The Nation April 1, 2014

Conference adopts 70% for decisions NEWS Page 5

•All subjects must be discussed

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EKITI 2014

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•INEC to stop underage voters in Ekiti, Osun •Aluko’s adoption is ‘medicine after death’ •SEE PAGE 8

INEC begins demarcation of constituencies for 2015 Jega’s 17-man panel to review lawmakers’ seats allocation

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MAJOR redrawing of constituencies, which may affect representation in the House of Representatives and State Assemblies, has begun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) inaugurated yesterday a committee to redelineate the constituencies nationwide.

The 17-man committee,

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

headed by INEC chair Prof.

Attahiru Jega, will review the existing constituencies and the allocation of seats.

It will also identify imbalances in the existing arrangement and correct them.

Apart from the Senate where representation is based on equality of three per state, the House of Representatives

SSS interrogates detained Boko Haram suspects

S

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

TATE Security Service (SSS) officials are questioning detained Boko Haram suspects to ascertain if external collaborators were involved in Sunday’s failed —and bloody —jailbreak.

Twenty-one suspects died in the attempted jailbreak at the Abuja SSS facility, according to the Service.

Some suspects, especially passers-by, arrested within the vicinity of the SSS Asokoro headquarters have been released - in line with the Service’s “respect for human rights”.

It was learnt that some of those arrested had valid identification cards and they were passers-by.

A new framework put in place by security agencies triggered the intervention of soldiers during the jailbreak.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the Service had started finding out the remote and

and Houses of Assemblies’ seats are allocated based on population.

They are likely to be affected at the end of the INEC programme, which must nevertheless be approved by the National Assembly.

Mr. Kayode Oladimeji is the secretary of the committee.

The review of the constituencies is coming 18 years after the last one carried out in

1996. The country has 388 constituencies and the law provides for a review every 10 years.

The committee, according to Jega, is to consider the composition and boundaries of existing constituencies, as well as allocation of seats, and identify imbalances where they exist.

Jega said the programme would help deal with the in-

equalities in the constituencies and bring about equity in the weight of representation and votes in the constituencies.

He said: “Ideally, the weight of representation should be as nearly equal as possible. For every representative should be as nearly equal the number of the population quota.

“Every Federal constituency should be as nearly equal in size of 388,000. That ensures

that weight of a representative in the parliament is as nearly equal with other representatives.

“In Nigeria there are wideranging disparities. There are constituencies that are as small as 122,000 and some as large as 1.3million.

“These disparities have existed because of population movement or original ineContinued on page 2 •Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola presenting a key to the winner of the Shitta Scheme, Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS), Mrs. Yetunde Oluwaseun (second right) and her son, Master Joseph Camille (right) during the presentation of keys to the First Draw winners at the Lagos House, Ikeja…yesterday.

Watching are Deputy Governor Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire (third left), Commissioner for Housing Mr. Bosun Jeje (third right) and his Finance counterpart, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi (left).

Continued on page 2

•COURT BARS DEFECTING LAWMAKERS FROM ALTERING HOUSE LEADERSHIP P6

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2014

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NEWS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Why and how delegates

•Hon. Wale Oshun (left) Osanaiye Raphael and Orji Joseph...yesterday

•Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Rev. Felix Ajakaye with Aremo Segun Osoba

Titbits

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Thrills, frills at yesterday’s sitting

HE sitting arrangement almost caused misgiv- accommodate more committees. But another deleings yesterday between former Senate Presi- gate objected to the idea of asking for more money, saying the 20 committees should be rearranged to dent Ken Nnamani and Prof. Jibril Aminu. accommodate all issues.

Aminu was sitting on the front row reserved for Justice Kutigi later said the conference would have elder statesmen and women just beside former Peoto go with the 29 committees for now, without referples Democratic Party (PDP) women leader, Josering to whether or not the conference would approach phine Anenih. Aminu got up to attend to something the Presidency for more money. a distance away. Before he returned, the former SenUnlike previous sittings, the handling of proceedate President occupied the seat. ing yesterday was roundly praised by the delegates, Aminu returned to find Nnamani on his seat, since especially the resolution of the voting method wherehe was there first and has always occupied that parby 70 per cent was adopted for resolution of issues ticular seat. Nnamani , who has always shared back where consensus can not be reached. seats with another former Senate President, Ralph The Chairman was also tested when the issue of Wabara, declined, saying he was an elder statesman reverting the decision of the delegates on the selectoo. tion of Committee leadership. The matter was However, after a little explanations bebrought up by Akinyemi, who said that tween the two, Aminu stepped up to the 49 elders and the leadership resolved the back of the auditorium to take to rescind the earlier decision in faup an unmarked seat to prevent vour of a selection committee headany altercation between the two. ed by the chairman.

Not happy with the situation, A member objected that the isAnenih, muttering “no, no, sue was not part of the mandate that can not happen,” went up of the elders and that the act to Aminu and invited him to amounted to subversion of the take up her seat. The elder interest of the majority. Quickstatesman obliged. ly, Akinyemi objected to the Delegates were full of statement on subversion and at praise for the Chairman, Justhe end, a compromise was tice Kutigi, and his team for reached and the elders’ recomthe manner the debate on the mendation was adopted. contentious two third, three It was however surprising, quarter voting method was according to some watchers of handled. the proceeding at the conference, Members were also seen in •Akinyemi that former Minister of Informaexpansive mood, sharing jokes, tion, Prof. Dora Akunyili, has not exchanging pleasantries and accontributed to discussions on any isknowledging greeting from one sues. Though she is not the only public another. figure who has not spoken , watchers of Chairman’s patience was however the conference are of the opinuon that the tested during the adoption of minutes of outspoken former boss of the National Agency for proceedings when delegate after delegate took it Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFupon themselves to correct grammatical errors idenDAC) may be having some health challenges. tified in the minutes.

The secretariat also seemed to have resolved the “Please address the substance of the minutes and food problem that has made many delegates to shun not grammatical errors. Nigerians are watching us; the banquet hall where the delegates were expected we have spent two weeks now and some people are to have their lunch. Some delegates that missed their saying we have not done anything. Please let us adshare complained to the chairman but the Confab dress the subsrance,” he said.

Secretary Valerie Azinge assured them that the situAt another moment, the Chairman was forced to ation would be rectified. At previous sittings, it was warn that he could wield the big stick when it beworse for some delegates who were seen driving to came apparent that some delegates were becoming town to have their lunch. Others were seen buying unpleasant. He said he was empowered to walk out their own food at the canteen. any delegate from the hall if he or she is found to It was gathered that the secretariat had provision have continually abused privileges of the proceedfor 500 delegates, but that aides of some delegates ings. found it convenient to go to the banquet hall before Asking for more cash from the presidency cropped the delegates adjourn for break. The implication is up when it was discovered that lack of money to rent that almost half of the food would have been conmore committee room’s was responsible for the limsumed by the aides before the arrival of their prinited number of standing committees. Deputy Chaircipals. However, the situation was different yesterman Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi told the delegates that day as delegates were seen strolling in and out of the the leadership might approach the Presidency for banquet hall without complaints. more money so that more rooms would be rented to

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ELEGATES to the National Conference adopted 70 per cent voting pattern to save the conference from an abrupt end, it was learnt yesterday.

The delegates also agreed on the principle of “give and take”, one of the 50 selected to resolve the thorny issue of voting pattern told our correspondent.

He said that the select group appealed to those with hardline positions on voting pattern to reconsider their position to avoid a situation where the conference would break up on account of “irreconcilable differences”.

At the meeting yesterday, conference delegates overwhelmingly supported the recommendation of the select group that 70 per cent of delegates sitting and voting should be used to determine any issue delegates failed to reach consensus.

Delegates also rescinded their earlier resolution, which took away the power to appoint committee chairmen from the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi.

With the rescinding of the resolution, the Selection Committee headed

by Justice Kutigi, had been empowered to select chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees.

Twenty standing committees were

•Jijiwa Abubakar and Prof Jubril Muzali Stories from Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

approved by the conference subject to further increase if need be.

Voting pattern almost tore the conference apart as Northern delegates insisted on consensus as the mode of resolving issues. Southern delegates wanted two-third majority as the voting pattern.

The decision on the 70 per cent voting pattern followed the adoption of the outcome of the Group of 50 elders that met with the leadership of the National Conference last week.

Vice Chairman of the Conference Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi told delegates that the elders, otherwise called “Super delegates” and the leadership of the conference met between Tuesday and Wednesday last week where the decision was reached.

Akinyemi added that following exhaustive deliberations, it was agreed that 70 per cent would be preferable and more acceptable to the delegates in reaching decisions if consensus failed.

The implication of the new decision meant that Orders 6 Rule 4; 11 Rule 2; and 12 Rule 4 (e) that proposed 75 per cent or three quarter of delegates present and voting be adopted

70 per cent difficult to achieve, says Nwabueze group

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From Chris Oji, Enugu

HE Igbo Leaders of Thought, declared yesterday that the 75 per cent controversy and other ground rules that bogged the on-going national Conference for two weeks after the opening was needless if the organizsers had expressed due diligence and consultations. The group also disagreed with the 75 per cent as the voting strength to pass a decision saying it is difficult to achieve.

It rather suggested a simple majority as the best options. Briefing journalists at the end of its 7th meeting in Enugu, the leader of the group, Prof. Ben Nwabueze also insisted that non-adherence to selection of delegates to the national conference based on ethnic nationalities was another major flaw that may derail the confab from achieving the set objective.

The group however said that despite its belief that the national conference, as presently constituted, may not achieve the expected objective, the group still believes that something good may still come out of it.

“Ethnic nationalities are the best suited to solve Nigeria’s problems. You can’t achieve anything except the ethnic nationalities come together. We all individually belong to an ethnic nationality; we cannot run away from that, it is a sociological reality.”

Speaking on the voting pattern of 75 percent which raised a lot of controversy at the beginning of the conference, Prof Nwabueze said that the controversy was needles and avoidable ab-initio.

“The problem of 75% shouldn’t have been there, 75% is impossible to achieve.

Muslims already, not the North as a whole, are over 190 (about 34 percent). They have equally created Northern Delegates Forum. And the other day the Sultan led a delegation to the President where they complained. I would have said let them try and achieve a consensus but where it fails they should go for absolute majority, not necessarily on percentage.” He said that that even the 70% said to have been agreed on by leaders of the delegation, will still be difficult to achieve.

But according to him, absolute majority, which means majority of 492 delegates and not simple majority, which is majority of delegates present at a particular sitting, would have taken care of the problem. The group resolved to remain a permanent advisory body to provide advice to Nigerian government and Ndigbo on national issues from time to time.

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2014

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NEWS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

adopted 70 per cent voting mode

ubril Muzali

•Jemide Isaac ...yesterday.

PHOTOS ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Senator Tanko Ayuba...yesterday

where consensus fails have been amended.

Senator Iyorcha Ayu proposed the motion that the amendment be adopted. The motion was seconded by former Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Victor Attah, who thanked his colleagues for avoiding the technicality of “winner takes all.”

The question was put and those in support carried the day. Attempts by some delegates to oppose the adoption of the proposal, which restored the power of the Chairman and his team to select committee chairmen and deputy Chairman, was shot down through a voice vote.

The Selection Committee headed

by Kutigi was therefore empowered to select Chairmen and their Deputies taking into cognizance competences of individual delegates as well as all States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kutigi put the question for the adoption of the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014, and it was unanimously adopted in a voice vote.

The delegates also adopted a proposed Work Plan of the Conference after several observations on inadequacies in the proposal were raised.

The Secretariat would make necessary corrections, the Chairman assured.

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Group classification meant to reach individual delegates if the need arise was also adopted by the delegates.

Delegates were also asked to indicate three committees they would want to belong. Speaking on how the 50 Super delegates resolved the issue of voting pattern, a member who participated in the resolution said, “Some people were insisting on 75 per cent, some wanted consensus while some wanted 65 per cent. We looked at the issues and arrived at 70 per cent under the principle of give and take to move the conference forward in the interest of the country.

“We also said that hardline positions cannot take the conference anywhere. We agreed that if we wanted to move forward, there should not be hardline position. We tried to avoid a situation where the conference will break up abruptly. So the consensus was 70 per cent.

“This is also because when you are building a nation, you cannot force any issue down the throat of somebody.

We believe that if we resolve the issues through consensus, it will serve the country better. But where consensus fails, we should go for 70 per cent of delegates present and voting.”

The conference started with announcement of the death of a mem-

ber, Alhaji Mohammed Hamma Misau, who died on Friday March 28 at the National Hospital Abuja.

Dan Nwanyanwu, who came to the conference on the platform of the Labour Party, observed that the comments of His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, Lamido of Adamawa, that Northern delegates would pull out of the conference if pushed to the wall was not reflected in the votes and proceedings of the conference.

Nwanyanwu said that it would be unfair to Mustapha if the conference secretariat fails to reflect his contributions.

Kutigi, who appeared not to have taken kindly to the observation of Nwanyanwu, noted that if the conference were to be a court he would have called Nwanyanwu “a busy body.”

He said that Lamido Adamawa was in the hall and should have complained if he felt that his contributions were omitted.

Another delegate who moved a point of order noted that “busy body or no busy body, what Nwanyanwu said is perfectly in order.”

Kutigi simply said “noted” and ended discussion on the issue.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Peter Odili, commended his col-

leagues for the maturity displayed during the consideration of the decision of the conference leadership and the group of 50 elders. He said the outcome of the elders’ meeting was indicative of a successful outcome for the conference.

“It is the decision of the conference that was popularly removed. I think it is a step forward from where we were last week,” he added.

Hassan Rilwan also commended the elders for being able to resolve a rather sensitive issue amicably.

“I believe that the decision of the Chairman to constitute the elders group was excellent because it shows that we, as delegates, and by extension, Nigerians at large are ready to reach agreement on any issue, no matter how contentious.

“It is a good sign that there is hope after all, if the elders can bring this issue of voting method to a situation where everybody was satisfied with the outcome, then there is no issue that we can not compromise on.

“All we need is dialogue. By the time we talk with ourselves, there won’t be any room for suspicions. In other words, I am in no doubt that the outcome of this Conference would be to the satisfaction of all Nigerians and the growth of this country,” he added.

structure of the country must be addressed, Ayo Adebanjo, an elder statesman, was of the opinion that the conference must not shy away from discussing the essence of the existence of the country.

Mike Ahamba (SAN) said the constitution has never been the problem of the country, rather the conference should examine how Nigerians react to the document.

On his part, leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams, raised concerns over the role and input of the Federal Legislature on the report of the conference, while Fola Adeola wanted issues of peace, justice and equity to be addressed by the conference.

Mariam Abdulahi said: “Why are we fighting along regional lines, it’s the elite that are using the loss of resources to divide the country. Ethnic groups does not have problems with one another, but it is the competition among the elite that is creating problems for us.

“Once the elite stop seeing personal loss as •Justice regional loss, then Kutigi things will be better

for this country.”

Gambo Laraba Abdulah, in her remarks, regretted that old values were discarded for new ones that have not benefited the country, saying when the country was not dependent on imports and oil, the citizens were contented and hard working.

“In the past, when we were not dependent on imports, our children were going to school, people paid their taxes, while our leaders ensured there was security as our rulers and leaders knew who and who was in town.

“Then people were self-reliant and security-conscious. What do we have now, we have now depended on imports and oil that we only hear of tthe proceeds on papers.

“If we are not selling oil, we won’t have these many problems; oil is depriving us of many things. We are now poorer and lazy,” she added.

Adebanjo regretted that the challenges facing the country have been evident for a long time but no one was courageous enough to discuss the disunity in the country.

While commending the President for the conference, he said, “Let us discuss the very existence of this country, which is the reason for this Conference. We should discuss federalism. Let us have our own constitution, not mil-

itary constitution.

“Let us make a clean break from the past. I appeal that we should discard our past prejudices, especially our colleagues from the North. For instance, the comment of the Lamido of Adamawa was uncalled for. Let us be accommodating and tolerant of each other and dialogue.”

While HRH Agubuzu also appealed to the delegates not to deny the existence of inequality in the polity, he urged his colleagues to address the issue of the six geo-political zones.

On his part, Ahamba, who buttressed his point with hard copies of the constitution of some countries, said, “Our constitution is not a fraud.

We should rather obey it because the problems of Nigeria can not be found in any book but can only be found in us.”

John Achimugu was more concerned about religion and its effects on Niferians, saying, “Religion is an emotive material but a source of perennial problems to Nigerians. We must be free to discuss religion frankly as well as the involvement of State in religion and its role.”

Alh. Mohammed Abubakar said, “Economic structure is our problem.

If there is clear synergy between government and private sector, with

Speak for Nigeria, Oshiomhole urges Labour chiefs

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged the representatives of the labour movement at the ongoing National Conference to speak for Nigeria and national unity when those with parochial views champion ethnic agenda.

Speaking in his office in Benin City yesterday during a visit to him by the national leadership of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Woodwork Workers, Oshiomhole said: “The Nigerian Labour Congress must be on the side of the Nigerian nation. They must champion National unity.

They must never be apologetic on the position they take on the side of non-indivisible one Nigeria.

“I know for a fact that when the political class assembles to share resources, there is no North, there is no South, there is no East, there is no West.”

Delegates want discussion on all subjects

ELEGATES to the on-going National Conference were unanimous yesterday that all subjects concerning the existence of the country should be discussed with a view to proffering lasting solutions to the myriad of problems.

Discussion on the main reason for the convocation of the conference got underway yesterday with 39 delegates commenting on the inauguration speech of President Goodluck Jonathan.

W h i l e HRH Ambassador L O C Agubuzu posited that inequality in the political

government believing and engaging the private sector in national development, I believe that would have solved most of our economic problems”.

Adams raised concerns over the roles expected of the National Assembly on the report of the conference, “My fear is that most of the recommendations that may come out in the report of the conference may not be addressed when taken to the National Asembly.”

Oba Aderemi Adedapo wanted the conference to address issues of unity, tolerance and patriotism, adding that Nigeria should be able to use the advantages it has in size and resources to promote itself.

Sen. Abdulahi Adamu was not pleased with the corruption that has permeated every segment of the Nigerian society, despite existence of anti-graft agencies.

“Our political process is now determined by extreme corruption. I plead that we come up with decisive recommendation at the end of the conference. We should also address the issue of insecurity in the Northeast, especially with reports of foreign aircraft bringing arms to the region,” he added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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NEWS Police charge The Sun editor with sedition •Court issues bench warrant on him From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

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HE Abia State Police Command has sued the Associate Editor of the The Sun, Mr. Ebere Wabara, for sedition, defamation of character and intention to cause trouble.

The police on Saturday evening granted him bail after the state correspondent, Chucks Onuoha, stood surety for him. He was told to report to the police commissioner yesterday, but he failed to do so.

Consequently, the police got a bench warrant to re-arrest Wabara and Onuoha.

Speaking to reporters, counsel to the Abia State government, Chief Chukwuyere Nwabuko, said Wabara was charged with defamation of character and sedition for his reports against the government in the The Sun and the online reports in City Reporters.

He said Wabara was also charged with false publication against Governor Theodore Orji, his son, Chindeum and the family.

The lawyer said the articles were aimed at inciting the people against the government with the intention of causing trouble.

Said he: “Wabara has been writing articles against the governor, his son and the first family. In one of his articles, he wrote that the governor’s son masterminded the killing of his aide, the late John Ndubuka, thereby portraying him as a murderer.”

Nwabuko also said Wabara wrote that the governor detained and killed those who refused to sell their land to him, stressing that this was intended to cause uproar and incite the people against the government.

He said the articles made the police command to investigate and arrest him.

Reacting, Onuoha said he was not aware of the bench warrant, claiming that Wabara, who left for Lagos on Sunday, arrived his home ill.

He noted that an indisposed person could not report to the police, adding that his lawyers were on their way to Umuahia to report to the police or represent him.

“I’m sure there is a misunderstanding somewhere, which will be resolved soon,” Onuoha added.

The matter, which was brought before Chief Magistrate John Ukpai, has been adjourned till April 10.

The police were represented by their legal team, led

by Superintendent of Police Esther Nwosu and DSP Sam Onyemaucheya.

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Court orders defecting lawmakers not to join move to alter leadership A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday granted an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the 41 former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the House of Representatives, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), from either initiating or participating in an effort to alter the leadership of the House.

This is one of the four reliefs granted by Justice Adeniyi Ademola in his judgment in a suit by the PDP against the House of Representatives, its principal officers and the defecting legislators.

The party sought primarily to frustrate the alleged move by the defecting lawmakers to initiate changes in the leadership of the House.

Justice Ademola restrained “the 12th to the 53rd defendants (the defecting lawmakers), their agents, privies and servants from taking any step or further steps, or sitting, starting or doing anything to alter or remove or change the leadership of the 1st defendant.”

He also granted an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defecting legislators from “altering or participating in the altering or changing the leadership of the 1st defendant”.

The judge declared that in view of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution and the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013, filed by the defecting lawmakers (which was decided by Justice Ahmed Mohammed last Friday and in which they admitted defecting) they “cannot lawfully vote and contribute to any motion for the removal or change of any of the principal officers” of the House.

APC Reps to appeal judgment

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•Court turned law on its head, says Gbajabiamila

HE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives is to challenge yesterday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Ademola Adeniyi granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining 42 former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House who defected to the APC, from either initiating or participating in an effort to alter the leadership of the House.

The judge faulted the defection of the lawmakers, hinging his position on the premise that there was no division in the PDP. “An order of perpetual injunction is, hereby, ordered, restraining them from altering or attempting to change the leadership of the House of Reps,” he ruled.

The lawmakers condemned the judgment saying it is unacceptable.

Reacting to the judgment, Minority Leader From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

He also declared that the defecting lawmakers, who are plaintiffs in the earlier suit decided by Justice Mohammed, “are not competent to sponsor, contribute or vote on any motion calling for the removal or change in the leadership of the House or the removal of any principal officer of the House, or removal of any of the principal officers of the 1st defendant”.

The judge held that in view of the mandatory provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, they (the defecting legislators) can participate in any proceedings to remove the House’s principal officers.

He also held that in view of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, they (the defecting lawmakers) cannot lawfully alter the composition or constitution

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

Femi Gbajabiamila, in a statement signed by his Personal Research Assistant, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, described the ruling as “a strange judgment that turned law on its head”.

He said: “The judgment is strange and will be appealed. No person can be compelled by law to stay in an association against his or her wishes.”

Gbajabiamila also said the judgment is an affront to the right of association of the lawmakers, adding: “It negates a fundamental right of association of every citizen that is inalienable. Section 68 of the constitution has been turned on its head and the error of the court is manifest.”

“Section 68 was never argued in court by any of the parties. The judge gave an opinion he was never asked to give and an argument that was never canvassed before him,” he said.

of the House’s leadership.

Section 68(1) provides: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if ; (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a party, he becomes a member of another party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; Provided that his membership of the latter party is not as a result of a division in the party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

Justice Ademola, after analysing evidences before the court, observed that there were undisputed facts that the defecting lawmakers were sponsored by the PDP; that the period of their membership had not expired, but that

the contention among parties was whether there was a division in the party as contemplated in the provision of Section 68(1)(g).

Relying on the definition of “division” in the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (8th edition of the International Student edition), the judge held that from the evidence before him, including the October 2013 judgment

by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same court, there was no division in the PDP to have allowed the lawmakers to retain their seats.

“The court finds, as an undisputed fact, that the period for which the 12 to the 53 respondents were sponsored by the plaintiff has not expired in the 1st defendant (House of Reps). And as earlier stated, there is no division in the plaintiff, and they, that is, the 12th to the 53rd respondents, have defected to another party

Pensioners protest non-inclusion at conference

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•Outgoing Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Prof Barth Okolo (left); Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike, wife of the late Biafran leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, immediate past Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi and Pro-Chancellor UNN Emmanuel Ukala at a post-mortem award of honorary degree to Dim Ojukwu at the 43rd convocation and award presentation of the university held at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena PHOTO ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA UNN…at the weekend...

How SGF sat on pension matters for four months

ESPITE the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to look into the grievances of pensioners, the SGF has not convened a meeting for four months, it was learnt yesterday.

The pensioners, who had planned to protest, shelved the rally yesterday, following a

– the APC. “And as such, they either vacate their seats or resign honourably and relinquish their constituents’ mandates.

They have no basis, morally and legally, in staying in the 1st defendant (House of Reps) a day longer,” the judge noted.

He, however, did not order any of the lawmakers to yield their seats, as that was not part of the four relief sought by the plaintiff.

Before deciding the substantive suit, the judge dismissed the preliminary objections by the defendants. He held that the suit was well instituted; that it was justiciable; that it was not an abuse of court process; that the plaintiff possessed the locus standi to institute the action and that the originating summons filed by the plaintiff was competent.

Reacting to the judgment, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Yunus Ustaz (SAN) claimed that by the court’s orders, the affected lawmakers ought to vacate their seats. He argued that they were no longer qualified to sit in the House any more.

He praised the judge for what he described as “an analytical and well considered judgment.”

Lead defence lawyer, Mahmoud Magaji (SAN), said the court’s orders did not affect the continued participation of the defecting lawmakers in the business of the House. He said his clients have authorised him to appeal the judgment.

“The court is not a Father Christmas. It does not give what you did not ask for. They did not ask the court to order my clients to vacate their seats.

So, the court has not done that.

We are going to test this decision in the higher courts. We are filling our appeal any moment soon,” Magaji said.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

foiled jailbreak at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, the National President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Dr. Abel Afolayan, said the union would not want hoodlums to hijack the protest.

He said: “Who are the

people dragging feet? We do not want to embarrass them.

“For the past four months, the meeting has not been called. We have made this clear to the SGF that the suspended meeting should be convened.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written to that effect that we want the meeting to be called so that the directive of Mr. President can be

addressed and all problems sorted out and solved.”

Commenting on the suspended protest, Afolayan said: “We have shelved our protest because of the volatile security situation. As elderly people, we are praying that the situation should improve. We have members all over the country. We have members in Adamawa. We have members in Borno. We

have members in Yobe. We have members in Benue.

“We are peace-loving people. We want these security challenges to be addressed. We want peace. It is not that we will shelve the protest indefinitely. But as time dictates and when we consider it right, if our problems are not addressed, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will lead us in the protest.”

VER five million pen sioners nationwide yesterday protested their non-inclusion by President Goodluck Jonathan in the national conference.

They described the development as ‘marginalisation’ of the retired civil servants.

Speaking to reporters, the pensioners under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), said efforts to send their delegates to the conference proved abortive, thereby preventing them from expressing their problems.

NUP National President, Dr A.O. Afolayan, represented at a news conference in Bauchi by the Northeast Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Inuwa Ahmed, said if government failed to respond to their demands, the union would mobilise its over five million members to protest, threatening that the pensioners would be incited not to vote for anyone who did not listen to and solve their problems.

“Dear comrades, if our efforts to achieve the purpose of this conference fail, we shall have no alternative than to involve the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

With the involvement of these two unions, it is certain that workers, who are praying to be pensioners, will join us on a sympathy ground in a nationwide protest, which may likely hold soon,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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NEWS Jonathan for EU-Africa summit From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to travel to Brussels today as the head of Nigeria’s delegation to the Fourth European Union-Africa Summit scheduled to open in the Belgian capital tomorrow.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the summit has “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace” as its theme.

Other participants, the statement said, include the President of the European Council, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, other Heads of State and Government of the European Union and Africa as well as leaders of the European Union and African Union Institutions.

They will be discussing ways of stimulating further growth and creating more jobs in Nigeria and other African countries.

‘Fed Govt to retire 1,050 civil servants soon’

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HE Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Alhaji Bukar Aji, has said that 1,050 civil servants, who were in the service illegally, would be retired in the next three weeks.

He spoke in Abuja at the ongoing 60th anniversary of the Nigeria Public Service Commission.

Aji said the screening done by Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) discovered that the civil servants were supposed to have retired from the service.

“Through the IPPIS, we screened those who were supposed to have retired long time ago. They will leave the service within the next two to three weeks,” he said.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

The HOCSF said the exercise would create opportunity for those in legitimate service to be promoted.

Aji said there had been synergy, cooperation and collaboration between the HOCSF and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

He assured that the Federal Civil Service would be better this year, adding that he would not relent in his efforts to improve the service.

The Chairman, FCSC, Mrs. Joan Ayo, said the commission came into existence in April 1954 with the functions of employing, promoting and disciplining civil servants.

She said since the com-

mission was the gateway to the civil service and exit way, it should be guided by rules.

“As the `entry into’ and ‘exit out’ of the service, the FCSC is committed to the traditional core values of the civil service.”

Mrs. Ayo listed the core values as meritocracy, anonymity, integrity, political neutrality, discipline, impartiality, accountability and transparency.

She said the celebration was necessary to recall the exploits of the founding fathers of the civil service.

“We are celebrating the past and looking at where we have got it wrong, so that we can improve and do it better,” the FCSC chairman said.

She explained that the civil service was an organ of

government, which performed advisory role.

“The commission advises the government on policy, anticipating problems and deploying human, material and financial resources for effective execution of public policy.”

The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim, said government would ensure improved service.

Ayim, represented by Mr. Linus Awute, the Permanent Secretary, General Service of SGF, congratulated the efforts of the founding fathers, who worked hard to ensure transparency and meritocracy.

The theme of the celebration is: “Civil Service Core Values: The Sine Qua Non for National Development”.

Why I accepted responsibility,

by Moro

INTERIOR Minister, Comrade Abba Moro, has explained why he took responsibility of the recruitment by the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), in which about 16 persons died.

He said he could not deny responsibility because, besides being the minister under whose watch the recruitment was conducted, the buck about the exercise stopped at his table.

“The loss of these young Nigerians, who are needed as a critical human resource factor for nation building, is most regrettable. As the Minister of Interior, under whose purview this unfortunate exercise took place, I cannot abdicate my responsibility. The buck stops at my table,” Moro said.

Boko Haram: Finnish govt to offer assistance

From Grace Obike, Abuja

THE Finland government yesterday offered to assist Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

It offered to train security forces on capacity building and give world class equipment of high quality to protect the security forces, which will make them feel safe while curbing terrorism.

Amb. of Nigeria to Finland, Mrs. Riitta Korpivaara, spoke during a visit to the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro.

She said if Nigerian security personnel were well protected by quality vests and helmets, they would feel safe to do their jobs.

Mrs. Korpivaara said Finland would do everything to assist Nigeria fight Boko Haram in the Northeast and insecurity in Benue and Plateau states.

• Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, flanked by Chairman, Vital Products Plc, Alhaji Bashir Aminu (right) and Vice Chairman, Mr Sanjeev, at the inauguration of the company at Plot 12, ACME Road, Ogba, Lagos...at the weekend PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Govt urges court to dismiss suit challenging conference’s legitimacy T HE Federal Government yesterday urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit by rights activist, Tunji Abayomi, challenging President Goodluck Jonathan’s power to convene the ongoing National Conference.

The government, in a notice of preliminary objection it filed, argued that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to initiate the suit. It also queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

Abayomi, besides challenging the convocation of the conference, also prayed

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the court to declare it null and void.

Listed as defendants are the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the conference and its Secretary.

Counsel to the Federal Government and AGF, Femi Falana (SAN), argued that

the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case because the plaintiff, besides lacking the right to initiate the suit, disclosed no cause of action against the defendants.

He added that the President had the constitutional power to convene the conference.

Falana urged the court to hear his objection to the plaintiff’s originating summons, to prevent delay.

Justice Abdul Kafarati granted the order.

Abayomi told the court that the conference’s chairman, vice chairman and secretary have been served with court processes.

It is his contention that the President lacked the power to convene the conference without an authorising legislation from the National Assembly.

The Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and other defendants were not represented in court. They also did not file any response.

The court adjourned till May 8 for hearing.

Alleged N10m bribe: EFCC grills CCT judge

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, over alleged N10million bribe from a retired Comptroller of Customs, Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, who is on trial at the tribunal.

The commission has also asked the judge to bring documents next week, as part of its ongoing investigation into the bribery allegation.

According to a source in EFCC, the CCT chairman appeared for quizzing at the Operations Department.

The source said: “Our officials grilled the CCT chair-

•Demands more documents From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

man for three hours on what he knew about the alleged N10million bribe based on the statement of his Personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdullahi.

“The judge wrote a statement clarifying that he knew nothing about the bribery scam. But we have asked him to produce documents for verification.

“The CCT chairman is expected to return to the commission next week with these documents in line with our ongoing investigation.

“The outcome of the inves-

tigation will determine whether the judge will be prosecuted or not.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “We also need to interact with the judge on the alleged financial mismanagement raised in a petition to the EFCC by the CCT accountant, Shotunde Adeyinka and two administrative officers, Lucky Eronlan and Johnson Owopetu.

“This petition borders on the award of contracts without due process, questionable payment of mobilisation fees and other irregularities.”The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson

Uwujaren, said: “It is true that the commission has quizzed the CCT chairman.”

The invitation of the CCT chairman followed a petition from a retired Comptroller of Customs, Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo.

The ex-Customs official, who is standing trial before the tribunal in Suit CCT/ ABJ/03/12 for alleged failure to declare his assets, alleged that the judge asked for the N10million bribe sum to throw away the case.

It was learnt that the accused played along when he paid N1.8million out of the N10million bribe cash into the account of the Personal Assistant to the judge, Ali Gambo Abdullahi.

Atiku welcomes Obasanjo’s reconciliation

F

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accepted an olive branch extended to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness in the interest of national unity.

In a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday, Atiku said: “Forgiveness is divinely-inspired. It is an oil, which lubricates the wheels of human interactions and engagements.”

The ex-Vice President hailed Obasanjo “for taking this bold and godly step in the interest of the nation and humanity.”

According to him, “the process of national healing and reconciliation should advance to a new level and extend to other citizens of our great nation, who may have had grievances against one another.”

He urged politicians to learn from the words of Mahatma Ghandi that “an eye for an eye will make our nation go blind.”

Atiku said: “When I made a similar effort a few years ago, it was on the conviction that it would not be beneficial to me before Allah, if I went to the grave with bitterness. Let us forgive one another so that we can team up for national rebirth.”

He noted even if one disagreed with Obasanjo, no one would doubt his firm commitment to the country’s unity.

Groups drum support for Jonathan From Vincent Ikuomola and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

T

HE Goodluck Initiative for Transformation, yesterday in Abuja, joined other groups urging President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention to seek re-election next year.

The groups, which included: the Unbeatable Group, Greater Nigerian Youth for Peace Initiative, Goodluck Initiative for Transformation, PDP Talented Youth Transformation Support Forum, Nigerian Youth Organisation, Women for Goodluck 2015, National Yoruba Multilinks Development Association for Goodluck 2015 and National Coalition for Goodluck, insisted that Jonathan should seek re- election to continue his transformation agenda.

Varsity’s annual lecture holds tomorrow

HISTORY will be made at the nation’s premier private university of technology, Bells University, Ota, Ogun State, tomorrow when the First Registry Annual Lecture kicks off.

The guest lecturer, Prof.

Chiedu Mafiana, who is the Director, Quality Assurance, National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja will speak on the topic: “Registry Operations and Assurance of Quality in the 21st Century Nigerian University System.”

Billed to hold at the university multi-purpose hall from 11am, the event will attract dignitaries from far and near. The lecture will, as usual, be chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

8

NEWS Students protest hike in LASU’s fees

T

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday stormed the office of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to protest the school fees hike at the Lagos State University (LASU).

The students were led by their Southwest Coordinator, Sunday Ashefun, who blamed the continuous unrest in the school on the hike.

They barricaded the entrance to the governor’s office, urging Fashola to reverse the school fees increment without delay.

Ashefun urged the Federal Government to honour its 2010 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Education (COASU) and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

They said students in tertiary institutions must go back to school.

The students urged the managements of the Univer-

•The protesters...yesterday

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

sity of Lagos (UNILAG); College of Education, IkereEkiti; and Tai Solarin Col-

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

lege of Education (TASCE) to lift the ban on unionism.

The also called for the conversion of the Higher National Diploma (HND) cer-

T

HE crisis in the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems set to escalate, with party chieftain Mr. Ayo Arise saying the purported emergence of Senator Gbenga Aluko as the consensus candidate of some aggrieved aspirants was “medicine after death”. Fayose already has the party’s Certificate of Return, Arise said. He has urged aggrieved governorship aspirants to support former Governor Ayodele Fayose, the party’s flag bearer in the June 21 poll.

Arise said the 12 aspirants must unite to ensure the party’s victory in the election.

Speaking with our correspondent over the telephone, he said he has started brokering peace in the party, adding that the “agreement of understanding” between Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Fayose was the result of his efforts.

Arise, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, said: “The party is taking steps to appease the aggrieved aspirants. I have been mandated to broker peace among them in the interest of our party. It is on this strength that I started with Adeyeye, who is a leading aspirant. Starting the reconciliation with him does not diminish the relevance of other aggrieved aspirants. We will reach out to all of them.

“Our goal is for the PDP to win the election. I am not doing this for Fayose but for the PDP. I am a party man and I have been given the mandate to bring everybody on board. This we will achieve in the interest of peace.”

Ekiti, Osun polls: INEC to stop underage voters

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has trained its personnel on how to identify minors and prevent them from voting in the Ekiti and Osun polls.

INEC’s National Commissioner in the Southwest, Prof. Lai Olurode, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Olurode said even if minors were in possession of voter cards, they would not be allowed to vote.

He was reacting to claims by the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of civil society organisations, that minors were registered in the Continued Voter Registration (CVR).

Olurode said: “We have factored a way into our training, so that minors will be denied access to vote even if they are in possession of

voter cards. We have increased the tempo of voter education clubs in schools through electronic and print media campaigns.”

According to him, INEC is cleaning up the register to weed out underage registrants.

Olurode said the CVR, which was held from March 12 to 19 in Osun and Ekiti states, enabled the commission to accommodate all complaints before the governorship elections.

He said law enforcement agents are being sensitised to effectively perform their duties and ensure hitch-free polls.

The commissioner said the prevention of electoral offences was the duty of all stakeholders and not INEC alone.

He said: “Elections are for the good of all and are about partnership and vigilance by everyone.”

United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and removal of the supervising Minister of Education.

They vowed to resist plans by the Federal and state governments to introduce new tuition fees in tertiary institutions.

‘Go and apply, it’s real’

Arise dismisses Aluko’s adoption as ‘medicine after death’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

tificate to Bachelor of Science degree (B.Tech) in Technology; implementation of the 26 per cent budgetary allocation proposed by the

T

HE first set of allottees of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) received yesterday the keys to their various homes from Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The 11 allottees, who have paid 30 per cent of the cost of their homes, are Mrs. Rukiat Abdulmalik; Mr. Ademola Odujoko; Mr. Ejiroghene Madedor; Mr. Amos Omodunni; Mrs. Yetunde Awopeju; Mr. Ajayi Jubril; Mrs. Ganiyat Akanni; Mr. Gbenga Owolabi; Mr. Chukwuneta Ogbatwi; Mrs. Bibian Kanayo and Mr. Ikpeh Darlington.

Omodunni said he learnt about the scheme on the social media and did not expect it to be as easy as it turned out to be.

He said: “Everything worked like clock. I did not have to visit any office or talk to anyone. Everything that I needed to do to complete that application was done in my office.”

Omodunni said he was in his office when the televised draw was being held and ran to an adjoining office to watch the programme. He said he was shocked when his name was picked for a three-bedroom flat.

He said the scheme has strengthened his belief in the

•Lagos HOMS allottees collect keys efficacy and efficiency of the Lagos State government, adding: “I and the other allottees are advocates of the transparency and fairness that we now know are the bedrocks of this particular scheme. We sing it high and loud everywhere we go; to our friends, neighbours and colleagues. Go and apply, it is real. You do not need to know anybody; just send in your application and you can become a home owner.”

Mrs. Awopeju, who works with Atlas Technical Services Limited, hailed Fashola, whose foresight she said has come to the fore with the HOMS scheme.

She said from what used to be a condemned location and a night club in Surulere, a beautiful estate has risen, adding that she is happy to be a beneficiary of the Shitta Housing Estate.

Ikpe, who works with Zenith Bank Plc, said he heard about the programme on the social media.

He said if Nigeria had many visionary leaders like Fashola, it would be a better place.

Fashola said the success of the first draw is a message

‘I did not have to visit any office or talk to anyone. Everything that I needed to do to complete that application was done in my office’ to the present generation that all hope is not lost and a better Nigeria can be built.

The governor spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, venue of the ceremony.

He said: “I am happy to see young people become homeowners in their country and in our state. Go and apply, pay your taxes, register as a Lagos resident and the rest is easy.”

Fashola described the first draw as a modest start with 31 successful applicants for the 200 homes at the first

draw.

The remaining 169 homes would be added to the 200 homes available for the second draw billed for Friday.

Chairman of the Lagos Mortgage Board and Commissioner for Finance Ayo Gbeleyi described the event as another promise made and kept by the Fashola administration.

He said of the 31 winners that emerged at the first draw, the 11 named above have met the mortgage requirements.

Gbeleyi said in developed countries, over 60 per cent of home owners bought their homes under a mortgage scheme.

He said in the United States (U.S.), the figure is over 80 per cent.

The commissioner said in South Africa, the figure is 30 per cent and Rwanda, 15 per cent, but in Nigeria, it is under five per cent.

At the event were Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope–Adefulire; Commissioner for Housing Bosun Jeje; top government officials; members of the Mortgage Board; the allotees and their families.

Ogun releases N1.5b for pension arrears

T

HE Ogun State government released yesterday N1.5 billion for the payment of gratuities to pensioners and severance package of former political office holders.

Over 561 ex-civil servants and former political office holders will benefit from it.

In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

said: “The gratuities will cover civil servants who retired between May, 2011 and November, 2012, who have filed their papers with the State Bureau of Pensions.

“Also, ex-political office holders who served between 2007 and 2011 but were not paid their severance package

by the last administration will benefit from the fund.

The fresh release of N1.5 billion will further clear the arrears of pensions dating back to 2008, which were inherited by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration. The arrears would be cleared up to November, 2012, with the new release of fund.

“The payment of gratuity and severance package is a further fulfillment of Amosun’s promise to ensure that everybody who served the state in various capacities and contributed to its development is paid their dues. With the release of this fund, the Amosun administration has paid N5.6 billion as gratuity in the last 34 months.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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NEWS

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HE Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) has taken over investigation of the Soka “forest of horror” in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The investigation is expected to expose those operating the kidnappers’ den, their activities and the cause of deaths in the camp.

Five detectives from the FCID arrived in Ibadan and visited the forest on Friday, 24 hours after the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 11, Femi Omojola, visited the crime scene.

Zone 11 comprises Oyo and Osun states, with the head-

FCID takes over Ibadan ‘forest of horror’ probe •Two more suspects arrested

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

quarters in Osogbo, Osun State.

The FCID team, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police, includes a pathologist

from the Homicide Section.

The detectives will work with their state counterparts.

Police spokesperson Olabisi Ilobanafor confirmed the development.

She said the team was sent

by the inspector-general of police to probe the incident.

Ilobanafor said: “The inspector-general wants transparency in the investigation.

Hence, he has directed that the detectives work with

those at the State CID under the watch of the police commissioner.”

The team will work with forensic pathologists from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Ilobanafor said the hospital’s management offered its services, adding that a delegation from the hospital visited the command on Friday.

Two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the camp. This brings the number of suspects arrested to eight.

Lagos to domesticate environmental laws

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

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HE Lagos State government has said it will rid the environment of pollution and promote good quality of life.

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Mr. Adebola Rasheed Shabi, spoke at the opening of a two-day forum on the domestication of the national environmental regulation and standard in the state.

Shabi said Lagos State, as the nation’s economic, industrial and financial capital, needs to domesticate national and international environment laws to protect residents.

He said Lagos would be the first state to begin the process of adopting the 21 federal laws on the environment.

These laws were made by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Osogbo gets chief

F

ORMER National President of the Osogbo National Students’ Union, National Secretary of the Osogbo Progressive Union and Chairman of Ajad-Toy Newspaper Agency and Ajad-Toy Enterprises, Chief Adetoyese Olayanju will be elevated from OtunGbobaniyi to Gbobaniyi of Osogboland on Friday by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye 11.

The ceremony will hold at the Ataoja’s palace at 10am.

P

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu opening the new branch of First Bank Plc on Bank Road, AdoEkiti...yesterday. With her are: First Bank Business Development Manager, Ekiti State, Mrs. Abiola Lufadeju (right) and the Registrar, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Lady Christie Oluborode.

Amosun, Fayemi, Keyamo mourn Ajayi

O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have sent their condolences to the legal community on the death of Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi (SAN).

Amosun described the late Ajayi, popularly called G.O.K., as “consistent, forthright and famous”, noting that he “championed the cause of progressives” in several high profile cases.

He said: “I remember cases such as the 12 2/3 suit of Awolowo vs Shagari over the 1979 presidential election; the Abdul Rahman Shugaba vs Minister of Internal Affairs and the legal battle of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, among others, which are still reference points till today.”

In a statement by his media aide, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, Amosun said he joins members of the bar and the bench, as well as other Nigerians, to mourn the passing of this “last colossus of the first generation of Nigerian lawyers”, adding:

Kalu hails Tinubu at 62

F

ORMER Abia State Governor Orji Kalu has described the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as “an uncommon leader”.

Kalu said Tinubu’s ability to mobilise people was legendary.

In a statement to felicitate with Tinubu on his 62nd birthday, Kalu said the former Lagos State governor had become a phenomenon in Nigeria’s politics since the country’s return to democratic rule.

He said: “Apart from ruling Lagos State for eight years and laying the foundation for the state’s development, Tinubu’s capacity to mobilise his people for any worthy cause has shown him to be a leader in whom the people believe and who they can trust.

“Only few leaders in Nigeria command such cult-like followership as Tinubu does. These are people who have no doubt about his passion for their welfare. Despite the fact that Tinubu has had cause to change the name of his party several times, the loyalty to him by his followers has not waned over the years. Rather, it has become strengthened.

“As you clock another year, it is pertinent to wish you many more years in the service of the country and sound health in the years ahead.”

‘As you clock another year, it is pertinent to wish you many more years in the service of the country and sound health in the years ahead.’

“He was a progressive lawyer and that explains his closeness to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. His death is a great loss to the legal community.”

Amosun urged the family, friends and associates of the late Ajayi to take solace in the fact that the deceased led a disciplined life and etched his footprints in the sands of time.

He prayed to God to grant the late Ajayi eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Fayemi described Ajayi’s demise as “the end of a chapter that shaped the legal profession in Nigeria”.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, he said Ajayi’s role in the evolution of democracy in Nigeria cannot be forgotten.

Describing Ajayi as a fearless lawyer and people’s advocate, Fayemi said the deceased chose to stay on the side of the people by defending the mandate given to the late Abiola in court at the risk of his life.

He said the late Ajayi was an inspiration to the late

Abiola and other pro-democracy activists in the struggle to revalidate the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which is widely acknowledged as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.

Fayemi described the late Ajayi as “a legend of the legal profession”, whose contributions to human rights, advocacy and jurisprudence will remain indelible in the memory of Nigerians.

He said the deceased, through hard work, built one of the foremost law chambers in Nigeria, adding that his name was not tainted in his almost 60 years of active practice.

Fayemi urged the deceased’s family, friends and associates to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived a fulfilled life and positively touched his generation.

Popular lawyer Festus Keyamo described Ajayi’s death as an “irreplaceable loss” to the legal profession.

Keyamo said: “He was one of the last of the finest breed of first generation lawyers in Nigeria. He was remarkable in his impeccable forensic ad-

vocacy, which he often delivered with a soft but piercing voice. In terms of the skills of advocacy, he was my personal hero.

“My sincere condolences go to his family, friends and the entire legal profession. The late Ajayi remains one of finest lawyers this country has ever produced.”

Historian and Chairman, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Chief Johnson Ayomike said: “The news of Chief Ajayi’s death came to me as a shock. As a leader in Ugborodo, Escravos, Warri Southwest Local Government Area, I had close contact with him when the community employed his services in the 1970s in some of our cases in court, which had to do with accountability of community funds.

“What attracted him to me was his humility, honesty, forthrightness and his uncanny knowledge of the law.

His advocacy was unparallel.

He could push through highly technical points of law in court with the simplicity of a teacher. There will be none like him.”

•Tinubu

years of the 142 per cent increase, which should have been paid since 2000.

Ibrahim said: “As rich as Lagos is, the policy of the state government is to starve its pensioners of their entitlements. While other state governments have implemented the six per cent and 15 per cent pension increase, the Lagos State government has not given it a glance.

“A few days ago, pensioners in Osun State protested the non-payment of the 142 per cent pension arrears, as

well as the six per cent and 15 per cent increase arrears.”

He said pensioners in Ogun, Ekiti and Oyo states were yet to be paid the six per cent and 15 per cent increase arrears.

Ibrahim said the six states in the Southwest owe pensioners billions of naira in gratuities as a result of the Federal Government’s withdrawal from the payment of the five per cent counterpart fund to local government pension boards.

He urged the three tiers of

government to address the problem.

NUP National President Dr. Abel Afolayan decried the exclusion of the union from the National Conference.

Afolayan, who was represented by the Southwest NUP Vice-President, Lateef Adegoke, said the government sidelined the union for the Council of Retired Permanent Secretaries, adding: “As the only union registered and approved by the Ministry of Labour and Pro-

ductivity for Nigeria civil pensioners/retirees, it was expected that our union, rather than the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries, should nominate delegates to the conference.

“But, to our dismay, the Council of Retired Permanent Secretaries nominated the six delegates representing retirees at the conference. It is our conviction that our union should have been consulted on this matter because we are the major stakeholders representing Civil Service retirees/pensioners.”

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Southwest retirees protest non-payment of pension increase

ENSIONERS in the Southwest protested yesterday the nonpayment of their pension increase.

The peaceful protest was held on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) premises at Agodi Gate in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), sang solidarity songs and carried placards reading: “State governments should implement the six per cent and 15 per cent

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

increment”; “Jonathan stop pension fraud”; “Harmonise pension of old and new pensioners”; “Pensioners are dying of hunger” and “Jonathan save our souls”, among others.

Southwest NUP Chairman Nojeem Ibrahim noted with bitterness that with the exception of a few, governors have not treated pensioners well.

He lamented that Lagos State owes pensioners three

BUSINESS

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Leadership crisis hits IPMAN

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

T

HE leadership crisis rocking the Independ ent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is far from being resolved as members’ loyalty is being divided between the two presidents of the association.

The Western Zone of body yesterday appealed to the warring parties to resolve the crisis to prevent it from degenerating into national disaster that may trigger another fuel scarcity in the country.

Its Chairman, Western Zone, Mr. Olumide Ogunmade, made the appeal after the zonal council meeting held in Lagos.

He said: “IPMAN Western Zone would continue to support the national executives led by Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadir and urged them to organise free and fair elections on or before the expiration of their tenure in May. “The legitimacy of the national president of IPMAN would better be enhanced when the voice and votes of members count on whosoever will become the next president.”

He said the organisation needed to be concerned with how to find sustainable solution to the recurrent fuel scarcity in the country, adding that the current crisis is a needless. He said the zone prefers to support a president that would emerge through the electoral process.

He said the leadership of the zone played a vital role in the crisis that rocked the national executives in 2011, adding that it brokered peace among the warring group.

He said his members are committed to steady fuel supply to the country.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

• From Left: Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Director; Obinna Ufudo, Chief executive officer; Tony Elumelu, Chairman; and Chinedu Eze, Company Secretary, all of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria(Transcorp) Plc during the 8th Annual General Meeting of the company at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Why Nigeria did not sign EU/ECOWAS trade liberalisation agreement, by Aganga

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HE Minister of Indus try, Trade and Invest ment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has explained the reason Nigeria refused to sign the trade liberalisation agreement being pushed forward by the European Union (EU) under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Speaking at a lunch in honour of the Director-General, United Nations Industrial Development Organsation (UNIDO), Mr. Li Yong, Aganga, whose ministry played a major role in the EPA negotiations, said certain provisions of the agreement, which Nigeria was expected to sign at the ECOWAS Heads of States meeting in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire, last week, were not in the best interest of the economy.

He said: “Under the EPA, the EU will immediately offer the 15-member ECOWAS and non-member states full access to its markets. In return, ECOWAS will gradually open up 75 per cent of its markets, with its 300 million consumers, to Europe over a 20-year period.

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

“Technical negotiations were wrapped up last month with the EU offering a 6.5 billion euro (about $8.94 billion) package over the next five years to help ECOWAS cushion the effects and costs of integrating into the global economy.

“The EPA agreement is not ready for endorsement by the Heads of State and Government. During the meeting last week, Nigeria raised 10 objections to what was presented to us and the Summit of Heads of State ratified it.”

According to him, a committee from Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire , Ghana and Senegal looked at the issues raised by member-states, particularly Nigeria, and came up with a proposal, adding that when the country went into the meeting, the idea was to endorse it, but there were reservations concerning the agreement based on model and feedback from the private sector.

He said: “One major reservation was that the way the agreement was done, which of course they expected us to sign, would not be in the

overall interest of the Nigerian economy over the long term. For instance, in the area of market access, the EU wants us to open our market by 75 per cent over a 20-year period.

“This appears harmless because over the first five years, there will be no major impact because they will open all their doors for us to export to Europe. However, the problem here is that, currently, we are not exporting much to Europe and so the benefit will not be significant.”

The minister explained that, given Nigeria’s condition as an import-dependent economy, it would be counter-productive to open its doors to imports without first of all developing its industrial sector to compete globally, especially in those sectors where the country has comparative and competitive advantage as provided for in the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan recently launched

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Another major point we raised was that those items that were in Category D, and excluded in the 25 per cent, should include those areas and sectors that we want to

develop in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan. Some of those areas are already under Category C and D, meaning that they are the sectors that the EU wants us to liberalise imports. If we do that, it will have a very negative impact on the NIRP. “Nigeria is the biggest country in the ECOWAS and we are already producing some of those goods that they want us to liberalise their importation. Also, what this means is that, not now, but from 2025-2026, based on the items that have been included and excluded, there will be significant loss of revenue to the government. There will be loss of jobs, investment and loss of even the ECOWAS market,” he stressed.

Aganga, however, said it was important to remain as one in the ECOWAS region, saying: “Even if they import those items into our neighbouring countries, they will end up in Nigeria and this will have negative impact on the Nigerian economy. So, it is important for us to work together as ECOWAS members and not to allow EPA to divide us.”

Speaking during the event, the Director-General,

ion (AU)-Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) Summit of African Ministers of Finance, said with the attention Africa has been commanding among developed countries lately, it was time the continent began to re-energise itself economically.

He said his consultation with Tukur on the need to develop a model of economic intergration

for Africa was necessary owing to the latter’s position as the President of African Business Round Table (ABR) and the New Partnerships for African Development (NEPAD) Group.

Mbeki, a founding member of the NEPAD Heads of Government and Implementation Group, said Nigeria has a critical role to play in the envisaged Africa’s economic integration.

Mbeki, Tukur seek Africa’s economic integration

F

ORMER South African President, Mr Thabo Mbeki and Chairman, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, have stressed the need for Africa’s economic integration.

This, according to them, is needed to raise the living standards of every African as the continent strives to

From Gbade Ogunwale, Asst.

Editor, Abuja

emerge as a strong economic power bloc.

In a statement yesterday, Tukur’s aide said the duo spoke at a consultative meeting at Tukur’s Abuja residence over the weekend.

Mbeki, who was in Nigeria for the on-going African Un-

UNIDO, Mr. Li Yong, pledged UNIDO’s unflinching support towards the growth and development of Nigeria’s industrial sector in line with the organization’s Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development Programme.

Zenith Bank gets CEO

By Collins Nweze

Z

ENITH Bank Plc yester day named Peter Olisamedua Amangbo as its new Chief Executive Officer after its head was confirmed as the next governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Until his appointment, he was an executive director and has worked in the bank for more than 21 years. His appointment takes effect from June 1, the bank said in a Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) filing.

Outgoing Zenith Bank chief Godwin Emefiele was appointed last month to replace suspended CBN (CBN) governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

His appointment was confirmed by the Senate last week.

Amangbo worked with Pricewaterhouse as a Senior Consultant in the Financial Services Group. He holds Bachelors Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from University of Benin.

He also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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BUSINESS NEWS

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Court reserves ruling in Sanusi’s suit

BUA, NGC sign gas deal

• ‘Suspended CBN boss didn’t finance terrorism’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

LAGOS Federal High Court has reserved ruling in a fundamental rights suit filed by suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi.

Justice Ibrahim Buba fixed April 3 for ruling on the suit after counsels to parties moved and adopted their applications.

Sanusi, through his lawyer Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (SAN), filed the suit seeking an order restraining the Police and officers of the State Security Service (SSS) from arresting, detaining or harassing him.

Joined as respondents are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) and the SSS. Counsel to the AGF, Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), while moving a preliminary objection to Sanusi’s suit, urged the court to strike it out for lack of jurisdiction.

Ajogwu argued that Section 254(c) 1(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ousted the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

He said the case before the court was on the employment of the applicant, adding that labour-related-matters, are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

“Section 254(c) 1(d) of the Constitution vests exclusive jurisdiction on the NIC, with respect to civil causes or matters touching on employment, labour or industrial relations.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

“We respectfully urge the court to hold that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the reliefs sort by the applicant and strike out the suit,” he said.

Continuing, Ajogwu held that Sanusi cannot by his suit, seek to restrain the respondents from performing their constitutional and statutory duties.

He argued that investigations were being made in accordance with the provisions of the law, on the applicant, for which the second and third respondents had a duty to perform.

He submitted that the applicant was not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from performing their constitutional duties, adding that a perpetual injunction, is everlasting and interminable and so, cannot be granted by a court.

“A court cannot grant per-

N

petual injunction on a mere prima facie case; the applicant’s suit is basically an action to shield him from the machinery of administration of justice, which has been kick-started by the respondents.

“I, therefore, urge your lordship, like the biblical Pontius Pilate, to wash his hands off this case, as it is not the affairs of this honourable court,” Ajogwu submitted.

Counsels to the second and third respondents, David Abuo and Moses Idakwo agreed with Ajogwu’s submissions.

Idakwo stressed that it was absurd for the applicant to say that an interaction with the SSS for less than an hour, amounted to a violation of his rights.

He maintained that Section 6 of the National Security Agencies Act empowered the Service to impound the passport of suspects, pending the conclusion of inves-

tigations.

Replying to the respondents’ objections, Kola Awodehin (SAN), who represented Sanusi, said the court can hear the suit.

He argued that the suit had nothing to do with the terms of employment of the applicant or industrial relation, since it was not a case of the applicant against the CBN. Awodehin noted that in construing the provisions of Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the constitution, the word “employment” must be read together with other words listed therein, to appreciate its scope.

He argued that the applicant in his originating summons, never sought for an order of perpetual injunction, adding that the reliefs sought were qualified.

“It cannot be suggested that the applicant is restraining the respondents from performing their duties, but they must restrained from

doing so, without due process of the law.

Sanusi denied financing terrorism. Speaking against the background of the allegation in their counter-affidavits the government filed, Awodein said, “The seizure of the applicant’s international passport by the third respondent is a derogation of his freedom of movement.

“The first to third respondents give conflicting reasons as to the complaint made against the applicant: This conflict goes to show that they acted without due process of the law.

“The allegations against the applicant as to funding of terrorism, is an afterthought by the respondent, which is not backed by facts, as there is no reasonable suspicion that the applicant committed any crime.

“The law clearly defines how such duties should be performed, and so, I invite your lordship to hold that the applicant has a cause of action against the respondent.”

NSIA realises N505m income in 15 months

IGERIA Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) realised N505.7million in 15 months of its operation ending December 31, 2013.

The abridged statement of the financial position of the investment authority for the review period, showed that it received N1.96billion income, comprising

N1.566billion, Total operating income and N495.02million, Non –operating income in the review period, while Total operating and administrative expenses, and Investment and custodian fees, gulped N1.414bilion and N21.905milion respectively.

The NSIA’s financial outlay, indicated that N155.25billion

came from Contribution by government, while N525.156million was from Retained earnings.

In the review period, NSIA’s total Assests stood at N157.

595 billion, comprising Cash and cash equivalents, amounting N111.895 billion, Investment securities yielded N45.114 billion, property and equipment N246 million,

Other assests, N290.5 million, while Advances and intangible assets amounted to N28 million and N19.8 million respectively.

The total liabilities of the authority in the review period stood at N1.84 billion, comprising, borrowing and liabilities of N1.4 billion and N439.7 million, respeectively

A

CEMENT manufac turing firm, BUA Cement, has signed a Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) for its Edo Cement Company Limited.

NGC Managing Director, Saidu Mohammed,who signed for his firm, said the agreement is for the supply of about 33 million standard cubic feet of gas daily (mmscf/d) by NGC to the plant in Okpella in Edo State.

Group Executive Director, BUA Group, Kabiru Rabiu, who signed for BUA Cement, described the deal as an important milestone towards the commissioning of the new cement plant at the end of the year.

Rabiu said $500 million has been spent on the plant ading that on completion, it will add about 15 per cent to the total cement output in the country.

Nigeria produced about 21 million metric tons of cement in 2013 and with its population of 170 million people making the country one of the lowest per capita cement consumption in the world.

BUA Group entered the cement sub sector in 2008 when the Federal Government of Nigeria issued out licenses to 13 companies, including BUA, to import cement in an effort to reduce the price of the product locally.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS

TRANSPORTATION

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AGOS State Government has described as low registration of commercial vehicle operators, drivers and conductors under its planned documentation programme.

It said only 19,372 of the estimated 35,000 commercial vehicles operators in the state have complied with the directive.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said in his Alausa, Ikeja, office that despite the poor compliance, the government remained committed to beginning the second phase of the state's traffic system.

Describing the exercise as the beginning of the second phase of the Road traffic Law 2012, Opeifa said under the law, all operators, whether owners, drivers or conductors, were expected to register under the scheme aimed at developing a data base of commercial operators.

The government gave a 60-day ultimatum for commercial vehicle operators, drivers and conductors to register or face the law.

Because of poor response at the expiration of the ultimatum on January 1, the government relaxed the law’s implementation and gave the operators more time to comply.

Giving a breakdown, Opeifa said of the 19,372, 1,645 vehicles registered under the commercial Car Hire Service and "kabukabu," 394 were Mass Transit and 10,373 were mini buses.

He added that 6,381 of the vehicles were yellow taxis and 579 tricycles known as "Keke Marwa."

He lamented that the breakdown showed non-compliance by public transport owners and operators.

On drivers and conductors accreditation, Opeifa said less than 13,000 of the estimated 50,000 operators had attended the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI), as at last month.

He advised drivers and conductors yet to attend LASDRI to do so in their own interest, go to any of the five centres of the Institute in Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe, for their documentation.

He enjoined commercial vehicle owners to also go with their vehicles to any of the 21 Vehicle Inspection

•Commercial buses

Lagos scores registration of commercial drivers low

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

Service (VIS) offices for their documentation.

Opeifa reminded those who are yet to register that when the new policy eventually takes effect, any owner, driver or conductor who has refused to register will not be issued with a licence in line with Regulation 41 of the Lagos Road Traffic Law and will miss out on the various opportuni-

Transport Commission coming

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HE Federal Government has unvwiled plans to establish a National Transport Commis-

sion.

Receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its National President, Mallam Mohammed Garba, in his office, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said the commission would be the sector’s regulatory authority.

Umar, who said a bill would soon be sent to the National Assembly, added that the commission would address the challenges of the sector.

He said the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has been mandated to act as the regulatory body, pending the passage of the bill.

The minister, who stressed the need for continued partnership between the media and the government, said the media tour organised by the Minister of Information was an eye opener, as it

E-mail:ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

enabled media practitioners to see the administration's achievements across all sectors of the economy. ''You and your colleagues have seen infrastructural development of our nation in recent time during the Good Governance Tour,'' he stated.

He affirmed the Federal Government's commitment to completing the Eastern rail line before the end of the year.

Umar added that the completion of Abuja-Kaduna modernisation rail project would benefit Abuja and Kaduna State residents, noting that the rail will increase the flow of passengers between Abuja and Kaduna. "You can be working in Abuja and be living in Kaduna,'' he said.

He promised to ensure the adequate safety of high speed double gauge Abuja and Kaduna rail systems, noting that the rail track will be protected by high fencing and other safety measures.

•19,372 vehicles, 10,000 operators registered

ties and benefits that the government intended to make available to owners, drivers and conductors.

He praised those who had complied with the law, adding that they should feel free to transact their businesses.

He implored the leaders of transport unions, especially the National Union of Road Transport Workers

T

the construction of over 20, 000 road signage erected across the state. He said no fewer than 230 kilometres of pavements have been marked, and pedestrian crossing has been provided in at least 250 locations in the state.

The commissioner said the state has adopted the practice of providing pedestrian walkways on every new road project being embarked upon, while it is fixing existing roads with the feature.

Opeifa added that beside the pedestrian crossing, 119 new intelligent traf-

Unpainted bus operators warned

O

•Umar

He expressed his appreciation to the NUJ delegation for the visit, praising the media for its patriotism. He assured its members of government's support and cooperation.

Earlier, Garba said his team was in the ministry to drum support and solidarity and to praise him for the transformation of the transport sector in the last three years.

‘Govt will continue to improve on traffic flow’

HE Lagos State government has assured residents that it would continue to improve on the producing traffic situation in the state.

The government which admitted that traffic situation along some routes had been difficult lately, said it remained committed to reducing the man-hour loss in traffic across the state.

The Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa stated this in his office.

Some of the furniture already put in place by the government; he said was

(NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the Tricycle Workers Association (TWAN) and the Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association (LSTDCOA), to ensure that their members adhere to the directive.

He urged the law enforcement

fic signal lights have been installed at strategic points across the state.

“All these help in maximising existing road space, reduce vehicle operation cost and promote road safety consciousness. They also ensure an efficient, safe, reliable, sustainable and continuous flow of traffic,” he said.

He said the government’s commitment to road transportation is borne out of the reality that it remains the most effective and largest means of facilitating the exchange of goods and services across the state and country.

agencies, comprising the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), men of the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), to step up the enforcement and bring to book any operator, driver or conductor who violates the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

PERATORS of unpainted commercial buses and taxis in Lagos State have been warned to desist from such practices or face prosecution.

The warning was given by the Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, while responding to a caller’s question on a radio programme.

He said anybody operating commercial transportation with an unpainted vehicle would be assumed to have criminal intention, and passengers’ should be wary of falling into their trap.

Opeifa further warned operators mas-

querading as uniformed personnel, operating with unpainted and yellow vehicles and disobeying traffic regulations, to desist from such acts.

He said the government would prosecute prosecute offenders apprehended in the court.

Opeifa, who noted that the state welcomes all investors in the transportation sector, observed that such investors must be willing to follow to laid down rules, regulations, and procedures.

He said the government frowns at anyone operating outside the law.

Council grades 46 feeder roads

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O ensure the movement of persons and commodities, especially during the rainy season, the lkosiEjinrin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State has begun the grading of 46 feeder roads.

Its Information Officer, Lanre Babatunde ,in a statement, said the move was in line with the LCDA Chairman, Prince Segun Adetola's vision to provide rural infrastructure and social amenities to the citizenry.

Babatunde noted that the communities had contended with dilapidated roads and infrastructure.

He said: "It is in line with efforts by the council administration to make the rural areas more habitable and comfortable, hence over 46 feeder roads across various communities within the LCDA had been opened up.”

Babatunde said the roads spanning about 200 metres to one kilometre each, have helped the rural dwellers to move farm produce easily from the farm to the

By Oziegbe Okoeki

final destination "because the roads are motorable and accessible.

"The grading and opening of these roads is geared towards preparing the entire community for the fast approaching rainy season against erosion and unforeseen disaster that might come with the rain.

"The chairman has also embarked on this to fulfil his political promises, spread the grading of the roads across all the six political wards, such as Olisa Street, Orugbo-lddo, ltoikin down to Ketu, Eluku Mosafejo link road, Magistrate Court road both in Agbowa, lmam Kofisese Street in Orugbo-lddo, Agbala quarters in ltoikin, Agric Road in Ketu, Adeeso Street, in Owu-lkosi, just to mention a few from all the roads,were graded," Babatunde added.

He said the chairman of the council had assured of continuous grading of roads and clearing of drainage channels to pave way for the free flow of water during the rainy season.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Peace process on life support?

Well done • FIRS’ performance for 2013 is impressive, but there is always room for improvement

I

N a year more remarkable for declining revenues– courtesy of the menace of oil theft and associated production shut-ins – the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) obviously has every reason to roll out the drums to celebrate a performance that could pass for sterling. Last week at a retreat in Abuja, FIRS acting executive chairman, Kabir Mashi, while giving his agency a pass mark, stated that it raked in N4.8trillion from taxes in 2013 –a leap of 7.56 percent over the preceding year’s haul of N4.46 trillion.

In the breakdown, non-oil sources alone accounted for N2.139 trillion – a three percent shortfall from initial projection of N2.188 trillion. In terms of overall performance, the FIRS boss would also admit that it fell short of its target of N5.8 trillion by 17.18 percent.

On the surface, the performance figure looks impressive. What the figure indicates is that the fruits of the massive reforms undertaken by the FIRS in the last few years have not only endured but have also assumed some degree of permanence. However interpreted, the trend would merely confirm the immense possibilities in the realm of taxation – of the vast potentials waiting to be harnessed for national development.

Overall, we must say of the FIRS performance that it offers only cold comfort given that the dominant portion – indeed, close to 60 percent – of the entire tax revenue is inextricably linked to oil one way or the other.

The FIRS can do exceedingly more provided the conditions are vastly improved.

We recognise the main challenge as one of deepening and diversification of the

economy – something beyond its remit.

Unfortunately, without deliberate steps by the Federal Government to address the nation’s infrastructure challenge, the prospects of expanding the tax base would remain illusory.

Just as there would always be room for improvement, the FIRS, has, in our view, demonstrated both the will and capacity to deliver on its mandate. Perhaps what is needed now is another look at its environment with a view to removing possible cogs impeding its progress.

Obviously, one of the most important issues that would need to be addressed is the Santa Claus disposition of the Federal Government which allows billions of needed revenues to be thrown away via income tax exemptions every year under its omnibus quest for foreign direct investment. Just last week in Abuja, the African Civil Societies Organisation reported a Non Governmental Organisation – ActionAid – as putting the losses from statutory income tax exemptions of developing economies at $138 billion annually, even when the benefits of the exemptions remain to be seen.

Even without the topsy-turvy experience of declining accruals into the federation account since the beginning of last year, particularly the scourge of oil theft said to have reduced oil export by nearly 20 percent, the nation would still have had to address in some comprehensive manner, the issue of tax and tariff exemptions. This is because the exemptions, aside draining the economy of needed revenue, are known to constrain the revenue agencies from performing their statutory functions. Worse still is that they have come to be associated with

corruption and influence peddling at the highest quarters of government.

A most notable illustration of this trend is the Nigeria Customs Service said to have issued waivers and exemptions of N1.4 trillion between 2010 and 2013 – as against the initial figure of N170 billion provided

by Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Just as the benefits of the humongous waivers and exemptions to the economy remain to be seen, also noteworthy is that the Federal Government has not thought it fit to offer explanations for the huge discrepancies till date.

Having proven what is possible, an agency like the FIRS obviously needs all the help it can get from government to help it succeed. The agency on its part should never see its work as done until all eligible taxpayers are brought into the tax net.

‘On the surface, the performance figure looks impressive. What the figure indicates is that the fruits of the massive reforms undertaken by the FIRS in the last few years have not only endured but have also assumed some degree of permanence. However interpreted, the trend would merely confirm the immense possibilities in the realm of taxation’

Importing power

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•Someday, we’ll import presidents!

HE news came with bold, if not alarming headlines on the front pages of national newspapers last week. It said that Nigeria may have found a remedy to her seeming intractable power headaches; she would soon begin to import electricity from the central African state of the Democratic Republic of Congo, (Congo DR, formerly Zaire).

Though information was limited and scanty on such a major strategic move, the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, who made the revelation at an investors’ conference organised by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Abuja last week, noted specifically that, “Nigeria is in bilateral and multilateral relationships at various stages of advancement with other governments for the importation and exportation of power. For example, Nigeria has signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Democratic Republic of Congo for the

‘Several questions are begging for answer: are we handing over our strategic national facility to another country? How much are we going to invest? What is the cost of transmitting power across about five countries?

Are we not perturbed that we are already importing petroleum products from Cote D’Ivoire and Niger Republic; we also import most of our staple food, do we have to import power too?’

importation of electricity from the Inga Dam Power Plants for both local consumption and export to other countries.

“The Inga is envisaged to exceed 40,000 mw on full exploitation. TCN network spreads to all parts of the country and across the border to some neighbouring countries to form part of the West African Power Pool, (WAPP). With the realisation of Inga and other initiatives, Nigeria will become a regional hub in international electricity trade, exporting large swathes of internally generated as well as imported power to WAPP countries”.

Most Nigerians who are for decades, hapless victims of what has become Nigeria’s electric power conundrum would only chuckle cynically at Minister Wakil’s seeming oversized ambition. Since the current civilian dispensation in 1999, successive Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governments have been embroiled in efforts to provide the populace a modicum of reasonable electricity supply but the harder they try, the worse the power supply situation gets. Of course, the situation not helped by a mixture of rampant graft, ineptitude and a total lack of patriotic zeal has left Nigeria in more prolonged darkness today than before 1999.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s eight-year rule supposedly spent billions of dollars on power projects billed to generate at least 10,000 megawatts by 2007.

But by the time he left office, generation had dropped below the old level of about 3,000 megawatts. The Goodluck Jonathan administration, after pumping even more dollars into the power cesspit, eventually privatised the generating and distribution arms, a process that was completed November last year. If anything has changed for the consumers, it is the fact that serv-

ice has worsened as outages have become persistent and longer.

The lingering troubles seem to obviate the suspicion that the divestment was less than transparent and that party stalwarts may have hijacked the process.

The new owners, it has been revealed are badly exposed to banks and do not have new funds to invest. Therefore, they cannot add much value. We are still bedevilled by the perennial problems of low water level at the dams during the dry season, breakdowns at the antiquated thermal plants and more recently, lack of gas supply and vandalism.

For about a decade now the gas brouhaha has lingered. Some gas-powered plants have been built without the provision for gas; thus a few plants like Geregu are ready and no gas to fire them.

Transmission has also remained an albatross as improvements are not made on infrastructure network over the years.

Today, Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution is in a miasma. At the lowest ebb; yet we speak so glibly about importing power.

It is under this confused milieu that we are signing a MoU with Congo DR to import electricity. Several questions are begging for answer: are we handing over our strategic national facility to another country? How much are we going to invest? What is the cost of transmitting power across about five countries? Are we not perturbed that we are already importing petroleum products from Cote D’Ivoire and Niger Republic; we also import most of our staple food, do we have to import power too? How come Nigeria, the ‘giant of Africa’ is the one importing power? What else are we going to import?

A

FTER nine months of intensive diplomacy, Israeli-Palestinian peace talks appear to be in a depressingly familiar place: on the brink of collapse. Failure could trigger more violence in an already unstable region.

The signs of trouble are clear. Secretary of State John Kerry, who’s been leading the peace effort, has steadily shrunk his ambitions. The initial goal of a final agreement by the end of April was abandoned long ago; backup plans for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a set of core principles that would be the basis of future negotiations may have been shelved as well.

The current focus is the decidedly small-bore goal of just trying to keep the two sides talking.

To that end, Mr. Kerry canceled a trip to Italy on Wednesday to fly to Jordan to persuade the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to extend the negotiations beyond April 29. Mr. Abbas has balked because it is uncertain whether Israel will release a final group of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails by March 29.

When the two sides resumed the peace process in July, Israel promised to free 104 long-serving prisoners in four groups in exchange for a Palestinian vow to refrain from pressing the statehood issue in United Nations agencies and the International Criminal Court. But with talks bogged down, Israeli officials say they are worried that the Palestinians will pocket the prisoner releases and not negotiate seriously after that.

Did American mediators not anticipate this?

Prisoner releases are a deeply emotional issue for both sides, and the first three releases last year triggered protests by Israeli relatives of the prisoners’ victims as well as homecoming parades by jubilant Palestinians. And now Israel has, once again, thrown Jonathan Pollard into the mix, demanding that the United States free the American serving a life sentence in North Carolina for spying for Israel.

The fact that so much energy is being spent on prisoners suggests that little progress is being made on the core issues: defining borders for Israel and a Palestinian state, determining the future of Palestinian refugees, providing for Israel’s security and the future of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Arab leaders this week backed Mr. Abbas in declaring that they will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has demanded, adding a new complication to peacemaking.

With the two sides beginning to lay more public blame on each other, American officials in recent weeks had become more pessimistic about the talks. On Friday, there was more upbeat talk among some Americans of “substantive progress,” and “positive momentum,” but it was unclear whether that signified sufficient forward movement to keep a real peace deal from foundering.

In any case, both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas need to think seriously about whether they are prepared to let such an opportunity pass; they will surely be blamed for failure, and the consequences for their people could be dangerous.

If they cannot, or will not, agree on a framework for negotiations, the United States should put forward its own statement of principles, including setting boundaries along the prewar 1967 lines and endorsing Jerusalem as the capital of two states. The purpose of such a statement would be to set a high standard for what a reasonable peace deal should offer, presuming the parties ever decide to pursue it.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I wish to appeal to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to as matter of necessity listen to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, who has been on strike since October 4, 2013. This strike has long term effects on our country’s political and economic development. Let these striking polytechnics teachers come back to classroom to continue with their academic programmes. As a one-time lecturer, a father and President of Nigeria, you know the importance of education to the national development and what strike does to a nation especially when it involves the education sector. Education is the driving force of other sectors. Without sound education, other sectors remain stagnant because it is through the training of manpower that available resources are effectively managed.

Nigerian universities have not fully recovered from the effects of the recent strike that lasted for five months. Our country’s educational system has depressed so gravely, Mr President. One of the dangers of academic strike is the poor performance of the students. Any time students return from strike, most of the things they have been taught before they went on strike are often forgotten.

Lecturers are not also left of this dilemma and so it will affect the country too.

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

ASUP strike: Calling on President Jonathan should we allow public polytechnics and universities to be closed for about five months and government doesn’t care to do anything about it? This careless attitude towards education sector has for a long time dealt a fatal blow other sectors including the political structures in this

country.

Which miracle does one expect lecturers to perform to produce sound intellectuals that would match the key sectors of our economy? If our universities and polytechnics must produce sound and competent graduates that would match key sec-

IR: Politicking, corruption and reckless spending are impoverishing Nigeria. All three are epitomized in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ’s) national conference. How many conferences must a nation hold within a period of less than 20 years before it can stabilize itself?

How many committees must a nation setup? Probably as many as necessary, but, should that be because the rulers merely toy with money and care less about conference and committee recommenda-

tions?

The former President Olusegun Obasanjo neglected the conference organized by General Sani Abacha, attended by eminent Nigerians and gulped untold amount of money, only to organize his own conference. Both conferences were, of course, as self-serving as the one Jonathan is currently floating with billions of naira. Why Nigerians are cooperating with such nonsense?

Rigging was promoted by Obasanjo’s presidency. The furore

it generated led the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to setup an electoral reform committee, headed by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Uwais, on which huge sums of money was expended. But, in line with the policy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rule as a matter of do or die, both Yar’Adua and Jonathan refused to implement the recommendations of the committee. Lack of electoral transparency became one of the justifications for

ing the national conference 12 million naira each. Imagine such money being given to people who are living in their own houses, individuals who are eating the kind of food they like at their convenient time while the povertystricken keeps wallowing in poverty.

Both the insurgents and the government are killing the people. The only difference is that the insurgents are doing it directly while the government is doing it indirectly.

What else can be said about this?

Seven hundred thousand applicants invited for a physical exercise

where only 4,000 of them will be employed in the long run? For people to think that the recruitment exercise is transparent given the rumour being peddled around that the politicians have already shared the slots?

But whether it is a rumour or not, one thing I have learnt in this country is that for you to survive in Nigeria, your leg must be long. If your leg is not long, you must stay connected with people whose legs are long. If you can't meet any of the two, you are finished.

This is not happening only in government, it happens in private com-

panies, schools, in fact in churches and mosques. When will the poor emerge from poverty?

Now the government is giving the family of the victim three jobs each. That can only be a consolation. It can never heal the wounds.

Ten different eyes cannot be like one's biological eye.

Honestly, the March 15 incident is very sad. Graduates whose parents are looking forward to seeing their greatness died suddenly. Parents expecting to reap the fruit of their labour have their hope dashed.

• Idowu Esho Jamiu Eruwa, Oyo State.

Ironically, in the 2012 World Universities Ranking, none of the Nigerian universities ranked among the first 1, 600 universities in the world. Our universities and polytechnics are not ranked among the best in the world, yet, we are not bothered about it. If we bother, why

National Conference: Going round in circles

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Govt, insurgents guilty of killing innocent Nigerians

IR: Few days ago, some young graduates and promising future leaders lost the battle no one has ever won in life (very early) due to their own government's insensitivity. When it gets to a stage where the government kills its own people, such a nation is on life support.

If the government cannot save the poor from the pool of poverty, why should they compound their problems? The government will always claim there is no money to create jobs whereas there is money to pay former governors, retired generals and professionals currently attend-

tors of economy, education ought to be recognized as a major tool through adequate funding, good remunerations for our teachers and provision of functional and quality infrastructures.

Why are we busy playing politics with the lives and future of youths?

How can we equal other nations that have placed high premium on education and providing quality education for their children? What legacy would you leave for us to remember you with after you have left the office as president?

• Yabagi Abubakar Akote, IBB University, Lapai-Niger State.

the crisis that trailed Jonathan’s presidential victory in 2011, rightly or wrongly. Whether it was right or wrong, the fact remains that Jonathan refused to effect electoral reform for transparency that might have limited his chances in some quarters.

Purportedly to quell and forestall the crisis, he setup a committee headed by the highly respected Sheikh Lemu, comprising some other eminent personalities from all over Nigeria, and gulping huge sums of money. As usual, the President dumped the committee’s recommendations somewhere with his left-hand, as the Yoruba would say.

And so, when he said Nigerians should come for another conference, good leaders and intellectuals should have asked him what has happened with the previous committees’ and conferences’ recommendations. But does the country still have such selfless leaders and intellectuals?

Jonathan’s conference is responsible for fuel scarcity aimed at increasing prices to pay for the conference and further financial recklessness and mass abject poverty.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

COMMENTS

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Y the titling of his book, he as the West set the policy and nearly caught the bug too — developmental pace.

Nigerian Political Parties and But the politics was as ugly as Politicians: A Call for National Unity. the policies were brilliant. That Now, what was this? A scholarly was where Nigeria got it wrong voyage into the daemons of Nigeria’s — and that is where, 54 years lack of nationhood? A campaign for later, it continues to get it Nigeria’s nationhood at whatever cost? wrong.

Or simply a young patriot’s cry for his That is the notorious point this beloved country, a passionate plea for book emphasises, even with the Olakunle some magic, despite stark contradictions? author’s seeming patriotic After some initial critiquing, he lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola fixation with “unity”. Yes, somewhat relented and adjusted the title: things have got progressively Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: worse. But that is because Winding Road from Country to Nation. everything stemmed from a Though the author eventually agreed flawed political foundation. there ought to be some conditions The genesis, of course, was precedent before a geographical space a good many Nigerians have less the British uncritical support for northern demands, in exchange morphs into a nation, the “unity romantic” in him dies hard clannish mindsets, that singular for the region’s leaders’ perceived malleability, in contrast to still! In his new “winding road” would appear a stubborn experience jolted the author to the southern leaders’ perceived difficulty. optimism that Nigeria would somewhat get it right, and become not-too-pleasant side of the Nigerian Match that with the South’s fatal mistake that, because the a nation founded on justice. experience.

North was educationally disadvantaged, it would be a sitting These are the patriotic exertions of Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola, Then another, on the economic duck for southern domination. What you get is the foundational a young Nigerian graduate of Biological Sciences (BSc) and Public front, en route to a promising — or recipe for Nigeria’s perennial crisis: a skewed federation ruled Health (MSc), both from the University of Lagos, Akoka. sedentary? — career in Nigeria’s by the worst, but doomed to perennial challenge by the best.

Those exertions were products of sorties to public libraries in federal civil service. He had sat and Even, the book’s lunch into political intrigues tends to support Lagos to keep the mind occupied, in those anxiety-gripping passed the necessary examinations the Greek Parmenides’ stance that nothing ever changes. seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and even years, and interviews; and was well-neigh For instance, how does Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola’s after National Youth Service; but before nailing the ever elusive assured, on merit, of the “slot” — slot vandalism of the Western arm of the National Council of job. because it appeared a thriving Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), in building his Demo coalition against For the young Nigerian graduate, that is a season of immense convention for active relations in the rump of Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) in the sweepstakes anguish, great self-doubt, baleful impotence, resentment against service to secure “slots” for their own. for the West, different from President Olusegun Obasanjo’s a seeming cruel and unfeeling society and an aggressive Even then, a phone call from a “powerful” minister secured cannibalisation of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All questioning of the usefulness of the Nigerian government — the “slot” for his own “people”! As in the George Orwell original, Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in this present Fourth Republic? and state. in the Nigerian Animal Farm, some animals are more equal Then, the frantic Michael Opara NCNC coalition with Awo’s But what would make a youth — and a trained scientist, not than others!

AG (hitherto sworn political enemies) to form the United social scientist — invest his hurting hours in tackling the But even that did not mellow down Bolaji’s Nigerianness. Even Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), after the SLA masterstroke Nigerian question? now, the author seems an incurable romantic of “national unity”; — how is it different from the defection and counter-defection For one, Bolaji has had his own Nigeria experience. He spoke who believes (not unreasonably) it shouldn’t matter where you between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All of his first-ever visit to Abuja, Nigeria’s “united” capital, with come from; and that your Nigerianness should be enough to Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto, Kwara, Kano and no place to stay. He approached some fellow Nigerians for corral fair opportunities, so long as you are native to the Adamawa states? help. They asked him where he came from. He told them Osun geographical area called Nigeria.

And political histrionics: how is the Ahmadu Bello 1953 quip State.

Fine principle. But it is a moot point if, in reality, it really that “the mistake of 1914 has come to light”, in response to Then came the ugly epiphany: seek out your Yoruba people to works that way.

Chief Anthony Enahoro’s independence motion in the federal house you! No malice. Just matter-of-fact. It was then the full Did that trigger the literary odyssey into the past that resulted Parliament, different from the Lamido Adamawa walkout threat impact of the question of his nativity dawned on him. In in Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians? Maybe. Maybe not. at the ongoing National Conference, in reply to which Sir Nigeria’s federal capital, the proud symbol of Nigeria’s unity, it But the author’s findings did not support the glory often Olaniwun Ajayi was absolutely spot on? was probably not enough to be simply Nigerian! ascribed to the titanic past, of pre-independence and early As folks did not call the Sardauna’s bluff 61 years back, what Though this experience cannot be generalised as routine, since independence era, even with the groundbreaking achievements stops another Lamido from playing the blackmail card in 61 of the original three regions. years time, if the NC does not call the Lamido Adamawa’s bluff ‘Bolaji Aregbeshola’s book has Immediate pre-independence and post-independence Nigeria now, and erect an equitable base for sustainable unity? boasted brilliant policies — and development — that Bolaji Aregbesola’s book has reinforced the notorious fact reinforced the notorious fact that Nigeria’s indeed made many to put their bet on Nigeria as the country to watch that Nigeria’s politics and politicking have always been dirty. politics and politicking have always been among the denizens of the Black race.

That accounts for the country’s eternal illness and perennial The titans also boasted remarkable personalities, in three crisis. dirty. That accounts for the country’s pioneer regional premiers of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (West), It is time to fix it, or it will fix us. Wish the NC delegates eternal illness and perennial crisis’ Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (East) and Sir Ahmadu Bello (North), even realised the danger we are all in!

epublican ipples

Unity, without conditions?

I

F anyone ever needed evidence of how complex and multi-layered the dimensions of the Nigerian pathology have become, the ruckus over the rules of proceedings at the on-going National Conference ought to provide some guide. The profession of multiple destinies apart, the zero-sum attitudes among the cream of the nation’s leadership would seem to have added a new impetus to the raging national question.

Given the bitter recriminations and mutual suspicions that have characterised proceedings so far, even the most incurable of believers in the conference idea should be wondering whether the goals of the conference are any achievable. Even at that, it would seem that the battle over the rules of proceedings has only temporarily upstaged the earlier battle over representation over which the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar 111 had led a delegation of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan penultimate week. The same issue of unfair representation – or marginalisation – would equally prompt Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) to protest – with statistics for good measure- what the body called under-representation of Nigerian Muslims.

Quite understandably, attention has shifted to the shocking outbursts from the Lamido of Adamawa, Mohammadu Barkindo Mustafa. And what did he say?

Contrary to what many have reported him as saying, he didn’t quite say that the conference will flop but rather to warn of that possibility “if we are not careful” and the dire consequences should it ever happen.

Of course, he also said that “if something happens and the country disintegrates – God forbid – many of those who are shouting their heads off will have nowhere to go” – unlike his kingdom of Adamawa which transcends Nigeria and Cameroon.

The latter statement is certainly regrettable. The truth however is that we have heard worse from elders from other parts of the country without the heaven caving in on our heads.

Howbeit, the issue for me isn’t really about what he said about his dual allegiances to Nigeria and the Cameroon which he is entitled to; or even his choice of a walkout weapon to deal with his hecklers which comes with the territory of such conferences; it is whether the Lamido as indeed the throng at the conference, truly appreciate how deeply troubled the nation is, and what leadership at such a critical time as the nation is passing through demands. And to imagine that this is coming from the rank of those called up to pull the nation’s

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

One nation, multiple destinies chestnuts out of the raging fire!

The Nation’s ace columnist Idowu Akinlotan in his ever perspicuous Palladium column on Sunday certainly did well to highlight what he calls the disturbing signals emanating from different sections of the polity in the wake of the conference, notably the deepseated cleavages of religion and ethnicity and what these portend for the survival of the country. The good thing is that these feelings, long buried are at last coming into the open. And now, if it seems a feature of the interesting times we live in, it appears that not even the high-minded liberal ethos of the South-west is a match for the forces of religion and religiosity in what Akinlotan would describe as the complicating role of religion in the nation’s politics. Now at last, the Yoruba Muslim Ummah have not only jettisoned the seductions of the Yoruba culture as an integrating force that bound them with their kiths, they have signalled their preference a new identity defined strictly along the lines of their faith.

That to me is one important revelation that those in the forefront of the agitation for the dismemberment of the federation should take into account in their clamour for their utopian republic. The lesson of course is that there can be no end to differences among nations.

Having said that, it seems to me that there can be no understating the challenge posed by the intrusion of religion into our politics. Nigerians appears to have found a resolve to live and have their beings defined in it. Where that leads is a matter of conjecture. However, if current indications are anything to go by, it is a path

that leads to a Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

And the way out? Not until majority accepts the principle that the cleavages have been exacerbated by the hard reality of the dual economy that consigns more and more to the fringes, and the comprehensive meltdown of governance across the board that has become our lot, can we begin to talk of progress.

Here, if I may borrow the analysis of Mustafa ChikeObi, the Asset Management Corporation’s Managing Director as reported in Sunday Punch of March 30, to put a perspective to the challenge that the nation currently faces. Now, we know how bad the unemployment situation is. Indeed, it has since grown to the point of becoming an industry, so much so that one out of every two is out of our youth population is unemployed. Much as the situation is troubling enough, another dimension to the population is the population growth currently at 3.5 percent per year – translating to some roughly six million addition to the population per year – for an economy that has done far better to deliver paper rather than tangible economic growth.

But by far the greatest tragedy is that majority of our idle youths are simply unemployable – lacking requisite skills needed in a modern economy.

To these class of youths, the current squabble for the spoils of battle by the elite matters very little – at least not yet. Not until the current seductions to false religiosity begins to wane and the anatomy of the manipulators of the nation’s collective destinies stand revealed would the lasting change begin to come. When that time comes, there would be no stopping the mighty army.

In the meantime, the conferees can continue to have their fun!

Not until majority accepts in principle that the cleavages have been exacerbated by the hard reality of the dual economy that consigns more and more to the fringes, and the comprehensive meltdown of governance across the board that has become our lot, can we begin to talk of progress.

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COMMENTS

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HE ongoing Jonathan’s National Conference now in its third week is fast living up to expectation. As predicted by many, (if you like call them enemies of progress)the gathering is fast turning into a mere talk shop, an avenue to let off steam by delegates who most likely have a clearer vision of a better Nigeria but are left frustrated by lack of opportunities to actualize it.

And their problem is compounded by the dos and don’ts of the Conference set by its convener: President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nobody is expected or allowed to talk about Nigeria’s unity which the convener says is sacrosanct. All decisions must be reached by consensus or 75 per cent if the delegates had to vote to reach a decision.

The Conference has been likened by some to the Biblical Tower of Babel as the delegates seem not to understand one another and in the ensuing bedlam at one of its sessions last week, the Lamido of Adamawa, one of several traditional rulers appointed as delegates, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha dropped a bombshell and suddenly the seeming chaos stopped.

The Lamido told the Conference and anybody else who cared to listen that the he and his people in the troubled north eastern part of Nigeria would be prepared to move across the border to Cameroon to join their kiths and kin in the larger Adamawa kingdom at the slightest sign of Nigeria’s disintegration, reminding some of those present that they would probably have no-

‘That is the crux of our problem; self centred leadership. And until we think Nigeria in everything we do, we would not get anywhere near solving our problems not even with this Conference or any other one’

O

That Lamido’s threat to secede where to go if Nigeria ceases to be.

He probably has a point there. The ancient kingdom of Adamawa spreads across north eastern Nigeria into Cameroon. Though the Lamido as head of the kingdom sits in Yola the capital (in Nigeria) the bulk of his subjects are actually Cameroonians and he probably comes from there as well. So, like a one-time governor of (Nigeria’s) Adamawa State (in the 3rd Republic) Saleh Michika once boasted, Alhaji Mustapha could just walk across the desert into Cameroon at the slightest opportunity, leaving behind whatever was left of a ‘disintegrated’ Nigeria and life for him and his people would continue ‘as if nothing had happened’.

Call this a threat to secession and you would not be wrong but I would rather see it as a reminder that some people have little at stake in this country and are probably here because of what they can get out of this geographical expression called Nigeria, or better put, this British contraption called Nigeria.

In the same vein, the Lamido’s comments during debate on the proposed rules of the Conference should be seen in my view as a confirmation of the fact that we are yet to forge a nation out of the people inhabiting this vast country called Nigeria.

The threat to walk out of Nigeria by the Lamido, speaking for and on behalf of his people as I said earlier is not new. Governor Michika had said so in the past during one of Nigeria’s trying periods as we have now and nothing came out of it. And nothing came out of it simply because no

N August 22, 2013, I had a momentous journey to London. It was a trip that was planned in advance that circumstances nearly aborted. I was scheduled to attend the first ever Yewa Day in United Kingdom and Ireland, an inspiration of Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland in Ogun State. With my British Airways ticket for Wednesday August 20, 2013 I had arrived at Murtala Mohammed International Airport only to discover at the check in counter that though I had a valid UK visa, my international passport had expired about a month earlier!

Trip aborted. I started a frantic effort at getting a new passport and at the same time looking for available seats on BA to London for Thursday or Friday to be able to attend the Yewa Day on Saturday. I managed it at a huge cost using my entire shopping budget for the trip. I got a seat for Friday that made my economy ticket to cost the equivalent of a business class ticket.

But that flight was indeed divinely arranged for me to be with some VIPs at the point of dis-embarkation at Heathrow Airport. For unknown to me on that flight were my former boss and former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, the incumbent governor of Ogun State Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Adesina Adewunmi, another Ogun State indigene. On arrival at the break of dawn I suddenly found myself in the same train coach with these VIPs for the trip from the aircraft to the immigration entry point. I exchanged courtesies with these powerful indigenes of my state and we proceeded together for the Immigration formalities.

Incidentally, Senator Amosun, Adewunmi and I were cleared before Aremo Osoba and in deference to the elder statesman from our state, the three of us waited for him.

In course of our waiting and small talk Senator Amosun made a profound statement that struck a resonating note with me. While we waited surveying the smoothness of the procedure and infrastructure at Heathrow, Amosun commented that it is amazing how everything works seamlessly here with solid infrastructure and facilities.

He expressed hope and optimism that Nigeria as a nation will get it right one day to have such a system to which Adesina nodding, readily agreed. My input in this early morning sobering talk was to say that Senator Amosun’s urban renewal projects is laying a foundation for a future that may one day match the facilities we beheld in London.

At this point Aremo Osoba joined us and we all went together to the arrival hall of Terminal 5 where we all went on our ways into the city of London.

Later that Saturday afternoon, Amosun who came to London as special guest for the Yewa Day in London further exposed the theme at the airport in course of his speech to the effect that his vision and motivation for his activities in government was to provide infrastructure in

one of Nigeria’s numerous ethnic nationalities seriously wants to leave the country, not necessarily because they would have nowhere to go but out of fear of what a fragmented Nigeria could look like in the context of the scramble for partition that would follow.

Where would the borders of the Yoruba nation be if Nigeria should break up, River Niger in the North? After all that was the northern border of the sprawling Oyo Empire before the Fulani Jihadists invasion and there are still Yoruba indigenous to Lokoja immediately under the Niger to the south. And to the east Alaafin’s writ extended far into what is today’s Port Novo or Ajase in Benin Republic. Oyo Empire even shared border with Ghana.

The Hausa/Fulani in the north can claim territories tied to religious and cultural affinities far deep into Chad, Niger and even west wards into Senegal and Mali. So how far or deep would the partition be? Wouldn’t Cameroon want to annex such States as Cross River and Akwa Ibom? The Ijaw would want to annex exclusively the south-south region and its resources if their current disposition to resource control and the Nigeria ‘nation’ is anything to go by and one can imagine the kind of civil war that is likely to take place as the other non-Ijaw try to assert their equality or seek their own nation. And to think Ndigbo would stand by watching with arms folded would be deluding oneself.

So, it pays everybody for Nigeria to remain as one, the empty threats of the

Lamido and his ilk notwithstanding. Disintegration is not the solution to our problem and as the Yoruba would say, cutting off the head is not the solution to or cure for headache. Everybody, every ethnic nationality in Nigeria would have a homestead to return to in case of disintegration, if the Lamido of Adamawa needed to be reminded. Staying together as one is because it is in our best interest, but if we don’t want to stay together again, then let us talk about it and agree on how best to part, but not under any threat. Not from the Lamido or any other person or group in Nigeria, whether from the north, east, west or south.

But rather than condemn Alhaji Mustapha for his outburst, we should take the bull by its horns and discuss our unity.

Why would someone or an ethnic nationality want to leave this ‘nation’? By talking about it at this conference or any other forum would not necessarily translate into disintegration, it could help us to understand each other better and assist in laying a more solid foundation for Nigeria.

We all know the causes of our problems in this country and the solution but we lack the courage to implement the solution. We have a federation that cannot work the way it is skewed in favour of the central government. But because it is beneficial to some interests, the leadership would not make the necessary change.

That is the crux of our problem; self centred leadership. And until we think Nigeria in everything we do, we would not get anywhere near solving our problems not even with this Conference or any other one.

As for Alhaji Mustapha, the Lamido of Adamawa (worldwide) we should thank him for reminding us of our inadequacies, but he should be reminded that people like him, the privileged class, have contributed immensely to our problems as a country and they should repent and make restitution before nemesis catches up with them.

Their day of judgment is around the corner; the generation that would rescue Nigeria from them has come, their time would soon be up.

Amosun: A vision for now and future By: Kayode Odunaro all parts of the state to rival what we see in cities such as London or elsewhere where our citizens troop to for holidays or economic reasons. He said that in London for instance, you can hardly differentiate various neighborhoods or sections of the city as there is a seeming sameness in term of infrastructure and facilities.

One cannot but agree with such a vision and the ongoing attempts to bring it to live by Amosun of All Progressive Congress APC, administration in Ogun State. I had written in the past of Amosun’s road infrastructure that signposted his attempt at realizing his “Mission to Rebuild” vision. Since the publication of that report, I have received a mixed review from various individuals across the world online and in face to face encounters. Most, including rabid political opponents, readily agree on the merit of the urban renewal programme that is not only necessary but gear toward future generations. Others agree that for once we have a governor spending “our money” usefully for what we can see and appreciate. Note the phrase “our money”. For there is this argument that the governor is doing the job he was elected to do in the first place. This line of thought often forget that the governor could as well just run a business as usual system of patching a road here and there or engaged in some projects without any multiplier effect or futuristic investment attractions potentials.

However one finds it curious that even some supposedly enlightened folks mouth the ignorant position that the current urban renewal effort is “a misplaced priority”!

The line of argument has it that the massive roads, flyovers and giant culvert for drainage are not really needed NOW. Such myopic thinking fails to take into consideration the dynamics of development and ceaseless population explosion as well as the mega city status of Lagos state, the closest neighbour to Ogun State. It is certain that spill over to the state is an ongoing process that will task infrastructure to no end.

For me it is definitely a pedestrian view of development to be overly fixated to mostly social dislocations and short term financial setbacks accompanying long term development initiatives of government. As often said all pregnancies must be delivered with some pain or discomfort over a time but the end result is a new life. So it is with Amosun’s developmental initiatives. Nobody denies the foreseen and unforeseen fallouts of developmental policies. Such denial will not only be

uneducated but self-serving. All development comes at a cost in economic terms and otherwise. The holistic view of the process is for the benefits presently and in future to be far above the cost in terms of human impact and multiplier effect on the economy. The same with the fixation with loans for these infrastructures; governments, corporate organizations and even individuals worldwide take loans that they repay overtime for capital projects.

This is an economic issue and I want to be educated on how the massive works that are ongoing in Ogun State can be done with internal/federal allocation revenues alone in view of an ever growing recurrent expenditure.

One sees the dogged pursuit of the “Mission to Rebuild” as taking the bitter pill for a healthy body. Somebody has to take the bull by the horn, think out of the box and in the now popular jingo “do the needful” for the state to move out and away from its rustic status to a modern developing enclave ready to absorb the impact of a creeping mega city from Lagos. If the funds are available through Internally Generated Revenue, loans and other means and Amosun remain resolute, there is no doubt that sooner than anybody thinks, Ogun State will have the infrastructure comparable to the Dubai and Londons of this world. Such places were built by men and women of vision like Amosun. To think it is not possible or costly is to be visionless, atavistic or just playing to the gallery of partisan politics.

• Chief Odunaro, a Public Affairs Analyst writes from Abeokuta

‘One sees the dogged pursuit of the “Mission to Rebuild” as taking the bitter pill for a healthy body.

Somebody has to take the bull by the horn, think out of the box and in the now popular jingo “do the needful” for the state to move out and away from its rustic status to a modern developing enclave ready to absorb the impact of a creeping mega city from Lagos’

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

25

’

If the president in one breath said ‘you can decide whether you want to have a referendum and the best legal mechanism and options for integrating the conference’s decisions in the constitution and laws of Nigeria’, why couldn’t the president leave the issue of how consensus would be arrived at to the delegates

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

See page 26

Fourteen days after President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the National Conference. It has been infighting all the way, with some delegates threatening a walkout. Should Nigerians expect any good result from the conference? “No”, say constitutional lawyers, who have been following its sittings. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports.

National Conference: So far, so good?

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AST March 17, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugu rated the National Conference to, in the words of Presi dent Jonathan, find lasting solutions to the “political and socio-economic challenges confronting the nation. It is also to chart the best and most acceptable way forward.

Dr Jonathan described the conference as a very important avenue for the voices of the people to be heard.”Our people have yearnings and desires that need to be discussed. Their representatives at this conference are neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive. They are complementing us in our march towards a greater and stronger union,”he said.

The conference, he said, is open for delegates to table the thoughts and positions of the people on issues, and make recommendations that will advance “our togetherness as a nation.” He listed issues that may agitate the minds of Nigerians to include the form of government; structures of government; devolution of power; revenue sharing; resource control; state and local government creation; boundary adjustment; state police and fiscal federalism.

Others include local government elections; indigeneship; gender equality and children’s rights.

He urged the 492 delegates not to approach the issues with suspicion and antagonism, but to be open-minded and work to achieve what is best for Nigeria.

“Even though you come to the conference as nominees and representatives of different interest groups, I urge you all to make a more united, stronger, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria your preoccupation and reference point at this national gathering. Whatever the pressures on you may be, I call upon you to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interests,” he said.

He said the delegates have a duty to reshape and redirect the country for the benefit of “our children.” “There should be no room for divisive cleavages and ethnic jingoism. There should be no room for selfish considerations that defeat the purpose of national progress. There should be room only for the national interest,” he said.

The President said it was his expectation that delegates would patriotically articulate and synthesise the thoughts of the people, their views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria.

With these suggestions, the expectations of Nigerians are that the ‘wisemen’ would approach the assignment with all seriousness. But things are not so at the national conference.

From the conference

INSIDE:

Although a tentative period of three months was set for the conference by the government, 14 days after inauguration, the 492 ‘wisemen’ are yet to agree and adopt the rules of engagement, leading to rancour and acrimony.

In the last 14 days, Nigerians have been treated to all sorts of theatrical displays and macabre dances on the floor of the conference. Hardly a plenary session holds without a section

Lawyers disagree over minimum wage -Page 27

•Justice Kutigi

of the delegates reportedly demanding payment of allowance for their aides, who would be assisting them at the dialogue. A delegate from Adamawa State, according to reports, asked the leadership of the conference how many aides they were entitled to. The issue was only laid to rest when the conference secretary, Dr. Valerie Azinge, told them that there was no provision for personal assistants.

For two days, delegates engaged in shouting matches over mode of voting. The issue divided them before the Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), stepped in to restore order. Initially, the chairman’s shouts of “order” were ignored. Some delegates reportedly sprang from their seats demanding to be allowed to speak. While delegates from the North insisted that 3/4 majority should be adopted to resolve issues, the South insisted that 2/3 majority should carry the day.

Order 6(4) and 11(1)(2) provided for consensus on issues and

The ugly side of Federal High Courts -Page 37

when this cannot be achieved, it provides for 3/4 of delegates to determine such issue.

The conference could not resolve the issue before it went on break last week.

Things became so hot on another occasion when a delegate representing the civil society, Nasir Kura, went after conference staff for the microphone a delegate took him up.

On the comical side, a delegate was caught sleeping during the plenary. A delegate, Mahmud Aminu, complained about delegates sleeping while the session was on. This was reported in the media and, to cover up, some delegates thought it best to bar the media from covering the conference.

At the end of the day, Order 15 rule 7, which initially was intended to gag the media, was amended to read: “The con-

NJC vs Rivers State -Page 38

•Continued on page 26

On a fast lane -Page 39

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

26

LAW COVER CONT’D

‘

we must build a unique form of workable government system that will engender justice and fair play, a system we can export to the world.

•Fagbohungbe

•Ogunye

•Ikeji

•Continued from page 25 ference may grant approval to the representative of any media to attend the sitting of the conference provided if the media publishes a report of the proceedings, which the conference considers unfair, offensive and not a true reflection of what transpired, such permision may be revoked”.

The publisher of ThisDay newspapers, Nduka Obiagbuna, activist and spokesperson of Afenifere Renewal Group, Yinka Odumakin and Dan Nwanyanwu and some other delegates found the clause repressive and against the rights of Nigerians to be heard and be better informed.

More worrisome were the cracks that emerged at the conference last Wednesday when Northern delegates threatened a walkout over the unresolved mode of voting. Justice Kutigi had asked for comments from the delegates on whether the conference should call for memoranda from the public on its assignment.

But the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, reportedly side-tracked the issue and delivered a speech which other delegates saw as a well rehearsed speech to frighten the South. He was reported to have warned that the North should not be pushed to the wall and that if they were, they would simply walk out of the conference. To underscore his seriousness, Dr. Mustapha was quoted to have said: “When the North walks out of the conference, there would be great consequences for the country.”

Outside the conference, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, was said to have led a delegate to meet with President Jonathan at Aso Rock to protest the composition of Federal Government’s nominated delegates to the conference. He said of the 20 delegates nominated by the government, only six were Muslims. He was reported to have complained to the President that Muslims were marginalised as the delegates were majorly Christians.

Secretary-General of the Jama’tu Nasril Islam Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu also said at a news conference last week that, in spite of having the largest population in the country, Muslims were cheated in the composition of delegates to the conference. They also found it repulsive that of the 20 delegates nominated by the Federal Government, only six were Muslims, saying it was a deliberate slight on Muslims.

Reports from the conference have been surprising and below expectation in view of the calibre of most delegates. The development appeared to have lent more credence to the arguments in some quarters that the conference is a jamboree and would end up a sham.

Another school of thought sees the conference as a diversionary tactic from the problems of insecurity, majorly the Boko Haram insurgents bedeviling the nation and which have earned the administration of President Jonathan a negative image. There was also the continued attack of the Fulani herdsmen on the Tivs and Southern Kaduna and other attacks ravaging the land. They are worried that with the calibre of most delegates, does it mean that Nigeria as a country can never come to an agreement; and whether any meaningful decisions can come from the conference.

“It means we should not expect anything positive from it. It only shows that Nigerians are not ready for any conference at all because they never agree; because they are there out of suspicion for each other,” he said.

He continued: “What the Sultan said does not mean that Christians too would not complain or that other interest groups would not.

So if we are taking it along that line, surely nothing would come out of the conference. It only confirms the fear of people who are not optimistic about it, that it is going to fail. So, they are wasting time and they would continue to complain as a result of which the whole thing would just fizzle out. So, as a people, we should be very careful about the conference because essentially it may not end well. It may create more problems than it would solve.”

Fagbohungbe argued that there is nothing wrong with the structure of government as we have it in the country now. He said: “It is only the wrong leadership that we have that is portraying the country as if it has problems because the resources are enough to take care of our problems if the resources are well managed.

“But where the resources are not well managed like the issue of missing money, see the level of money being wasted all over the place and the level of corruption all over the place.

If those monies are used properly for the development of the country, nobody would want to bother about who the president is at all. But because they are wasting our resources, a monumental waste all over the place.

“Our foreign reserve has gone down drastically to $37 billion; that is too serious! And this is a foreign reserve that determines the state of our economy. Before Obasanjo left, it was almost $50 billion; see what we have today, that is a bad and serious situation,” he said.

Ogunye said he is not optimistic about the outcome of the conference moreso when opponents of the conference who said there was no need for a conference have suddenly become its proponents and ardent supporters.

He said the government’s decision to integrate the decisions of the conference in the 1999 Constitution and in the laws of the country has not given the people what they desired. “That is not what they have been clamouring for. The Nigerian people have made it very clear that the 1999 Constitution is a military decree, that it was a schedule to Decree 34 of 1999 that promulgated the 1999 Constitution into existence. To him, the president baited Nigerians, as he usually does, when at the inauguration of the conference, he flew the kite once again that the conference’s decision will be subjected to a referendum.

He described President Jonathan’s view as “hollow populism”, saying that some of the things that have now emerged as the teething problems of the conference, which may prove intractable, were the things that ought to have been sorted out by an enabling legislation like issue of procedure and how decisions will be arrived at.

“When the government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said decisions at the conference would be reached by 75 per cent, the question was ‘why didn’t he leave that for the conference?

So, the president and by extension the Federal Government, has set booby traps on the path of the conference.

“If the president in one breath said ‘you can decide whether you want to have a referendum and the best legal mechanism and op-

tions for integrating the conference’s decisions in the constitution and laws of Nigeria’, why couldn’t the president leave the issue of how consensus would be arrived at to the delegates? Why was the federal government prescriptive?,” he asked.

“To those our compatriots, who are saying ‘Let’s talk’, my response will be it is not just about talking, the time for actions and solution is now. So, we may not even go to the footage of looking at sleeping delegates on television. Once you deal with the fundamentals of ‘how the conference is convened? What is the character of representation? Are those people appointed arbitrarily true representatives of the people of this country or are they the friends of the status quo?,” he asked, adding that issue has become the big problem dogging the steps of the conference so early.

“That is why the decision taken by people like Prof. Nwabueze and the patriots not to directly engage in the conference is not only commonsensical, rational and exercise of best judgement, but patriotic. They are saying ‘this is not the conference we have espoused over the years. They also argued that the people at the conference are not the true representations of the people they claim to represent and that the process is not democratic. That the fact that you have a democratic society does not mean that you have a democratic constitution. So the argument to me, is that from all likelihood, these two elements will be lacking at this conference. But we deserve better,” he said.

Accrding to Ikeji, the conference is bringing to the fore the real cracks in the Nigerian structure, which though very obvious all this while, have been swept under the carpet in the ostrich mode. Ikeji said the bickering at the conference should be expected where there are deep seated distortions and multifaceted interests that contend with themselves.

“It is simply a battle between the status quo and genuine, fundamental change. The threats, disagreements and diverse positions are normal and healthy. If they do not exist, then we had no need for a conference in the first place,” he said.

He said it is better that all the contending interests accept that everybody must give and take one form or the other if Nigeria must not continue this way. Things have just got to change, structurally and attitudinally. To him, “we cannot run away from the reality that ethnic groups will come with their own agenda, which must be respected or else we are heading for violent distortions to the status quo. There are bottled up emotions as to how Nigeria is going, with some feeling living a life they would rather not live. Some want secession or independence, others want federalism, some others want confederacy, while others want unitarism”, he said.

Ikeji is however worried about the composition of the conference. “It is unfortunate that 75 per cent of delegates are 55 years and above, while 60 per cent or more are 60 years and above.

In terms of simple majority, it appears that more than half of the delegates are 70 years and above, with a lot of them having been recycled over and over in one political position or the other.

With due respect, how can these groups discuss the future when they belong to the past? They have been part of the failure of Nigeria’s past.

So what do they have to offer?,” he asked.

Reactions from constitutional lawyers Against the backdrop, constitutional lawyers, such as Chief Felix Fagbohungbe(SAN); Jiti Ogunye and Ikechukwu Ikeji, see the conference as a waste of the nation’s resources. To them, there can be no meaningful decisions from it. While Fagbohungbe said the conference may not necessarily amount to a jamboree, he was however convinced that there may not be any positive thing from it.

‘

going to address that, whoever is the leader is the one that would determine that. If we have the right leadership, there would be development and unity in the country. When you have the wrong leadership of course, there would be problems, complaints and complaints as we are having today. So, it is putting in place the right leadership that is important,” he said.

He continued: “You can see when it was during the regional arrangements, the Northern region, they know their problems and they solved it the way they could. The Western region led by Awolowo knew its problems and solved them the way it could and see what was achieved within eight years. The East with their peculiar way of doing things, achieved positively too.”

He recalled that if the country has a Federal Government that operates a true federal structure rather than just a federation on paper, things would be better.

Ogunye pointed out that the argument has been made severally that what we need is a brand new constitution; a constitution that will break away from the current constitution and not an amendment to the military-imposed one.

He insisted on the convening of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to fashion people’s constitution for Nigeria.”This brand new constitution can only come when you have a sovereign national conference whose decision will be subject to only to a referendum,” he said.

Ikeji said we must build a unique form of workable government system that will engender justice and fair play, a system we can export to the world. He remarked that the country can only achieve unity if we give space to the component units to operate and converge together on very few common issues like currency, foreign relations etc.

“We must recognise, accept and accommodate our diversities in the political structure of the country. The present direction of world politics is to allow for the right of self determination. Nigeria is a country made of distinct and identifiable ethnic groups upon which the very foundation of the unity of the country can be built. You can fool some people some times, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

We must address the issue of regional autonomy to regions that want it and independence or secession on terms to close knit regions that want it, so that there shall be a willing submission and allegiance to the country as against forced union, which can only break having failed to bend,” he added.

Correction The photograph with the caption Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Badeh on page 26 of March 18, 2014 edition appeared in error. It is not the photograph of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

The error is regretted. The picture of the CDS is hereby reproduced below:

Way forward Fagbohungne was emphatic that the way forward is true federalism that would create way for proper management of resource and move the country forward. “If the conference is not

‘The way forward is true federalism that would create way for proper management of resource and move the country forward’

•Air Marshal Badeh

27

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

LAW SOCIETY

Lawyers disagree over minimum wage

W

HAT should be the minimum wage for lawyers working in law firms?

This has become a hardnut for lawyers to crack as they expressed divergent views on the matter in Lagos.

Among them, former chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch, Mr. Chijioke Okoli and former President of Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Mrs. Boma Ozobia differ on what should be the minimum wage for budding lawyers.

Fielding questions from participants at the 6th annual mentoring programme for law students at the Lagos campus of the Law School organised by Sterlin Partnership Legal Practitioners, Okoli said it would not be in the professionals’ interest for principals to fix the minimum wage of young lawyers.

He said the concern should be on how to empower the law firms and broaden their scope to make more money so that the principals will be compelled to pay their juniors a living wage because they make more money so that the principals will be compelled to pay their juniors a living wages. Okoli said asking principals to pay high wages to their juniors would discourage many principals from employing them.

He asked that other professionals like accountants, estate surveyors and agents be stopped from doing lawyers’ jobs. “When lawyers and law firms do such jobs, it will enhance their capacities to pay higher wages to their juniors.”

Disagreeing, Mrs. Ozobia said: “I disagree with Mr. Okoli because law is not practised in Nigeria alone, it is practised in about 54 countries of the world and there is a minimum wage for lawyers in England and Wales.” She called on the NBA leadership to look into the poor wages being paid to junior lawyers by senior members of the profession and find a lasting solution to it.

Addressing the students earlier on the cannons and rules applicable to the judiciary in the administration of justice, Justice A. O. Dabiri of the Lagos High Court said the rules guiding the courts in reaching their decisions are stated in the law.

Trials, he said, must be free and fair and based on the examination of witnesses. “The court must demonstrate virtues of honesty, integrity and if you are not in control of your court, lawyers will take the court over from you,” he said, adding that a judge must not only know the law, he must be courageous, hardworking and determined to do justice no matter whose ox is gored.

A participant, Ms Femi Atilade, advised the students to start out after their call to the Bar with law practice. She said: “The advantage of starting with practice is that if everything else fails, you go back to practice to survive.”

She said good communication skills, good manners, team playing spirit are very important quali-

By John Austin Unachukwu

ties of a good lawyer. She advised young lawyers to have a very good knowledge of their industry, to know the long and short term goals of their organisations. “ Be patient, sacrifice a few years, build your network, get mentors and be an intern somewhere. Above all, pray to God for direction anything you want to do,” she said.

Another participant Mrs. Ifeyinwa Azubuike said it was nice to be an in house counsel, but to make the best out of it and have insight into the practical side of law. She said clients enjoy in house counsel because of the high level of specialisation and efficiency, which is demonstrated in the performance of their work.

Mrs. Azubuike said though in house counsel do not go to court, they enjoy satisfaction from what they do and being an in house counsel is not for everybody.

She advised the students to ask themselves before going into practice whether they would like to become Senior Advocates of Nigeria or whether they would like to solve their clients commercial transaction problems.

Commercial transactions, she said, is all about assisting your clients to successfully seal their commercial transactions. This, she said, is not for everybody, it is for a group of people who love commerce, economies and getting deals done.

Mrs. Azubuike said lawyers in commercial transactions study beyond the documents that are passed over to them. It is not about winning the other side or loosing a case, it is about getting transactions sealed up for benefit of your clients.

She advised students, who love commercial law transactions to go to a law firm that has very good mentorship scheme. “Research skills are very important in the life of an in house counsel, self motivation, commitment and a good plan are very crucial qualities of a good commercial lawyer. Find a way to distinguish yourself, be aware of transactions be ready to learn and be highly innovative,” she said.

A member of Sterlin Partnerships, Mr. Isreal Aye advised students to make themselves employable.

“You have to demonstrate that you have the potential to showcase what you have learnt, you need to show what you are bringing to the company, above all, try and make a value proposal,” Mr. Aye said.

He continued: “Owning a law firm is entreneurship. Rules of professional practice do not allow you to run other practice with law practice, so, if you have passions for other pursuits, you better opt out of law practice. The key point is wherever you find yourself at the outset, give it your very best, then other opportunities will open up.”

The President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) thanked Sterlin Partnerships for the initiative, which he said, has richly blessed the students by giving them focus, depth and direction in the vast profession of law.

•From left: Atilade, Ozobia and Justice Dabiri

•From left: Okoli, Aye and Maduike

•From left: Deputy Director-General (DDG), Head of Lagos Campus NLS, Toun Adebiyi, Director , Head of Academics, Nasiru Tijani and Director, Academics, Mrs. Gbemi Odusote.

Minister raises District courts’ jurisdiction •Ombudsman Unit inauguration

T

HE Minister of the Federal Capital Terri tory (FCT), Bala Mohammed has ap proved the recommendations the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Ibrahim Bukar for an increase in the jurisdiction of the District Court of Judges.

The minister has accordingly signed into law, the increase in jurisdiction of District Court of Judges, and it is to be cited as the District Courts (Increase in Jurisdiction of District judges) Order 2014 and comes into force on February 14, 2014.

The Head of Information, FCT High Court, Mrs Tabitha Kangiwa said in a statement that Justice Bukar’s recommendation to the minister was pursuant to the provisions of Section 17 of District Court Act (Cap) 495) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and Section 18 Paragraph (b) of the FCT Act Cap 503 laws of the Federation 2005 (Abuja).

She explained that with the coming into ef-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

fect of the new order, a Chief Judge I and II as well as District Judge I shall have and exercise jurisdiction in civil cases in all personal suit from contract or tort above the earlier value.

“In the Order, any annual value of rent that do not exceed N5million is under the jurisdiction of Chief District Judge I, N3million in the case of Senior District Judge II and N1m in the case of District Judge I. The above shows an increase in the amount to what was obtainable in the courts prior to this Act. With the development, the Order of 1997 is revoked.

“In view of this, the High Court of the FCT deems it fit to inform the general public of the order, duly signed by the Minister,” she said.

Mrs. Kangiwa said the increase in the jurisdiction of District Judges in the FCT was last done in 1986 by the then Minister, Gen Jeremiah Useni (rtd).

‘NBA conference on economic, political issues coming

T

HE forthcoming Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (BSL) will address serious socio-economic and political issues affecting the country, secretary of its Governing Council Mr. Olu Akpata has said.

The conference, according to him, •Akpata

•Senior Lecturer, Nelson Ogbuanya (left) and Akintola Akintayo.

starts from May 25 and ends on May 27, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Its theme is: ”Exemplary governance – enhancing economic development in Nigeria”.

Akpata said: “This theme is influenced by the fact that the conference is being held in the penultimate year to Nigeria’s general elections and thus presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to address the imperatives of exemplary governance as a platform for enhancing economic development in the country.”

Since its inception in 2004, the NBA –

SBL Business Law Conference has remained a converging point for policy formulators, regulators and industry practitioners with deliberations at the various editions of the conference. The deliberations cover diverse areas of legal practice such as banking, finance and insolvency, infrastructure and power.

Other ares are capital markets, mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructurings, competition law, travel, hospitality and tourism, sports and entertainment, intellectual property, arbitration and ADR, energy, natural resources, environment, and aviation.“

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

LEGAL OPINION

Institute honours Mukhtar, Adoke, others

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Advanced Le gal Studies (NIALS) has honoured Chief Justice , Aloma Miriam Mukhtar, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and some its workers Justice Mukhtar got the NIALS’ Personality Award, Adoke, the NIALS’ Gold Medal Award for Outstanding Leadership. The Institute’s Legends Award went to all past Directors-General, including Dr. Timothy Aguda (post humously), Prof. Ayo Ajomo, Prof Ignatius Ayua (SAN) and Prof. D.A. Guobadia.

Long Service Awards went to those who have served the Institute for some years.

They are: Mrs. Edunjobi Adebola 1981-till date; Mr. Isedowo Joseph Oludare 1982-till date; Mrs. Laminkara Ufuoma 1985-till date; Ojo Omoniyi Matthew 1985-till date; Mrs Ebone Janet Onos 1985—till date; Mr. Omozokpia Sunday 1987—till date; Mrs. Fajuyibe Veronica Titilayo 1989- till date and Mr. Daniel Hanson Eyo 1989 -till date.

The Most Innovative Staff Award went to Mr. Hussein Ali while Outstanding Service Award was won by Ms Charity Addingi.

NIALS’ Oustanding Administrative Staff award was won by Mrs Comfort DavidUma while Best Staff of the year went to Laura Ani; Academic Excellence Award was won by Uche Ngwaba and Most Prolific Research Fellow Award was won by Joke Adediran.

The Institute’s Director-General, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) in a chat with The Nation, said he was satisfied that the 35th anniversary of the institute was remarkable.

“I am very very fulfilled and highly satisfied that it turned out to be a very remarkable 35th anniversary of the Institute. We have been able to bring to public domain the activities and achievements of the Institute for the past 35 years; the relevance and continued importance of the institute in the scheme of things in this country and the fact that we have been able to live the dreams of our founding fathers. To a very large extent, we have been able to satisfactorily achieve the mandate prescribed by the law setting up the Institute.

“We are happy that we have made major breakthroughs in terms of our research. We have been able to build capacity for governments legal officers and other practitioners, who are in private practice. We have been the custodian of the continuing legal education with integrity and the high level of expertise at our disposal that has helped us to train as many people as possible. In terms of legal research, we are obviously miles ahead in the field of socio-legal research we have engaged in. In many and diverse respects we

By John Austin Unachukwu

have been able to afford government the opportunity to utilise them in very productive manner,” he said.

Azinge added: “In terms of the publication of journals, I can say without equivocation or contradiction that we are easily the best in the world, at the last count, we could talk of about 20 Journals, peer review Journals of international standards. Some are the first of their kind anywhere in the world and they are all running and running effectively.

“We give opportunity to faculties and members in other law faculties, to publish their research findings and make their views known on some of the critical issues in law and development, through our roundtables and policy dialogues. We have remained the focus of academic engineering in terms of law and related disciplines in the sense that we use that forum to explore issues that have not been well exploited hitherto.

“Our communiqués have been very useful to us and to all the authorities that are interested and we have continued along that line.

He said the institute’s public lectures have been used to lead discourse in various areas such as memorial lectures, Diaspora lectures and the public service award lectures. “We made sure that we invited formidable legal scholars and jurists to espouse their opinion on very topical issues. And within Nigeria, we have ensured that our Nigerian scholars have remained engaged. On the whole, we have been able to champion issues that are germane to the development of law in this country,” he said.

A worker, Prof. Deji Adekunle said: “I feel proud to be a member of this family and also to know that it is an Institute that has built a very strong legacy and there is no doubt that if you look at the past 25 years, the Institute has carved a niche for itself in the country.”

On what is expected from the Institute in future, Prof. Adekunle said: “We will build on the foundations built by the founding professors.“ Some of the awardees expressed delight at their awards. One of them, Mrs. ComfortDavid Uma said: “I am highly elated, I am happy and greatly encouraged to work harder.

Another recipient, Adejoke Adediran said: “I feel very very thankful, I feel appreciated and I really feel good. The award will make me perform better. I am not going to rest on my oars, I will definitely perform much better.”

The best staff of the year, Laura Ani said the award would motivate her to do her best and increase her performance in service delivery.

•From left: Institute Secretary, James Barthnna, Prof. Azinge (SAN) and Prof. Dakas C.J. Dakas (SAN)

•Prof. Adekunle (left) receiving the award from Prof. O.A. Osunbor

‘We have remained the focus of academic engineering in terms of law and related disciplines in the sense that we use that forum to explore issues that have not been well exploited hitherto’ •From left: Ani, Adediran and David-Umar with their awards

J

UDGES and lawyers converged on the foyer of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos last week in honour of the late secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch, Mr. Babatola Eyitayomi Apata.

Apata, 41, was involved in a motor accident while going to Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to attend the NBA Executive Council meeting. He died shortly after he was discharged from the hospital.

The valedictory service attracted top shots of the judiciary including the NBA President, Mr. OKey Wali (SAN); Justice Funmilayo Atilade; Justice Morenike Obadina; Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi; Justice Ebenezer Adebajo and Justice Sybil Nwaka, among others.

Wali described Apata as a calm and optimistic young man of impeccable character and integrity.

Wali, who was represented by the General Secretary, Emeka Obegolu, described Apata

Lawyers bid ex-NBA chief farewell

By Precious Igbowelundu

as a thoroughbred professional and an active Bar man who believed in professionalism. ‘’I am pained by the loss of a vibrant young man, I am pained by the death of a dynamic, young Bar man, lost in the course of service to his dear profession,’’ Wali said.

He prayed to God to give his wife and other family members the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Chairman, NBA, Lagos branch, Mr. Alex Muoka described Apata’s death as a great loss to the bar. Morka urged lawyers to strike a balance between work and life, saying “lawyers seem to have little time for their health due to tight schedule at courts and office”.

He remarked that lawyers in the state

would mourn Apata for a long time given his contributions to the bar in the state.

“Apata served the association well as its General Secretary in 2013,” he said.

In his remarks, representative of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) said the late Apata was one of the promising young lawyers from the Lagos Bar. He described late Apata as an active Bar man whose conduct should be emulated.

The representative of Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mrs. Titilola Akinlawon (SAN) said Apata would be remembered for his uprightness and resourcefulness.

Former NBA Lagos branch chairman, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo described the late Apata as a man who lived a very good life.

He urged his colleague to give special attention to the families of those who lost their lives while serving the Association. ”Let me appeal to lawyers, we should always give our last respect to those who die in active service, those who die in the course of serving the Nigerian Bar Association,” he said.

A former General Secretary of the Lagos Branch of the NBA, Mr. Seth Amaefule said Apata was a gentleman and someone who holds his views very strongly.

Amaefule noted that in the suit he and some lawyers filed against the new NBA practicing fee, after the decision of the Court of Appeal, Apata was one of the resource persons he consulted for the way forward.

“Although he did not want to associate openly because of his position at the NBA, but he still went ahead in giving me certain materials to use in the appeal to the Supreme Court. And unfortunately that was the last time I spoke with him,” he added.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

PAGE 29

Plateau leads save-Lake-Chad battle •PAGE 30

Driver needs N5m to survive gun attack •PAGE 31

•The trained women demonstrate their skills before Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso

S

Women drive farming in Kano

OMETHING novel is happening in Kano. Jobs are not just created; nor are women merely among the employed. The refreshing thing is that women are deeply involved in trades in which men usually held sway. Now, for instance, they are raising fish, even producing some of the biggest catch the locals have ever seen. And the state economy is gradually picking up as a result. Yet, that is not all they do.

When he assumed office in 2011.

Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso said one of the things that would drive the economy was agriculture.

Determined to achieve the goal, he selected a special team to be in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry worked hard to achieve the governor’s goal by diversifying the agricultural sector and training residents in all manner of trades to make them be self-reliant. The ministry, in

‘Our efforts are paying off tremendously because we are succeeding in taking our youths off the streets, giving our women and youths employment, creating and sustaining wealth in our state. The state government has continued to fund and support other training institutes of poultry, livestock, horticulture, irrigation and farm mechanisation respectively and they have so far graduated over 6,000 students. They have consequently provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs’ From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, established the Bagauda Fish-

eries Institute where residents will undergo training programmes.

As a result of this effort to enhance the well-being of the people, Kwankwaso, in February, facilitated

the training of 140 women, selected from the 19 northern states, in aquaculture at the Bagauda Fisheries Institute. Those women have remained very productive.

Also in February, 24,400 trainees being the third batch of graduates from the same Aquaculture Fisheries and Training Institute Bagauda graduated, just as another 120 trainees from the MAGAGA Fisheries Skills Acquisition Training Centre, Gwarzo, also graduated at the instance of the state government. In all, the fishery institute at Bagauda has graduated 1,200 beneficiaries comprising men, women and youths.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Kwankwaso said: “These trainings seem to have come at a most deserving moment, where problems that include serious malnutrition, hun•Continued on page 30

N477m to keep nation’s capital clean •PAGE 33

Down Yola lane •PAGE 32

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT

•A big catch by the women fish farmers

•Continued from page 29 ger and diseases have been traced to consumption of insufficient protein as well as lack of balanced diet. These trainings are, no doubt, helping to overcome the effects of these afflictions.

“In addition, our efforts are paying off tremendously because we are succeeding in taking our youths off the streets, giving our women and youths employment, creating and sustaining wealth in our state. The state government has continued to fund and support other training institutes of poultry, livestock, horticulture, irrigation and farm mechanisation respectively and they have so far graduated over 6,000 students. They have consequently provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”

According to the governor, N60 million was expended on the training and employment of the 400 women as each of them received 10 bags of coppers fish feeds; two big plastic tanks; five sachets of aquacol; five sachets of fish biotic; and 500 post-juvenile fish specimens produced by the institute.

He further said N17 million was expended in the training and empow-

J

•Trained men in

•Different products on display

Women drive farming i

erment of 120 youths at the MAGAGA Fisheries Skill Acquisition Centre in Gwarzo and each of them were supported with 18 packets of assorted hooks; eight bundles of gill-net; 20 rolls of nylon twine of assorted sizes; two hanks of kuralon rope; 50 pieces of normal size cork foat; two sheets of flexible lead sinkers; 12 yards of castnet material and one life jacket.

“In our bid to develop agriculture, the state government has made multidimensional collaborative efforts with public and private institutions and organisations, notably the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Department for International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sasakawa Global 2000, Unity Bank Plc as well as Dangote Group of Companies,” Kwankwaso said, adding, ”our commitment and determination in this drive towards the development and transformation of agricul-

‘N60 million was expended on the training and employment of the 400 women as each of them received 10 bags of coppers fish feeds; two big plastic tanks; five sachets of aquacol; five sachets of fish biotic; and 500 post-juvenile fish specimens produced by the institute’

ture into a highly productive and sustainable venture with the aim of diversifying farmers’ incomes, promotion of value chain approach and eventual commercialisation of agriculture production.”

In her remarks, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Baraka Sani noted that over the years, the production of commercial crops in Kano State has become veritable means of occupation to not only

a large number of farmers including women and youth, but also to a teeming youth engaged in farming activities both during wet and dry seasons across the length and breadth of the state.

She noted that the main impediment to their farming activities has always been lack of adequate support by past governments.

Mrs Sani said: “It is in view of the above and in line with present

administration’s policy of providing necessary impetus aimed at facilitating increased agricultural output and employment generation for its teeming youths, the state, under the leadership of Governor Kwankwaso, came up with a unique agricultural development programme tagged Kano Commercial Crops Development Initiative (KCCDI) in order to transform agriculture from subsistence level to a more viable commercial venture.

“Under the programme, the state is divided into six zones for commercial crops production which include sesame, groundnuts, cotton, cassava, vegetables, rice, wheat, garlic, moringa and jetropha and agro-processing zone, mainly situated in the Kano metropolitan local governments respectively.

“The crop selection for various local governments is based on comparative advantage with the aim of becoming competitive,” she noted, adding that the aim of the programme is

Plateau leads save-Lake-Chad bat

OS, the Plateau State capital, is not in any way contiguous to Borno State. Both states are thousands of kilometres apart. But there is a socio-economic connection between them that dates back to pre-colonial era. That is the Lake Chad Basin located at the international border between Nigeria and Chad Republic.

The Lake Chad is a pool of water that finds its way to that location from several sources. There are about seven river tributaries that emptied into the Lake Chad through various channels. Of all these tributaries, the one that contributes the largest percentage of water to the Lake Chad is River Dilimi whose source is from Plateau State.

Dilimi River began from the rocky Jos terrains and meanders through several other states of the North-eastern Nigeria before getting to the Lake Chad Basin.

The river passes through Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Taraba, Yobe and Borno states before emptying into the Lake.

Dilimi River, no doubt, has been the major source of water supply to government and citizens of the states that are along its channels. Citizens of those states are mostly subsistent farmers and the river helps them immensely during their dry season farming activities.

Governments of these states use water from the river to create dams and reservoirs; treat and distribute it to their citizens to serve their water needs. The revenue generated from delivery of potable water by various state governments, is a major source of internal revenue for these states.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu and Emmanuel Kwapyel

Ironically, as important as Dilimi River is to these Northeastern states, it is seemingly insignificant in value to Plateau State. Geographically, the source of a river is very narrow and shallow, but as it courses, the river expands in space, volume and speed.

Given these facts, Plateau State can only source water for its citizens from its abandoned mining dams and there is more than enough of such mining ponds scattered all over the state.

There is an enduring problem about Dilimi River, the states along its channels and the Lake Chad. The volume of water of the Lake Chad has been depleting for over a decade.

The drying Lake Chad is a major source of concern to farmers and fishermen around the Lake. It is also a source of concern for the states and Federal Government, even as it is a source of concern to security agencies.

Apart from the problem of global warming, it has been discovered that some of the tributaries that supply water to the Lake Chad no longer do so, especially the Dilimi River which supplies 70 per cent of the water in the Lake Chad Basin.

It was further discovered that all the states that are along the channel of the River Dilimi may have blocked its free flow or diverted its course for their economic benefits.

The Director of Water Resources at the Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, Mr Jonathan Mallang said: “Not less than 16 mil-

• A channel of the endangered lake

lion Nigerians cutting across six states depend on the Dilimi River for survival. The river, which has its source from Jos, the Plateau State capital, flows through Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, and Yobe states before emptying into the Lake Chad located in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Continuing, he said: “Numerous villages found along this river channel had continued to derive maximum use of the river through farming and fishing activities that are practised there throughout the year. Nature must have provided the river to complement limited rainfall in those

parts of the North.

“Hence, Nigerians in these areas took to farming and fishing as occupations. Governments of these states use the river as major source of water supply for domestic and industrial use. The Federal Government of Nigeria has developed millions of plots

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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THE NORTH REPORT

Driver needs N5m to survive gun attack

W

•Trained men in fisheries

ng in Kano ‘When you talk about how best to tackle the problem of insecurity, it is through job creation. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Our youths today are engaged in various skill acquisition and training programmes. They have become useful to themselves, their families, relations and the society’ to trigger a unique agricultural development which will transform agriculture into a highly productive and sustainable venture and ensure enhanced economic status of the farming communities in the state.

She further noted that the programmes aimed at diversifying farmers’ incomes beyond the traditional subsistence agriculture to a commercially sustainable level all year

d battle

As a result, millions of hectares of land developed for irrigation faming by the Federal Government of Nigeria became a huge waste…So, the depletion of the Lake Chad has to do majorly with the blockage in the free flow of the river due to activities of farmers, fishermen and rivalry among state that share the river channels and not by the effects of Climate Change as we earlier suspected for agriculture around the Lake Chad.

The Southern Irrigation Project owned by Nigerian government is •Continued on page 32

round and to promote value addition in the selected crops in order to ensure optimum production and market linkages.

According to her, Governor Kwankwaso has done tremendously well in creating job opportunities through agriculture, particularly, in the area of fish production by empowering both women and men so that they would be self-reliant and also able

to impart the knowledge they have acquired to other people to make the state stable and viable in terms of economic and social development.

Mrs Sani also said thousands of youths who before now had nothing doing are engaged through several agricultural programmes.

“When you talk about how best to tackle the problem of insecurity, it is through job creation. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Our youths today are engaged in various skill acquisition and training programmes. They have become useful to themselves, their families, relations and the society. We are proud of Governor Kwankwaso and we pray that God will bring someone that can build on his legacies,” she said.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero praised Governor Kwankwaso for the positive revolution he is engendering in the agriculture sector. The Emir, who was represented by one of his sons and District Head of Dala, Aminu Ado Bayero (Sarkin Shakar Gida), further commended Governor Kwankwaso on his giant strides in empowering women and the youth. He urged other northern governors to emulate Kwankwaso’s style of leadership.

HEN Babalola Mukaila, a commercial driver, left his house on the November 7 last year, he was bubbling with life.

He bid his wife, children and family members farewell but did not know that he would not return hail and hearty that day.

Mukaila used to ply his trade along Ilorin-Oyo-Ibadan road. On that same day he was unlucky to have run into a gang of armed robbers between Oyo and Ibadan, who shot at his vehicle. In the process the driver sustained extensive bullet wounds on the face.

The victim, who is currently recuperating at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) requires a sum of N5 million for face surgery in an Indian Hospital.

On the hospital bed he urged public-spirited Nigerians to rescue him from the claws of death, saying “please come to my aid. The agony and pains I’m going through are beyond what I can bear. My life is at stake as I urgently need God’s favour and kind assistance of well-meaning Nigerians to free me from this present precarious situation.”

Recounting his ordeal, the 50 year old Mukaila said on the unfortunate day “I was shot in the face through the nose and mouth and lost consciousness for three months. I was getting better but with deformed face and mouth as all my upper teeth were badly affected. This made it difficult for me to feed myself without assistance of people.

“I was subsequently referred from the UITH to an Indian Hospital where my face and teeth could be restored, that is why I am seeking financial assistance from wellmeaning Nigerians to please sponsor my trip for proper medical attention.”

Mukaila, who hails from Offa, Offa Local Government, lamented

•From left: The Representative of the contractor, Alhaji Aliyu Osazee; Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, the Ohi of Ihima, Alhaji Abdulraheem Ahmed Ogido; Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada and Chairman, Ajaokuta Local Government, Mr Aloy Okino during the flag-off of the 16km Otokiti-Ganaja/Ajaokuta Bypass project in Kogi State.

T

Kebbi closes college

HE Kebbi State government has ordered the immediate closure of Kanta Unity College, Argungu in Argungu Local Government Area following an outbreak of fever that has claimed 10 lives.

A statement issued by the Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari and made available to reporters, quoted the Commissioner for Education as saying the closure of the school was to enable various medical teams on ground ascertain the cause of the outbreak and carrying out renovation of the entire school.

Governor Dakingari was also said to have directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure immediate reno-

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

vation and upgrading of the school facilities to ensure an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.

According to the statement, the Kebbi State government had concluded arrangement on how to take students of the exchange programme back to their respective states of origin.

It also expressed government’s condolences to families of pupils that died of the epidemic.

•Babalola From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

that he had expended about N2 million to bounce back to normal life but to no avail.

He said “my family members have tried. The transport union members have been footing my bills at the UITH, UCH and other private hospitals.”

The letter of referral signed by Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at UITH, Dr M. F. Adeyemo reads: “The above named patient was admitted on the 7 th November, 2013 at the Accident and Emergency unit on account of gunshot injuries by armed robbers. He sustained multiple maxillofacial injuries which involved the nasoethmoidal complex, part of the lower eyelid, the philtrum of the upper lip, hard palate and the upper teeth sparing the soft palate.

“Patient was fully conscious and alert at presentation, loss of blood could not be ascertained. Patient was however stabilized at presentation and explore under anesthesia via trachesotomy.

“The exploration under general anesthesia involved complete debridement and excision of necrotic tissue of the entry point of the bullet (the right cheek), excision of the partially avulsed hard palate, nasal septum, part of the brain tissue and extraction of the upper right molar.

“The entry wound on the right cheek was dressed and allowed to granulate, the palatal defect was packed with surfratulle for few days and finally restored with obuturator which was suspended with circum zygomatic wiring bilaterally.

“However, patient’s facial appearance and feeding habit could not be restored with prosthesis.

“We are hereby, referring the patient to you based on the request of the patient for further management.”

In their response to the referral, authorities of the Fortis Hospitals, New Delhi, India said “Mr. Babalola Mukaila needs to come for facial reconstruction with flaps and bone grafts at our facility centre in India.”

The hospitals in their reply signed by Senior Consultant, Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr Rashmi Taneja “said we have found most suitable treatment plan advised by the top and most renowned specialist in India for you, on very affordable price.

“He will require to stay in the hospital for one week and one month in India. Hospital cost estimate for above treatment is likely to be between 10,000 and 12,000 US Dollars.

“The above package cost includes hospital stay above, nursing care, surgeon fee, medicines and consumables, patient’s food and airport pick up etc.”

Victim’s contact phone numbers are 08053047375 and 08036483048 Account Name: Babalola Mukaila, Account number 0124438139, Bank’s name is GTB

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Y

OLA can calm the mind as much as it can charm the senses. I found myself reminiscing over the four years I spent at this enthralling capital of Adamawa State as a student. The most vivid memories of Yola’s splendour are evident from the landscape; the picturesque view of mountains combined with a dense greenery and an almost permanent surrounding fog.

When I think about Yola, I also remember the majesty of the cattle as they strode from one location to the other, heeding the incomprehensible instruction of a herdsperson. Yola’s radiance is apparent in its rich and active culture. The most prominent of the cultural activities I experienced was the durbar, a parade of horse-riders especially in celebration of the Eid festival.

Though there are numerous memories that can be attributed to the land of beauty’s magnificence, there are even more memories for its calm. Yola is packed with people who mostly earn an income from farming, and they are simple, friendly and ever ready to help. Personal experiences of the friendliness of Yola’s people emanated from the friendships I had with cab drivers like Musa, Salihu and IBB, who still keep in touch almost a year after my departure. I also remember frequent market trips that introduced me to market men and women who were usually animated especially after the noi greeting. During these market trips, I was able to meet very honest men and women who never took advantage of their customers’ miscalculations.

Adamawa could aptly be described as a multi-cultural and multi-religious state. The indigenes and residents of the state belong to different tribes and religions. Contrary to popular opinion, the people of Yola spoke more Fulfulde than Hausa. It was also very possible to meet people from the North-eastern state who spoke impeccable Fulfulde but didn’t understand a word of Hausa.

Many who visited Yola purchased their flight ticket or embarked on the lengthy road trip to the state for many reasons. Adamawa state is the home to prestigious higher institutions of

Down Yola lane

•A view of Yola landscape

By Halima Olajumoke Sogbesan

learning such as the American Univeristy of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Adamawa State University and very recently, the sixth Nigerian Law School. As a result of these schools, students constituted an impressive composition of residents in Adamawa state. Adamawa state also boasts of the first cultural landscape to receive the UNESCO World Heritage list inscription, the Sukur Cultural Landscapes. The Sukur Cultural Landscapes are situated in the Mandara Mountains of Adamawa State very close to the Cameroon border.

Despite the goodness of its people, Yola’s weather told a conflicting tale.

The weather was always at some form of extremity. When the sun shone, its rays were harsh leaving its residents with sweaty bodies and darker skins.

The harmattan was moisture-sapping

and skin-whitening and when it rained, it poured angrily from the sky.

Notwithstanding, residents of Yola remember only its goodness, a definite contradiction to the reports that come from the north-eastern state.

Blessing Douglas, a student from Rivers State and a resident of Yola for two years, said about her experience, “I admire the hospitality of the people, the way they welcome and treat people.”

Douglas added that she used to have some preconceived notions of the state. “Before I got to Yola,” Douglas said, “I used to think that the people here would be extremely tribalistic and biased, but I guess I had judged a book by its cover.”

Just like Douglas, Abdulwasi’ Oseni is particularly fascinated because “the people live simple lives and they trust people wholeheartedly.”

Oseni who originally resided in Lagos state travelled to Yola five years ago for his mandatory National

Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. After five years, he describes his experience as “nice and fruitful” especially because he has been able to correct misconceptions he had about Yola before residing there.

Joseph Ishaku, unlike the previous two, is from Adamawa state. Ishaku has lived in Adamawa state since 2003 and is proud of “the warmth of the people and how they welcome non-locals with open arms without harmful prejudices.”

He further explained that the warmth is “almost involuntary. We tend not to ask questions,” Ishaku said, “but just live with people as though they’ve been with us.”

Like any place in the world, Yola has people with flaws. Many of its streets crawl with beggars who range from little children to old men and women. In addition, the bulk of news stories from the state detail bloody ethnic clashes, bomb blasts and electoral violence. Oseni said that the

‘I admire the hospitality of the people, the way they welcome and treat people. Before I got to Yola I used to think that the people would be extremely tribalistic and biased, but I guess I had judged a book by its cover’ media have a role to play in this regard.

“They (the media) need to tell more stories about how people live peacefully with each other than telling stories about ethnic clashes. Anyone who hasn’t been to the north usually has a bad impression about Northerners.

So, more stories about the Igbos having lots of businesses in the north and driving the economy of the north should be told.”

Oseni adds that an inter-tribal relationship that may need correction among the people of Adamawa state is inter-tribal marriage. “Intertribal marriages should be encouraged as it helps to strengthen the country’s unity,” Oseni said. “At the moment, Fulanis prefer to marry within and it’s a herculean task for someone outside the tribe to marry from them.”

Douglas on the other hand advises that with the state of insecurity in the state and region, “I would advice that they adopt better means of resolving conflict and promote peaceful coexistence among each other.”

Like Douglas, Oseni and Ishaku, regardless of the tales that come from the region, numerous residents of Adamawa state will continue to stick to the stories they have experienced themselves, the stories of calm, simplicity and magnificence.

Plateau leads battle to revive Lake Chad •Continued from page 30 the largest irrigation system in the Sub-Saharan Africa.

“However, all these advantages of the Dilimi River as well as the Lake Chad Basin diminished within the past 10 years because the river is no longer flowing causing the Lake Chad to seize to exist. The reason for this can only be attributed to human factors.

“Right from the source of the River Dilimi in Jos through to Maiduguri, indiscriminate and unhindered dumping of refuse which had continued for several decades has hampered the free flow of the river. This conscious or unconscious action of citizens of the five states that share the channels of this river not only reduced the flow of the river into the Lake Chad, it also eventually diverted the course of the river completely; changing the vegetation of the areas which hitherto makes the area conducive to human habitation.

“This diversion of River Dilimi from its course was discovered to be the major cause of recent flooding of some parts of the North, especially such witnessed in parts of Gombe State and parts of Jigawa State respectively.

Farmers and fishers from these states have not only lost their source of income, they‘ve also migrated to neighbouring states where they could practice their occupation.

“Besides, uncountable number of homes has been flooded and farm lands washed away. Worst of all, the Lake Chad Basin eventually dried up.

As a result, millions of hectares of land developed for irrigation faming by the Federal Government of Nigeria became a huge waste.

“So, the depletion of the Lake Chad

•Refuse piles...

‘When this problem was discovered a few years ago, the affected states came together as stakeholders with a resolve to tackle their common problem. Plateau, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Jigawa and Kano states came together to create a joint-fund called the ‘Hadeija, Jama’ are, Komadugu, Yobe Basin Trust Fund’ has to do majorly with the blockage in the free flow of the river due to activities of farmers, fishermen and rivalry among state that share the river channels and not by the effects of Climate Change as we earlier suspected.

“When this problem was discov-

ered a few years ago, the affected states came together as stakeholders with a resolve to tackle their common problem. Plateau, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Jigawa and Kano states came together to create a joint-fund called the ‘Hadeija, Jama’ are, Komadugu, Yobe Basin Trust Fund’

“Each of these states,” he said, “has a financial commitment to the fund with Plateau State contributing N100 million while the remaining five states contributes N150 million.

“When this trust fund was launched in 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo pledged N850 million on behalf of the Federal Government” Mr Mallang, who is the Plateau State Collation Chairman for the integrated water resources management pointed out that concerned by development and its socio-economic implications on the country, the concerned states with the support of the Federal Government moved to salvage the situation in 2006.

“In 2006, the administration of President Obasanjo was said to have gone into partnership with the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom through the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Nigerian Conservation Foundation as well as the Lake Chad Basin Commission based in Njamena on how to salvage the Lake Chad.

“When this trust fund was launched, former President Obasanjo pledged N850 million on behalf of the Federal Government. This support was a boost to the efforts of the concerned states and the clearance of the Dilimi River commenced in earnest.

“The effort in clearing the river has resulted in the gradual return of water to the Lake Chad Basin in 2008 after lacking water for almost 10 years. Already, normal life is beginning to return to Lake Chad.

In 2008, it was learnt, the Plateau State government which serves as the source of the river had, on behalf of the trust fund, awarded the contract

for the clearance of the source to improve the flow of the river to Haco Nigeria Limited. This final phase of the revival of the Lake Chad is expected to accelerate flow of the river.

The contract involves the removal of the waste which will be dumped in a land field identified by the Plateau State Ministry of Environment. Walls will then be built at the river bank to ensure it does not flood people’s houses and farms.

By so doing, the beauty of the area will be sustained since people no longer dump refuse there.

The government of Bauchi State constructed a dike (fence) to prevent the river from flooding as well as preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuge in the river channels by citizens. Kano State government constructed the Tigard Dam to regulate the release of water along the channels. Currently, there is a level of understanding between Kano and Jigawa states in ensuring that the river flows freely along their own channels. Jigawa State government, on its own, came up with a programme through which they empower non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the mobilisation of communities to assist in clearing any blockage on the river channels. Yobe State is also not left out in the battle. So, it is a collective problem that is attracting collective efforts aimed at resuscitating the Lake Chad.

Further efforts are said to be made by the Lake Chad Basin Commission through the Global Environmental Facilities (GEF) in seeking possible way of transferring water from the Congo Basin to the Lake Chad. The inter-basin water transfer is also expected to improve restoration of water to the Lake Chad.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

Page 33

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

•Waste dispensing vehicles

N477m to keep nation’s E capital clean VERYONE loves a cute city.

Neat, ordered streets are irresistible. The sweet scents of flowers are therapeutic. But how do you make a city, even a nation’s capital adorable?

The Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed believes he has an idea, and it is to, first of all, rid it of waste. And to that extent, his administration has forked out about N477m to acquire waste disposal equipment, saying the effort was necessary in order to achieve the objective of Master Plan.

One of the objectives in the Master Plan is to make the nation’s capital city be as neat as possible.

Mindful of this, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has been doing its best to ensure that the city is uncluttered at all times. To this end, it has placed emphasis on procuring equipment that will help in keeping the city tidy. This is apart from individuals in the administration’s employ that manually sweep the streets of the city on a daily basis.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has spent N477 million to procure waste management equipment.

The equipment, which he said were acquired for effective sanitation, included street sweepers, litter pickers and roll-on-roll off (RORO) trucks.

Senator Mohammed said the equipment would solve waste disposal needs of the residents.

He stated this while inaugurating the equipment at the Abuja En-

From Grace Obike

vironmental Protection Board (AEPB) premises.

He said: “The procurement of these waste management equipment was borne out of the need to achieve the administration’s pursuit of a clean Abuja.

“These equipment include eight Global M3 (3000MX) street sweepers, four LN50 litter pickers that will be deployed to clean highways and other high activity points with high

W

‘The procurement of these waste management equipment was borne out of the need to achieve the administration’s pursuit of a clean Abuja. These equipment include street sweepers and four litter pickers’ litter generations.

“Other equipment that are being expected include 28 compacting trucks for refuse collection, two canal master flushers for maintenance of sewage network and four RORO

trucks for refuse collection in villages within built-up areas.”

The minister further said the administration has paid all money to the manufacturers who are training staff of AEPB on how to handle and

maintain the equipment.

He urged the Abuja Environmental Protection Board to inculcate a healthy maintenance culture to ensure longevity and durability.

Acting Director, AEPB Mrs. Aishat Adebayo assured the minister that the provision of the sweepers will not, in any way, affect the women currently carrying out litter control as none of them will be laid off.

Adebayo also said the administration is building three waste transfer stations to improve the turn-around in waste collection services.

She appealed to the residents to take responsibility of their immediate environment by not indulging in indiscriminate littering and defecation and prompt payment of service charges.

Varsity provides job opportunities

ELL, not everyone is folding their arms about the alarming unemployment profile of the country.

American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola, has set up a job fair where their students and graduates/alumni met with more than 20 different national and international organisations and some participants got employment or internship positions.

The seventh edition of the AUN career fair brought together cooperation’s like Dangote Cement, Sky Bank, KPMG, McKinsey&Company, P&G, PZ Cussons, PWC, Nestle, General Electric, ExonMobil, Deloitte, StallionGroup and lots more.

Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, AUN, Reginald Braggs explained that the career fair was a way of bringing national and international companies together, under one roof

From Grace Obike, Abuja

for the benefit of the alumni and current students to introduce themselves and the objective of the companies is to find bright students to recruit.

His words: “Our intention is to connect our students and alumni with viable companies. This is of benefit to Nigeria because now you have young people who are now having jobs and being of benefit to the country.

“It also serves as an experience for our current students to know what it feels like to interview in front of companies and present themselves in front of companies.”

He said that it is a kind of American concept of bringing students together and alumni can have the opportunity to learn, when we first started it, students did not really know what to expect but

as time has gone on, we have been able to find that impact we like to have on our students.

Braggs also said, “When we first started out there were about 15 to 20 companies but now we have about 30 to 35 companies coming every year. A lot of companies have a threshold and we have an opportunity where they can sit down and talk to the students and also provide an avenue where they can give them an aptitude test into the different departments in their companies.

Director, Career Services, student affairs, AUN Mrs Grace Nwokoma said that the school begins to prepare their students as soon as they gain admission to prepare them for the future and work a environment. Mostly, they make them work for two hours every day in a in a profes•Continued on page 36

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

34

ABUJA REVIEW

A case for youths

A

SOCIAL crusader and Olympic torch-bearer, Mr Eedris Abdulkareem has said there is need to bridge the gap between government and the youth, which he described as unhealthy.

He advocates a youth trust fund and student trust fund that will make life easy for the youth.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Abdulkareem popularly known for his song; Nigeria Jaga Jaga, also lamented the rate of insecurity in the country.

He described the insecurity situation as politically-motivated to make President Jonathan’s administration fail.

“The ugly security situation is an intentional plan to make Jonathan’s administration look stupid. Females are now abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect and we all know they will end up using them as sex slaves. The whole thing is getting messier and crazier.

This is the time for youths to rise up and talk.”

On the initiative that would help the youth become responsible and responsive, he said: “There are so many gaps between the government and the youth. I am Nigeria Project as an initiative, will help bridge the gap between government and the youth. This initiative will enable youths to go online, tell us their problems and we will be able to get at least 50 per cent of them engaged.

“We all know the whole insecu-

‘The ugly security situation is an intentional plan to make Jonathan’s administration look stupid. Females are now abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect and we all know they will end up using them as sex slaves. The whole thing is getting messier and crazier. This is the time for youths to rise up and talk’ From Faith Yahaya

rity problem in the country is political. It is important for us to make a move, talk to the youth and create employment for them and see where we can take Nigeria to. This is because if we don’t do it, nobody will do it for us.”

While urging the youth to spend less time twitting, he said: “Enough of too much talk on twitter and facebook. It is time to take what belongs to us as youths. God forbid, if something happens, which country is ready to absorb Nigerians?

“The mindset of the youth must change. They should think beyond

being used as political weapons in the hands of political parties and politicians.”

On his project, the rap artiste said: “I have been a social crusader criticising things that are very wrong and I felt it is enough doing it through the medium of songs. It is time to take the bull by the horn and step outside and speak the truth by going to ministries and multinationals to drum up support for Nigerian youths.

“With this platform, we hope to challenge public officials and institutions that are performing below standards. When there are opportunities for employment and empowerment, we will, through this

initiative, push qualified members of I am Nigerian forward. ”I discovered that many youths can’t speak for themselves because they are so scared. This impedes our progress.

He disclosed that a proposal would be sent to youth bodies like the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Presidents of Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) and youth foundations on how they can help in moving Nigeria forward.

On his kind of music, Eedris explained that some of his colleagues perceive him in different light because he does not sing their trend of music.

“I found out that most of my colleagues think I am stupid because they are making money from talking and singing about girls, booties, boobs, cars and all that.

“I cannot do that because we are not the same and we can never be the same. You can be talking about all that but most of these people who are your audience don’t even have the money to do all you are doing. They don’t even have money to feed themselves. But if you can relate with them through your song, then they will have hope and see a way forward.

•Visually impaired students of the FCT School of the Blind acknowledging the coordinators of Next Generation Nigeria Summit/Inspire Young Africans (IYA) in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Pupils dedicate victory to slain students

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ERBERT Macaulay (Blue) House, the winner of the third Inter House Sports Competition of First Foundation Private Schools, Kubwa Abuja has dedicated its victory to victims of Buni Yadi attack.

According to the House Captain, Master James Odum (pseudonym), the attack by the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram which claimed the lives of 43 students of Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Yobe State in February, was unfortunate.

The children called for better security for students in the country.

The captain said: “Our teacher always informs us of what is happening around the world every day.

“He came in one day and told us that 43 students were killed while sleeping in their hostels.

“None of us was happy throughout that day and it’s unfortunate.

“Some of my mates also told us other things about the attack which everybody has con-

From Dele Anofi

demned.

“Since then, we have been training hard to make sure that we get a medals in this competition so that we can dedicate it to the dead souls.

“We are happy that we eventually won the competition and we are dedicating the trophy to the memory of those students that lost their lives untimely.

“We want government to arrest the evil people that carried out the attack and also provide adequate protection for students everywhere in Nigeria.

“We were also told that a plane with over 200 passengers has been missing. It’s our prayers that they find it.”

Earlier in her welcome address, the Proprietor of the school, Mrs Zainab Adeleke had said the third edition of the event was meant to mentally and physically prepare the children for the challenges of the future.

“We are aware that these impressionable chil-

dren have to be exposed to sporting activities early enough to aid their growth.

“Apart from being prepared mentally, the physical fitness of the children is also of great importance to their development in life.

“That is why we always ensure that we don’t miss this opportunity because we discovered that the children are not only excited about the competition, their academic performance has also been on the rise since the inception of the games,” she said.

The competition featured various athletic events in 100m; 200m, 400m×4 relay as well as Dress your Partner Catch the bus and Invitational Relay Race by invited schools.

Pupils from nursery and primary sections of the school participated in the events to the delight of their parents.

Obafemi Awolowo (Green) House took the rear position while Ahmadu Bello (Yellow) House and Nnamdi Azikiwe (Red) took second and third positions respectively.

Church seeks partnership to lift the poor From John Ofikhenua

B

ISHOP Duke Akamisoko of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Kubwa Diocese has said the church needs to demonstrate the essence of Christianity by lifting the poor and embarking on community development. In the circumstances, therefore, he has sought financial intervention from partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

He said: “as we do this, I want to encourage the FCT administration to partner with us in terms of financial support for the programmes we carry out within the FCT.” He spoke at the launch of the strategic plan and health-based community agents’ resources manual of the church’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) Kubwa Diocesan Development and Welfare Services (KDDWS).

Akamisoko, who is also the director of KDDWS, said the church has been involved in welfare services around the FCT. According to him, the service is not for profiteering but an attempt to help the needy.

He further said: “We are not doing this for any profit but it is just for us to touch lives. As we present our strategic plans as a diocese today, please partner with us to make this programme a success.

“As a dioceses, we are not just preaching the gospel but we are also demonstrating practical Christian life, practical Christian love to the communities around us.”

Meanwhile, a civil rights campaigner Dr Kabura Zakama of the Democratic Governance for Development urged religious leaders to live beyond the comfort of their pulpit and extend the hands of fellowship to their communities irrespective of their faith.

Zakama, who was the keynote speaker, said “there was so much religious noise in the country, both among Muslims and Christians that has not transformed the people.”

He said clergymen must not end their preaching in their places of worship but to practically showcase love and impacting on the community through financial supports and other forms of community interventions.

He enjoined Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper saying “the church has a mandate of speaking the truth against evil and being accountable to the people.”

According to him, religious leaders needed to be in tune with today’s world and relate with their immediate environment.

“To say things are difficult is no excuse. We must show good examples and be prepared to develop the people,” Zakama said.

He noted that poverty was a man-made phenomenon caused by injustice and impunity.

“Poverty is a creation of man and we must end it by being just,” he said.

Speaking, the KDDWS Programme Officer Chidozie Ossai noted that the NGO has been involved in education development, advocacy and direct service delivery in Bwari Area Council, Kuje Area Council and the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

35

ABUJA REVIEW

•From left: President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Vice President Namadi Sambo (third left); Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III (third right); former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Muhammadu Uwais (left); Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede (second right); Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Barba (second left), and former Head of Service, Yayale Ahmed during NSCIA’s courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•From left: Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mohammed Ali Gulak; Minister of Environment, Lawrentia Laraba Mallam, and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe); Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential villa Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie (left); Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu during the Formal Grants Agreement and signing between National Assembly, African Capacity Building Foundation and United National Development Programmes held at National Assembly.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

From left: Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina; Director General National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment,Taiye Haruna during the Meeting on Grazing Reserve at the State House Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina (left); Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Customs and Excise, Sabo Nakudu, and House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila during a public hearing on the new rice duty regime at National Assembly, Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Co-coordinators of Next Generation Nigeria Summit; Mr. Austin Mbamah (left) Secretary General, Haruna Sambo, and Chairperson, Commonwealth Youth Council, Ahmed Adamu, with the Principal, FCT School for the Blind, Mrs Regina Dung during the presentation of a special recognition award to the school principal in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

36

ABUJA REVIEW

T

HE alleged marginalisation of Muslims at the ongoing National Conference took a different dimension last week as Muslims in the country protested and brought the matter to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The head of Muslim faith in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III led other Muslim leaders to protest the composition of the conference, which they alleged was undemocratic and unfair to them.

The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, said: "We came to consult with Mr. President. We are happy we consulted with him, and he has given us reasons to re-assure the Muslims that Muslims in Nigeria are not deliberately marginalised. He has asked us to convey the feelings of the government, the genuineness of the government, the fairness of government to the entire populace.

"That if there are issues that are not as they ought to be, they were not definitely deliberate and we want to believe that Mr. President told us his mind. We also want to believe that it is proper to protest.

It is also proper to assume that a leader will always be just even if there are mistakes thereafter.

"We just felt we must convey the feelings of the Muslims in Nigeria to Mr. President and he has given us his words to re-assure the Muslim community that he is a genuine and committed Christian who will not be unjust to others."

Before the latest protest to the Presidential Villa last week, another Muslim group, the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) had, a week earlier, opposed the composition of the National Conference, claiming that Muslims in the country are being marginalised as the number of Christians at the conference is more than the number of Muslims.

The Secretary-General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu said: "Although democracy is a game of numbers, this has not been respected. For instance, while Muslims constitute the majority in the country, Christians, who by all acceptable records are not more than 40 per cent of the country's population, ironically constitute 62 per cent of the total delegates.

"We regard it as disrespect to the conscience of the Muslims that, of the 20 delegates of the Federal Government, only six are Muslims.

No Muslim is deemed fit to make the list of delegates from the Nige-

National Conference and the Muslim question We came to consult with Mr. President.

We are happy we consulted with him, and he has given us reasons to re-assure the Muslims that Muslims in Nigeria are not deliberately marginalised. He has asked us to convey the feelings of the government, the genuineness of the government, the fairness of government to the entire populace rian Economic Summit.

"In fact, in the representation of the security agencies, Muslims have been so unimaginably shortchanged with only one Muslim out of the six retired military and security personnel, one out of six retired security and the National Intelli-

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya gence Agency (NIA) officers, and two out of delegates of the Association of Retired Police Officers. This means, of the 18 security experts belonging to these three groups, only 4 (22.2%) are Muslims.

"The question is: why is this serious short-changing of Muslims in these very sensitive groups?"

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), however, faulted the claims by JNI that Muslims in Nigeria are more than Christians.

The General-Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, in a statement, said: "CAN needs to remind JNI of the argument and refusal of Muslims to include religion during the

last census in Nigeria. We appeal to JNI not to use religion as a basis for their reservations about the National Conference. We believe the conference will do Nigeria a lot of good.

"The JNI should come out with the figures that make Muslim population more than that of Christians. We in CAN will boycott future census in Nigeria beginning with that of 2016 if they do not include religion. Enough is enough!

"We are therefore challenging the Secretary-General of the JNI to make it public the source of his population figures which shows that Christians constitute only 40

per cent of the country's population."

The conference, which aimed at charting a new path for Nigeria and address grievances and imbalances in the country, no doubt, seems to have started on a wrong note with religious sentiments being brought to the fore rather than focusing on the objectives for which it was convened.

The voting method to be adopted at the conference has also become a source of division among the delegates. While some groups are pushing for three-quarter majority for any resolution to go through, others are supporting two-third majority or simple majority.

Some Christian delegates have also kicked against the use of short opening Islamic prayers by Muslim delegates at the conference.

They threatened to shout "Praise the Lord" or make short Christian prayers before making their remarks if the Muslims are not called to order.

Even as many stakeholders had kicked against the conference before it started, one hopes that drastic steps will be taken now so that the conference will not leave the country more divided than it was before the conference started.

Varsity provides job opportunities •Continued from page 33 sional capacity where they get paid.

She said, “”It is a job fair modelled after the American concept, before our students get here, we have properly groomed and worked with them one on one because we want to give companies the products that they want.

“So far we have over 300 and something students already placed from this platform in companies like KPMG, McKinseys&Company, Sky Bank, General electric, Shell, lots more for them to come here, it means that they already have some of our products and their capabilities and are yearning for more, most of them go through the internship programs and they hire them.”

Manager Human Resources (HR) and Admin, Dangote Cement Cooperate office, Bala Zango said that he had seen the notice for the fair on the AUN website and applied to be part of it.

He added, “We came here to fish out the talented ones; we are so much interested in having young, talented people in Dangote that we can inculcate into our system. We need intelligent and fresh people to come and assist us in moving the company forward.

“The job fair gives the students the courage to know that they have graduated and are not going to be in the labour market looking for jobs. In Dangote we have been providing jobs and intend to recruit more, our fertilizer plant will soon be kicking off so we need more staff, like about 80,000 staff when we are ready. What we do is to go to the universities and pick from the graduating ones there.”

Head HR recruitment and training manager Nestle, Marie Owoniyi said, “For us it is an opportunity to brand ourselves as employers and register ourselves in the minds of our to be employees, we are here to tell them that Nestle is here with lots of opportunities for graduates.”

•Gbagyi women protesting the proposed demolition of their houses at the Airport Road in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

37

LAW PERSONALTY The state of some Federal High Courts in Nigeria has become worrisome and grossly inadequate for the conduct of daily proceedings.

Although most of these courts were constructed less than a decade ago, their facilities have worn out, making the courts look like market place.

PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU and ROSEMARY NWISI report.

The ugly side of Federal High Courts

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Y their nature, courtrooms at tract a large and segmented au dience with specific sitting orders. They are treated as sacred placed.

Decorum, quietness and orderliness are the order of day as lawyers engage fireworks.

But the appaling condition of the Federal High Courts (FHC) in Lagos, Edo and Rivers States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) leaves much to be desired. They are so bad that litigants and lawyers jostle for seats inside air-tight cubicles called courtrooms.

Aside the smallness of these courtrooms, a first timer in any one may mistake them for abandoned properties. Most of them have worn out structures with in-court facilities begging for replacement.

The situation in the courtrooms during proceedings is often undignifying with people sweating profusely because of the heat.

A case in point is the Federal High Court (FHC), Ikoyi, Lagos, whose edifice is begging for attention. Situated on Oyinkan Abayomi in Ikoyi, the FHC, according to most lawyers is the worst in the country.

Aside its rooms being too small to accommodate people they are poorly ventilated and not well lit. Some of its roofs have fallen. Most people standing by the doors for want of seats are usually drenched anytime rain falls.

The courtrooms are also stuffy making some of the judges to rise at intervals to get fresh air.

Virtually all the electronic appliances for recording proceedings including the Public Address Systems (PAS) are not working, making it difficult for litigants and their counsel to hear the judges during proceedings.

Conscious of these difficulties faced by people, especially judicial reporters, some judges usually strain their voices whenever there is cause to address either the litigants or their counsel. While others, simply murmur, making it look as if they are soliloquising.

The story is not different at the FHC Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Although it is one of the new FHCs built some six years ago, the one-storey building, located beside the Rivers State High Court complex at ‘Loco’ is facing the problem of congestion.

The building houses four small court rooms, Judges’ Chambers, a canteen and small administrative offices. The offices are so small that some of the support staff always loiter about for want of space.

Most times, people who have cases in the court end up staying on the ground floor, relying on their counsel and colleagues who are brave enough to remain inside. Atimes they rely on media reports to know the outcome of the cases.

Like the FHC Lagos, those who dared to stay inside the Port Harcourt FHC often come out soaked by their own sweats.

Although air conditioners are installed in the courtrooms, but the overwhelming crowd usually makes it impossible for anyone to feel its impacts.

The situation gets worse when, for whatever reason, there is a blackout and the court’s power generator is out

of use.

Sometimes the judges and lawyers agree to de-robe (remove their wig and gown), while courts are session as a result of the heat.

Litigants, lawyers and others have always complained about the sorry state of the court and suggested its expansion or outright rehabilitation, describing the six-year-old court as antiquated.

Going by the nature of cases argued at the FHCs daily, it is expected that the work environment should be conducive with infrastructure that meet global best practices put in place for effective justice delivery.

Sadly, while a state like Lagos has ensured improved work condition for its judicial officers through the construction of befitting complexes for both Magistrate and High Courts, the Federal Government seems to have turned a blind eye on the state of federal courts across the country.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mukhtar has at various fora, appealed for better budgetary allocation for the judiciary to enable it meet its day-to-day responsibility, but her prayers seem not to have yielded result.

Mukthar, at the commencement of the 2013/ 2014 legal year, lamented the poor funding of the judiciary, which she noted has been on a decline since 2010. According to available statistics, the judiciary had N95 billion allocation in 2010; N85 billion in 2011, N75 billion in 2012 and N67 billion in 2013.

Rather than save the judiciary from its current state of financial helplessness, the executive arm of government, unperturbed by the deterioration of the courts and the attendant effects on justice delivery, allocated N68 billion to the judicial in the 2014 budget.

Reacting to the 2014 allocation after the budget was presented to the National Assembly, the CJN said: “Indeed, with this amount (N68billion), the courts will be left with paltry sum to run their affairs after the amount allocated to the extra-judicial organisations within the judiciary is deducted. Our courts are increasingly finding it difficult to effectively perform their day to day constitutional roles.

“The resultant effect of a slim budget in the judiciary is that a number of courts in Nigeria today face infrastructural decay…In some cases, the court buildings do not possess the required well-equipped library for judges to conduct their research.

This may make judges rely on information supplied by lawyers which should not be the case.

“A resultant effect of low budgeting for the courts is inability to fully embrace ICT as it does not come cheap. In fact, you may be surprised to know that in many magistrate and high courts across the country, the manual method of record keeping is still being used instead of computers where information from records can easily be accessible and retrieved.”

Like the CJN, lawyers and litigants have decried the state of the courtrooms, appealing to the government to appropriate more funds for their upgrade and maintenance.

•A court in session at Federal High Court Lagos.

•Federal High Court Portharcourt.

•Court room Federal High Court, Portharcourt.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

LAW & SOCIETY

Woman, 70, gets six months suspended jail term for child abuse

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N Oyo Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a 70-year-old woman to six month suspended jail term after finding her guilty of child abuse.

Magistrate Jejelola Ogunbona, convicted Madam Sarah Omobonike after she pleaded guilty for abusing her grand daughter, Motunrayo Adewale.

Adewale was alleged to have stolen N100 from her class teacher.

The court also ordered that Madam Omobonike be under probation for six months and cautioned her not to appear before any court again on similar or other offences.

The magistrate also ordered that the state government should take up the

By Adebisi Onanuga

victim and rehabilitate her.

The wife of the executive governor of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi had on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Oyo West Local Government Area of the state rescued the 10-year-old Adewale from the clutches of her grandmother who was maltreating her.

Mrs Ajimobi saw the young girl hawking sachet of pure water at Baptist Primary School, Isokun, Oyo town while she was distributing foodstuff to women in the area, courtesy of the Ajumose Food Bank project.

When Mrs Ajimobi saw her, she noticed that the young girl had a swollen

eye which could not open while the other eye was dripping water. She also noticed big cane marks all over her face.

When asked what happened to her, the little girl told Mrs Ajimobi that she was an orphan and was beaten on the eye by her grandmother.

She said she had not been given any treatment since the incident happened.

Mrs Ajimobi sent for the grandmother and she confessed that she was the one that beat the young girl because she stole.

She also confirmed that the girl’s eye cannot see again.

At the court proceedings she admitted that she was guilty and pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

•Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), overall winner of the Bar Bench 2014 Golf Tournament, receiving trophies from the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim N. Auta

Lagos DPP absolves Pastor of murder

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HE Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has absolved the General Overseer of Perfect Christianity Mission, Pastor Sign Fireman, of the murder of a 12-year-old girl, Bose Ogoja on December 30, last year.

While the DPP could not establish a case of murder against Pastor Fireman, it however, found Ikechukwu Friday Egbo culpable of Ogoja’s murder.

This was contained in a legal advice by the DPP to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), M.A.K. Smith.

The February 27 advice was signed by the DPP’s Director, Ms Olayide Eboda for the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye.

Peter Oboyi, counsel to Fireman told reporters that 18-year-old Ikechukwu Friday Egbo was discovered to have allegedly strangled the girl to obtain her faeces for ritual purposes.

He said Egbo admitted that he had wanted to become rich like his peers and had approached his pastor after years in his church without breakthrough.

He claimed that Fireman told him the way to achieve his financial breakthrough was to get him the faeces of a virgin. Ikechukwu claimed that he (Fireman) promised to give him N100,000 if he achieved the task.

Fireman’s counsel, Oboyi, however, said the claims of Egbo against his clients were all lies.

Reprieve, however, came the way of Fireman when the DPP absolved him of the murder on conclusion of

By Adebisi Onanuga

police investigations into the incident while Egbo was found culpable.

The legal advice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCID, Yaba said: “I am directed to refer to your letter with Ref. No: CB:3514/LSX/ D4/VOL.01/32 dated January 27, 2014 together with the duplicate file forwarded to this office for the issuance of Legal Advice.

“After a careful consideration of the facts contained in the duplicate file, this office is of the opinion that a prima facie case of murder is established against B1-Ikechukwu Friday Egbo only”.

Citing authorities, the DPP said the ingredients of murder was clearly stated.

The DPP listed the ingredient to include the fact that: ”The deceased had died; the death of the deceased was caused by the accused and the act or omission of the accused person caused the death of the deceased, which was intentional with the knowledge that death or grievous bodily harm is its probable consequence”.

The DPP said the facts in the file revealed that the suspect tricked the deceased 12-year-old to the uncompleted building and strangled her.

“The suspect claimed he was asked to strangle a young girl and bring her excreta. He intended to kill the girl and he carried out his intention, but luck ran out on him when he was apprehended by the securitymen of the building where the incident occurred.

“In view of the foregoing, this office shall prosecute the suspect,

•IGP Abubakar Ikechukwu Friday Egbo at the state High Court for the offence of murder. On the other hand, the second suspect is to be released forthwith if still in custody as no case is disclosed against him,” the DPP said.

According to Oboyi, it was discovered in the course of investigations that the suspect, Egbo, was not close to Fireman and does not know him as he claimed.

He said the suspect does not know the street, number and colour of the house of the pastor that he claimed to be working and familiar with.

Oboyi further said the mother of the suspect confessed that some people were using her boy to lie against the pastor.

He said the DPP, based on police investigation, found Egbo culpable of the offence of killing Bose.

Fireman, in his reaction, said the advice of the DPP to the police was not unexpected “because I knew I was innocent”.

He ruled out sueing the police over his arrest since he was not accused of murder.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

NJC vs Rivers State

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NE of the several contradictions in our so called federal consti tution is unfolding in Rivers state. There, the recently sworn in Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Agumagu, has been suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC). His offence according to the NJC is that he was appointed in contravention of section 271 of the 1999 constitution as amended. Justice Agumagu who is the preferred candidate of the Rivers state government, under Governor Chibuike Amaechi, was quickly confirmed by the state assembly and sworn in after a Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi, declared the recommendation of the NJC that Justice Daisy Okocha, should be sworn in as the Chief Judge, as unconstitutional.

The Federal High Court Judge, according to press report, was of the view that the Rivers state government was not a mere rubber stamp in the appointment of a Chief Judge, and that the NJC failed to give any satisfactory reason for their preferred choice. The constitutional provision in context for interpretation in the Justice Agumagu’s saga is section 271(1) which deals with the appointment of a Chief Judge and the Third schedule Part 1(i) paragraph 21(c) which deals with the relevant powers of the National Judicial Council. Section 271(1) provides: “the appointment of a person to the office of Chief Judge of a state shall be made by the Governor of State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State”. On its part, the Third schedule provides: “the NJC shall have power to recommend to the Governors from among the list of person submitted to it by the state Judicial Service Commissions persons for appointments to the offices of the Chief Judges of the States…”

In my humble view, the NJC based on the express provision of the constitution can not recommend to the state Governor, a candidate for appointment to the office of the Chief Judge, a person who is not on the list submitted to it, by the State Judicial Service Commission. Again, the power to appoint the Chief Judge, without equivocation lies with the state Governor, but alas only on the recommendation of the NJC. But even more distressing for our federation is the obvious incongruity of a federal executive body, which is what the constitution lists the NJC as, being imbued with far reaching constitutional oversight of a federating unit in an area that should be the sole prerogative of the federating unit; and in a manner that makes the state alter ego, which is what the Governor is, look helpless and a mere rubber stamp. A clash is inevitable, as the federal and state institutions contend for influence.

The Federal High Court has from the press reports ruled that the Governor of a state is not under compulsion to accept the recommendation of the NJC. Yet, the constitution precariously provides that the Governor can only appoint on the recommendation of the NJC. Obviously the Rivers state Judicial Service Commission prefers Justice Agumagu, but relying on convention and tradition in the Judiciary, the NJC prefers the most senior Judge in the state High Court. Governor Amaechi who has done similar battles in the past to foster his executive powers, even at huge costs, has characteristically opted to fight it out.

Unfortunately, our constitution once again lives up to confusion.

This crisis is not different from the issue of control of Police, fiscal federalism or even resource control. It is a context between the central authority and the federating units. So, while the constitution grants the state executive and legislative authorities co-extensive powers and influence, in the appointment of a state Chief Judge, it also whimsically and indecorously swings that influence to a federal executive body, the NJC. That is the paradox, for which Justice Agumagu may pay dearly; and I guess ‘his sins’ pre-date the current crisis. It started with his accepting a cross appointment from the state customary court of appeal, to act as the Chief Judge of Rivers state, which in my view was against the express provision of section 271(4). But the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge is a different cup of tea, as the constitution did not expressly say that it must be the most senior Judge of the state High Court that should be appointed.

With the NJC rejecting the state preferred Chief Judge; a constitutional crisis is in the making. For I doubt, if the state government will easily back down. Indeed, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, has lived up to an Igbo title: mmiri na ali ugwu. This can be literally interpreted as ‘water flowing up the hill’. Of course, that is without the aid of technology. He has shown an uncommon energy in challenging the status quo. His most recent battle was for the redeployment of the erstwhile state police commissioner, Joseph Mbu. He fought with every ounce of his energy. He has also so far, successfully starred down the presidency and his wife. Until the Governors forum was effectively destabilized by the presidency, he had elevated that platform to a credible voice of challenge to the impunity of the federal behemoth.

While this column, had criticized Governor Chibuike Amaechi over some of his executive actions in the past, the current dispute between the NJC and the state Government in my humble view, is only one more manifestation of our incongruous federal constitution. The failings of our constitution as neither a federal constitution nor a unitary one, has greatly affected the political and socio-economic development of our country. I only hope that the NJC will see it in that light, despite its extensive administrative powers and control over the national judiciary.

For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

LAW PERSONALITY Justice delayed is Justice denied, so goes the saying. But three years after the Fast Track Rules and Procedures was introduced in Lagos, it is yet to achieve result, hence the need to re-orientate lawyers on the rules to achieve set objectives, writes ADEBISI ONANUGA.

On a fast lane

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TAKEHOLDERS in the judiciary converged on the City Hall, Lagos to brainstorm on how to make the Lagos Civil Rules and Procedures 2012, particularly the Fast Track Rules and Procedures work and be effective.

They were unanimous in their call on legal practitioners to stick to the rules and avoid frivolous applications, which they noted, have been the bane of achieving the purpose of fast tracking the rules in the state.

Among those who spoke at the forum were the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayotunde Phillips; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye; Justices of the High Court of Lagos State including Opeyemi Oke; Yemisi WilliansDawodu; Sola Williams; Moji Dada; Efunkumbi Oyefeso and Olubunmi Oyewole now of the Court of Appeal.

They also included Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Monday Ubani and his Lagos Branch counterpart, Alex Mouka; Mr. Tunde Ajibade (SAN); Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; Mr. S.K. Shillings and Tunde Fagbohunlu.

The one-day forum was organised by the state Judiciary and Justice For All (J4A), a project of the British Council, in collaboration with the Human Development Initiatives (HDI).

Justice Phillips, in her opening remarks, admitted that years after the introduction of the Fast Track rules in the state, it was yet to achieve the desired result. She noted that the rules failed because those who were to practise them deliberately refused to comply with the rules and thereby failing to understand the concept.

“From the day it was introduced till date, the Fast Track Procedure has failed. I don’t think we are ready and fully appreciate what it was all about,” she said, adding that the concept of the rules and procedures was to reduce the time spent on litigation to a period not exceeding nine months; from the beginning of an action to delivery of judgment.”

She continued: “This fast track court is what the social economic climate of Nigeria requires now as the world is fast moving towards arbitration in dispute resolution. Nigeria cannot sit on the fence and be watching all these developments around her. We have to be part of the development around the world.”

She, therefore, appealed to stakeholders to partner effectively with the judiciary to make it work. She said a number of judges, under the leadership of Justice Oke, have been designated to handle fast track cases and that they have been working round the clock to ensure that cases are completed within the nine months record time.

Ipaye urged legal practitioners to avoid delay tactics through frivolous applications, which according to him, often prolong matters in court. Noting that justice delayed is justice denied, he reminded them that when justice delivery takes too long, it often made people to lose confidence in the judiciary.

According to him, filing of frivolous application is not the right thing to do if lawyers believe that they don’t have a solid case.

He pointed out that speedy resolution of court cases was important to economic development of the state and that when investors are assured of getting speedy trial in the event of a failed agreement on their investment, they would come in to invest in the state.

“Investors are looking for a justice system that works. They are looking for where they can confidently invest with the expectation that when there are disputes, the disputes can be speedily addressed,” he said.

In her paper titled: “Recent Developments in the operation of the Lagos Fast Track Court”, Justice Oke cited Section 36 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which according to her, provides for fair hearing within a reasonable time. In the determination of his civil right and obligations including any question or determination

by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.”

Citing legal authorities like late Justice (Dr.) Akinnola Aguda and Prof. Itsay Sagay, she said the presently slow process of judicial system in the country is frightening and that many stakeholders have added their voices and shown concern on this issue.

Oke recalled that fast track courts initially came up in 2006, but that there was no strict adherence to the practice direction setting up the courts and that it was business as usual as cases were moved back to the normal track where counsels and parties delay proceedings. According to her, the objective of the fast track initiative was to promote improvement of the commercial justice system by developing a procedure that recognises the importance of a quick resolution of commercial disputes in court towards a positive impact on the economy of the state and the nation as a whole.

Justice Oke, who listed the procedures involve in fast track cases and challenges, urged stakeholders to develop a new commitment in the administration of justice– the Bench, the Bar and the society at large, urging them to take advantage of the considerable potential that exists in the establishment of the fast track court, especially in commercial cases. “Its goals are: competence, commitment and quick dispensation of justice – justice delayed is justice denied,” she said.

Justice Oyefeso, who spoke on similar topic, said there has been mounting criticisms over the years over the inefficiency of disposing of cases through our courts.

She described the fast track court as that of excellence with a high case disposal rate within a short period of time.

“We shall of course, not sacrifice justice on the altar of speed! All our efforts will thus engender investors’ confidence, build confidence in our judiciary and ultimately resolve commercial disputes expeditiously, attract investors who know that once there is a dispute it will be resolved fairly and quickly,” she said.

Justice Williams Dawodu in her paper titled: “Commercial dispute in Lagos State, using the fast track courts”, pointed out that for the fast track procedure to work, there must be adequate understanding by judges and other stakeholders, the technicalities of commercial law and the areas of focus of the fast track procedure, stressing that practitioners need to have a thorough grasp of the fast track procedure in order to “deliver the goods”.

An expert on fast track rules, Mr. S.O.K. Shillings suggested that for fast track rules to succeed and achieve desired objectives, judges appointed to handle cases under the rules should be encouraged to arrange proceedings in the best manner that could achieve the purpose and essence of the project.

He added that firmness and effective award of costs should be encouraged.

“Judges should apply discretion in proceedings to guide against wasting of valuable litigation time, especially by giving hints and directions necessary for end of justice” he said.

Ajibade listed suggestions for effective and successful implementation of the fast track rules. They include: “Involvement of counsel more in the administration and case management than it is done at present; establishment of an exclusive panel of judges to handle fast track matters; involvement of the parties in the creation of a detailed timetable at the inception of the case similar to the notice of allocation in the UK Fast Track and development of a full and proper jurisprudence on costs.

He stressed that costs, as distinct from default fees, should be automatically paid to the non-defaulting party for every 12 defaults that occasion a delay unless notice is given to the court within a specified time frame prior to the agreed date.

•Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (middle), Mr. Ade Ipaye, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General (right) and Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye

•From left: Justice Mojisola Dada, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu and Justice Oyindamola Oluwayemi

•From left: Dr. Muiz Banire, Chief Magistrate Dayo Akintoye and Chief Magistrate Serifa Sonaike

•Mrs. Olamide Akinkugbe, Chief Registrar Abiodun Sondoye and Mrs Busola Okunuga Deputy Chief Chief Registrar.

This, he said, would ensure that counsel and parties are more diligent in ensuring that documents and witnesses, for example, are prepared and available as and when due.

Ubani said lawyers must be dissuaded from employing delay tactics in fast track matters. He urged judges to apply the rules strictly and not allow any of the parties flout them.

He described the fast track procedure as a wel-

come innovation that would encourage commercial transactions of lending and borrowing and give confidence to foreign investors that debt owed would be easily recovered using fast track mechanism.

National Programme Manager, Justice for All, said the relationship between justice and economic development cannot be over emphasised.

Arnot, represented by Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), said this was the reason the British Council was supporting the initiative.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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ADVERT

Easter break for Lagos judge

By Adebisi Onanuga

L

AGOS State Chief Judge Justice Ayotunde Phillips has approved April 18 and April 25 as Easter holiday for judges.

A statement signed by the Chief Registrar, Mrs. I.O. Akinkugbe said the chief judge approved the holidays pursuant to Order 45, Rule 44 (A) & (B) of the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules.

The statement said the judges would resume from vacation on April 28.

The chief judge, however, has made arrangements for dealing with cases that may come up during the period of the vacation.

Justice Phillips directed that each judge would deal with all urgent applications related to any substantive cause already assigned him/her. “Any urgent application, the substantive cause of which has not already been assigned, will be dealt with by the judge to whom the application is specifically assigned.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 45 Rule 4, any cause or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of the easter vacation where such a case is urgent and provided that the condition prescribed by Order 45 Rule 5 shall be observed and complied with,” it added

•Justice Phillips

Lagos accuses Federal Govt of disobeying Supreme Court

By Adebisi Onanuga

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HE Lagos State government has accused the Federal Government of flouting a Supreme Court verdict by putting up the implementation of tourism projects across the states.

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye, said the federal government violated the Supreme Court verdict delivered last year in a case between the Attorney-General of the Federation and Attorney-General of Lagos.

According to him, the Minister of Culture and Tourism on March 4, informed the National Assembly that the Federal Government required N25 billion to implement the country’s Tourism Master-plan.

The Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Ipaye noted, informed the press about the tourism plans to be implemented in the states.

According to Ipaye, the moves by the Minister of Culture and Tourism and NTDC Director-General were a negation of the Supreme Court order.

Last July 19, the Supreme Court held that the Federal Government’s power on tourism matters, as specified in Item 6(d) of the Exclusive Legislative List (1999 Constitution), was limited to the regulation of tourist traffic’.

“By this judgment, the Supreme Court has interpreted this as covering only the entry and exit of international visitors through visa and immigration regulations”. The Supreme Court, he further stated concluded that regulation of tourism in Nigeria was a residual matter within the jurisdiction of state governments.

Ipaye quoted from the lead judgment delivered by Justice Galadima, where the Justice of the Supreme Court said: “In my view the Dictionary definition of “Tourist’ and ‘Traffic’ would accord to my own understanding of simple and natural meaning of the two words. The words ‘tourist traffic’ used in Item 60(d) of the second schedule of the Constitution, alludes to the ingress and egress of tourists from other countries. These

are international visitors or foreigners.

“In the light of the foregoing, the contention of the plaintiff that matters pertaining to the regulation, registration, classification, grading, of hotels, motels, guests houses, restaurants, travel and tour agencies, and other hospitality and tourism related establishment are matters within the Exclusive Legislative List, and cannot be sustained.

“In effect, the Federal Government lacks the constitutional vires to make laws outside its legislative competence which are by implication residue matters for the state Assembly: the National Assembly cannot, in the exercise of its powers to enact some specific laws, take the liberty to counfer power or authority on the Federal Government or any of its agencies to engage in matters which ordinarily ought to be the responsibility of a state government or agencies.

“Such pretext cannot be allowed to endure to the Federal Government or its agencies so as to enable them encroach upon the exclusive constitutional authority conferred on a state under its residual legislative power.

Ipaye pointed out that tourism and cultural festivals that take in place in Lagos State, such as the Adamu Orisa, Black Heritage Festival, Lagos Carnival and New Year countdown were promoted and funded by Lagos State Government without any input from the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture or its agency.

He expressed the fear that money allocated from the federal purse to support festivals may end up with states perceived as friendly, to the detriment of others.

He urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to the Police and Prison Authorities, adding that poor funding of both federal institutions was putting pressure on state security and adversely affecting the criminal justice system.

States such as Lagos, Ipaye noted, were already spending billions of naira to supplement federal agencies on security.

He, therefore, advised the government to focus more on its core responsibilities instead of allocating funds to tourism, which is a local and residual matter for states.

•Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke

•Ipaye

POLITICS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

TINUBU @ 62 The sixth Bola Tinubu Colloquium, which took place in Lagos at the weekend to mark the 62nd birthday of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, provided an opportunity for ordinary Nigerians to articulate some of the country’s daunting challenges and how to get the country out of its present socio-econoic doldrums. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI reports.

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The ‘common man’ finds his voice

HE plight of citizens living in the midst of the insurgency that most Nigerians read about on the pages of the newspaper is pathetic. Take the case of this man, for instance. One fateful evening, members of the Boko Haram insurgency group came to the home of a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri in their numbers to assassinate him.

But, fortunately for him, he was not at home. Realising that they were bent on killing him, the lecturer, simply identified as Mallam Aji, fled from his home and took refuge elsewhere in the city, leaving his wife to take care of things. But when the group visited a second time and did not find the man at home, they concluded that the wife was shielding him. They killed her. “Now, I am saddled with the responsibility of caring for our children. I have to play the role of a father and a mother,” he told the audience at the Sixth Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos last Saturday.

People in Aji’s category live in fear on a daily basis.

A different set of problems confront Alhaji Nasiru Bala Daudawa, who holds a first degree in agricultural economics and a masters in international relations and diplomacy.

At the colloquium, he catalogued the woes of farmers in Katsina State, particularly and the nation in general.

He said the fertilizer distribution programme of the federal government was not working effectively as Nigerians are made to believe and that despite the fact that agriculture employs about 70 per cent of the population, “we still have challenges due to policies that are lopsided,” His words: “We are faced with fertilizer adulteration and the amount of fertilizer we receive is always inadequate. They only send two bags and we have to buy the rest in the open market, where it is often mixed with sand and a 40 kilogrammes (kg) bag of the product is passed off as a 50 kg bag.” Besides, Daudawa said farmers have challenges accessing loans and that they lack access to the 167 million or so consumers in the country due to storage and transportation problems.

He added that his community in Faskari Local Government Area is equally faced with the challenges of cattle rustling. He said farmers in the entire North-west geo-political zone have to cope daily with armed criminals coming to steal their cattle and that if something is not done about this, Nigeria may have another Boko Haram on its hands.

Ali and Daudawa are two of the ordinary Nigerians who spoke at the 2014 Bola Tinubu Colloquium, bringing home to the audience the realities of the challenges of survival confronting Nigerians from various walks of life. The annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium was an idea conceived by close friends and associates of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State. It was conceived as a platform for discourse on the salient issues of national importance.

It takes place annually on March 29, to mark the birthday of a man who has been very outspoken about the downward slide of the country in

•The Most Rev. Ademowo, Asiwaju Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Mrs Abimbola Fashola at the colloquium.

many respects. Unlike the previous years, when prominent personalities were the lead discussants, the 2014 edition, which took place under the theme, “The Summit of the Common Man”, featured ordinary Nigerians.

Others who spoke include Ron Mgbatogu, a 68-year-old retiree and veteran broadcaster from Anambra State. He unloaded his frustration about the plight of pensioners. After working for almost 40 years in the public and private sectors, Mgbatogu is entitled to retirement benefits, but he does not get it when it is due. There are delays in payment due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Most times, he travels risky and long distances to the pension office, only to realise that there is no money for him.

Said Mgbatogu: “How can government take my taxes for 40 years, yet it feels no obligation for me. If there were no religious organisations, folks like me would remain endangered species. I am a homeless man, totally homeless. I have a roof over my head, but I have no place to call a home.”

The veteran broadcaster’s plight highlights the challenges facing retirees in a country where there is no social security.

Elizabeth Unah, a 48-year-old widow from Ebonyi State, spoke about how widows are left to cater for their children, without support from any quarters, the moment their breadwinner is no more. Mrs. Unah, who lost her husband in a fire in 2009, feeds her six children and foots the bil for their education , because her husband left nothing behind for the family.

Chief Eric Dooh, a 45-year old fisherman and native of Goi community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, lost his source of livelihood, following crude oil pollution, which poisoned the wa-

ter and killed the fishes. Like other members of the Niger Delta community, Dooh and his family have no access to clean water to drink. The irony is that the government has turned a deaf ear to the plight of people living in oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta, which remains the goose that lays the golden egg that sustains the Nigerian economy.

Also included in the group of common Nigerians who mounted the podium to vent their frustration on the system that is depriving them of the opportunities to fully realise their potentials in life are Emmanuel Ekpemeze, a 23-year blind student, and Soprinye Victor, a 25-year old unemployed graduate. Miss Victor, a 2010 graduate Niger Delta University, perhaps embodies the disappointment of 47.8 million actively searching for jobs, but unable to find a place of productive engagement.

She had so much expectation of being gainfully employed after her youth service. But so far, the efforts of the Chemical Engineering graduate to secure a job have proved abortive. Her attempt to equally start a business has not been successful.

“I am standing here not because I am a Bayelsan. But I am speaking on behalf of the youths of this country,” she said, adding that the country has all it takes to be rich under various circumstances. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, is perhaps the biggest problem in Nigeria today. It is said that 20.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 35 are unemployed and that 54 per cent of Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 60 are actively looking for a job, but cannot find one.

Indeed, as emphasised at the colloquium last Saturday, the challenges facing the common man in Nigeria are varied, but they all point to one thing: the failure of government to

address issues pertainining to the security and welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

It was also an evening of frank discourse. For instance, the proverbial question that is being asked in Nigeria for a long time, “Who is a common man?” re-echoed at the sixth Bola Tinubu Colloquium last Saturday.

The Attorney-General of Lagos, Ade Ipaye, who anchored the programme, said the common man is usually defined as “that undistinguished commoner, lacking rank, distinction or special attribute.” But he added that “when we look at it closely, it is the ordinary Nigerians, uncommon in their respective ways”. Mgbatogu, the veteran broadcaster, was enthused that finally somebody has hit the nail on the head about his situation. “It took the 62nd birthday of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to situate me as a common man. I thank you very much for that sir,” he noted jocularly.

However, it was when Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State mounted the podium that he elevated the discourse about the common man to a higher level. Fashola said the socalled common man is the biggest stakeholder in Nigeria because he pays his taxes diligently. Indeed, he said the common man, as the biggest investor in the country, has the right to determine the way the country should be run through his vote. But the governor lamented that it is ironical that the common man has not yet recognized that he or she is the biggest investor in the country. Fashola noted that the story of the common man that was told at the gathering suggested that the top job in the country would be a difficult one for that person that emerges as President in 2015. He inferred that the ruling party at the centre was playing politics with religion. He challenged Nigerians to ponder over the problems confronting them wisely and decide who he

‘As emphasised at the colloquium last Saturday, the challenges facing the common man in Nigeria are varied, but they all point to one thing: the failure of government to address issues pertaining to the security and welfare of ordinary Nigerians’

wants to give the top job.

Speaking in the same vein, the celebrant advised Nigerians to use their votes to determine the fate of the country beyond 2015. Earlier, Governor Fashola had informed the audience that Tinubu came from the rank of the common man. His words: “The leader we are celebrating today comes from a humble background. He used to live in a flat somewhere in Aguda, Surulere, Lagos, which got flooded and at a different time he was a disc jokey.

That is perhaps why he has always identified with the common man and fights for the common man.” Similarly, the chairman of the Sixth Bola Tinubu Colloquium, the Most Reverend (Dr.) Ephrain Adebola Ademowo, described Tinubu is a consummate politician, a master strategist, defender of the oppressed, detribalized Nigerian, a libertarian par excellence and a rare gift to humanity.

The first Bola Tinubu Colloquium was held on March 29, 2009. The theme, ‘Every Vote Must Count’, was inspired by the country’s preparation for the 2011 general elections, against the backdrop of lessons learnt from the conduct and outcomes of the 2007 elections. The discussants were Professor Yemi Osibajo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN; Chief Charles Edosonwan, SAN; Mr. Kola Awodein, SAN; and Mr. Tunji Bello. The lead discussant, Mr. David Kangah of the Ghana Electoral Commission submitted that Nigeria must strive to inculcate a culture of democratic practice in its people, as well as safeguard the electoral process with adequate legal and institutional framework with proper checks and balances that would prevent manipulation by ruling parties.

A major outcome of the first colloquium was the inauguration of the Coalition of Democrats foe Electoral Reform (CODER).

The theme of the second colloquium was ‘This House Must Stand!

Pulling Nigeria from the Brink’’ and the lead discussant was renowned economist and innovator, Dr. Hernando de Soto. He spoke on extra legality as it affects world economies and human rights. Other discussants at the occasion include Mrs. Maryam Uwais, MFR; Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Mr. Babatunde Ahonsi and Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu.

The third colloquium addressed the pertinent question, ‘Nigeria: Why isn’t it Working?’ The fourth one, which took place under theme, ‘Looking Back, Thinking Ahead’, was in response to the need to review the successes and failures of the Asiwaju administration and its successor towards articulating the lessons learnt in drafting a direction for the future. The fifth colloquium, on the other hand, sought to create a platform for broad-based political movement for true national transformation. A major part of the strategy for achieving this, was to bring some new and younger voices to the table, to interrogate and propose ways by which the political space can be more inclusive, especially how the increasingly cynical youth can become involved in the national movement to save Nigeria.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

HEALTH

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes that affordable and good healthcare delivery is possible if only the government and the people play their roles.

• From left: Dr Sonaiya, Dr Pitan and Prof Utomi

How to make health care affordable

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FTEN, the complaints of many is that they do not have money to take care of their health.

Even at the point of death, they are hoping that someone will pick up their hospital bills. Should that be the case? No, says a panel at the health forum tagged: “Democratising health care”, organised by the Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL) in honour of Prof. Oyin Ade-Elebute to mark her 80th birthday. Nigerians, they argued, must be responsible for their health, and as such change their mindset of expecting the government to provide about 80 per cent health facility/structure and drugs.

The panelists were professor of political economy and management expert, Prof Pat Utomi; Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Akin Osibogun; former Lagos State Health Commissioner Dr Leke Pitan; Group Managing Director (GMD), Hygeia Nigeria Limited, Mrs Fola Laoye; Executive Director, Total Health Trust Limited, Dr Ebun Sonaiya and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Mr Patrick Okigbo.

According to Utomi, revolution jumpstarts any meaningful development, “but revolution is not limited to riots or carrying of weapons or staging protest. Discussions, such as this, thermostat people into action. Part of the revolution is the discussion being held here today.”

He said: “Nigerians deserve good healthcare and it is time they started buying into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). They should not wait for the government to provide everything before they could enjoy qualitative life. If they could recharge their handsets, they are capable of saving towards a better healthcare for themselves.”

Utomi said there could be a revolution of ideas, new ways of doing things. A lot of Nigerians, he said, believe they cannot get good healthcare and have given up.

“They are using different kinds of ways to obtain health care, which is why life expectancy is low. Nigerians, a poll had found out, believe healthcare can be accessible by all- the poor and the rich alike.,” he said.

He continued: “There are different ways of realising that. For example, subscribing into NHIS and taking money directly from oil revenue based on the capital of Nigerians that

1PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID • Frof left: Mr Okadigbo, Mrs Laoye and Prof Osibogun.

are available. Importantly, we need to educate people that their health is more important than the title, speaking on the phone for two hours and other things they commit their resources to such as parties and wanton luxury.

“If they commit their money into NHIS for instance, no corruption can take it like pension fund. They can hold people with faces accountable such as the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMO), just as they can hold telecommunication companies, which they subscribed to accountable. It is a right and they must get it. See what APC is doing with school health and food. If this wastage in government is stopped, Nigerians can be provided with good health, education and food.

“See what is going on in Brazil and India why can’t we do the same here in Nigeria. If there are more healthy people, the government gets richer because more people would work and be economically productive. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”

To Prof Osibogun, maintenance of the structure and equipment are some of the banes the health sector faces.

“When structure and equipment are in place and cost of maintenance is rather high. It is always a mirage when patients come in droves and the equipment is not available because it has broken down. Negligence of infrastructure is the blight of health structure.”

Mrs Laoye was of the opinion that providing good healthcare to Nigerians is possible going by the success story of Kwara State community health insurance, which Hygeia piloted. “If more people pooled resources together and the money is aggregated, it would be easy for all to access good healthcare on a timely and affordable note. There is need for redistribution of wealth. Redistribution is important, so all can be able to access health. Less than five million Nigerians have access to NHIS out of the 160 million Nigerians. I have confidence that Hygeia success story can be replicated at the national level for the benefit of all Nigerians,” she said.

A

• From left: Dr Kuku, Prof Utomi, Prof Oyin-Ade Elebute and her husband, Prof Ade Elebute According to Dr Sonaiya, Nigerians should as a matter of urgency, change their mindset that money put in health sector is money put down the drain. “If people contribute into NHIS, there would be good healthcare and other job opportunities such as cooks, nurses, medics and the generality of the health force, as more patronage would involve more hands to be attended to.

“There is a national policy. The problem is implementation. Nigerian government cannot provide anything for free. The government is not spending on anything. It is a case of Bishop getting fat and the church, getting lean. Anytime Nigeria tends to be discussed, I slip into depression. Revolution is going too far. Some transformation is necessary, but not revolution involving weapons and destruction.

“People in government should have a rethink and leave good legacy. If not for some men that thought it wise that free education and health should be available, men like me would possibly have ended up at the back of danfos,” said Dr Sonaiya.

Dr Pitan was of the opinion that it is high time all thought out of the

box, “By democratisiting healthcare, we want to ensure that the health outcomes and health indices of Nigerians such as life expectancy, maternal mortality rate; infant mortality rate and survival rate for many illnesses are at their lowest and are comparable to those of other advanced nations,” Pitan said. Many things, according to him, are responsible for the poor indices.”

He spoke of problems with health system financing, such as limited access to low interest financing for healthcare improvement, challenges with achieving buy-into existing health insurance system, like NHIS, Low PPP initiatives in health.

Other problems, Dr Pitan said, are problems with human resources management: Inadequate number of properly trained healthcare professionals especially in the medical super-specialties, challenges with brain drain; poor infrastructure planning.

Inadequate number and poor locations of well-equipped healthcare facilities and limited specialty centres.

He further identified challenges with healthcare administration as square pegs in round holes, poor management of health facilities, low pri-

‘Nigerians deserve good health care and it is time they started buying into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). They should not wait for the government to provide everything before they could enjoy qualitative life. If they could recharge their handsets, they are capable of saving towards a better healthcare for themselves’

vate sector participation and integration.

Dr Pitan said there is under performing public health structure, such as poor human resources, reactionary rather than prevention focused and endemic poverty, such as inability of a majority of the population to purchase the needed healthcare due to their poor socioeconomic status.

Dr Pitan said the way out is to address the factors and ensure a level of equality, good governance and development all of which are essential tenets of a democratised nation.”

Mr Okigbo said the few success stories recorded in some of the PDP states was as a result of, “nerve-racking achievements seen in some APC - controlled states such as Lagos under Governor Babatunde Fashola, that propelled more PDP states into action.

“Nigerians must take their destiny in their hands by demanding for a better health care,” he said.

Prof Utomi concluded that, “the occasion is a good way of setting agenda for the government and the governed because legacies live after men. The contributions of Prof (Mrs) Elebute to the health sector are overwhelming.

Dr Sonny Kuku was a student and perhaps her oldest and at 80, she is being celebrated for those sacrifices and seizing opportunities to influence life.

“Permit me to read a quote, ‘When wealth is lost nothing is lost; when health is lost something is lost, but when character is lost everything is lost’. Our leaders have lost their character, Nigeria is lost”.

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

HEALTH

DENTAL TALK

Endometriosis is a highly misunderstood gynaecological disorder.WALE ADEPOJU reports a group’s effort to create awareness about the condition.

with Dr Samuel Awosolu 08108155239 (SMS Only); email- samawosolu@yahoo.co.uk

Oral health care for diabetics

D

P

EOPLE from all walks of life are seeking to end endometrosis.

They marched from Muri Okunola Park through Ikoyi Bridge down to Onikan Stadium to muster support against it.

Endometriosis is a common disorder that affects women of reproductive age. This occurs when normal endometrial tissue, that is, the lining of the uterus, is growing outside the womb lining; this can be found anywhere within the abdominal cavitybehind the uterus, in the ovaries, the lungs,the umbilical area, or even in the breasts.

The event tagged: “Million women march for endometriosis” was organised by the Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria (ESGN) as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day (WED).

Nigeria representative, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, said the disorder is a common gynaecologic problem which is fairly unknown and grossly misunderstood.

He said the organisation was established with the sole aim of assisting women who are challenged with the condition.

He said ESGN help people understand the condition, learn about its treatment options and best care practices.

Ajayi said ESGN is the only organisation focusing on the condition in Nigeria and West Africa.

He said the mission of the body was to provide educational and professional expertise in the enlightenment and treatment of endometriosis.

“We provide free diagnosis and treatment to women with endometriosis to alleviate their

•A cross section of people walking against endometriosis

March for endometriosis

By Wale Adepoju

pains and improve quality of life.

“Also, to provide a support system and counselling platform for those facing the condition,” he added.

Ajayi, who is also the Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, said endometriosis is a chronic disease where tissues that are normally found in the lining of the womb/ uterus are now found elsewhere in the body.

“These tissues from lesions which are often found on the ovaries and other organs within a woman’s pelvis are now seen in the lungs and even in the brain” he added.

He said during the menstrual flow, the lesions also bleed in their respective locations outside the womb.

This, he said, can cause inflammation and formation of scar tissue, leading to pain. “Subsequently, the organs bearing the lesions tend to stick together in a condition called adhesions”.

He said endometriosis can cause ovarian cysts, which is fluid-filled masses in the ovaries that can sometimes become large and painful.

Ajayi identified chronic pelvic

pain, period pain and pain during and after sexual activity as common symptoms of endometriosis.

Others are fatigue, painful bowel movement during periods and lower back pain, among others.

He said 30 to 50 per cent of women with endometriosis experience some degrees of infertility, adding that not all women with the condition have symptoms as some only get diagnosed when they seek help for problem with fertility.

Ajayi said the pain caused by endometriosis was physical and mentally exhausting, adding that it can have impact on all aspects of a woman’s life: “Also, we have been organising radio talk shows as well as using social media, television programme, press column write-ups and articles,” he added.

He said there were train the trainer educational series and annual celebration of the condition.

Ajayi said ESGN with its partners such as Nordica Fertility Centre, teaching hospitals and other professionals in reproductive health efforts are being

made to carry out large scale widespread research work into the condition as it concerns Nigeria.

He said the body needed volunteers to help run free helpline and set up local support groups.

“Also, donations to the foundation are welcomed,” he added.

He added that the victims can share their story so that others can learn and appreciate the seriousness of the condition.

He said backward flow of menstrual discharge through the fallopian tube into the pelvis may be the cause, adding there were many theories about how it began.

He said the endometrial cells may implant on the ovaries or elsewhere in the pelvic cavity.

Ajayi explained that surgical excision of endometriotic cysts or tissue may be recommended.

“Adhesion may be surgically removed in an attempt to clean up the pelvis.

“All surgeries can be carried out by operative laparoscopy/ laparotomy. Hormonal treatment is also available to suppress the chronic irritation and cysts caused by endometriosis,” he said.

Doctor warns of heart attack as ‘medical emergency’

N

IGERIANS have been advised to know their health status becasue such information will help in preventing heart attack as a medical emergency.

A cardiologist, Dr Opeyemi Ashafa, said heart attack is treacherous and can pose as an emergency in other health conditions.

Dr Ashafa said heart attack happens when the supply of blood rich in oxygen to a section of a heart muscle suddenly becomes obstructed (blocked), and if the blockage of the blood is not addressed and there is not enough supply of blood for a long time, the heart muscle will become damaged or die out rightly.

"Heart attack frequently classed under coronary heart diseases (CHD), is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your

B

By Yusuf Hamuzah

heart. When plaque becomes big in the arteries, it will 'line up the arteries', i.e block the arteries. If nothing is done to clear this 'clog' medical damage to the heart is inevitable and the sufferer may find it difficult to sleep at night, the condition is also called "Atherosclerosis".

This damage of heart can cause long suffering. When heart failure happens to someone and is not treated quickly it can cause death."

Dr Ashafa said plaque can be prevented from blocking the heart arteries, or even be 'cleared off'. "There is something called modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors in heart attack. The non-modifiable risk factors are conditions that increase your risk factors of developing Cardio-vascular diseases.

Some risks factors are called nonmodifiable because you cannot

change them; such include gender, family heart history, race and age. The modifiable risk factors can be changed or treated such as high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity or overweight."

The symptoms According to him, "Heart attack is an emergency. If you experience a sharp or dull pain 'walking' or 'crawling' on the left side of your body, that can cause heart disease, quickly visit your doctor, because it is not a disease that can be treated at home. It is generally without symptoms, except one goes for medical screening. But once you feel even a dull pain in a part of your body, which moves from one part to other such as chest pain moving to arms, back, shoulder do not wait a minute longer. Go to a medical hospital."

Prevention Dr Ashafa said heart attack can be prevented through the will power to change some risk factors such as not drinking alcohol, smoking or use of tobacco which, "can damage your heart and blood muscles. Regular screening or monitoring of the Blood pressure (Bp) is advised.

"And if detected early, the health care team can quickly commence treatment such as putting the patient on oxygen, so that your heart doesn't work as hard. You will get morphine that will help in reducing pain and other medicines that prevent blood clot.".

After the treatment, "when you are discharged from the hospital you will likely need to take medicine possibly for the rest of your life. Always talk to your health provider before stopping or changing such medications."

600,000 beneficiaries for Kwara health scheme

ENEFICIARIES of the Kwara State community Health Insurance Scheme are expected to hit 600,000.

The beneficiaries are about 80,000 and by 2018, there will be 600,000, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

Ahmed spoke at the launch of the community

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

health insurance scheme in Share, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Govermnent Area and the opening of the remodelled General Hospital in the town.

He described the scheme, which involves the state government, the Dutch Health Insurance Fund,

Hygeia Community HealthCare, and PharmAccess Foundation, as an ideal example of public private partnership in the provision of qualitative healthcare at the grassroots.

The governor said his administration rehabilitated and equipped the general hospitals in Share, Ilorin, Offa, Kaiama and Omu Aran

at N4billion due to its strong desire to enhance the wellbeing of the people in tangible ways.

Ahmed noted that all the five rehabilitated hospitals had been well equipped “with modern equipment that will ensure that our people access quality, affordable and comprehensive healthcare”.

IABETES mellitus is a disease state where there is an excess level of glucose in the blood over a long period of time.

The high blood glucose is loosely referred to as high blood sugar, as glucose is a type /class of sugar. The condition can damage many body parts including the heart, vessels, eyes, kidneys and literarily could affect all body organs. The incidence in the general population is rising at an alarming rate.

The resultant effect on the heart and the blood vessels can lead to cardiovascular accidents, strokes, renal and organ failures. Infections can set in such as gangrene of the limbs, ulcers etc.

Whilst Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, a lot can be done to slow down the problems or complications that could arise with regards to the oral health of the diabetic.

Diabetics tend to have a higher incidence of gum and supporting tissues problem, referred to as gingivitis and periodontitis. This does not preclude these two conditions happening to non-diabetic patients.

Plaque which is a sticky film full of germs accumulates continually on the surface of the teeth and this is the cause of oral health problems. Plaque is pronounced as PLAK. High blood glucose levels encourages the germs in the plaque to grow, the resultant effect is a red sore and swollen gum, this makes the gums to bleed readily most especially after brushing. This is the first sign of inflammation of the gums, gingivitis noticed. A patient told his dentist that he noticed bleeding in the gums when ever he brushed. I also had an experience with a lady who actually was of the opinion she might soon be anaemic because she sees blood every time in her saliva whenever she brushed her teeth.

Diabetics have to take extra care of their oral health as there is tendency to have more gum and tooth problems, more so when the blood glucose levels are poorly controlled or poor compliance with their medication. A rough guide will be to be aware that the likelihood of getting a bad case of gum disease and teeth where the teeth may become lose is someone with diabetes over the age of forty-five.

Should the gingivitis and periodontal problems be ignored, in time the gums pull away from the teeth and the teeth appear to be long and unsightly apart from the likelihood of mobility of the teeth.

It will be logical for most diabetics to visit the dentist more regularly than the general population for routine check up and to have a preventive therapy. It will be necessary to bring your medication to the dentist at any visit and to take the medication regularly as advised by the general practitioner. The general medical practitioner will be in a position to advise how best to control your blood sugar levels.

Diabetics who have had some dental work may have some sore mouth after treatment, making chewing difficult, it will be therefore necessary to take steps to adjust the daily routine whilst the mouth heals.

T

Emerging trends in oral and oropharyngeal cancer

HE reactions surrounding the recent legislation on smoking in public places is very much palpable in current time.

The use of Cannabis, Hashish, pot, grass, Igbo, dagga,just some local names for substances and the water-pipe , a new addition to the local scene, new not in its existence but in its existence locally. It is a new past time glorified in some Nollywood movies and popular among the younger generation.

Oral and oro-pharyngeal cancer hitherto found in the midforty and the mid-fifty age group in the population, some of the incidence in this age group is attributed to the presence of human papiloma virus and the changing trends in sexual behaviour which include multiple partners, and oro-genital.

The recent studies in South Africa have shown a link between cannabis smoking, hookah pipe smoking, hubbly bubbly as it is called. Cannabis smoking is greatly associated with human papiloma virus positive oro-pharyngeal cancer.

The correlation is direct and there is increased risk with increased usage. Studies have attributed a four-fold increase in oro-pharyngeal cancer when compared in users of cannabis and the non-users. The risk further increases with sustained use roughly 11 times more likely for users of cannabis for periods longer than five years when compared to non users...

This trend in South Africa follows similar trend elsewhere in comparative age groups of young adults Cannabis alters the cells of the upper respiratory tract to become cancerous, it is likely that substances found in cannabis, the cannabinoids modify the immune system making it easier for the human pappiloma virus to spread especially during other genitor oral intercourse. Once the virus spread the continuous presence of the cannabinoid cause the progress and persistence of human papiloma virus promotes tumors. This is because the immune system which was to protect against cancer becomes suppressed.

•See you next week

47

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

NCAA, FAAN ready for Nigeria’s re-certification T

HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are ready for the recertification of Nigeria by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA).

The audit began this week as the team of inspectors from the US would visit major airports to re-evaluate safety and security issues and processes andprocedures in line with prescribed rules by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The FAA awarded Nigeria Category One safety status in 2010 after it certified the country for meeting the International Aviation Safety Assessment standards.

Spokesman of the aviation agencies, Yakubu Dati, told The Nation that the status has declared Nigeria’s airspace worthy.

“Within the space of three years after this certification, the various parastatals under the Ministry of Aviation have attained significant milestones,” Dati said, adding that FAAN has between 2010 and 2014, reached a new height, as the organisation is committed to making a conscious effort in keeping both passengers and the public safe and secured at the airports.

“FAAN is fully compliant with ICAO standards for fire-fighting and rescue operations. Before July 2011,

•Audit team arrives from US

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

there were only 20 fire tenders available, but now, FAAN has 46 fire tenders. In addition, 450 brand new kits, (equipment as well as personal protective clothing) have been provided for all firemen and women. This has been done to enable firemen efficiently carry-out their duties in securing and safe-guarding the airport terminals, staff and passengers,” he said.

He noted that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), through the new Air Traffic Management system deployed under the TRACON project, has improved the safety.

“The TRACON project has been completed with approach radar control in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Area Radar commenced in ontrol Centres. This has significantly increased airspace capacity for the Nigerian aviation industry,” he said.

He said TRACON has improved safety in the sector in addition to the deployment of control tower solar power for navigational aids, which were unavailable for a long time, and now Nigeria has six navigational aids and 11 control towers to its credit.He said in the review period, NCAA re-

corded major achievements after the Category one certification in 2010, adding that one of these achievements, is the deployment of flight tracking system, Automated Flight

H

•’It’s good to know amount spent on maintenance’ most people are talking about the Petroleum Minister.

“It is an essential tool to facilitate business and meetings. That is the global practice. But, in Nigeria, the issue is being misinterpreted in some quarters that government officials are using business jets.”

The moderator of the forum, Mr Alan Peaford, said it was normal for oil and gas corporations to use business jets, pointing out that for senior government officials and high networth individuals to move around, they need to secure private /business jets that could move them to locations where scheduled operators do not fly into.

He said: “Business jets are required to move senior government officials and key personnel of major oil and gas organisations around to negotiate business that would bring wealth to the country. Nothing is wrong if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is using business jets to facilitate their operations.”

An oil and gas logistics operator, Nuhu Adams, said business jets used by government officials were not luxury, as some people are insinuating.

been successfully certified under this programme and the exercise is currently on going. With the restructuring of the NCAA, Nigeria will have an affective, proactive aviation safety regulator similar to what is found in any advanced countries of the world,” he added.

•From left: Director, Air Transport Regulation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Justus Wariya; Managing Director, Bytol Travel and Tours Mrs. Biyi Olugbodi and Commercial Manager, Gambia Bird West Africa Sodieri Osei-Bonsu at the unveiling of Gambia Bird Airline in Lagos.

Operators back probe of chartered jet users OW should the ongoing probe of use of chartered jets by some top government officials be ? It should be done without sending wrong signals that the government is against its officials hiring jets, says a private operator Mr Segun Demuren, Managing Director of Evergreen Apple Nigeria Limited, a private charter terminal operator and aircraft maintenance centre, said the probe should not allowed to jeopardise their business.

At a Nigerian Business Aviation Conference on Lagos, Demuren said the operators were not against the probe to ascertain how much was spent on the maintenance of the aircraft chartered.

He said comments about the use of private, or business jets and their operators have the tendency to stunt the growth of the business.

Demuren said business aviation is key to the development of the economy, noting: “Serious business transaction and meetings for top government officials and player in private sector reguire fast movement, which is only facilitated by business/ private jets. It is not luxury at all, as

Information Reporting System (AFIRS) which was unavailable in the country before the FAA certification.

“Another pertinent milestone is the IOSA certification and interlining which has never been done in Nigeria. Two local airlines have

“It is just a tool for organising serious high networth business.”

Meanwhile, Acting Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation authority (NCAA) Benedict Adeyileka said the authority has set up a General Aviation Directorate to regulate private jets’ operations.

He said: “Over 200 business and private jet flights clearances are processed by the NCAA monthly.

“Over 50 per cent of the civil aircraft registered in Nigeria are used for business and general aviation operations. More than 80 per cent of helicopters registered in Nigeria are used for business aviation operations.”

Officials of Executive Jets and Evergreen Apple Nigeria Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Triton Aviation, Executive Jets, Evergreen, Topbrass Aviation, Air First, Kings Airline, Easy Air, Prime Air and Concord Airlines were also at the parley.

The aircraft type used by these operators range from : Challenger 300, 605, Hawker Siddley Beechcraft 900 series, Hawker Siddley 125 , Hawker Siddkey 4,000, Learjet 45, Dornier, as well as Global Express, Gulfstream and Embraer Legacy 1,000.

Expert: airlines require multiple licensing structure THE Chief Executive Officer, Topbrass Aviation, Captain Roland Iyayi, has called for a multiple licensing structure for airlines. The implementation of such structure should be determined by the scale of operations, he said.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), Iyayi said, should license airlines according to the type of aircraft they use for their operations, arguing that classifying all scheduled operators under the same structure was inappropriate.

He stressed that charter operators, schedule operators and carriers who use small and medium range equipment should not be classified into the same operational category.The proposed licensing structure, he said, should be determined by the scale of operations of the affected airlines, such that the regulatory framework will cater for the carriers according to the volume of operations.

Iyayi told The Nation that the structure should include: air taxis, for airlines that use small propeller aircraft; regional operators, for those that utilise medium range aircraft and national airlines, which have capacity to fly over the country, arguing that it does not make economic sense to classify all scheduled operators under the same operational regime.

He called for reduction in tariffs and charges levied airlines, saying that only levy reduction could stimulate the growth of the business. He said the old tariff structure obtainable in the industry is long overdue for review, bemoaning the rate of insurance for registered aircraft, which he said is propeled by the high risk classification of Nigeria.

Iyayi canvassed the need to reconsider the manpower in the sector’s master plan, saying it is key to its sustainability.

He said aviation agencies should be in one complex to reduce the amount of time spent by operators while sorting out regulatory and other aeronautical issues.

He appealed to government to make land available around the airport to enable private sector players have a window to invest in aeronautical and other businesses, which he explained, is in line with the airport city project.

He also canvassed the convocation of a stakeholders consultative forum, to serve as a platform for industry players to examine the problems of the industry and offer solutions.

‘How to make airspace safe’

•From left: Demuren and convener of Nigerian Business Adeyileka and Achuzie Ezenagu, Managing Director Toucan Aviation at the conference in Lagos.

AIRSPACE managers have been charged to sustain the drive for highquality air navigation service delivery to airlines in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Ibrahim Abdulsalam, said in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the quarterly meeting of airspace managers from 26 airports across the country, that the agency could not afford to be left behind in the provision of quality service if it must be relevant in the 21st century.

He said management would do everything possible to ensure that most of the challenges at the various stations are tackled systematically to enhance effective operations.

Staff welfare, he said, would remain the focus of his management, adding: “Acquisition of modern technology without prerequisite training will amount to nothing.”

He charged the managers to key into the agency’s corporate vision of becoming one of the leading air navigation services’ providers in the world.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

48

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Customs, importers trade words over seized goods

I

MPORTERS and truck drivers have accused some Customsmen of harassing them on the streets after the clearance of their goods at the ports.

They alleged that men of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ always intercepted their goods on Lagos roads after being released under the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), at the ports.

Some of the officers, the importers claimed, demand between N200,000 and N500,000 and sometimes more, as bribes to get the goods released.

But, FOU’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Uche Ejesieme described the allegations as baseless and fabricated.

The action of the FOU officers, the im-

• ‘Cargoes were wrongly released at ports’ • It’s a case of extortion, agents allege Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

porters said, could be likened to “second clearing” after they had been cleared by other senior Customs officers.

They appealed to the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Finance and the Customs leadership, to call the FOU officers to order.

Around 3.00pm last Friday, some of the officers were seen a few metres from the Apapa Port, stopping truck drivers over the goods they are conveying.

The exercise led to heavy traffic,

which left motorists complaining.

They urged the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, to restrain his men.

The Nation learnt that in 2011, Dikko ordered out of the road operatives of the anti-smuggling arm who men roadblocks impound containers already cleared.

The directive followed complaints and petitions over the operatives excesses.

A commuter, Mr James Okwudili, said the FOU officers have no right to seize containers that are less than five kilometres away from the ports.

“These are officers the nation expects to go into the bush and creek to combat smuggling harassing innocent and law-abiding importers on the road. If there is a problem with what the truck driver took from the port to the main road, who do we blame? Who is responsible for the release of cargo from the port? Is it not Customs? Is it because of their own inefficiency that the rest of us would not be allowed to carry on with our businesses? he queried.

“Customs said the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) was introduced to make cargo clearance easy from the port, but what we are seeing on this road daily is not what we expected from the scheme. We had hoped that since Customs has taken over all aspects of cargo clearance, the issues of falsified documents, under declaration, over invoicing and other import related problems, would be resolved when the goods are still inside the ports,” Okwudili added.

A security officer, who was on the scene, said they had in the past advised the Customs officers to map out strategies to ensure that only certified goods are allowed to leave the ports, wondering why a Customs officer would release a cargo from the port for another to intercept it on the main road.

“Who released the goods? Why must a Customs officer release the cargo from the port in broad day light and another officer would be saying the owner of the goods, or the truck driver has questions to answer? Why? It shows that the level of trust among the Customs officers has degenerated and there is nobody in control,” the security officer said.

A car dealer, Mr Sunday Adegoroye, said the officers were violating the Comptroller-General’s ban on hinterland patrol because of what they intend to gain from truck drivers.

He said if the importer disobeys any import law, he should have been prevented by the mechanism put in place by the Customs from taking the goods out of the port.

He said any officer who releases questionable goods should be disciplined to serve as deterrent to others.

“Those responsible for the intercepted goods must also be punished because it shows that some people somewhere are not doing what they are supposed to do, and that is why we have this problem on the road.

Ejesieme said the unit’s operation was more of intelligence, adding that its operatives impound suspicious containers that were wrongly released from the ports.

FOU officers, he said, have the power to intercept any container that is against the Federal Government’s fiscal policy.

“If they were given information that there was a manipulation in the document presented for the release of the cargo from the port, our officers would go there and intercept the item and the release officer would be asked to report to FOU and subsequently to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

“FOU is an enforcement unit of the Nigeria Customs Service and our job it to complement the efforts of every Customs command in the zone.”

The motive, he said, was to ensure that no importer or clearing agent succeeded in shortchanging the government.

He appealed to Nigerians to give the unit information that could lead to the arrest of fraudulent importers.

Make dry port operational, govt told

T

• A Customs officer stopping a truck on the road.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Fed Govt to evolve world-class transport system

T

HE Federal Government is set to evolve a world-class transport system that will position Nigeria as a hub in West and Central Africa.

Speaking at the 12th Intermodal Africa 2014 Exhibition and Conference in Lagos, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said the government would establish a safe, efficient, affordable and seamless intermodal transport system in line with global best practices.

He canvassed an enabling environment for Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Over 700 participants attended the event.

The promotion of intermodalism, he said, envisaged among others, the connection of all state capitals, seaports, airports and river ports with railway lines to complement the road infrastructure across the country.

He said the Ministry of Transport, approved the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to host the exhibition and conference as a reflection of the

Federal Government’s efforts and determination to showcase the programmes and projects being undertaken under the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The maritime sector, the minister said, remains a key sector of the economy, adding that its enormous potential deserves continuous harnessing to meet the expectations of the government and the people.

“Over the last two years, Nigeria has been carrying out a number of reform measures aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency in the various ports. For instance, the 24hour operation has been achieved in the Lagos Ports where more than 60 per cent of our port activities take place.

“For the long term, the government is making concerted efforts towards ensuring the development of deep seaports in the country. This is the ultimate solution to the port congestion as the cargo handling capacity is beyond their designed capacity.

“The Federal Government has ap-

proved the development of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, which is expected to handle bigger vessels, and create employment. The port is to be developed under Public-Private Partnership (PPP),” he said.

In maritime safety and security, the minister said the deal between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the private sector is yielding results.

The Federal Government, he added, has granted approval to NIMASA for the removal of wrecks and derelicts on a ‘no-cure-no-pay’ basis to provide for safe navigation in our waterways.

The Managing Director NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi urged the participants to key into the Federal Government programmes by investing in the transport sect.

The potential of the sector, Abdullahi said, is enormous and called for synergy between the government and the private investors to promote the transport sector and boost the economy.

HE Oyo State Shippers Association (OYSSA) has urged the Federal Government to make the dry port at Erunmu, near Ibadan, and the Trans-National Border Market (TBM) at Saki operational.

Its President, Dr Ayo Omotosho, said such a move would enhance economic activities in those areas.

He praised the government for providing the enabling environment for the export of agricultural products and made-in-Nigeria goods.

Omotosho said he was happy that the government provided loans for importers, industrialists and farmers in the state, saying that the loans have boosted the purchase of farming equipment, adding that the Oyo State Government has provided the association with an administrative office and a vehicle for the TBM project.

“The OYSSA’s visit to Oyo State Government made us to understand that the state government will reconstitute and inaugurate the implementation committee on the dry port as well as the TBM project.

“The committee, which will include the Organised Private Sector (OPS) as well as government’s officials, is to fast track the development of the dry port and the market,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello said there are 27 shippers’ associations in the country, including OYSSA. “It is pertinent to note that from our investigations, some of the 27 associations have not been living up to the expectations of the NSC,’’ Bello said.

He said admission of persons who were not genuine shippers into the associations was not healthy.

He urged OYSSA not to pursue a path that would not be in consonance with the objectives of the association, urging members to be above board.

“Maritime industry remains a key gateway to the nation’s industrial growth and the pivot on which even the oil and gas industry stands.

“At the centre of operation in the industry, the key players are the shippers whose cargoes are the major attraction to both the shipping companies and the terminal operators,’’ Bello said.

He said the shippers’ associations were expected to play critical roles that would enhance the ports’ “regulatory responsibility”.

Bello said this would enable the council to succeed in restoring sanity and regulating the charges being imposed by the firms and the terminal operators.

Hire more dockworkers, group pleads

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HE President, National Association of Stevedoring Company (NASC) Mr Bolaji Sunmola has urged private oil and gas firms to employ more dock workers to reduce unemployment.

He commended the effort of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for training the dock workers, adding that there had been an improve-

ment in their salaries.

“We want to thank NIMASA for this; they’ve done one or two trainings in the recent past, but we told them this is not enough because we need capacity building.

“We have told them that the issue of training should be a continuum; it is not something you do and you stop because we must continue to acquire skills to promote the sector.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

49

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Anxiety as electricity workers’ probation ends today

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HERE is anxiety over the fate of electricity workers as their probation under a new management expires today. The workers are worried because they do not know what will be their fate.

Their fears are fuelled by the fact that the power firms may sack more workers in order to reposition themselves for optimal growth. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), last November, sacked 65 per cent of the 48,000 workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in line with the provisions of the reforms.

Those retained were put on probation from November last year to this month. This is part of the process aimed at facilitating transition from the state-owned electricity company to privately-driven institutions.

By Akinola Ajibade

A visit to the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company, showed that the workers are concerned on what their fate may be at the end of the probation.

While many are afraid of retrenchment, others are adopting a waitand- see attitude oblivious of the implication of the probation.

An official at IKEDC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the fate of his colleagues is unknown yet, considering the slow pace of development in the sector. He said there was apprehension among the workers, having escaped the earlier sack by the BPE, adding that intense lobbying is going on among the workers to save their jobs as nobody is sure of what would happen

‘NNPC to fix vandalised

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pipelines soon’

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is making efforts to fix vandalised pipelines, including the Forcados supply lines in the next few months to boost gas supply for improved electricity supply, the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige, has said.

He told The Nation that the corporation is struggling with gas supply outages caused by vandals, but assured that NNPC is making efforts to fix the pipelines in the next couple of months.

Asked on the continued complaints about gas supply shortages and what the Corporation is doing to find lasting solution to the situation, he said NNPC is building more gas pipelines, but unfortunately these efforts are not seen

by Nigerians because no sooner than NNPC completes repairs of one pipeline than the vandals destroy another. This makes NNPC to be repairing one vandalised pipe or the other at any point in time, Ige explained.

He said: “But we are having serious short-time challenge and there are two things responsible for that. One, mostly arises from acts of vandalism, so at any point in time, we are repairing one pipeline or the other. Last year, Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) was down for seven months.

Now ELPS is back, Trans Forcados is down. At every point in time, we have been experiencing one major outage or the other.

“Really the problem now is a short-term stabilisation problem.

We haven’t built supply to the full capacity of demand for the gas, but we have always known that gap would be there until the next couple of months, we are going up in supply and consumption is also going up. There is a gap, but we are closing the gap over the next couple of months.

“That has always been in our plan, but our biggest challenge is that the supply has not been substantially noticeable because at any point in time, we are struggling with unplanned outages. We have never put as much pipelines as we are putting it right now and the supply is being developed as well.

Hopefully, we will get to a point where we will overcome this very short-term issue and people can see the benefits. A lot is going under that will make that happen,” he said.

at the expiration of the probation. ‘’We all know what it means to put workers on probation. Everybody is trying to save his, or her job. The managements of the power distribution companies (DISCOs) and generation companies (GENCOs) have been holding crucial meetings in the past few weeks and are reviewing the performances of the companies since they took over the assets of PHCN six months ago. The meetings’ agenda include, restructuring the workforce to see where there are loopholes, sack the unproductive workers and employ new ones. This has reinforced our conviction that the power companies would still sack more workers,” the official said.

The Principal Manager, Corporate Affairs, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Akinsola Ayeni, said workers were concerned about the outcome as the probation expires today, raising hopes that the managements of the power firms were not likely going to retrench

workers after the probation.

He said: “I don’t think the DISCOs would sack more workers after the probation. Though there are fears in the industry, the possibility of retrenching workers is not there as there are many issues competing for the attention of the new power firms.’’

The National Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Joe Ajaero, said the industry is struggling to survive, adding that any attempt to sack more workers would defeat the objectives of the privatisation programme.

He said the goal of the privatisation is to restore confidence in the sector by improving power and further revive the economy, arguing that those objectives are far from being realised.

He said the industry is understaffed because a large percentage of the workforce has been thrown into the labour market, adding that the shortage of manpower is inimical to the realisation of the goals of privatisation.

‘’Already, the workers are stressed up. They are being overworked daily. The capacityutilisation is low because one person does the job of three people.

So, if more workers are sacked, that means one person would do the jobs of five, or six people.

That would lead to low productivity, which is not good for an industry that is just coming back to life. This action is not in line with the developmental objective of Nigeria which is targeting socio-economic growth.

“There would be no electricity, if more workers are retrenched.

T h e r e a s o n i s b e c a u s e t here would be nobody to work in generation, transmission and distribution aspects of the sector.’’ he added.

Also, NUEE’s President, Mansur Musa, said the interest of the workers is paramount to the body, stressing that the body would frown at any attempt to jeopardise the welfare of the electricity workers.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

On whether the Joint Task Force (JTF) hired to monitor and secure the pipelines is not doing its job effectively in view of the increasing number of vandalism, Ige said: “Everybody is doing his job, but it is a very difficult problem to deal with and ultimately you need a social reengineering. These pipelines are hundreds of kilometres long and it is impossible to man every kilometre 24/7. Really, we need to get to the people who are doing this to change their attitude.

“Social reengineering will contribute significantly to solving the problem because people need to know that there cannot be a sustainable solution in their attacking national infrastructure, it doesn’t solve their problem. There has to be a better way of agitation. For those who break crude oil pipeline for theft, we really have to reorient them because we can put as much security but we have got over 5000 kilometres of pipeline, how many security people will we put on every kilometer?” Ige queried.

•From left: Group Chief Executive, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole; and Chief Executive Officer, Oando Energy Resources, Pade Durotoye, during a strategy session at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja.

‘Planned LNG projects to generate $15b’

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•Babs Omotowa

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HE three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects - Brass, Olokola and NLNG train 7 - which are yet to begin operation, have combined capacity to generate $15 billion yearly for Nigeria and increase the government’s revenue by $5 billion, Managing Director/CEhief Executive Officer, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Babs Omotowa has

said.

Omotowa, who spoke on the need for government to expedite action in bringing on-stream these projects, lamented the delay in their take off. Nigeria, he said, produces eight per cent of proven global natural gas and has the capacity to increase it to 15 per cent if the three projects can become operational.

He said the Brass LNG, which has capacity for 10 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) has been delayed for four years, Olokola LNG located between Ogun and Ondo States with 12.8mtpa production capacity, has been down for three years and NLNG train Seven, with 8mt/a production capacity, has been delayed for five years. If the three plants become operational, they would have a combined production capacity of 30mtpa.

Omotowa criticised the delay in view of the economic disadvantages following new NLNG plants springing up in some parts of the world, that are ex-

pected to join in the competition for markets and the increasing output from shale gas from world’s top gas consuming countries, such as the United States and China. The implication, he explained, is that the two countries are gradually turning from being net consumers to net producers, and eventually net exporters.

He said to maximise value from its gas resources, government should optimise exploitation of its abundant gas reserves estimated at 187 trillion cubic feet for the benefit of the citizenry. He said fast-tracking the building of the three gas projects will not only free generate resources to develop the economy, it would also checkmate the eventual competition from other global gas suppliers.

He said: “With 22mtpa, NLNG generates $12 billion per year.

With additional 30mtpa, Nigeria could generate additional $15 billion revenue annually to the Federal Government’s coffers, as well as generation of 50,000 con-

struction jobs from the three projects.

He explained that as a result of shale gas LNG, importers are now self-sufficient, becoming exporters and in competition with Nigeria. For instance, United States and Canada have approved six LNG projects worth 25 per cent of current global demand. Proven shale gas reserves are 7,299 trillion cubic feet,” he added.

Omotowa said in the global energy mix, gas is the world’s fastest-growing energy. Gas, he said, will outstrip coal and be number two by 2035, while LNG will grow from 2.5 per cent to four per cent by 2035. He said global LNG demand will by 2030, double the 2012 level of 238 million metric tonnes, which largely will be dominated by the Asian countries of India, China Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

He noted that though Nigeria has one of the highest gas reserves, ranking ninth, with Russia, Iran and Qatar topping the list, its consumption and export ranks lowest among its peers.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

50

THE NATION

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

Ogun verifies homeowners’ claims

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•House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal (left), Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and NIQS President Mallam Murtala Aliyu at the workshop.

Infrastructure: A panacea for sustainable growth

Experts at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) identified the role of infrastructure in emerging economies of Africa as the fulcrum for national development and sustainable growth. Assistant Editor MUYIWA LUCAS takes a look at the outcome.

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NFRASTRUCTURAL development in any country is the fulcrum for its economic advancement.

So, when the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) chose to deliberate on the theme: Towards sustained growth of emerging economies in Africa – The Infrastructural imperatives at its workshop in Osogbo, Osun State capital, many agreed that it was apt.

With sub-themes, such as “Efficient project management of infrastructure in emerging economies of Africa;” “Effective cost management of infrastructure development as a sine-qua-non for growth in emerging economies,” and the “Sources and alternatives of Financing Infrastructure in emerging economies,” the tone was set for the deliberations that have charted a new course, not only for practitioners, but for the country in view of its quest to be among the 20 leading economies in the world soon.

Principal Partner, Cost Concepts Management & Associates, Tunde Adesiyan, in his paper on “Efficient project management of infrastructure in emerging economies,” stressed the need for efficient project management of infrastructure which he said had become imperative given its importance of physical development and economic growth of a nation.

“The amount of financial and human resources committed to these projects have made them important for consideration of economies of scale to determine where and when to embark on these projects,” Adesiyan said.

For him, apart from the basic principles of project management, which revolve around initiating, planning, implementing, controlling and closing, there is the need to further understand the culture of the people to wards the success of project management of infrastructure. He said project management of infrastructure should continue three to five years into the life of the infrastructure before other levels of management take over.

Vice President (West), African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) and Managing Partner, CONSOL Associates, a firm of International Construction & Development Consultants, Obafemi

Onashile, charged quantity surveyors to devise strategies to continually position themselves for maximum efficiency in infrastructural development and economic growth.

This, he believes, will enable professionals to maximise their fortunes.

From the various presentations, it was clear that economic growth in emerging economies of Africa, including Nigeria, is being hampered by poor infrastructure, such as lack of adequate power supply, inadequate and poor state of transport networks, telecommunication deficits, inadequate water supply and waste disposal problems, short-fall in health and education facilities.

Besides, the speakers were emphatic that for any African nation striving to belong to the top 20 nations by 2020, efficient cost management culture must be imbibed as a national policy, while effective and efficient management of infrastructural projects should be given prominence and high priority by governments, organisations and individuals.

They further admonished that there should be massive investment to address the challenges and shortfalls, noting that because cost is essential, the services of quantity surveyors have become inevitable and imperative in all aspects of infrastructure projects, including budgeting, financing and management in order to get value for money invested.

The workshop also noted that governments alone cannot bear the financial burden of providing adequate infrastructure considering the huge capital out-lay required.

Consequently, integration of private sector investors into the conception, planning, design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure is imperative in Africa to accelerate infrastructure provision to the citizenry, meaning that the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) procurement models must be encouraged and sustained.

It was also canvassed that there should be an establishment of African Infrastructure Development Bank (AIDB) or African Construction Development Bank (ACDB) as a new infrastructure funding framework similar to existing models in China, India and Malaysia. This, it

is believed, will provide the muchneeded long-term finance at low interest rate to contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. The bank is expected to be private-sector driven to minimise bureaucracy while government provides “seed money”.

To serve as motivation for practitioners, especially quantity surveyors, a systematic review of professional fees charged by these group was also recommended, in the hope that such gesture would galvanise them to play the much-desired roles in efficient and effective delivery of infrastructure projects. Importantly, the forum canvassed for a collaboration among professional bodies, the professionals and even client organisations involved in infrastructure development to enable them eradicate fraudulent practices and eliminating areas of disagreement in the documentation and cost management of infrastructural projects.

The appointment of quantity surveyors in the departments of finance, budget and or planning of ministries was recommended to ensure probity and accountability of public funds invested in infrastructure as such surveyors would help to carry out the audit of projects. To ensure timely payment to contractors necessary to prevent abandonment of infrastructural projects, enactment of a law to institutionalise Payment Bond was also canvassed.

For surveyors to play their role, they have been charged to acquire and exercise competency of cost control and exhibit due diligence in the cost management of the nation’s vast infrastructure. This is taking the centre stage of infrastructure development and to take advantage of the emerging opportunities. Besides, surveyors, it was submitted, should be willing to break the jinx of conservatism and embrace the fluidity of best practice and innovation, while the NIQS should also tap into the gains of international best practices as done by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

There should also be a collaboration between quantity surveyors in the Diaspora and the NIQS to tap into the advantage of working across cultures to build local competences.

That is not all, a quantity surveyors academy was also recommended.

HE Ogun State HomeOwners Charter has continued to elicit responses from the people. It has moved to the verifying of documents stage.

Director of Land Ratification in the state Bureau of Lands and Survey Mr Fatai Adeboyejo advised applicants who were yet to submit their forms to do so and attach the necessary documents to enable the assessors work without stress.

Speaking when he led a team of assessors to Ado-Odo, Ota, Akute, Agbado and Alagbole-Ifo local government areas in continuation of the verification, he said the government meant well with the programme to enable them to obtain necessary documents at a huge discount. He added that beneficiaries should not frustrate the programme, as the team discovered a lot of discrepancies and incorrect information in the forms.

“The government’s gesture to help home owners regularise papers of their properties is, no doubt, a laudable move, but this cannot be achieved when people fail to supply us the necessary information, phone numbers and correct home addresses among others; all these are needed to carry out our responsibilities and help them get their documents at the end of the day,” he said.

He enjoined applicants, who were contacted earlier through either phone calls or text messages, to be available when the assessors come to check their documents.

Ashafa lauds West African Ceramics

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HE Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Land, and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has praised West African Ceramics Limited on its production of high quality ceramic and vitrified tiles to meet the needs of the construction industry.

He spoke at the Building Construction and Mining Mart expo in Lagos, during a tour of the firm’s stand. He expressed satisfaction with the company’s production of tiles of international standards and quality. West African Ceramics is the manufacturer of Royal Ceramics and VIT Porcelain tiles.

The firm’s Marketing Representative for Southwest Operations, Tosin Elatoroti,who conducted Ashafa round the stand, said the production of vitrified tiles was a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to serving the building industry, particularly in floor, wall, and roofing tiles.

He explained the production process to the lawmaker. “Unlike the production process of ceramic tiles, vitrified tile is made by baking fine minerals like various clay at extreme high temperature where the individual grains or particles melt and fuse to make a glass-like surface, thus creating a mass making them extremely hard with low porosity, and resistant to stain,” he said, adding that the firm is preparing towards production of digital tiles which is the next phase in tile production in Nigeria.

Hinging on the theme of the expo: Construction stand: Knowing the equipment for the job, Elatoroti further said the firm provides advice and assistance to builders and architects at their showrooms in Lagos, Abuja and Suleja.

Artisans, Lagos partner on water management

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FFECTIVE enforcement of water regulation would curb waste and increase revenue for the government, thereby ensuring a clean environment.

President, Lagos State Association of Plumbing Contractors (LSAPC), Dr. Femi Awotoye, made this known when he led his executive members on a courtesy call on the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC).

The body solicited effective partnership with the state government on water management and delivery; it called for government’s recognition and regulation of their members’ activities, saying it would help to curb avoidable water pipe damage resulting from quacks operating as water engineers or plumbers.

Awotoye noted that a lot of discrepancies were associated with the system of water connection to homes, as most of the contracts were being done by charlatans masquerading as experts.

He called for a stricter law to ensure that only professional plumbers are allowed to operate in the state, warning that it was only when this is done that sanity will return to the profession, which would have huge positive multiplier effects on water management in the state.

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Lagos decries allocation of wetlands

AGOS State Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello has blamed the Federal Government for indiscriminate allocation of land in the state, especially parcels of land around natural water channels and under high tension wires, saying such acts have grave effects communities.

He cited the alleged approval given to some land owners at the Osborne Estate, Ikoyi, which the state said was threatening lives and properties in and around the estate.

Bello, who spoke during an inspection of Osborne Estate, Ikoyi, regretted that the Federal Government allegedly approved building development on natural water channel, which the state government had preserved for safety and ecology.

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Drainage Service, Bello gave reasons on the need for the demolition of such structure on the natural water channel, since it constitutes threats to lives. The construction, he stressed, has obstructed the state’s natural wetland in the Osborne Foreshore Estate, adding that it is appalling that the Federal Government approved such a place for a developer.

“We have high tension wires on this channel. We also have wetland, which absorbs water when there is rise in water level. This is a surprise to us. This is a federal estate. There is no doubt about that. But for the reasons we have given, how can the Federal Government approve this kind of project knowing its grave effects on lives? The developer cannot continue the project. It is a disaster in waiting. It must be stopped,” Bello said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

M

y experience of sex has been frankly disappointing. I don’t enjoy sex and I don’t have an orgasm. The only time I have an orgasm is when I masturbate with my fingers or with that Jelly Chocolate Vibrator that I bought from you years ago – Jemima Jemima what a lot of people don’t know is that great sex doesn’t just happen. It has to be learned if we are willing to learn. So start by telling your husband that you are not satisfied so he can learn to do it better. Men want to learn and want to be told what to do because they delight in pleasuring their women. You yourself can also learn more about sexual pleasuring from educational movies like Sex Around the House, The Ultimate Sex Party and the Guide to Multiple Orgasms. And then you can tell your husband what he should do to pleasure you - Uche What drugs do I need for maximum sperm count (quality and quantity)? Also what do I need for penis enlargement that will be permanent? Please I need the best of available drugs for this. Are they herbal by nature? – Solomon All the supplements we recommend to people are herbal because they are safer and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. Secondly, to boost sperm quality, increase semen quantity and enlarge the penis, you will need three different supplements. My advice is to take two supplements and a sex toy for enlargement.

Sometimes, drugs don’t interact very well when you are taking different types for different things. So for increase in sperm quality, look for Fertil Aid or Repro Aid Supplement. For increase in semen quantity, get Max Load or Explosion Supplement. And for your penis enlargement, get the Bull Fighter Penis Enlargement Pump – Uche I have a small penisand I cannot undress in front of my girlfriend. I hear that penis enlargement takes time but I need something that works fast- Bidemi One trick that men with small penises can use to look bigger involves the use of a penis sleeve during intercourse.

It is like a condom but it is thicker, longer and reusable. It makes the penis look thicker, two inches longer and fuller in the vagina. Ask for the Cyberskin Transformer or the Nasstoys Penis Extender. You can also use an instant penis enlargement cream to look bigger during intercourse. For that, you need the Extreme Dick Plumper cream or the Liquid Sex Dick Plumper Cream– Uche I used the LS Male Desensitizing Cream for premature ejaculation. I like it. I didn’t expect it to work but it worked fine and it took me time before ejaculating. I want to order more –Maxwel Are there risks involved in the use of a vibrator for a woman and which vibrators do you recommend? Ify A vibrator is a plastic stimulator and when used with a lubricant, there are no risks involved. Are you allergic to rubber or plastic? If you are not then you have nothing to worry about. If you are looking for a really good vibrator to use, go for the Remote Control rabbit Pearl or the Jelly Chocolate Wall banger – Uche You said that Exploding Thunder may not be effective for me after I complained that I have tried many drugs for my poor erection and nothing worked but guess what? For the first time in five years, I had good sex with my wife at the age of 71 - Nnorom That is good. My worry was that you may need something stronger like Rhino 5 or Red Lips Premium but I am happy Exploding Thunder worked for you – Uche I bought Exploding Thunder from you and I like it so much.

My wife was so impressed that she wanted one capsule.

Can I give her? Fidelis No she cannot. It is for men only. Get her the Pink Elevate Female Libido Booster – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria.

For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com.Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

MONEYLINK

$1b Eurobonds plus for economy, says DMO

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HE Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO) Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has said the $1 billion Eurobonds raised

by Nigeria from the International Capital Market (ICM) has added value to the economy.

The DMO D-G, who spoke after Nigeria was awarded 2013 Best Sovereign Bond in Africa Award, said the Debt Office decision to issue the bonds despite the risk the pronouncements of US Federal Reserve tapering of the Quantitative Easing (QE) may have on the pricing of the bonds at that particular time was commendable.

He said the award was given to Nigeria by the Emerging Market, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Finance. He said the Eurobonds were over-subscribed was portends an intelligent judgment on the part of DMO.

Stories by Collins Nweze

He explained that Quantitative Easing (QE) is a bond-buying programme of the Federal Reserve which was designed to depress long-term bond yields in order to stimulate the United States economy. He explained that so far, the QE has kept yield below levels where they would trade if there had not been the QE policy in place.

Continuing, he said to understand the risk taken last year by DMO, when it offered two Eurobond in tenors of five and 10 years, each for $500 million, is to know that the Fed was buying $85 million fixed-income securities on the open market monthly during that period through the QE policy. Yet our bonds were oversubscribed.

“One factor that accounts for the success of the offer was the confi-

nance Minister Dr. Ngozi OkonjIweala, Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jim Cowles said DMO was bold in taking the Eurobond decision.

“If you look at the timing , this (Nigeria’s issued Eurobond) was the first sovereign bond that was issued at the beginning of last year and there was quite a bit of turmoil in the market place because of the discussion on tapering the quantitative easing.”

He commended the professionalism with which the DMO is managing Nigeria’s debt profile. The DMO has been advising govern-

dence investors have in Nigeria’s economy. And as we all know confidence is always earned,” he said.

Nwankwo said the issuance of the Eurobond was part of the DMO carefully crafted public debt management strategy which decided to look up to the ICM to diversify Nigeria’s source of funding its developmental programmes as well as to introduce the country into the highly disciplined international funds markets.

“In January 2011, Nigeria made its debut in the ICM through issuance of $500 million 10-year Eurobond.

Since then the confidence of the investors in Nigeria’s bond has been on the increase. Most of the funds generated will go into financing the upgrading our power infrastructure, which the country badly needs for its economic growth and development,” he said.

While handling the award to Fi-

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ticular relevance in the context of Nigeria. He said that it was imperative to think about some of the issues and the impact of IFRS on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Bartlett also talked about financial statements, saying that financial statements were structured representation of the financial position and financial performance of an entity.

According to him, financial statement provides information that is useful to users and also measures stewardship of management. “It (financial statement) must include information about assets, liabilities, equity income and expenditure, ‘’ he said.

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TERLING Bank Plc has concluded plans to hold the second edition of its annual ‘Get Ready for Work’ Concert, scheduled to hold this Saturday at the Kakanfo Hall, Ibadan.

The concert was conceived to change the mindset of graduates towards entrepreneurship and equip them with life skills to bridge the gap between employee expectations and employer requirements.

Already, non-Governmental organizations and professionals have aligned with the vision of the bank and commended it for coming up with the initiative.

Speaking at the pre – event press conference held in Lagos, representatives from LEAP Africa, Iyaduni Olubode and

The accountant added that an entity shall disclose the measurement basis used in preparing its financial statement. “It shall disclose the accounting policies used that are relevant to an understanding of the financial statement,’’ Bertlett said.

“An entity shall disclose the summary of significant accounting policies and judgements; apart from estimates that management have made in the process of applying the entity’s accounting policies. An entity shall disclose information about the assumptions it makes about the future and other estimated risks that have a significant link with material adjustment to assets and liabilities,’’ the accountant said.

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF

N8250.00

5495.33

Price Loss

7.9-10%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

GAINERS AS AT 31-3-14

SYMBOL UAC-PROP LEARNAFRCA STERLNBANK IKEJAHOTEL FO FLOURMILL CUSTODYINS WEMABANK HONYFLOUR GUARANTY

O/PRICE 20.90 1.87 2.50 0.60 92.00 65.00 2.01 0.94 3.72 24.52

C/PRICE 23.03 2.04 2.65 0.63 96.50 68.00 2.10 0.98 3.87 25.50

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

2754.67

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate

Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR 212.4997 NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) 149.7450 (S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

CHANGE 2.13 0.17 0.15 0.03 4.50 3.00 0.09 0.04 0.15 0.98

O/PRICE

CHAMPION RTBRISCOE THOMASWY COURTVILLE NEIMETH FIDSON ASHAKACEM UACN INTENEGINS WAPIC

14.51 1.23 0.83 0.64 1.52 3.00 16.63 56.41 0.64 0.77

C/PRICE 13.79 1.17 0.79 0.61 1.45 2.88 16.06 54.51 0.62 0.75

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Offer Price

AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 155.16 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.09 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.68 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,618.91 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,090.40 FBN HERITAGE FUND 114.02 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 0.78 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,898.70 • • • •

CHANGE -0.72 -0.06 -0.04 -0.03 -0.07 -0.12 -0.57 -1.90 -0.02 -0.02

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Name

LOSERS AS AT 31-3-14

SYMBOL

Muyiwa Afolabi of The Frontiers commended the bank for investing in the future of youths.

Olubode opined that the programme would help in preparing the minds of “our youth on challenges in the workplace.

Similarly, Afolabi noted that the programme would transform the lives of the Nigerian youth and change their mindset about their future.

The bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Abubakar Suleiman explained that the Concert was conceived to strategically help the Bank actualize its Corporate Social Responsibility drive in the education sector. The concert/ seminar, being the first of its kind, was set to address undergraduates, NYSC members and fresh graduates on setting off their careers properly.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS

Initial Current Quotation Price Market

ment on terms and conditions of loans, restructuring and refinancing; maintaining a complete and accurate database of all government borrowings among other roles.

Sterling Bank’s ‘Get Ready for Work’ concert holds Saturday

ANAN, ICPA agree on Global Accounting Standards

HE Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPA), Ireland has agreed on a transparent single set of high quality Global Accounting Standards in public interest.

The bodies said after a conference on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Lagos that accounting standards should consist of comparable information in general purpose financial standards.

Dr Wayne Bertlett, the Guest Lecturer, said that the workshop was designed for participants to gain an enhanced understanding of IFRS, as well as focusing on those with par-

•Dr. Nwankwo

UBA BALANCED FUND UBA BOND FUND UBA EQUITY FUND UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

Movement

1.2636 1.2952 0.9261 1.1574

Bid Price 154.40 9.08 1.07 1.17 0.67 1.33 2,616.04 1,090.11 113.22 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 1,894.36 1.2524 1.2524 0.9090 1.1574

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

54

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-3-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-3-14

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

55

EQUITIES

Equities close March with N133b gain N IGERIAN equities sustained its last streak of bullish rally through the end of the month as tightened market situation pushed up share prices of most stocks, adding N133 billion to overall market capitalisation.

The overall market situation during the last trading day March and first quarter was generally positive with restrained supply amidst relatively higher demand.

With 29 gainers to 21 losers, the market position was also boosted by the preponderance of several highly capitalised stocks among the gainers as well as relatively

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market editor

substantial gains compared to losses.

Aggregate market value of all equities rose from N12.313 trillion to close at N12.446 trillion. The main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), rose by 1.47 per cent to 38,748.01 points as against its opening index of 38,331.78 points. However, the average yearto-date loss remained negative at 6.25 per cent.

Guinness Nigeria topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N5.75 to close at N200. Forte Oil rose by N4.50 to close at N96.50. Flour Mills of Nigeria and Mobil Oil Nigeria added N3

to close at N68 and N125 respectively. Nigerian Breweries garnered N2.98 to close at N152.98.

Dangote Cement rose by N2.18 to close at N241.93 while UACN Property Development Company chalked up N2.13 to close at N23.03.

Aggregate turnover stood at 396.46 million shares valued at N3.79 billion in 4,159 deals. Financial services stocks accounted for 353.45 million shares worth N2.56 billion in 2,347 deals.

On stock-by-stock basis, Sterling Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 150.89 million shares valued at N372.57 million in 170 deals. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) placed second with a

turnover of 45.69 million shares valued at N603.38 million in 75 deals. United Bank for Africa (UBA) ranked third with a turnover of 29.94 million shares valued at N210.32 million in 206 deals.

On the other hand, UAC of Nigeria topped the losers’ list with a drop of N1.90 to close at N54.51.

Champion Breweries followed with a loss of 72 kobo to close at N13.79. Ashaka Cement dropped by 57 kobo to N16.06. Oando lost 19 kobo to close at N16.30. Dangote Flour Mills slipped by 15 kobo to N8.75 while Fidson Healthcare dropped by 12 kobo to close at N2.88 per share.

Shareholders applaud Transcorp’s transformation

S

HAREHOLDERS of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc were effusive with commendations for the board and management of the conglomerate yesterday as it made its first ever dividend payment.

At the annual general meeting in Lagos, shareholders approved the distribution of N1.93 billion as cash dividends for the 2013 business year, describing the maiden dividend payment as the dawn of a new era for the conglomerate.

Members of the conglomerate commended the Tony Elumeluled board of directors for the turnaround of the troubled conglomerate noting that the 2013 performance has increased shareholders’ hopes and expectations.

National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said with the solid foundation already laid in 2013, Transcorp has enormous opportunities to sustain its growth and make better returns to shareholders.

According to him, the conglomerate has several opportunities, especially in the agriculture sector, which would enable it to meet and surpass shareholders’ expectations.

“They are in a better position to surpass the expectations of shareholders. They have a lot of opportunities, especially in the area of agriculture. They have been properly advised and after the AGM like this, the board will have to go back and look at the advices given to them by shareholders and pick whatever will enhance the future of the company,” Nwosu said.

He noted that with a projected addition of N30 billion, the company should be able to triple the size of its dividend payout by the next annual general meeting pointing out that Transcorp has a lot of things that will work for it.

Transcorp’s gross earnings increased in 2013 by 41 per cent from N4.80 billion in 2012 to N6.78 billion. This translated into significant operating profit for the group as 2013 profit before tax of N9.03 billion represents 129 per cent growth over 2012 profit before tax of N3.95 billion. Company’s 2013 profit before tax of N3.19 billion increased by 11 per cent from N2.88 billion achieved in 2012. In 2013 the group’s total assets of N149.46 billion grew by 50 per cent, well ahead of the N99.56 billion total assets recorded last year.

The total asset of the company increased to N49.08 billion in 2013 from N38.65 billion in prior year.

Elumelu noted that the principal cause of asset growth for the group and company was its acquisition of the Ugheli Power Plant, Nigeria’s largest generating facility and where its influence has already seen a doubling of capacity.

“I believe that we will build on the solid foundation laid over the last couple of years to begin an era of steady and increasing dividend payment to our shareholders,” Elumelu said.

He noted that following Transcorp’s takeover of the Ugheli power plant, power output has more than doubled at the plant from 160 megawatts on handover

date to 360 megawatts currently pointing out that the goal of the new board is to increase output at the plant to 700 megawatts by December 2014 by embarking on an extensive rehabilitation programme.

In his remarks, chief executive officer, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc, Mr. Obinna Ufudo said the full year audited accounts reflect the conglomerate’s commitment to its long term strategic plan, which should translate into strong and sustainable growth.

“We are excited about the achievements we recorded across our businesses within the past year. Our entry into the power sector has been a significant driver and we are already running ahead of our 2014 estimates,” Ufudo said.

According to him, the 2014 business year promises to be another very bright year as the conglomerate is on the track to deliver on all its objectives.

“Our key target is to grow group profits to over N25 billion during the year. We intend to achieve this by the continued diversification and deepening of our existing businesses. In our power business, we will focus on concluding the rehabilitation of a number of identified turbines in order to improve generating output at the Ughelli plant to 700 megawatts,” Ufudo said.

cost deposits and deploy these into various assets at profitable yet acceptable risk levels.

While the bank achieved a net interest income of N104.6 billion, an increase of 17.1 per cent from N89.3billion recorded in 2012, it generated interest and similar income of N143.1 billion, an increase of 27.3 per cent from N112.4 billion earned in 2012.

Diamond Bank also achieved a 46.2 per cent increase in other

income from N23.8 billion it recorded in the preceding year to an impressive to N34.8 billion in 2013.

Diamond Bank’s 2013 financial results also showed improvements in various areas of the group balance sheet with loans and advances to customers increasing by 17.8 per cent to N689.2 billion; deposits from customers increasing by 32.5 per cent to N1, 206 billion.

•Approve N1.93b dividends Nwosu said that within a medium period of five years, Transcorp should be able to realize its potential as a conglomerate, with several viable businesses contributing to national growth and making good returns to shareholders.

Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association, Chief Sola Abodunrin, shareholders were happy with the directors of Transcorp for breaking the ice of dividend payment, expressing optimism that the company will build on the modest payout of 5.0 kobo made for the 2013 business year.

He noted that the significance of the dividend payout lies in the historical challenges of the conglomerate adding that the positive results have further reinforced shareholders’ confidence.

Speaking at meeting, chairman, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), Mr. Tony Elumelu, assured shareholders that the conglomerate had used the 2013 business year to solidify its transformation noting that the very strong financial and operating results in the year were evidences of the success of the transformation.

According to him, the company’s results have begun to show the benefits of the discipline execution of strategy while shareholders have begun to see their rewards.

D

Diamond Bank grows profit to N32b

IAMOND Bank has announced a 16.7 per cent increase in profit before tax to N32.1billion for the full year ended December 31, 2013. In a statement, the bank said it is proposing a dividend of 30 kobo per ordinary share.

Group managing director, Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, noted that the pre-tax profit exceeded its N30 billion profit guidance pointing out that the result is rooted in the bank’s strength to attract low-

FCMB’s profit rises by 12% to N18.2b

F

CMB Group Plc grew pre-tax profit by 12 per cent to N18.2 billion in 2013, prompting the board of the bank to declare a dividend per share of 30 kobo.

Audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that net revenue rose by 16 per cent to N84.2 billion, which the bank attributed to successful execution of retail strategy, growth of bancassurance and FinBank merger synergies, which provided necessary revenue growth impetus.

The group also reported a number of significant developments in key operating areas with deposits rising by 11 per cent to N715 billion. Loans and advances also grew by 26 per cent to N451 billion, wioth retail lending, oil and gas and power sector financing being the largest contributors to the increase.

FCMB Plc’s total assets closed 2013 above N1trillion.

Commenting on the results, managing director, FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Peter Obaseki said the group’s businesses consolidated their market positions noting that the group’s non-banking subsidiaries, CSL Stockbrokers (CSLS) and FCMB Capital Markets (FCMB CM), while contributing only two of group profits, not only enabled the bank grow its customer wallet share, but also won new customers through advisory services that eventually led to transaction banking relationships.

“These businesses also consolidated their market positions. CSLS maintained its position as third largest broker, whilst increasing its market share. CSLS also saw a 100 per cent growth in volumes traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),” Obaseki said.

Group managing director, FCMB Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun, noted that in spite of the challenging regulatory environment which moderated profit growth, 2013 saw the commercial and retail banking activities benefitting greatly from the merger that was concluded in 2012.

He pointed out that the improved liquidity profile of the bank provided an adequate buffer against the cash reserve withdrawals, and the enlarged branch network enabled it to achieve over 66 per cent growth in retail loans, 22 per cent growth in current and savings account balances and acquire over 400,000 new customers.

“Our focus in 2014 will be to improve operating efficiency by sweating the acquired branches, consolidating our leadership position in retail lending, whilst also growing corporate and commercial banking volumes in strategic sectors of the economy,” Balogun said.

56

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

NEWS Edo gets 410,000 hectares for farming

T

HE Edo State government has acquired 410,000 hectares of land for investment in agriculture by the private sector.

Commissioner for Agriculture Abdul Oroh said 50,000 hectares was set aside for the cultivation of rice by the Dangote Group; 60,000 for oil palm by De United Food Industries Limited, makers of Indomie Noodles.

He said 300,000 hectares was kept for other investors interested in farming.

The commissioner said the administration transformed agriculture and developed agro-service centres, to ensure farmers accessed improved seedlings, tractors and loans.

He said the ministry also evolved schemes aimed at

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

encouraging the establishment of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The commissioner said the state will assist farmers to benefit from the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

Oroh said last year, 120,000 farmers registered under the scheme, adding that the number had increased to 170,000 this year.

Oroh said land had been allocated to youths interested in agriculture.

The commisssioner said 3,000 youths have been trained by the ministry in various skills.

‘Report of rice importation through LICENSED Clearing Seme false’ and Forwarding

A

agent, Chief Chima Amaechi has condemned what he called a bid to give clearing agents at Seme Border a bad name.

He said a recent online report which claimed that massive importation of banned goods, such as rice, is done through the border is false.

Amaechi, who is the Managing Director of Don King Clearing and Forwarding Agencies Limited, said agents at the border would not shield any colleague who engages in such a crime.

Addressing reporters at his ANLCA Complex office at the border, Amaechi said the report was a calculated attempt by some disgruntled elements frustrated by the Command from carrying out their nefarious activities to spread falsehood.

He praised the Nigerian Customs Service for its enforcement of the ban on rice importation, adding that checkpoints have been fortified with “extra vigilant officers”.

Amaechi said even stake-

T

holders, including clearing agents, traditional rulers and the communities around the border have resolved to work with Customs to stop importation of banned goods.

“A grain of rice is not allowed to pass through this road, how much more of truck loads of rice and other contraband goods as alleged by the writer.

“Go to all the check points, you will see both the young and old lamenting over hand carriers of rice and other little things been seized by Customs daily. If they could seize these little things, you can imagine where such trucks will pass.

“If all these things come in through here, then the agents operating here will not be idle. There will not be complaints of no jobs. The Customs will be meeting up their monthly allocations.

“From the Atlas park where we do transloading down to our offices here at the Complex and Operations 2, you will see Agents sitting idle,” Amaechi said.

Madam Okome dies at 83

HE families of the late Mr Elijah Eghowa Okome and the late Jimmy Sideso have announced the death of their wife, daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, Mrs Susannah Mebulaghanje Okome (nee Sideso) fondly called “Sister”.

Mrs Susannah Okome dies on March 16 in Maryland, United States. She was 83.

An industrious woman and a home maker, the late Madam Okome was a founding distributor of “Hayes Headties” in the 1960s. She was also a founding distributor and designer of Itsekiri George Wrappers at the then Brunsweiller popularly called “Jackel”. One of her numerous designs, “Prestige” was used in the opening of the National Arts Theatre in 1976. Funeral arrangement to be announced later.

The late Madam Okome is survived by sisters, children and grandchildren.

Delta Assembly Commission sacks 26

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THE Delta State House of Assembly Commission has sacked 26 employees for certificate forgery.

Its Chairman, Mrs. Josephine Kachikwu, said the dismissal was done after a verification and re-verification exercise carried out by a firm of auditors.

She said: “The firm has submitted its report and every case

T

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

was subjected to further reverification to remove any possible error and 26 employees were dismissed for parading fake certificates; two are on interdiction, while pending cases are about 20.”

The chairman said the decision would go “down in history as the most agonising decision by the commission”.

Ogoja demand state

HE people of Old Ogoja Province took to the streets yesterday to demand the creation of Ogoja state.

The people, who were drawn from the Old Obubra division at Obalinku, carried out the protest at Ogoja Local Government.

Speaking at the rally, a woman leader, Mrs Veronica Adie, said they were out to send a message to Cross River dele-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

gates at the national conference that this is the right time to settle the people of Old Ogoja Province. “We need our Ogoja state,” she said.

Also a former assistant secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thomas Ataji decried the marginalisation of the people.

He also called on the state’s delegates to discuss the issue.

•Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (right), presenting a N312 million cheque to the Commissioner for Education, Salo Adikumo (middle) and the Permanent Secretary , Durban White, for the payment of NECO and WASSCE registration fees for secondary school pupils.

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Kidnappers get 42 years jail term

HERE was a mild drama at an Asaba High Court after a mother of a convicted kidnapper became hysterical, following the 42-year-jail verdict passed on her son and two others.

The woman rolled on the floor and wept uncontrollably, misconstruing the verdict as a death sentence.

Her hysteria obstructed proceedings of court tempo-

T

•Mum breaks down in court

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

rarily before she was taken away by police officers.

Innocent Atunye, Emmanuel Adebayo and Emmanuel Edokun were found guilty of kidnapping Otio Onoriode Paul on July 1, 2012 at Ogharaki and held him hostage for six days before he was released.

N2million was allegedly paid.

They were arrested by operatives of the Department for State Security (DSS). The court discharged and acquitted them on the count of demanding property with menace and armed robbery.

Another high court sitting in Asaba sentenced a 25-

year-old welder, Ebierim Onianwa, to 11 years in jail with hard labour for kidnapping his uncle.

He was found guilty of kidnapping Phillip Okocha on January 31, 2012 at Ibusa Asaba Expressway within the Asaba Judicial Division and held him hostage for four days.

Okocha was freed after N1million was allegedly paid as ransom.

Medical services paralysed at FMC Asaba

HE 11-day strike by health workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State, took a new turn yesterday as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) asked its members to join the industrial action.

To worsen the situation, the nurses union said it would withdraw its services tomorrow at midday.

The health workers are protesting an alleged shortfall in their salaries and allowances.

The NMA’s decision to join the strike means that

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

consultant physicians, who had refrained from being a part of the action, will join.

The Nation gathered that only resident doctors had joined while consultants rendered skeletal services.

The striking workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) alleged that there were shortfalls in their February salaries and vowed to sustain the industrial action, until it was reversed.

NMA Chairman Uyi Os-

arenkhoe said resident doctors were also affected by the shortfall in salaries and allowances.

JOHESU Chairman Asiodu Anthony said: “Over N50, 000 was removed from my February salary, which was paid on Tuesday. We do not even know what will happen to March salary.”

Asiodu said the shortfall was being experienced as a result of alleged foot dragging by the management of the hospital in enlisting their staff into the Integrated Personal Payroll (IPP)

system.

“Most federal hospitals have been enlisted into the scheme and they are not having issues with salaries but here, we have had several meetings with management and the board on enlistment into the IPP. “The management is too slow in taking decision and that is why we are experiencing this shortfall.”

The Medical Director, Dr. Leo Erhunmwunsee, could not be reached for comments but a source attributed the underpayment of salaries to the shortfall of money from the budget office.

ICPC to arraign Edo lawmaker for alleged tax fraud

T

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said an Edo State High Court in Benin City has fixed April 14 for the arraignment of the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Philip Shaibu, for allegedly forging tax clearance certificate.

The commission said it sued Shaibu on a six-count charge for allegedly violating the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

A statement by ICPC’s Resident Consultant (Media and Events) Folu Olamiti said the offence was allegedly committed in 2010.

The statement said: “According to the charge sheet, Shaibu allegedly in July 2010 in Abuja, made false statement to ICPC officers, claiming he was an employee of Zanote Ventures Nigeria Limited from 2003 to 2006.

“The accused was also alleged to have lied to the offi-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

cials of the Edo State Internal Revenue Board in November 2006 to fraudulently obtain a tax clearance certificate.

“The alleged false statements are offences that contravene Section 23(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(b) of the ICPC Act, 2000.

“The lawmaker’s counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), however,

T

sought for bail, ahead of the arraignment.

“According to him, this was to enable him respond to the charges against his client.

“But ICPC’s counsel Godson Igbadume opposed. He argued that the bail application should be taken at the beginning of the trial.

“Igbadume said Shaibu has been evading service from the commission, stress-

ing that efforts made to reach the accused had proved abstruse, until he was brought before court.

“After listening to the submissions of both counsel, Justice Esther Edigion agreed with the argument of the ICPC counsel and adjourned the case till April 14 to enable the defence counsel respond to the charges as well as take the bail application.”

Six die at wedding reception

HERE was tragedy at a wedding reception in Kano when six young men between the ages of 19 and 25 drugged themselves to death.

The incident occurred at Naibawa Quarters at the wedding reception of Tijani Usman and Hafsat Ibrahim.

The celebration turned sour as the young men took dangerous stimulants to express their joy on their friend’s marriage.

An eyewitness said: “All was going well as everyone was in a happy mood. There was enough to eat and drink. Invited guests were in high spirits, but little did we know that the young men had engaged themselves in

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

drug-taking competition, which later resulted in their death. It was a tragic experience that would take time to get off the memory of those who witnessed it.”

The police arrested the groom as the case is under investigation.

Police spokesman Magaji Majia said: “Nobody reported this incident to us but we were able to get information from residents and we swung into action and subsequently arrested Tijani Usman, the groom, who is currently being questioned.”

The bodies have been buried, according to Islamic rites.

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2014

57

NEWS

Tiv/ Fulani declare cease fire in Benue From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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IV farmers and Fulani herdsmen have declared cessation of hostilities after three years of bloody fighting.

But just as representatives of the ethnic groups were addressing a briefing at the banquet hall of the Government House, Makurdi, suspected Fulani herdsmen struck in Tombo ward, Logo Local Government Area, killing five Tiv farmers.

They were shot at Tse Makir, Ukpough and Fofi, a stone’s throw from Anyiin town, the country home of Governor Gabriel Suswam.

At the briefing were Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG) Operations, Force Headquarters, Michael Zoukumor, President of Miyetti Allah Bello Bodejo and Chairman , Benue Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Committee, Brig.-Gen. John Atom Kpera.

The warring parties said they saw the crises as needless and avoidable, and called for cessation of hostilities.

The resolution, which was read by Gen. Kpera, said Tiv and Fulani herdsmen agreed to work together to set up a joint task force to check the activities of criminals on both sides.

The resolution urged everyone to avoid taking law into their hands and peddling false rumours.

It also called for the dismantling of all illegal road blocks.

Zuokumour , AIG Adeola Adeniji and Commissioner of Police Adams Audu were witnesses.

Protest in Ogun over alleged killing of man by Customs

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‘No Ebola virus in Abuja’ From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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•He was not a smuggler, says father

OR residents of Koko town, Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government of Ogun State, the alleged murder of one of their youths, Timothy Ezekiel, by men of the Nigerian Customs Service on February 26, is one death too many.

Accusing the Customs of aiding rice smuggling and collecting bribes from perpetrators, the agrieved residents lamented that the deceased had never engaged in the illegal act.

Wearing long faces, the leaders of the youths narrated what the community has tagged “Broad day light murder” of one of its finest youths.

Timothy was shot in front of his father’s house about 10am, after he rushed out from the backyard to protect his aged and ill father from stray bullet.

The deceased, a motorcyclist, was said to have stayed off work that fateful day.

Narrating the incident, the deceased’s fearful 80-year old father, Joel Ezekiel, demanded justice for his son.

He said: “I am heartbroken.

I have been suffering from partial stroke since the death of my wife, which has made it difficult for me to walk unassisted.

“The day the incident occurred, I was sitting outside my house and suddenly, I saw

By Precious Igbonwelundu

four Customs vehicles with armed officers.

“We were told that they had come to search a building about five minutes away, which they said had contraband rice. By that time, my son, who did not go to work was inside with his wife and other youths, assisting our neighbour who was roofing his house.

“Suddenly, the officers started shooting sporadically.

They were just shooting anyhow and at that point, Timo came out to take me, her gràndmother and children who were playing inside.

“He told the children to run inside and he assisted me.

He was standing behind me to usher me inside and that was how l heard him scream.

“He fell on the ground and was bleeding and died on the spot because the bullet hit him at his back shoulder.

“Immediately the officers saw that they have killed my son, they took to their heels.

They did not carry any rice and did not stop by to commiserate with the family.

“Instead, they went to publish lies, saying that my son was a smuggler and he was killed while he was struggling with them. This is not true. They killed my Timo right before me.

“Since that day, his expectant wife has been in the hospital. She has not been able to overcome the shock.

“All I want is justice for my son. The officers that killed him were led by one Ajao. The person who shot the bullet that hit Timo is one Ade. “We reported the issue the same day at the police station and the police came for the body and took it for autopsy.

“We have since buried Timo but we are not happy because Customs is shielding his killers,” he said.

A lawyer contracted by the çommunity, Chief Shina Ogunyale, threatened to sue the Customs as their petition dated March 19, has not been replied.

He said that the ‘killer team’ had been on rampage in the area and had killed an aged woman as well as an expectant mother, but nothing has been done to them.

“Their major target was to detabilise the rice market here and they have succeeded because people from neighbouring commuñities no longer come here fôr fear of being killed by stray bullet from trigger-hungry Customs officers.

“The about 120 bags of rice they came here to seize are not contraband. They belong to a group of marketers and have been kept by the community

•PaEzekiel

as evidence,” he said.

But the Customs’ Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Mr. Chike Ngige disagreed with the aggrieved members, saying nobody could ascertain the killer of the late Ezekiel.

He said: “ On the day of the incident, men of the Ogun State Command went to evacuate loads of rice that had been stored in a particular place in the town where they had located prior to their invasion of the place.

“When the officers got there, and were removing the rice, the hoodlums gathered and tried to prevent them. The officers shot into the air to scare them. But they (hoodlums) replied with gunshots.

“In the process, a known smuggler was felled. The deceased was identified as Timothy Ezekiel. “Koko town is notorious for rice smuggling.

Sons and daughters of the town are ready tools in the hands of smugglers.l

Yero: attacks linked to post-election violence From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

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ADUNA State Governor Mukthar Yero said yesterday that the attacks in Southern Kaduna are not unconnected with the aftermath of the 2011 post-election violence.

Yero spoke when he presented cheques to religious bodies and warned against reprisal attacks.

He said: “If anything happens and we say we must revenge and then the other people say they must also take vengeance, the situation will never end.

“We must be patient and always support government in its efforts to prosecute those who are behind criminal activities.”

The governor said the state would receive N7 billion from the Federal Government as its share of compensation for victims of the 2011 post-election violence,saying Kaduna is the worse hit in the violence”.

“Both Muslims and Christians suffered losses and it is still the aftermath of that crisis that is following us due to reprisals and vengeance.

“We have been following the Federal Government and it has now completed the verification and came up with over N7 billion as compensation to victims in Kaduna.

“We are not the only state that has not been paid, but I have been assured that the fund is captured in the 2014 budget, which has not been passed. We shall continue to pursue this money until it is paid.

HE Abuja Health and Human Services Secretariat, has confirmed that no case of Ebola fever was diagnosed in the city.

The secretariat, in a statement by its Public Relation Officer, Badaru Yakasai, said: “No Ebola case has been confirmed in the FCT”.

The agency said the suspected case referred to Irrua Specialist Hospital was tested for Lassa Fever (which has similar clinical presentations as Ebola) and the test result was negative.

“The FCT Department of Public Health , whose mandate is to investigate and report outcome of all suspected outbreaks, is in contact with Irrua Specialist Hospital and can confirm that no Ebola has been confirmed in this case.

“However, samples have been taken to a more specialised centre with facility to do further investigations on the sample.”

Ebola haemorrhagic fever is one of the viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs).

It is caused by the Ebola virus, which can lead to severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak in humans, with a case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent.

Praises for senator From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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GROUP, Adeseun Progressive Movement, has praised the Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Ayoade Adeseun, for the effective representation and empowerment, which the people of Oyo Central have been enjoying.

The group, in a statement by the zonal leaders from the local governments in Ogbomozo zone, Abioye Idowu (Surulere), Ogunkanmi Moses (Ogo Oluwa), Abiodun Sunday (Ogbomoso North) and Gbolagade Adegboyega (Ogbomoso South), said: “We use this opportunity to shower encomiums and praise our leader.

He is a patriot we are proud of.

The lawmaker is a true representative of the masses. He has hosted the biggest empowerment in the annals of Oyo State history.

“We restate our commitment to Adeseun. We enjoin him to deliver more. He should not rest on his oars.”

DG to politicians: protect Corps members Jeremiah Oke, Abeokuta

•Ahmed signing the budget...yesterday. With him are Atunwa (second left), Deputy Speaker Prof. Muhammed Gana Yisa (left) and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Kamaldeen Ajibade.

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Ahmed signs N130b ‘budget of expansion’

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday signed into law an Appropriation Bill of N130,262,850,907.

The governor said the budget would provide new vistas for confronting developmental challenges in the state.

Ahmed said the Budget of expansion for inclusive prosperity provides “a blueprint for major projects, to put more money in people’s pockets, get more youths into work, re-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

model additional hospitals and build more schools and roads”.

The governor praised the legislature for increasing the budget by five per cent from N124,525,957,133 to N130,262,850,907.

He said the increase accommodates “the delays in securing the proposed N30billion bond and an internal term loan of N5billion for social-economic capital projects”.

"The bonds and other

measures in the budget will enable the administration generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, significantly transform our state and create new windows of economic opportunities for entrepreneurship,” Ahmed said.

The Speaker of the House of A s s e m b l y, R a sa q Atunwa, said the budget was prepared in line with international best practices in accounting procedure.

"No doubt, this budget will enable Kwarans and lovers of Kwara to witness

another year of upgrading general infrastructure that would sufficiently attract and further encourage private sector-led growth and development of the state.

"Kwara State has keyed into the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which is anchored on transparency and accountability in governance," he said.

Atunwa urged the governor to ensure the budget’s implementation, especially in the area of youth employment and empowerment.

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HE Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig.-Gen. Johnson

Olawumi yesterday admonished politicians across the country to shun violence against the corp members as 2015 general election is approaching.

He assured that the Independent Electoral Commission(INEC) has put in place security measures that will protect the corp members during the exercise.

Olawunmi who spoke at the Ogun State NYSC orientation camp in Sagamu during his visit to the state also urged the politicians to see the corp members as their children.

The NYSC boss who regretted the unfortunate 2011 post election crises in some part of the northern states insisted that the welfare of the corps members is paramount important to the management of NYSC.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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NEWS

Ngige gets more time to present witnesses •Drama unfolds at tribunal

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HE Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday gave the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Chris Ngige, three more days to conclude with his witnesses.

Three witnesses appeared yesterday, including APC’s woman leader in Awka Ward 5 Mrs Chidiebere Augustina Muoghalu and Chibuzor Obiakor, who said they only voted on November 30.

There was a mild drama when PW10 Mrs. Muoghalu brought out her voter card from her brassiere, which Chief Emeka Ngige, described as “inner chamber.”

Lead counsel to Willie Obiano, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu refused to touch the card.

He deferred to the counsel of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Patrick Ikwueto.

Ikpeazu’s action caused a stir at the tribunal.

Before then, the tribunal had ruled in favour of Ngige

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

when Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), queried that the days given for APC witnesses had elapsed.

But Emeka Ngige challenged what he called a gangup among the respondents’ counsel; Ikpeazu, Awomolo and Ikwueto, faulting their objections.

After the arguments from counsel, the tribunal gave Ngige three more days, beginning from Monday, to conclude with his witnesses.

Justice Ishaq Bello said: “Our concern is what happens to us when we go to God, we are here on national assignment and we must discharge it with seriousness and the fear of God.” “This will make us sleep well in our homes anytime we leave Anambra State at the end of the case, we are not here to favour anybody but to dispense Justice,” he said Also yesterday, Chibuzor Obiakor told the tribunal dur-

Ihejirika’s posters appear in Abia •We’re not sponsoring anyone, says govt

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From Ugochukwu Ugoji-eke, Umuahia

OSTERS of former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Azubike Ihejirika(rtd)has been flooding the streets of Umuahia, Abia State, as the battle to succeed Governor Theodore Orji in 2015, hots up.

The posters feature the general on the day he was received and honoured by the state government and the people after his tour of duty.

But General Ihejirika has said he was not interested in seeking any elective position next year. In an interview, the general said he would rather go into farming and construction.

He explained that farming and construction had the potential to create employment, wealth and economic growth, adding with intensive agriculture, the country could achieve food security.

Ihejirika, who spoke with reporters in his home at Ovim, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, said job creation would help to check crime among youths.

He said he was unaware of the rumours concerning his purported governorship ambition. ‘’It has not filtered into my ears; I have just heard of it for the first time today.

The general said: ‘’Well, I want to say that I have not decided yet on politics. That is the situation but one thing you must know is that I am somebody committed to the progress of my state and the nation.’’

The former Army chief, however, said he was ready to serve, having received the best education and opportunity to as Army chief of staff.

He said: ‘’I received the best education in Nigeria and the best opportunity to serve the nation, thanks to President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed me the chief of Army staff.”

Ihejirika also spoke on the national conference, saying it would give Nigerians the opportunity to discuss how to achieve greater national cohesion and co-existence.

Reacting to the rumour that the state was ready to sponsor the general to replace Governor Orji, Commissioner for Special Service, Legal and Due Process, James Kwubiri Okpara, said the government was not sponsoring anyone for any elective position.

Okpara said the general, as any other person, had the right to aspire to any position, as long as he is qualified.

•Ngige flanked by APC leaders Tony Muonagor (left) and Chief Amechi Obiidike at the tribunal ... yesterday

ing cross examination by Awomolo, Ikpeazu and Ikwueto he did not vote on November 16 and 17.

He said in his Ogidi Ward I, Unit 015, Iyienu 2, Idemili North Local Government Area, there was no election.

Asked if he was present at

I

Orumba North and Orumba South.

Yesterday, the tribunal refused to grant Ngige’s request to admit an e-copy of INEC objects and hard disc, as opposed by counsel to the respondents.

Another drama yesterday

was a rehash of the alleged double registration by Governor Obiano, which the tribunal refused to reopen, having ruled on it during pre-trial conference.

The tribunal adjourned till today.

Police arrest illegal maternity operator in Aba

N its effort to battle illegal baby factories in Abia State, the Antirobbery Unit in Aba, at the weekend, arrested Mrs. Comfort Osu Abu for allegedly operating an illegal maternity, “Osu Abuwa”, at Umuabuwa in Osisioma Local Government Area.

Sources alleged the proprietor not only engaged in child

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other councils, Ikpeazu quoted: ‘’Obiakor said he was not physically present but was in contact on his phone in those areas.’’

They were Ayamelum, Oyi, Anaocha, Njikoka, Ihiala, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Awka North,

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

trafficking, but also harboured expectant teenagers and women with the intention of selling their babies.

The Nation learnt the Antirobbery Unit also arrested a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Blessing and Samuel Iheanacho, who kept an expectant woman, Chidinma Okeke, with the intention of adopting her baby

through illegal means.

The couple, sources said, had been childless after 18 years of marriage.

But they were unlucky, as the police, acting on a tip off, discovered the illegal maternity home, which is used as baby factory.

The police rescued an expectant woman, Miss Ozuchi Chinasa during the raid.

An unconfirmed report said Chidinma delivered a baby boy at an undisclosed hospital in Aba. Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said he had not been briefed.

But a police said the couple confessed they were pushed into the act because they have been childless for such a long time.

Eight members of Biafra group, MASSOB arraigned

IVE members of the Biafran Zionist Movement were yesterday arraigned before an Enugu Magistrate’s Court in connection with the March 8 attack on the Government House.

Those arraigned include Ifeanyi Chukwuma, Emmanuel Uche,Sunday Okafor, Shedrack Onwukobi and Francis Nwakacha.

A police statement said yesterday the accused were remanded in prison custody.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

It said no plea was taken and the case indefinitely adjourned.

Also, three persons, identified as Asogwa Donatus, Clement Ogbobe and Asadu Nwagwu Paul were arraigned before another magistrate’s court in Enugu, on a two-count.

They were charged with being members of MASSOB and identifying with MASSOB. The accused were remanded in prison custody and the case was adjourned to May 7.

We’ll strengthen APC in Anambra , says Okonkwo

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EPUTY National Chairman, South,All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Annie Okonkwo yesterday said he remains in the party because only APC can salvage Nigeria.

The senator, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Awka, said “after a proper study of what Nigeria is facing today, especially insecurity and unemployment, it is important we keep sentiment and personal interest aside and save our nation.”

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central in the National Assembly in 2007, was suspended by the party. He was alleged to have been involved in anti-party activities during the November 16 governorship election.

On his suspension, he said: “After investigation by the party, they found out I was not involved in anti-party activities, that is to say APC is a party that stands for truth. All

the things they said about me have been investigated.

Okonkwo, who was a governorship aspirant for the November 16 election, stressed that politics was not war, saying you cannot stop talking to your friend because he is not in the same party with you.

“If there are three persons spending money on politics, I am among them. I am not in politics because of money.

Good things do not come easy and that is why we must unite to finish what we started. APC is our party, it is not anybody’s

personal property.

Okonkwo added: “Our congress is coming up this week and we cannot fold our arms and allow the party we invested in die in Anambra. ‘’ Second, we cannot fold our arms and watch our youths suffer. Some youths died when they went to write Immigration test. We cannot continue like this.

“We must work together to promote our party because it is the only party that can salvage this country. It is the only party that has the people at heart,” the senator said.

Abia oil commission assures communities of improved welfare

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BIA State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) has inaugurated 30 lock-up shops worth millions of naira in Obohia and Ohanku, Ukwa East Local Government Area.

Commission Chairman Emeka Stanley, in company of his commissioners, in-

spected the refurbished Obehie High Court equipped with modern electronic and communication gadgets.

They also inspected the Obehie Community Health Centre.

Stanley said the lock-up shops were provided to boost the town’s economic activities.

•30 shops opened

He said ASOPADEC would partner individuals and communities in oil producing areas to improve the well being of the people.

The chairman said the commission was following the footsteps of Governor Theodore Orji, whose

achievements have positively impacted on the people.

Stanley assured oil communities the commission would embark on projects to improve their living standards and called on the people to protect government projects.

He solicited support for Governor Orji, who he said laid a solid foundation in all sectors.

Many speakers from the communities hailed ASOPADEC for the projects in education, health, youth/ women and empowerment.

Mr. John Ekeke, a trader at the Obohia market, hailed

the state government and ASOPADEC for the lock-up shops, which he said would be useful during the rainy seasons.

Another trader, Mrs. Uche Nwakanma said ASOPADEC had improved the aesthetic nature of the market and provided accommodation for women traders.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS Ukraine crisis: Putin ‘orders partial withdrawal’ R USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has ordered a “partial withdrawal” of troops from the border with Ukraine, the German government has said.

Mr Putin informed Chancellor Angela Merkel of the move in a telephone conversation, according to her office.

Thousands of Russian soldiers are still said to be deployed along the border.

Earlier, Ukraine condemned a visit to Crimea by Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and a delegation of government ministers.

A foreign ministry spokesman in Kiev said the highestlevel trip to the Black Sea peninsula by officials from Moscow since its annexation by Russia was a “crude violation” of international rules.

A note protesting against the presence of an official in “the territory of another state without preliminary agreement” had been sent, he added.

Crimeans voted to leave Ukraine for Russia on 16 March, in a referendum condemned as illegal by the UN General Assembly.

Mr Medvedev announced that he would make Crimea a special economic zone, with tax breaks and reduced bureaucracy to attract investors.

He also vowed to quickly boost salaries and pensions, and to improve education, healthcare and local infrastructure.

Tensions between Russia and the West rose after the overthrow of pro-Kremlin

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following months of street protests.

Russia’s subsequent decision to annex Crimea triggered a crisis in relations.

The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on members of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and other officials. Russia has retaliated with its own sanctions on US lawmakers.

US Secretary of State John Kerry told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Sunday that resolving the crisis depended on Russia pulling back its troops from along Ukraine’s border.

On Monday afternoon, Mr Putin informed Germany’s

chancellor about “the partial withdrawal of Russian troops he ordered from the eastern border of Ukraine”, Mrs Merkel’s office said in a statement.

“On top of that, the two discussed further possible steps to stabilise the situation in Ukraine and Trans-Dniester,” it added, referring to a proRussian region bordering western Ukraine that proclaimed independence from Moldova in 1990.

A Kremlin statement did not mention a partial withdrawal, but said the two leaders had discussed “opportunities for international support for the restoration of stability” in Ukraine.

Mr Putin had also told Mrs Merkel that Ukraine had to

E

R

N

Text: “......And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new......” Rev. 21:5 son on the hilltop, it is time to be lifted to the mountaintop and for people that are on the mountaintop, it is a time to be lifted to the sky. To the poor, this is a time of enlargement of coasts and for the person in debts, it is a time to get out of debts (2Kings 4:1-7).

A new beginning means a time of arrival of the ‘Resurrection and the Life’ for a significant revival (John 11:25), a season of transition from death to life, from disgrace to a feast of grace, a movement from pain to gain, from barreness to fruitfulness, from weeping to joy (Psalm 30:5) and a change of name from bachelor or spinster to being married.

It is instructive to note however that the blessings that

God has set aside for this new quarter are not automatic but obtainable after satisfaction of certain conditions. God said in Genesis 8:22 that “ while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease”.

Paul also told the Galatians that “... For whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap...” ( Galatians 6:7-8).

What you need to do during this season of lent and this month when the fasting will end, is to invite Jesus Christ into your life, accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, ensure that the word of the law does not depart from your mouth, mediate in His word day and night, and obey all that He says. Then, you shall experience the promised overflow of blessings and be a partaker of a new beginning because you

•Revd Adelegan

shall prosper and succeed in all you lay hands on (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:3).

God has promised that from this new month and quarter, He shall wipe away all tears from your eyes; and there shall be no more untimely death in your family neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain because He would ensure that the former things are passed away. This shall be your portion from this month in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this new month, give me a heart to be your child in deed and grant me a new beginning in Jesus’ name.

Malaysia flight MH370: No time limit on search, ESCUE crews have families to update them on says Tony Abbott put no time limit on the search for MH370, which

the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said.

Mr Abbott told reporters near Perth, where the operation is being co-ordinated, that the hunt for flight MH370 was still being stepped up.

Ten aircraft and 11 ships are scouring the sea west of Perth for debris from the airliner.

The Beijing-bound plane disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board.

The search teams are deploying a device known as a

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Theme: A month of new beginning

By The Revd. Henry O. Adelegan

“towed pinger locator” (TPL) to listen for ultrasonic ‘pings’ from the plane’s “black box” flight-data recorders.

The signals from the flight recorders last about 30 days.

Several floating objects have been found in recent days, but none is believed to belong to the missing plane.

“We can keep searching for quite some time to come,” said Mr Abbott.

“The intensity of our search and the magnitude of our search is increasing, not decreasing.”

Yesterday, Malaysian act-

ing Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the search area was 254,000 sq km (98,000 sq miles), according to the Australian authorities.

The search involved nine military aircraft and one civilian, as well as eight Chinese and three Australian ships.

The Australian naval support vessel, ADV Ocean Shield, fitted with the TPL, is expected to arrive in the area on 3 April, he added.

Yesterday, Mr Hussein said the government would soon hold a briefing for those

would include international experts to explain the research, data and methodology used in the operation.

The briefing would also be broadcast live to other families in Beijing, he said.

Of his encounter with the families, Mr Hussein said it was “the most difficult meeting” he had ever attended.

“The families are heartbroken. For many, the strain of the past few weeks has been unbearable,” he said, adding Malaysia would not “give up hope. We will continue with all our efforts to find MH370”.

French President Hollande names Valls as new PM

RESIDENT Francois Hollande has named Interior Minister Manuel Valls as France’s next prime minister.

Mr Hollande, whose popularity has slumped, said Mr Valls would head a “fighting government”.

The ruling Socialists have been badly bruised in local elections which saw big gains for conservatives and the far-right National Front (FN).

Mr Valls, 51, has replaced PM Jean-Marc Ayrault,

whose office confirmed his resignation on Monday.

In a short televised address on Monday, President Hollande said France had to put right its public finances, acknowledging it was time for change.

He proposed a reduction in taxes and worker contributions to spur job creation.

“We are in this for the long haul,” he said.

Mr Valls, a liberal, is distrusted by the Socialist party’s left-wing and has presidential ambitions of

his own but he is popular with the voters, says the BBC’s Christian Fraser in Paris.

The second round of municipal elections on Sunday saw the Socialists lose more than 150 towns and cities of more than 9,000 inhabitants.

Results are still being counted.

The FN won control of 11 towns, mainly in the south.

The main centre-right opposition, the UMP, was said to have captured a number of key cities, including

rate Motor-Rifle Brigade battalion had completed field exercises at the Kadamovsky range in the Rostov region, and was returning to its permanent base in the Samara region.

A motor-rifle battalion is believed to comprise about 500 men.

Sources at Nato said there had been some indications of troop movements, but that it was hard to evaluate their significance at this stage, reports the BBC’s Jonathan Marcus in Brussels.

A senior Western diplomat said approximately 40,000 soldiers were in place, and that they still offered a huge potential for intimidation.

On Tuesday, Nato foreign ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss further steps to reassure allies and additional ways to help Ukraine.

North, South Korea exchange fire across western sea border

LENTEN MESSAGE

VERYTHING in life is guided by times and seasons (Eccl. 9:11).

There is a time to plant and of course a time to reap, a time to born, heal, build up, laugh, dance, gather, embrace, search, mend, love and peace ( Eccle.

3:1-8). When a farmer however misses his time of planting, he would ultimately miss his time of reaping. Jesus Christ gave credence to the impeachability of timing when at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, He told His mother that His time had not yet come for workings of miracles but suddenly, His time came and water was turned to wine (John 2:1-11 cf Psalm 102:13).

A season of Lent, when God is removing physical and spiritual mountains in the lives of His children, is assuredly the advent of overflow of His blessings and a new song (Psalm 40:3)- a period when power is changing hands from the oppressor to the oppressed, when the hunter is becoming the hunted, a time when people on the plain are promoted to the hilltop ( Psalm 121:1-2) and for a per-

enact constitutional reforms to ensure that the interests of all its regions were respected, and called for measures to end the “blockade” of TransDniester, it added.

The Russian foreign ministry separately said that Mr Lavrov had followed up his meeting with Mr Kerry with a telephone conversation on Monday, in which they discussed “steps to help resolve the crisis situation”.

After an earlier meeting with his French and Polish counterparts, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “I hope we have overcome the worst escalation.”

His comments came after the Russian defence ministry announced that a 15th Sepa-

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Toulouse, Quimper, Limoges and Saint-Etienne.

UMP leader Jean-Francois Cope hailed what he called a “blue wave” of support for his party.

The Socialists have been hit by growing discontent over the economy after struggling to keep unemployment figures down and boost economic growth.

Prior to his resignation, Mr Ayrault acknowledged that many voters had lost confidence in his administration.

ORTH and South Korea have exchanged fire into the sea across the disputed western sea border, South Korea says.

North Korea announced early on Monday that it would hold live-fire drills in seven parts of the border area.

South Korea says it returned fire after North Korean shells landed in its territorial waters.

The area has been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. The UN drew the western border after the Korean War, but North Korea has never recognised it.

In late 2010, four South Koreans were killed on a border island by North Korean artillery fire. Border fire was also briefly exchanged in August 2011.

The live-fire exercises were announced by North Korea in a faxed message from its military to the South’s navy.

South Korea warned of immediate retaliation if any shells crossed the border.

“Some of [North Korea’s] shells landed south of the border during the drill. So our military fired back north of the border in line with ordinary protocol,” a defence ministry statement

said.

South Korea said the two sides exchanged hundreds of shells.

“The North fired some 500 shots... and some 100 of them landed in waters south of the border,” said Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok.

The South fired more than 300 rounds in return, he said.

Residents of a border island, Baengnyeong, were evacuated into shelters during the three-hour incident.

In November 2010, North Korea fired shells at the border island of Yeonpyeong, killing two marines and two civilians.

It said it was responding to South Korean military exercises in the area.

Earlier that year, a South Korean warship sank near Baengnyeong island with the loss of 46 lives.

Seoul says Pyongyang torpedoed the vessel but North Korea denies any role in the incident.

China - North Korea’s biggest trading partner - called for calm and restraint after the exchange of fire.

It came days after North Korea test-fired two medium-range Nodong missiles over the sea, its first such launch since 2009.

US ambassador to India Nancy Powell resigns

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HE US ambassador to India has resigned and will leave her post by the end of May, the embassy in New Delhi has said.

Nancy Powell has been ambassador since 2012, after postings as ambassador to Uganda, Ghana, Pakistan and Nepal.

The state department she would retire to her home in Delaware and had planned the move for “some time”.

The move comes after a row between the US and India over the arrest and brief jailing of an Indian diplomat in New York on a visa fraud charge.

Devyani Khobragade, an official in the New York consulate, was accused of underpaying her housekeeper and lying about it on immigration forms. She has left the US. A state department spokesman would not say if Ms Powell’s resignation

was linked to the row or to the upcoming general election in India.

The Hindustan Times reported last week Ms Powell might be replaced as the US envoy.

State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a Monday news conference the move was “in no way related to any tension, any recent situations, there is not any big behind-the-scenes story here”.

Ms Harf said any rumours and speculation to the contrary were “totally false”.

In statement from the US embassy in India, Ms Powell “expressed her appreciation for the professionalism and dedication of the US mission to India team”.

“She also thanked those throughout India who have extended traditional warm Indian hospitality to her and who have supported stronger bilateral ties,” the statement said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

‘Donate blood to save lives’

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HE Health Educator, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC), Mrs Temitope Balogun, has urged Nigerians to develop the culture of donating blood to save people’s lives.

Mrs Balogun spoke in Lagos during a voluntary blood donation drive/free mini medical check organised by the LSBTC in conjunction with the Lagos State Skill Acquisition Centre, Berger.

She said non-availability of blood in hospitals had killed many, calling on Nigerians to donate blood to assist those in need of it, including sickle cell patients, accident victims, women in need of blood at delivery and cancer patients.

A Welding and Pole Fabrication trainee at the centre, Moses Ogundipe, a first-time donor, advised his colleagues to embrace voluntary blood donation to save lives and ward off infectious diseases. He identified ignorance as the obstacle militating against voluntary blood donation in the society.

Adetoun John, who is studying Refrigerating and Air Conditioning, said voluntary blood donation is a way to give back to the society.

‘Let’s protect Island Club’

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HE Royal Ambassador to the Alaafin of Oyo, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin, has urged members of the Island Club in Lagos to protect the image of the club by showing good example.

Ayandokun, a member of the club, who spoke at Ibadan, said the club is renowned for its outstanding achievements and reputation.

He said the club, whose membership includes President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 15 governors, is noted for credibility.

Ayandokun sought the support of members for the re-election bid of the current chairman of the club, Prince Ademola Dada, under whose tenure he said, the

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From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

club had made remarkable progress.

“For the past two years when he has been in the saddle, the club has been renovated to world standard. We now have a modern elevator, which transports members and visitors to the upper floor of the club. It never happened in the history of the club,” he said.

He maintained that the chairman had constructed motor parks which could accommodate about 200 cars at once. This, according to him, is not a mean feat.

“I am not saying all this because I also want any position in the club; all I want is for peace to reign and for unity among members,” he said.

Court dismisses Ajudua’s bail application L

AGOS socialite Fred Ajudua yesterday lost his bid for bail at an Ikeja High Court.

Justice Kudirat Jose held that Ajudua failed to convince the court that he would not abscond if granted bail.

Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen of $1.69 million.

Though the judge held that there is proof of Ajudua’s illness, she said she could not grant him bail because his application lacked merit.

Ajudua attached to his application, medical reports

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By Adebisi Onanuga

from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Justice Jose noted that Ajudua was admitted in LUTH on August 3, 2013 and was treated for hypertension, traumatic haematuria and enlarged prostate gland, which arose from having only one kidney.

His doctors, she said, had also prescribed further treatment and possible corrective surgery to address his failing health.

The reports, she said, did not show that Ajudua cannot be treated in prison.

The judge said Ajudua also failed to convince the

court that he would not interfere with witnesses if granted bail.

“The applicant (Ajudua) has not shown to the court why he was not able to come to his trial between 2006 and 2013. He did not respond to the allegation that he had tampered with a witness in the trial. Due to his absence, the matter has been stalled since 2006,” Jose said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ajudua and one Charles Orie before Justice Joseph Oyewole in 2006 for allegedly defrauding Cina and Vijgen.

They were re-arraigned

•Ajudua

before Justice Jose on February 5, 2014, following the transfer of the case from Justice Oyewole.

Justice Jose adjourned the case till April 28.

Breast milk ends couple’s marriage

OR eight years, the couple were role models to many younger couples. They were head over heels in love. But their relationship crashed yesterday at the Agege Customary Court in Lagos.

Ganiyu Akinpelu and his wife, Afusat, to the dismay of their neighbours at their Agege home, prayed the court to dissolve their marriage which produced three children.

By Basirat Braimah

Addressing the court, Akinpelu accused his wife of not being submissive, adding that besides being troublesome and stubborn, the woman delighted in sneaking out to church. Her attitude, he said, ran counter to his belief as a Muslim, hence he sought the dissolution of the marriage.

Afusat debunked Akinpelu’s claims, saying that since she gave birth to her

first son, she had not “been herself.” “My husband is a practising Muslim but he still involves himself in scary acts and diabolical charms. He demanded my breast milk under the pretext of using it to seek protection for our family. I disagreed because it had been revealed in my church that it was the first step of using me for money ritual.”

They agreed that their relationship had broken down completely.

The court president, Mr Adekunle Williams, dissolved the marriage.

Akinpelu, the petitioner, was ordered to pay N5,000 monthly on each of the three children through the court registrar for their upkeep. He is also to cater for their educational needs.

Williams also ruled that the children’s medical expenses must be borne by both parties. He admonished them to be peaceful and law-abiding.

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Star Trek: 2face, Olamide, Naeto C, Phyno, others thrill Nsukka fans

Soul E stages live gospel concert

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By Mercy Michael

OR some time now, fans of Emmanuel Okose, popularly known as Soul E, have been wondering what the onetime rave singer has been up to.

However, the soul singerturned prophet put up a live gospel concert tagged “An Evening of Hope with Soul E” at the auditorium of Redeemed Christian Church of God, FESTAC Town, Lagos last Saturday.

The singer recently came under attacks when he revealed a prophecy concerning two music personalities, Wizkid whom he said would be poisoned and Davido whom he said would be involved in an auto crash.

However, Soul E was unperturbed by the criticisms, as he took to the Internet to defend the prophecy.

•Soul E

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SUKKA, a sleepy town in Eastern Nigeria, was aglow when the first leg of the annual Star Music Trek, a starstudded concert organised

by Nigerian Breweries, berthed on its university, Saturday night.

In its 13th edition, organisers had unveiled the full list of top-rated artistes at a spectacular sign-on party in Lagos, arousing great expectation among fans across the 10 Nigerian cities where the show will be staged.

2face leads an exciting line-up which opened at Nsukka at the weekend.

The show recorded an impressive crowd, as the famous singer dazzled music buffs alongside other artistes such as M.I, Olamide, Naeto C and Phyno, who performed hit after hit, to the delight of fans.

Venue was the Local Government Stadium, Nsukka, where show host, Do2tun of CoolFM, took time to welcome guest from far and near with hilarious jokes, as he introduced, and called the artistes to stage.

Naeto C’s stylish blend of music and panache did the trick, as his dancers kept up with the rapper’s swift beat.

Joining him on stage was Efa, whose clout gave verve to songs like 5&6, Tony Montana, and 10/10. Evidently, these songs still resonate strongly with his fans.

With an impressive collabo, Phyno and Olamide delivered stellar performances to which fans screamed excitedly. Phyno’s fans were introduced to new songs from his recently released album No Guts No Glory, even as he played familiar hits like Ghostmode, Obago, Dope Money, and Man of the Year among others.

The show became more interactive and engaging when an elated fan, Chidinma mimed M.I’s song, One Naira. She got the rapper’s expensive wristwatch as a prize. With other songs like Chairman, Anoti etc, the selfacclaimed Africa’s Rapper No. 1 kept the momentum going.

Superstar entertainer, 2face, unleashed a flurry of excitement as joyous fans stormed the stage to get a closer look at the celebrated performer.

2face who joined M.I in the last few minutes of the former’s performance, took over the stage with his live band and eclectic dancers.

No doubt, he offered just

what his fans were waiting for; a nostalgic combination of his old and new hits.

The crowd sang and danced, spurring the artiste on, as he performed his exciting medley such as Implication, Dance in the Rain, and Only Me. The excitement had start-

ed the previous day, with a Pre-Trek gig at Jives Bar, Nsukka, hosted by Do2tun with special guest artiste, 2face. At that event, invited guests won exciting prizes such as TV sets, phones, and carpets from the brand.

Star Music Trek continues

•2face with MI performing at Nsukka

next weekend at the IBB Square, Makurdi, Benue State. Next on line are eight other cities, including Uyo (April, 12), Umuahia (April 19), Orlu (April 26), Ekwulobia (May 3), Onitsha Fegge (May 11), Benin (May 17), Ado Ekiti (May 24), and Lagos (May 31).

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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TODAY IN THE NATION

‘...until we think Nigeria in everything we do, we would not get anywhere near solving our problems, not even with this conference or any other one’ TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

WAHEED ODUSILE

NO. 2,805

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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IGERIA is set to launch another bid to enter the ranks of the world's wheatproducing states. Even before the effort gets underway, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Adewumi Adesina has projected that it would boost farm earnings by $42 million and create one million jobs The venture, he explained, is designed to curb the alarming rate and huge cost of wheat imports, currently 4 million metric tonnes a year and growing by 5 percent each year. If nothing was done, Nigeria would be spending $10 billion a year on importing the golden grain.

To reach the projected target, production would be boosted 500 percent from the current 300 metric tonnes a year to 1.5 million tonnes over the next three years. Farmers would enjoy price supports, access to processing equipment, and protection against competition from imported wheat.

"This is not a mirage," Dr Adesina, easily the most focused of President Goodluck Jonathan's cabinet-rank appointees, said three weeks ago at the Wheat Farmers Field Day in Kadawa, in Kano State. "A silent revolution is happening on farms across northern Nigeria. We have begun the massive distribution of hybrid wheat seeds which gives five to six tonnes per hectare to our farmers through the Growth Enhancement Support and the e-Wallet system."

With all due respect to Dr Adesina, the scheme is not new, much less revolutionary.

A similar scheme undertaken for the same reason and given similar backing by the administration of military president Ibrahim Babangida some three decades ago was a disastrous failure.

What follows is my epitaph, "The wheat game is up" (The Guardian, September 22, 1992) to that boondoggle.

When the President stopped launching the wheat planting and harvesting seasons and the military governors stopped calling news conferences to proclaim yet another bumper harvest, I knew that the game was up. Confirmation came the other day when the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu, hinted that the ban on the importation of wheat would be lifted. It was a game that should never have been started.

On paper, the National Accelerated Wheat Production Programme looked great. That, remember, was the era when every product had to be "locally sourced," in the spirit of "selfreliance." The wheat import was costing $3oo million a year in scarce foreign exchange, and was catering to the degenerate taste of a parasitic elite who, instead of eating yams or beans or taking ogi for breakfast, or even doing away altogether with that repast in the spirit of belttightening, remorselessly stuffed themselves with bread and cake and assorted pastries.

Away with the subversive grain and the pernicious taste it has fostered. Back to maize and cassava, our own versatile crops which we possess in superabundance, and from which bread can be manufactured for those who cannot live without it. Their addiction is vehemently to be deplored, of course, but even the degenerate are entitled to fundamental human rights that a compassionate government can-

RIPPLES PETROL NOW TO SELL FOR N30 PER LITRE –FED. GOVT

N30 indeed; just go and enjoy the day. It’s April fool!

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The making of a boondoggle

‘

With all due respect to Dr Adesina, the scheme is not new, much less revolutionary. A similar scheme undertaken for the same reason and given similar backing by the administration of military president Ibrahim Babangida some three decades ago was a disastrous failure.

•Adesina

not ignore.

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research at Oshodi came up with scientific proof that bread made from maize or cassava flour was in every respect superior to bread made from wheat flour, especially wheat flour of the imported variety. Moving rapidly from research to production, they manufactured a 100 percent locally -sourced loaf so delicious that the Armed Forces Ruling Council adopted it as an official snack.

No less a connoisseur than Major-General Oladipo Diya, then a brigadier, endorsed it on national television on behalf of the AFRC. Another breakthrough had been achieved. My own specimen was as brittle as glass and tasted like sawdust, but no matter.

The nation's flour mills quickly modified their plants to produce flour from maize and cassava and from any other local source that our food scientists might discover.

’

This costly exercise was in progress when the Federal Government announced that it had taken on the historic challenge of producing wheat for the domestic and export market, under the National Accelerated Wheat Production Programme.

Where what was already being grown, as in Kano, Bauchi and Borno, production would be increased exponentially. And wherever it was demonstrated that wheat could be grown, production would be aided with generous financing.

Suddenly, every state became a wheat producer. From the desiccated Sahel to the mangrove swamps of the coastal regions, every inch of territory was identified as exceptionally suited for growing wheat.

Vast acres were cleared for wheat, dormant irrigation schemes were activated, abandoned grain silos were rehabilitated and combine harvesters procured, all in readiness for this new national challenge, and production began in earnest.

At the end of the very first season, a bumper harvest was proclaimed. Who could doubt it,

HARDBALL

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OT surprisingly, Andrew Yakubu, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is not finding it funny at all that the organisation has come to represent bad news in the eyes of quite a few Nigerians. An upset Yakubu reportedly made his feelings known to journalists during dinner in Abuja and his moans were multidimensional.

To start with, he complained with a sense of alarm, "We cannot do this business without Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), without foreign participation. Our credibility level is going down very fast. And unfortunately, it is based on perception." He went on, "If we continue at this rate, I am going to tell you something that is very bad. I will ask all of you that if you continue to destroy our economy this way, then pray never to give birth to children because those children are coming to suffer the outcome of our terrible destructive attitudes. Because it will be difficult for anybody to invest in this country if we continue to destroy our country's perception."

Biting words, but who really is messing up the country's image? Is it those who irresponsibly make negative news, or those who faith-

given the interminable wheat fields that Nigerians saw night after night on national television?

The more forward-looking states invited President Babangida to come launch the harvest in person. Performed by a lesser person the launch would amount to a vulgar trivialization of an epochal achievement.

And when the President obliged, what an inspiring event it was! In one state where he was kept away from the launch by pressing national duties, the military governor presided over the proceedings. As a giant combine harvester whirred and whooshed into action, the awestruck governor was overheard saying, "Wallahi, this is historic." And so it seemed, indeed.

Going by the figures issuing from state capitals, Nigeria stood a good chance of being ranked with the United Stated, Canada and Australia as the world's leading producers of wheat if only the level of production could be sustained for another year or so.

In newspapers across the country, reporting on what was fast growing into a journalistic specialism. Reporters covering the beat had begun organizing to launch a Wheat Correspondents Association. On the supply front and in the official news media, it was good news, good new and more good news.

The only problem was that the flour millers who had meanwhile re-configured their plants to process wheat could hardly find any wheat to buy. Every year, the authorities proclaimed a bumper harvest much larger than the previous year's bumper harvest. Yet, every bumper harvest resulted only in a more severe drought at the flour mills.

Meanwhile, the country was awash in smuggled wheat flour, thus reducing the ban on the product to something worse than a legal fiction: a pathetic joke. The more imaginative of our compatriots simply set up bakeries on the border with Benin Republic and ferried bread loaves by the truckload into Lagos and environs daily, since the law did not prohibit the importation of bread. But bread became so expensive that even the parasitic elite could no longer sustain its degenerate preference for that alien product.

Everyone except the smugglers and those who had cornered the wheat grants has been the poorer from what must now be seen as a very costly miscalculation. Self-reliance is good, but only up to a point. You cannot abolish the law of comparative advantage by decree, much less by slogans.

When the final accounting is done, it will be found that the wheat game was a colossal blunder that drained the treasury, robbed the government of vital revenue you cannot collect duty on (contraband), filled a few well-protected pockets, enriched smugglers, and brought grief upon everyone else.

This of course is not 1992 when the foregoing was written, and the scheme Dr Adesina has outlined is different from that of the Babangida era. But something tells me that the nation may be embarking on another boondoggle. The forces that warranted the recent policy somersault on rice are alive and well.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

'Help, NNPC is sinking' fully report it? From the look of things, Yakubu was suggesting unprofessional self-censorship by implying that reporters should look away and keep mum when NNPC is in an alleged mess. To be specific, it is easy to link this veiled recommendation with the highly controversial allegation of missing $20 billion oil revenue by suspended Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido, the latest in a long history of corruption-related accusations against the corporation.

No doubt, it is convenient for Yakubu to blame the organisation's woes on "perception", and to sell the wrong impression that so-called perception cannot be objective. Indeed, the question is whether the claimed damage to NNPC's credibility is based on correct perception.

Perhaps unable to reasonably disregard the possibility that public estimation of the corporation's performance might actually be based on reality, Yakubu told the audience," If you are talking of corruption, mention anywhere you don't have any iota of corruption. But what

they do is that, you do it, but the law will catch up with you."

Obviously, it is a lame argument to suggest that corruption is everywhere and, therefore, no big deal. Or isn't that what Yakubu meant?

Thank God, he was at least honest enough to acknowledge the fact that the justice system can be relied upon to deal with corruption issues in those places he referred to, where the law is usually applied with all sense of responsibility. By extension, he should also be truthful enough to accept that his country is not yet in that category.

He was clearly speaking in a strange tongue, or being unserious, when he said, "So I would appeal that if you have any specific case, bring it out, then we will be able to correct it." If anything had been corrected in all the years of alleged sleaze at the corporation, it is likely that Yakubu would not have had to do his latest dinner talk with journalists, or if he did, it would not have been about loss of credibility, which is not surprising in NNPC's unflattering circumstances.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

NEWS SSS interrogates detained Boko Haram suspects Continued from page 1

immediate causes of the botched jailbreak.

The source said: “We are debriefing all the detainees to determine how the plot was hatched and if external collaborators were involved.

“We may also look into the likelihood of internal collaboration, although the strict system of recruitment might make it impossible. This is the only service that conducts serious security checks before employing its operatives.

“What we are doing involves interaction with these detainees by a team of officials, who have been mandated to dig deeper into the foiled jailbreak.”

•Widow of the late Chief Ajayi, Olayinka (middle) being consoled by Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mrs. Ronke Atere...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

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G.O.K. Ajayi may be buried May 29

HE remains of legal icon, Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole (G.O.K.) Ajayi (SAN), who died last weekend, may be buried on May 29 in his home town, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

He would have been 83 on that day.

Family sources said yesterday that Ajayi instructed his eldest daughter, Tola, on how he wanted to be buried. She was said to have flown into the country from Canada, following her father’s death.

Ajayi’s burial site could not be confirmed yesterday, whether it would be the Anglican Communion Church cemetery or his house at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ijebu Ode. The deceased’s ancestral home is at Itantebo quarters in Ijebu Ode. Sources, said yesterday, at his home in Surulere, Lagos that Ajayi was taken to three hospitals between January 25, when he became ill and March 29, when he died.

They said while in the hospitals, he read law books, which

•Jonathan, Tambuwal, governors extol his virtues

By Adebisi Onanuga and Wale Adepoju

he sent his aides to bring either from his library at home or from his office.

Mr. Kehinde Okuneye, who spoke on behalf of the family, said they were meeting and making arrangements on how to give him a befitting funeral.

He said Ajayi was a senior member of the Anglican Communion and that he served the primate of the church several times as the registrar.

His widow, Mrs. Margret Olayinka Ajayi, said her friend and companion was gone.

Mrs. Ajayi, who spoke through one of her relations, Mrs. Mojoyin Adetona-Thomas, said they were married for 52 years.

She described the late senior advocate as her best friend, companion, brother and husband.

Mrs. Ajayi said she would miss him for his companionship and friendship.

President Goodluck Jonathan, House of Representa-

tives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Senate Leader Ndoma Egba and others yesterday eulogised the late Ajayi.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, extended condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and associates, and to Nigerians, whose cause and rights he defended.

The President urged them to “be consoled that the deceased lived a fulfilled life and would even in death, continue to serve as a model of dedication to truth, equity and justice.”

Tambuwal, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, said Ajayi was a disciplinarian, whose work would be cherished for a long time.

He described his death as a huge loss to the legal profession in particular and the nation in general.

Tambuwal said: “GOK Ajayi

was an advocate’s advocate and a legal titan. Although he made his name as a lawyer, his charisma, brilliance and philanthropy stood him out as a humanist, who used his deep knowledge of the law to better the society.”

The Speaker prayed God to give his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

Fayemi described the demise of Ajayi as the end of a chapter, which shaped the legal profession.

The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said Ajayi’s place in the annals of the evolution of democracy was eternally-secured.

Describing the octogenarian as a fearless lawyer and the people’s advocate, Fayemi said he chose to stay on the side of the people by defending the mandate given to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola in the court at the risk of his life.

He noted that Ajayi was an inspiration to Abiola and other Continued on page 60

On the proposed Board of Inquiry into the incident by the Presidency, another top security source said: “It is a routine thing in a crisis situation like this; it is not an indictment of the SSS. It is also not prejudicial to any internal investigation of the jailbreak by the SSS. “The audacity of the Boko Haram detainees accounted for the Board of Inquiry option so as to prevent a reoccurrence in any security agency or military facility.

“Beyond the outcome of SSS investigation into the incident, the Board, which may comprise sister agencies, is to examine all particulars concerned with any event or chalContinued on page 60

Northeast leaders to govt: don’t extend state of emergency

•Ciroma, Kingibe, others slam security

L

EADERS of Borno and Yobe states – two states battling, along with Adamawa, the Boko Haram insurgency – yesterday alleged complicity of security forces in sect members.

They blamed the Federal Government for failing to rise up to the battle and lamented the sect’s wanton killings.

The leaders urged the Federal Government not to extend the state of emergency declared in the states beyond April 19 when it will expire because, there is no for justification for it.

Speaking under the aegis of Borno -Yobe People’s Forum, a non-partisan, non-religious association, in Abuja yesterday, they Continued on page 60

INEC begins demarcation of constituencies for 2015 Continued from page 1

qualities in the creation of constituencies.”

The INEC chief went on:

“We are obligated by the constitution to periodically review these constituencies so that we can bring equity in the weight of representations and votes in the constituencies.

“It is very important in deepening democracy and fairness in representations.

We are required to do it either after every population census or in at least 10 years.”

Inaugurating the committee, Jega said: “In the kind of democratic system that we operate, where constituencies are based on single-member representatives, it is necessary, as provid-

ed by the constitution, and in line with international best practice, that the various districts and constituencies should be reviewed periodically.”

“This ensures that representations based on constituencies keep apace with demographic changes in the country, thereby ensuring that the process is equitable.

“Unfortunately, however, we have never been able to undertake this periodic review, important as it is, not only because of our chequered political development, but partly also due to lack of sufficient critical data and expertise to allow for an open, equitable and transparent constituency review.”

Continued on page 60

New ‘security architecture’ to end Boko Haram, other security challenges

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that the Federal Government was adopting a new security architecture to end the Boko Haram insurgency, farmers/ herdsmen crisis and other security challenges. He did not elaborate.

Dr. Jonathan spoke when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from the Northcentral zone, led by former PDP Chairman Ahmadu Ali, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Stressing that the government, through the National Security Adviser (NSA), is tackling the issues, he said the Northcentral is PDP’s.

He said: “The security personnel are moving in to strengthen the conventional security, that is the police. But we are working very hard with the NSA, office to make sure that the security challenges that we have across the country, whether in Borno State or the kidnapping in Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia and so on.

“We are coming up with different architecture that will deal with this insurgence. As we progress, we will begin to bring the situation under control.”

Disclosing that litigations have been delaying the privatisation of Ajaokuta steel project, he promised that the issues will soon be resolved.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Jonathan said: “Of course, on Ajaokuta, the key thing is that we had some challenges with the privatisation process. The people that got it said there were some issues but because of these litigations, the project was held down.

“And all along, we have been trying one way or the other but the project cannot take off very effectively because we want the private sector to come in robustly, but they will find it difficult, except the legal issues are sorted out.

“So, what the AGF is saying is that the issues are being sorted out because without mines and steel, the nation cannot industrialise. Yes; you can import but it’s easier when you are producing locally because we believe that Ajaokuta will be one of the bedrock of our industrialisation programme. So, it is a project that is dear to anybody who wants to move this country forward.”

Stressing that the north central is known for solid minerals and provides food and power for Nigeria, among other things, the President said: “We thank you for this solidarity visit and for giving us a Senate president that has been able to stabilise the National Assembly.”

On the Governors’ Forum cri-

sis, Jonathan said: “The governors from the zone who have been stabilizing the country because the way some of the governors talk and behave, if 50 percent of the governors behave that way, probably, we would have vacated this place and allowed others to come and manage it for us. But they have been able to help to stabilise the whole country. When the Governors Forum became a monster and we had a lot of challenges, it was the North Central that came on board to stabilise the Governors’ Forum.”

“So, the zone has been able to produce very great leaders, not just great leaders, but they are patriotic leaders. So, we will continue to work with this zone, we will continue to encourage you.

As we approach elections next year, let us know the problems on time; we will work with you to ensure PDP continues to maintain the zone,” he said Speaking on behalf of the governors from the zone, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam urged the Federal Government to tackle the farmers/Fulani crisis, noting that the Fulani fermenting the trouble are not the normal ones as they are carrying sophisticated weapons and well-trained to kill.

According to him, once the Northcentral is destabilised, all

the other zones will be easily destabilised.

Pointing out that the crisis needs to be brought under control as the 2015 general election is fast approaching, he expressed worries that since the Fulani attacks in the zone, nobody has been arrested.

He said: “The security situation in the Northcentral. Virtually all the states in the zone are affected by the activities of the ‘herdsmen’ in quote. We believe that it’s not just the Fulani herdsmen that are doing what they are doing in the zone, but some insurgents who are camouflaging as Fulani men.

“Because the Fulani men that will all know and we have lived with them - some of them are part and parcel of the Northcentral. We know that they carry sticks, and at times, few of them carry den guns to catch bush meat for Tiv people.”

“But Mr. President, what we have witnessed lately are well trained people who are trained to kill and destroy and the manner of destruction is so massive and is unimaginable. The Northcentral is very worried. The state mostly affected are Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue. That is not to say that other states are not affected,” Suswam said.

Even as he said that he cannot claim ignorant of the efforts the

President is making to address security issues in the country, he said that he had to call for special attention for the Northcentral zone because of its stabilising factor.

“The reason being that if the Northcentral is disorganised, Mr. President you are disorganised because that is where you have your stability and so whatever it will take Mr. President to address the security challenges that we have in the Northcentral.”

“You have just directed the military to move in; they have started moving in between Nasarawa and Benue. As of last night, there was a lot of security movement between Benue and Nasarawa state and we hope that the same thing will be applicable in Plateau State because the state has had a longer history of this than any one of us.”

“Mr President, what has worried us as governors who are also leaders is that inspite of the magnitude of destruction, no one person has been arrested and these destroyers move in large numbers. We are worried that without appropriate sanctions, they will continue with impunity because once people are not sanctioned, they don’t take that serious and I think the appropriate example must be shown.”

•Dr. Jonathan

“Mr President, how these people get their arms, because they are carrying very sophisticated weapons, is also an issue that we are worried about and I believe that Mr. President is also very worried because all of us swore to the constitution to protect lives and property.”

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, maintained that the North Central zone remained essential to the stability of Jonathan’s administration and Continued on page 60

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

NEWS

G.O.K. Ajayi may be buried May 29

SSS interrogates detained suspects

EFFIONG I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Effiong Blessing now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. David Ojiugo Blessing. All former documents remain valid. Military Pension Board and general public should please take note.

sponded to this alarm on Sunday by coming to the SSS headquarters. This is the technical or security justification for soldiers’ intervention. It is not as if the SSS was incapable of managing the situation.

There were indications last night that some suspects around the SSS headquarters, who were arrested in Abuja on Sunday, have been released based on the service’s respect for human rights.

Another source said: “Some of these suspects were passersby but they have been released after due checks and frisking were conducted by the service.

“Since he came on board, the SSS DG, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong places premium on human rights and engagement in line with international best practices.”

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Continued from page 2

lenge.”

Regarding the intervention of soldiers at the SSS facility, the source said: “The fact is that there is a new security framework in place to promote inter-agency cooperation.

“Once there is any challenge in any military formation or security agency, the new framework will trigger alarm for Rapid Response by other sister agencies.

“The soldiers merely re-

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Continued from page 2

pro-democracy activists in the struggle to re- validate the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election widely acknowledged as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history.

Amosun recalled the roles Ajayi played in high profile cases.

“I remember the controversial issue of 12 2/3 in the Awolowo vs Shagari case over the 1979 Presidential Election,

•The late Chief Ajayi

the Abdul Rahman Shugaba vs Minister of Internal Affairs suit and the legal battle of the late Chief Abiola, following the annulment of the June 12 election, among others, which are still reference points till today.”

The Ogun governor said he joined members of the bar and the bench and other Nigerians to mourn the passing of “this last colossus of first generation of Nigerian lawyers.”

“He was a progressive law-

yer and that explained his closeness to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. His death is a great loss to the legal community,” he said.

Senate Leader Victor NdomaEgba (SAN) described the death of Ajayi as the “end of a great legal titan.”

Said he: “The late Ajayi was a great legal mind; a titan of the profession in every sense. His grasp of ‘The Law of Evidence’ was legendary. He was a fine gentleman.”

Northeast leaders to govt: don’t extend state of emergency Continued from page 2

demanded answers to many attacks that had claimed hundreds of lives in the zone.

A former Chief of Air Staff ,Air Vice Marshall Al Amin Daggash, who spoke on behalf the group alleged that there were instances that suggested that security agents either had the knowledge of the attacks before they happened or neglected to act proactively to prevent them.

With the former military chief were elder statesmen Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and Alhaji Shettima Mustapha. Ciroma is from Yobe. The others are from Borno State.

The group demanded to know “who authorised the withdrawal of security personnel from the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi (Yobe State), hours before the attack that claimed the lives of 59 innocent children”.

They also wondered why security reports from the communities on impending attacks were ignored or not promptly responded to by security personnel.

Dagash said: “Are the authorities unaware of helicopters dropping arms and ammunition, food and medical supplies to areas well known to be strongholds of the insurgents?

“How were the insurgents able to attack the Maiduguri Air Force Base and demobilise as well as burn planes and other military installations, despite existing state of emergency and curfew in the town? How could 20 to 30 Toyota Hilux vehicles move in a convoy freely with subsisting curfew and still go undetected?

“How did a little band of ragtag misguided youths metamorphose into a well kitted, well armed killing machine moving freely in convoy, of vehicles and supported by helicopters?

“How did the Shilka Tank, a

multipurpose self-propelled antiaircraft artillery weapon positioned to secure Giwa Barracks fail to function, resulting in heavy loss of lives both civilian and military, as widely reported in the media? Are we dealing with fifth columnists in this crisis?”

They insisted that the state of emergency declared in the three Northeast states should not be extended after April 19 because it has failed to achieved the desired result.

The state of emergency will be one year old on that date.

AVM Daggash noted that about 18 communities had been attacked by insurgents in the last one month, with heavy civilian casualties..

“The continuous bloodletting has led to the loss of over 17,000 lives. Statistics released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) showed that over three million people have been displaced by the insur-

gency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the first three months of this year.

“Most of the victims are women, children and elderly. These developments underscore the urgent need for the government, the international community, as well as all Nigerians to arrest the brewing humanitarian crises in the area,” he added.

AVM Daggash called on the government to unmask sponsors of Boko Haram and probe the genesis of the crisis “with particular regards to those who master minded, encouraged or financed it”.

The leaders recommended the implementation of the recommendations of Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari and Taminu Turaki Presidential Committees. “It is the considered view of many commentators that had the reports been implemented, the insurgency would have been largely contained,” AVM Daggash said.

New ‘security architecture’ to end security challenges Continued from page 2

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that is why some unscrupulous people want to destabilise the zone, using insecurity.

He promised the President maximum support from the Northcentral zone, especially from the National Assembly which he heads despite the antics of those he called “rebels” in the House.

“We cannot betray you, our word is our bond. We want you to trust us because we trust you.

All we want is mutual confidence and so far, you have shown it,” he said Mark promised that the huge electoral support Jonathan got from North central in 2011 will be repeated in 2015.

Ali said that the PDP Northcentral remained proud of him and praised him for what he had been doing for the zone.

Declaring that the zone will continue to support Jonathan in elections, Ali urged Jonathan to

find solution to the challenges hindering the Ajaokuta Steel Complex from contributing to national development.

He also canvassed for the establishment of a solid minerals development commission for the zone.

PDP Chairman Adamu Muazu noted that the PDP would continue to wax stronger in the zone. He said the Northcentral would give the party 100% support, especially towards the 2015

general election.

On the delegation were Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang and Kogi State Governor Idrus Wada.

Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris, former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and Senator Khariat Gwadabe.

Many cabinet members from the zone were also present.

INEC begins demarcation of constituencies for 2015 Continued from page 2

Jega said the challenge is for members to be absolutely impartial and transparent.

He told members of the committee that the assignment has presented them the opportunity to be part of history.

Other terms of Reference of the Committee are to: .review previous reports on the review of electoral constituencies; establish the methodology for carrying out a review of existing

constituencies; .and to develop the delimitation guidelines, taking into account the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), and international best practice.

The committee will also review the boundaries and composition of existing constituencies in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and international best practice; and make appropriate recommendations to the Commission. It

will set up any number of subcommittees that may be necessary in the discharge of the delimitation assignment; and consider other issues that may be useful to a successful constituency review.

Other members of the committee are: Dr. Nuru Yakubu, Mrs. Thelma Iremirem, Mrs. Amina Zakari, Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, Prof. Lai Olurode, Surveyor General of the Federation,

Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Director-General, National Population Commission, Prof. M. Mamman (ABU, Zaria) Prof. Mustapha Duze (BUK, Kano), Mrs. P.C Onokala (UNN, Nsukka), Prof. S.I Okafor (University of Ibadan) and Dr. Lisa Handley (international consultant).

Army to battle Fulani bandits in Benue, Nasarawa

T

HE Army is now to lead the battle against suspected Fulani herdsmen who have been attacking villages in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, it was learnt yesterday.

Many people have been killed in attacks on villages.

The Defence Headquarters announced the major military response to the ongoing killings and wanton destruction of property by armed bandits in three Northcentral states.

A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the operation, which started on Sunday, is being coordinated by the Army.

Gen. Olukolade said troops had already been deployed in the various enclaves and flash points from where the armed bandits launch their attacks on remote communities in the three states.

The operation is largely aimed at capturing the itinerant armed bandits with the view to recovering their illegally acquired fire-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

arms and turning them over for investigation and prosecution.

“The internal security operation is meant to capture and neutralise all the enclaves of criminal gangs. The Nigerian Air Force, Police and other security agencies are also participating in the operation designed to restore peace in the affected states.

“Law abiding citizens in the affected states are enjoined to cooperate by providing timely and useful information to facilitate the operation as it affects their localities,” the statement added.

Also yesterday, the military dismissed as “totally untrue” accusations by an international rights watchdog, Amnesty International, that government troops – currently embroiled in a prolonged conflict with Boko Haram insurgents – were committing war crimes and grave rights abuses.

“We cannot understand these

claims of human rights abuses against our men who are putting their lives in danger to ensure the safety of the masses,” Gen. Olukolade said yesterday.

In a report dated March 31, the London-based Amnesty International asserted that increasing Boko Haram attacks and “uncontrolled reprisals” by security forces had killed at least 1500 people – more than half of them civilians – in the first quarter of 2014.

“The scale of atrocities carried out by Boko Haram is truly shocking, creating a climate of fear and insecurity,” the report stated.

“But this cannot be used to justify the brutality of the response that is clearly being meted out by Nigeria’s security forces,” it added.

Amnesty cited a daring March 14 attack by Boko Haram militants on a military barracks in Maiduguri, aimed at freeing hundreds of detained group members.

“Amnesty International has re-

ceived credible evidence that, as the military regained control, more than 600 people, mostly unarmed recaptured detainees, were extra-judicially executed in various locations across Maiduguri,” it said.

“The international community cannot continue to look the other way in the face of extrajudicial executions, attacks on civilians, and other crimes under international law being committed on a mass scale,” Amnesty asserted.

The Nigerian army spokesman described the report as “unfair and totally untrue”.

Gen. Olukolade said government troops were constantly reminded of the need to respect human rights and ensure that no innocent person is harmed.

“We have some of the most professional soldiers in the world.

“Our men understand and follow through on the rules of engagement, even as they engage faceless enemies who have wasted thousands of innocent lives and destroyed public infrastructure,” Gen. Olukolade added.