing Alfredo Talavera into a save with a low shot in the fourth minute, Dzeko twice fired just over the bar as Bosnia’s midfield, prompted by the classy Miralem Pjanic, took control.

Mexico’s first real chance came in the 24th minute with Javier Hernandez, given a start in attack, latching on to a fine ball from Miguel Layun and striking the outside of the post with a low shot.

However, Bosnia’s deserved lead came, four minutes before the break, when Sejad Salihovic whipped in a ball from the byline and Hajrovic met it with a confident first-time strike.

“For us, that is the kind of systematic development that can sustain the victories that we have been achieving over the past years.

Once we have that system working well, our football will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

“You can see that we are

also focusing on infrastructural development, which will help these young talents to nurture and nourish their abilities and create a huge pool for our national selectors to pick good materials for the National Teams at any point in time.”

Maigari lauds U-15 boys

By Albert Akota

T

he President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari has congratulated the U-15 National Team for its victory at the 2nd African Youth Games which recently ended in Gaborone, Botswana.

The Nigeria boys defeated hosts Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Swaziland, while drawing with Mali in between, to emerge the best at the continental games.

Speaking from the United States of America, where is with the Super Eagles at their final training camp ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, Alhaji Maigari affirmed that the U-15 boys will grow to become the Super Eagles in the near future, if they maintain their sense of dedication and discipline.

“I am overwhelmed by the performance of the U-15 boys, though I must say that the NFF expected it, going by the investment we have been making and the attention we have been paying to youth football development.

“At the inception of this administration, we decided to review the U-13 National Project, and made it a quarterly programme. The players from the

U-15 boys U-13 programme graduated to U-15 boys, and eventually became the U-17 boys that won a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup for Nigeria in the UAE last year.”

Maigari stated that the administration has continued to improve on the U-13 programme,

seeing that it is the bedrock of development.

“The U-17 boys that won the World Cup in UAE are now the bulk of the U-20 team, Flying Eagles. In no time, they will graduate to the U-23 team and then the Super Eagles

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Sports

Djokovic reaches French Open semi-finals

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“But again, I like my chances because I have had a couple of great weeks on the clay court,s from Rome to now the last 10 days here in Roland Garros.

“Two days off will definitely serve me well to recover, to work on some things on the practice courts, and then come back strong and prepare for the next challenge.”

Raonic, 23, had looked like a potential stumbling block, having taken Djokovic to three tough sets in Rome recently.

The first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in the Open era, the eighth seed’s massive serve and improved allround game made him a serious threat.

Both men knew opportunities

ovak Djokovic tamed the huge serving of Milos Raonic to remain on course for a first French Open title.

The world number two won 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to reach the semi-finals, where he will play Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis.

It is a sixth Roland Garros and 22nd major semi-final for Djokovic.

A victory in Sunday’s final would make the 27-year-old the eighth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

“I try to focus the intention only on the next match, so I don’t think about eventual finals,” said Djokovic. “I think about only Gulbis. He’s been playing really well. He’s confident.

were likely to be fleeting, and it was Djokovic who proved the more clinical.

The second set passed without a single break point for either man, and again it was Djokovic who raised his game in the tie-break, pushing his man out wide and drawing an error for 6-4.

Djokovic duly converted the second, on his own serve, and raised his fist to coach Boris Becker and the rest of his team in the stands.

The six-time Grand Slam champion needed the security of a double break when he failed to serve out the match, but he sealed an impressive win at the second time of asking after two hours and 22 minutes.

Sharapova advances to semi-finals at French Open

M

aria Sharapova was one game from defeat before battling back to beat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the French Open quarter-finals.

The Russian, who won the title in 2012, wrested the initiative from Muguruza to win 1-6 7-5 6-1.

The 27-year-old goes on to face Eugenie Bouchard, after the Canadian beat Carla Suarez Navarro 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 7-5.

World number two Novak Djokovic beat Milos Raonic in straight sets and will face Ernests Gulbis in the last four.

Sharapova and Bouchard both showed their fighting qualities to recover from perilous positions in their quarter-finals.

Muguruza, the unseeded 20-year-old who beat Serena Williams in the second round, broke three times to win the first set against Sharapova in 27 minutes and led 5-4 in the

Maria Sharapova second, but Sharapova hauled her way back.

The seventh seed broke early in the third and saw off five break points in a 14-minute game at 2-1 before powering to the finish line.

Bouchard, 20, came back from 5-2 down in the first set

and 4-2 down in the third as she battled to control Suarez Navarro’s heavy topspin.

The Canadian, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals in January, double-faulted on her first match point but took her third with a raking forehand into the corner.

Frampton set for IBF world title fight with Martinez

Carl Frampton and Kiko Martinez

C

arl Frampton will fight for the IBF super-bantamweight world title against current champion Kiko Martinez in Northern Ireland on 6 September.

Belfast fighter Frampton defeated the Spaniard in Belfast last year to win the European super-bantamweight title.

However, Martinez went on to win the IBF world title later in the year and he will defend the belt in September, with the venue yet to be confirmed.

Frampton has won all 18 of his professional fights.

The 27-year-old stopped Martinez in the ninth round of their contest at the Odyssey Arena last February.

The Belfast challenger withstood a strong challenge from the Spaniard before flooring Martinez late in the round.

It was a first knock-out defeat for Martinez, who won the IBF title by defeating Jonathan Romero six months later before a successful defence against Jeffrey Mathebula.

Frampton was in sparkling form in his last fight, securing a second-round knock-out win over Hugo Cazares in a WBC title eliminator in Belfast in April.

Frampton said after the victory that he wanted to face WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz, but he will have to overcome Martinez before a possible showdown with the Mexican.

Novak Djokovic

Saunders eyes first Gypsy world champion

B

illy Joe Saunders has laid out his aim to become the first world champion from Britain’s travelling community.

British middleweight champion Saunders, 24, and fellow Traveller Tyson Fury could both put themselves in world title contention with bouts next month.

Middleweight Saunders, who is from a Romany Gypsy community in Hertfordshire, will face unbeaten Italian Emanuele Blandamura, 34, on 27 July, on the undercard of Fury’s world title eliminator against Dereck Chisora.

Saunders and Fury, 25, himself an Irish Traveller, are both undefeated in 19 and 22 bouts respectively.

The winner of Fury v Chisora will go on to challenge IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, while Saunders could face WBO world

Billy Joe Saunders title holder Peter Quillin.

In his last outing in September Saunders successfully defended his British and Commonwealth crowns against the previously unbeaten John Ryder.

That came just two months after winning the vacant WBO International title by defeating Gary O’Sullivan.

Gay set for Diamond League meeting after drug ban

A

Tyson Gay

merican former 100m and 200m world champion Tyson Gay will return from a one-year ban at the Diamond League meeting in Switzerland in July.

Gay was suspended in May after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid.

His suspension was backdated to June 2013, the date he tested positive at the US World Championship trials, allowing his return in Lausanne.

Gay said: “Lausanne has always been one of my favourite meets and I’m thrilled to have it be my opening meet.”

The 31-year-old will race in the 100m against American rival Justin Gatlin, who was given a four-year ban after failing a doping test in 2006.

Gay, who won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the 2007 World Championships, was forced to return the silver medal he won in the 4x100m relay at the London Olympics in 2012.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

PAGE 45

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l 1. Dane Mikkel Kessler is hoping for a third fight against IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Carl Froch.

2. Andy Murray beats Fernando Verdasco of Spain in straight sets to reach the French Open quarter-finals.

3. Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard will leave Stamford Bridge after 13 years at the Premier League club 4. England name Northampton’s Alex Waller among 16 additions to their squad for this month’s tour of New Zealand.

5. Britain’s Katarina JohnsonThompson sets a personal best of 6,682 points to win the heptathlon at the prestigious Hypo-Meeting.

1

2

3

4

5

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Sports

Constant protests, strikes in Brazil may spoil World Cup excitement

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housands of Brazilians backing a movement to help homeless workers rallied in Sao Paulo to protest a lack of housing, shoddy public services and huge spending on the World Cup. Despite the rain, the Homeless Workers Movement said the rally late yesterday was among the biggest in weeks of protests in Brazil as the country prepares to host the World Cup in three weeks’ time and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Groups of public and private sector workers have been on strike for days, creating a hectic backdrop for the Jun. 12-Jul. 13 global football championship.

In the southern city of São Paulo a strike by bus drivers last week generated the worst traffic jams in the history of the city.

And on May 21, some 8,000 police marched to the esplanade of ministries in the capital Brasilia, in a protest supported by the federal and military police forces.

In the 12 cities that will host the World Cup matches, at least 15 protests are scheduled for the event’s opening day.

Trade unions are taking advantage of the spotlight on Brazil to pressure the centre-left government of Dilma Rousseff to meet their demands.

Even workers in over a dozen Brazilian consulates in the United States and Europe, responsible for issuing visas to those interested in flying to Brazil for the sporting event, went on strike last week.

Professors at 90 percent of the country’s federal and state universities and teachers at state and municipal primary schools across the country have also gone on strike, while many public cultural foundations and museums have closed their doors.

“We are here to protest against the Cup, against the huge spending on the World Cup while we do not have housing or healthcare or anything else,” said Luiz Giovani, a member of the movement.

The march was peaceful as it passed through a major commercial district of Brazil’s largest city.

Banners carried by demonstrators included some that said “FIFA go home”, in reference to football’s world governing body.

It was the latest in a series of demonstrations in recent weeks by the homeless movement. The World Cup will cost Brazilian taxpayers USD 11 billion.

Earlier yesterday commuters in Sao Paulo faced huge traffic jams caused by a paralysing bus drivers’ strike.

The two-day protest stranded more than a million passengers and unleashed transit chaos on

The protest rally and series of demonstrations in Brazil by the homeless movement may spoil the joy of the world fiesta despite the USD 11 billion it cost Brazilian taxpayers.

Police put attendance at 15,000 while organisers said it was more than double.

Demonstrators during a protest against the 2014 World Cup, in Brasilia

the economic hub of Brazil.

Most buses were running again after city officials and the transport union reached a deal with drivers to end the strike at midnight.

Commuters, however, still faced stalled traffic stretching 170 kilometres -- a morning rush hour record in this sprawling city of 20 million people.

The drivers were rebelling against their own union, which had agreed to a 10-percent pay increase in negotiations with management. They wanted more.

Brazil has faced a wave of strikes and protests in the runup to the games and elections in October.

Police, teachers and bank security guards have all gone on strike in recent weeks.

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Some Interesting Facts

W

e only have the moment we are in.

• You don’t need an inner critic you need to be your own best friend.

• Change requires action.

• Misery likes company.

• We have to be careful that helping doesn’t turn into enabling.

• Not everyone is going to like you and you are not going to like everyone.

• Stuff happens that’s just life.

• Everyone should grow fairy wings and splash in the puddles occasionally.

• If you keep doing for people they will never learn to do it for themselves.

• Please and thank you are highly underrated.

• Nothing is more contagious than a smile.

• The best gift you give anyone is your time and patience.

• Patience is the ability to understand it is not always about you.

• There are many rivers which lead to the same ocean you just have to be willing to look for them.

• True beauty is not determined by a look but by a thought and a deed.

• Times stands still for those who are in the moment not rushing by it.

• Having knowledge does not make you wise this requires a knowing as well.

• Meditation does not require whale music and contortions just the ability to go to your happy place.

• You are not going to see the bigger picture until you have all of the

pieces.

• No matter which way you plate tofu turkey is not turkey.

• It is wise to take a moment before you take a step that way you get a chance to see where your feet are going to land.

• You may have a seed of greatness within you but you still have to nurture it.

• Everyone has to find their own pathway.

• You are not limited to one act of greatness in your lifetime.

Leisure

• The only way to stop an argument is to find a solution.

• Every thing you do or say will come back to you eventually it just may not be in a form you are expecting.

• Asking for help means you are smart enough to get the things you need to create the life you want.

• Just because one chapter in your life is closed doesn’t mean you cannot write another one.

• People are not perfect and we all need a break every now and then.

• Never leave unsaid words in a room.

• Nothing is ever about what is we think it is about.

• Boundaries are the things adults use to make sure no one colors outside of the lines.

• Every one is more than they believe themselves to be.

• Every footprint counts no matter who made it.

• Love will always be the way.

• Lists fall under the category it seemed like a good idea at the time!

SUDOKU SUDOKU EASY 93

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Wrapping up warm: The designer clothes worn by Japanese Vogue’s model (second left) have nothing on the glamorous pieces worn by the Alaskan Inuits Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

SPORTS LATEST

Ahead of World Cup: Ghana witch doctor claims Ronaldo’s injury problems

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traditional priest from Ghana has said that he is behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury problems, which “can never be cured by any medic”.

The Real Madrid and Portugal star is suffering from tendonitis and is set to miss out on his country’s pre-World Cup friendlies against Mexico and Ireland, though Nana Kwaku Bonsam, who describes himself as a traditional priest, has claimed responsibility for the Ballon d’Or winner’s plight, which he has claimed to be “spiritual”.

“I know what Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury is about, I’m working on him,” the witchdoctor told Ghanaian radio station Angel FM. “I am very serious about it.

Last week, I went around looking for four dogs and I got them to be used in manufacturing a special spirit called ‘Kahwiri Kapam’.

“I said it four months ago that I will work on Cristiano Ronaldo and rule him out of the World Cup or at least prevent him from playing against Ghana and the best thing I can do is to keep him out.

“This injury can never be cured by any medic, they can never see what is causing the injury because it is spiritual.

Today, it is his knee, tomorrow it is thigh, next day it is something else.”

Ghana is due to play Portugal on June 26 in Brasilia, in what will be their final match of Group G, which also includes Germany and USA.

Cristiano Ronaldo ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

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QUOTABLE QUOTE Our position is that Boko Haram is a …movement of terrorists. Any movement that kills innocent people, destroys places of worship and kidnaps innocent schoolgirls cannot be a liberation movement. We say this is not Islamic.

– Secretary General, OIC, Iyad Ameen Madani

Here is why we must pay more for this darkness S

eated across a stately conference table, Dr. Sam Amadi addressed an assemblage of reporters on a new electricity tariff regime which his team had just reviewed. ‘The new review’, he read from a prepared text amidst competing flashes of light from photojournalists’ cameras, ‘will take effect on June 1, 2014.’ Calm, measured, and with body language that pleaded understanding, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s electricity regulator reeled out the variables that underlined his National Electricity Regulatory Commission’s price change.

The variables are in the nation’s macroeconomic outlook as at March 31st, 2014, the cut-off date for the period under review. These were inflation rate, exchange rate, gas price and quantity of power generated for sale. It was a mixed bag of a sort. On the core economic front, the numbers turned out positive: inflation, projected at 13% by the commission, peaked at just 7.8%. Exchange rate, projected at N178 per dollar, peaked at N157.30. These two collectively meant that there was supposed to be a reduction in the wholesale tariff. And there was; except that it was eaten up by a huge drop in the projected power generation within the period.

The expectation was that 9,061 megawatts of electricity would be generated. But the actual wattage generated was 4,306 mega watts, a 52% negative variance, huge by every standard. This drop is tied to non-availability of gas, a key component of Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution. This, however, resides totally outside the scope of NERC’s control.

The direct consequence of this low generation for the Nigerian electricity consumer is that the fixed costs - and this is huge - have to be spread over a much smaller quantity of electricity generated.

This, in a sense, could be understood by understanding what the economists call ‘economy of scale’. If much goods are produced, the cost of production gets spread over a larger amount of products. This drives down price per unit of product paid by consumers. But if the same assets produce much lower quantities, the cost per unit goes high, and this cost gets shifted to the consumers.

To further drive this complex message down, Mr. EyoEkpo, a lawyer with vast experience in both private legal practice and Nigeria’s public sector administration, drew a parallel with an office building - NERC’s Adamawa House highrise office building in an upscale Abuja Central Business Area - and

100 689 292 327 454

0558 1765 9046 1969 0344

Thursday Column Chinedu Ekeke

NERC boss, Dr. Sam Amadi how its tenants will ultimately bear the cost of recouping investment for its developer. An amount should be recouped from each floor, and whether the floor is occupied by one tenant or fifty, the investment in that floor does not alter. It then follows that with more tenants comes reduced rent.

Mr. Ekpo is NERC’s Commissioner overseeing Market Competition and Rates. The wholeness of his knowledge in the electricity sector, an industry he joined in reforming since 2001, was not in doubt. It was clear that the topic in discourse was his beat. Given our realities, the new tariff could have been worse.

MrAmadi reminded the media.

“It is also noted that the cost of this increase would have been much higher but for the good macroeconomic management that produced a real reduction in wholesale (generation) sector tariffs.” Evidently, if inflation and exchange rate remained at their projected values, the reduced volume of wattage generated would have shot up the new tariff far above the new figures to be released by NERC. Why should the consumer concern himself with a business man’s fixed cost or even cost of capital?

It is difficult not to see it as an investor’s market, really. Or, put differently, the Nigerian electricity market was designed to protect investors’ huge outlays, assure them of returns and ensure results for the electricity

consumer. The impression one gets interpreting the bases for the new price regime is that the consumer must be ready to keep the private power producer in business, so that the bulbs can light up. The statutory document from which NERC derives its powers to regulate prices is called Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).

In the methodology set out for fixing and regulation of electricity tariff pricing, premium was given to the desire to attract investment into the sector.

I asked the chairman the duration of this investment cost recovery for energy providers.

He said MYTO provided for 15 years. On the sidelines, I asked Ekpo if after 15 years the fixed cost variable would be discounted off consumers’ tariff, he said investments in the sector would be continual. Mr. Amadi’s plea is understandable. It bothers him - it really should - that the consumer who lives in darkness most of the day will be asked to pay more for electricity. But this irony - not having electricity and being asked to pay more - is the reason the consumer is paying more, not less, as he would expect. It is in the consumer’s best interest for electricity to be generated in large wattage and distributed: he will have more power and he’ll have it cheaper.

It sounds like the consumer is at the losing end, but Amadi said his commission is out to protect consumers. He said NERC gets accused by both parties electricity sellers and buyers - of not protecting them enough. He assured consumers of fairness in price fixing, and said the pricing methodology designed a way to ensure the energy producers and sellers do not recover investments fully without making enough wattage available for the consumer. For this reason, only 21-23% of investment fixed cost will accompany the fixed charge of electricity tariff. The remaining 77-79% of the fixed cost is tied to the energy charge. The energy charge is tied to electricity output. In simple terms: there’s an incentive for producing electricity, and conversely a penalty - by way of losing a significant part of fixed costs - for failing to produce.

NERC is confident Nigeria

will get past this stage. The commission believes that this is a transition which will be managed to full competitive market. But for this to happen, adequate investments in the sector, by private individuals, need to be encouraged. MYTO seems to have been designed with this in mind, to boost investors’ confidence in the regulatory system. This is already happening. Amadi told his guests that in spite of gas scarcity, which hinders power generation, investors are showing interest in the sector. For instance, National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) plants are all subscribed.

Government’s commitment to put strong regulations in place, Amadi said, is responsible for this full-subscription.

Nigeria’s electricity sector, haunted by a checkered history in opacity and corruption, did not witness any reasonable investment until 2010, according to Amadi. He reminded reporters that “all the issues of today are legacies of an industry riddled with corruption.” His claim has a backing from a Presidential Task-force on Power which once said investment in the power sector witnessed significant drop consistently over a 20-year period beginning from 1980.

To bridge this wide investment gap, a roadmap on Power Sector Reform by the Jonathan administration recommended a consistent yearly $10 billion investment in electricity for ten years. That way, Nigeria would be able to generate up to 40,000 mega watts by 2020. Today, six years shy of 2020, peak generation is 4,500MW. And if the 2010 roadmap was followed, $40 billion should have been invested by now with a corresponding 16,000 megawatts generated.

Any faltered determination to follow the roadmap through will widen the gap for a country with a population of 160 million and an annual 6% growth on population.

As the new tariff took effect June 1, electricity workers had already issued threats of a showdown with government.

Amadi’s plea for understanding may be the only option left for the consumer, with a distant hope that his willingness to cooperate with MYTO pricing methodology will attract many profit-seeking investors who will, over time, naturally randomly compete among themselves. If that happens, tariffs might go down, and the consumer ultimately benefits.

Chinedu Ekeke is on Twitter: @Nedunaija

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141