Dec 2, 2013 by The Nation

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

President, governors in PDP crisis talks

Deji of Akure passes on at 63 NEWS Page 4

•Rain of tributes for monarch

•Lamido, Aliyu, others at Villa

NEWS

Page 57

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2685 MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

ENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi spoke at the weekend of the qualities expected of his successor. Sanusi, due to step down as CBN boss in June, said whoever will be picked by President Goodluck Jonathan to take over at the apex bank must be able to develop the market. “Central banking has changed. I think the market has developed. To be

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

My successor, by CBN boss Sanusi By Collins Nweze, Finance Correspont

honest, if any Central Bank Governor misbehaves, the market punishes the economy immediately. So, the market is a major factor. Even as a governor, by the time your capital market crashes, and your currency goes down, you will know that it is either you restore stability, or you are out of the job. That’s important,”

he said. Sanusi, who has said he would not seek reappointment at the expiration of his five-year tenure, spoke at the weekend during the Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) fifth anniversary in Lagos. He said: “Now, tomorrow (yesterday), it will be six months to the end of my tenure. Probably a bit early to be

talking about the next Central Bank governor, but I do hope that about two-three months before then, there should be some announcements; I suppose. Central bank governors don’t make comments on who they think the person should be. It is not my business to do that. It’s the President’s decision.” He said although names of

Continued on page 4

•’AU TO END HIV/AIDS BY 2030’ P6 •EKITI 2014: BAMIDELE TO RUN ON LP PLATFORM P7

Fear of APC: Jonathan set to drop more ministers Presidency jittery over defection of five PDP governors

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ORE ministers are likely to leave the cabinet soon, The Nation learnt at the weekend. It is all part of the fallout of the defection of five governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to sources. Ministers are also under pressure to either align with the President’s 2015 aspiration or be shown the way out. But some ministers, who are professionals, are not keen on being drawn into politics, especially in their states where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is factionalised. Of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 42-man cabinet, 11 left due to either sack or voluntary resignation. It was, however, learnt that some ministers associated with PDP governors or leaders, who have defected to the APC, might be relieved of their appointments unless they make their position known. The Presidency is yet to recover from the Continued on page 4

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) with the members of the Omoluabi Boys/Girls Club and Omoluabi Youth Club launched to commemorate his administration’s third year, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Ede…at the weekend

ASUU shuns sack threat

•Govt: go back or get fired •APC criticises directive

ARSITY teachers remain adamant, despite a December 4 deadline for them to be back at work. Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge said the union would fight to a logical conclusion. He urged ASUU members to maintain the spirit of camaraderie and remain firm. The Congress of the University of Abuja chapter has decided to go on with the strike. Fagge’s stand was contained in an undated message posted on the union’s website .

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja, Bisi Oladele, Ibadan and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

The message reads: “Dear Comrades, as the struggle to save Nigerian University system is being pursued, I’ll like to salute all our members for their resoluteness in ensuring that the 2009 ASUU/Government Agreement is implemented in accordance with the Roadmap defined by the 2012 MoU. “We believe very strongly that the rot and decay in the University System is not only arContinued on page 4

•Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Zenith Bank Plc Godwin Emefiele (middle) with the 2013 edition of The Bankers Awards plague won by his bank during the ceremony in London...at the weekend. With him are: From left: Paul Wallace, Africa Editor, The Banker (left) and Michael Buerk. STORY ON PAGE 6

•COURT OKAYS BI-COURTNEY’S TAKEOVER OF AIRPORT TERMINAL P5

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS

•Microsoft Chairman BIll Gates and President of Dangote Group Aliko Dangote during Gates’ visit to Abuja.

•From left: Head, Lisbulk Nigeria Ltd, Mr Ganiyu Owolawi; Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Regional Sales Manager, Nestle Nigeria Ltd, Mr Adewunmi Adejumo and Field Manager, Nestle Nigeria Ltd, Mr Oluseye Agboola, during the presentation of a Pick- Up van to Osun State Investment Company as the 2013 Most Outstanding Distributor in Osogbo, Osun State.

•From left: Executive chairman Lagos State of Internal Revenue, Mr Tunde Fowler, Director African Artist foundation, Mr Azu Nwagbogu, the winner, Sesu Tilley-Gyado, Managing Director/CEO Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicollaas Vervelde, The Jury, Prof. El Anatsui, and Corporate Affairs Adviser of the company, Mr Kufre Ekanem, during the Sixth Annual PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN National Art Competition Grand finale organised by NB Plc in Lagos... at the weekend.

•From left: Founder, Akintola Williams & Co, Mr. Akintola Williams, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; and founder, Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), Mrs. Amina Oyagbola at the 5th anniversary and 2013 Graduation/Induction ceremony of WISCAR in Lagos ... at the weekend.

The toll o How to reverse Africa’s inability to match the West in the use of science and technology to address human challenges, such as drought, flooding, climate change and generally improve the lot of the people, was the focus of a workshop at the Bostwana International University of and Science and Technology (BIUST), Palapye, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

T was like a gathering of the shakers and movers of science and technology from around the world. There was Prof Hilary Inyang known in the West and beyond for his contributions in the area of climate change. On October 2, 2002, he was honored in Washington, DC at a ceremony organised by the United States government to honor 10 environmental scientists for technical contributions to the United States. President Goodluck Jonathan will honour him on Thursday with the Nigeria Merit Award. There was the University of Gezira, Sudan’s Prof Mohammed El-Hassan. There was Mohamed Hasan, an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina’s Department of Electrical, Electronic and Energy Engineering. There was Prof Victor Ibeanusi, Dean, School of the Environment Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Florida, who is well-respected for his work on Lake Chad and the Oguta Lake. There was Prof Biyi Daramola, an Agricultural Economist and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Akure (FUTA). And there was Prof Udeme Enin of the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Calabar and Prof Bassey Ndon, Council Chair of the proposed West African University of Science and Technology, Uruan Ita, Akwa Ibom State. Also at the Palapye, Botswana campus of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) for the African Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Systems Support Workshop from last Monday to Wednesday were respected scientists and academics, such as Konare Abdourahamane, a Professor of Atmospheric Physics at the University Felix Houphouet Boigny of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Botswana’s Minister of Education and Skills Development Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Dr Victor Konde of the Special Initiatives Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

•Daramola

(UNECA), Dr Abel Udoh of Gazi University, Turkey, Ekpeyong Eyo, who is Principal, Talon Global, Minneapolis, United States, Dr. Elizabeth Raseokola of the AfricanCarribean Consortium, Sonnie Braih, a Minnesota, United Statesbased attorney versed in intellectual property law and many more. Their headache was improving the lot of Africa through science. No wonder they tackled issues, such as climate change, solar energy, water generation and supply, challenges of energy infrastructure in Africa, energy and health in Africa, among others. They all believe that the toll of playing second fiddle as far as the use of science and technology to better the lot of the people is too much. Partnerships were also forged at the workshop, which saw the BIUST signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions, such as the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, United States, MINTEK of South Africa, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Natural Resources and Environment (CSIR-NRE) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). BIUST’s Council Chair Serwalo Tumelo set the tone for the discussions when he declared that “science and technology remain the driving force behind the development initiatives of every country, including Botswana. Nations and societies that seek to achieve sustainable socio-economic development can only do so through a solid scientific and technological platform. A country such as ours that is seeking to diversify and grow its economic base can only achieve this goal through the inculcation of a scientific culture within its population, with a greater emphasis on the young generation on whose shoulders, responsibility for modernising our country will eventually rest”. Tumelo further drove home the point when he added: “the African continent is well endowed with natural resources which, if well harnessed, will improve the quality of life of our people. The beneficiation of these resources is currently minimal because of inadequate scientific and technological capabilities. The rate at which Africa consumes scientific and technological products from overseas attests to the inadequacy technical innovation and production in the continent”. And to ensure the development and consumption of local scientific and technological products, Inyang

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS

of playing second fiddle

•From left: Enin, Udoh and El-Hassan.

•Kobayashi (left) and Inyang

emphasized the need for the continent to implement some science and technology action plans, which have been gathering dust for some time now. He listed them as: the Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA), 20082013; the African Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Initiative (ASTIPI), 2007- Present; the University-Industry-Science Partnership (UNISPAR), 1993-current; recommendations from the pre-General Assembly Workshop of the International Council for SCIENCE (ICSU), Maputo, Mozambique; the African Initiative for Science and Technology Advancement (AISTA), 2009Present; Action plans on the Relevance of Science, Engineering and Technology Training to Development Challenges in Africa, 2007Present and so on. He said the implementation of these action plans would help the continent a great deal in using science and technology to tackle the challenges facing it. N the demerits of African s c i ence plans, he said there was inadequate networking of science and technology support systems in Africa. He added that grossly inadequate financial resources were allocated to support scheduled plans, insisting that lack of an orchestration agency for field implementation projects and centres of excellence has not been of help to the continent and its people. He listed other factors that have worked against the plans as: poor public information about development relevance and outcomes of science and technology programmes and projects in Africa; non-promotion of champions and non-recognition of achievers relative to other areas of human endeavour; divorce of science and technology (indigenous support) from governance, policymaking and large development projects and entrepreneurship programmes; inadequacy of science and technology support infrastructure and promotion organisations for a continent of Africa’ size; low density of scientists and engineers in Africa and their isolation from lifechanging developments outside Africa; and existing systems and institutions that are not amenable to transformation or expansion. Inyang called for the establishment of an African Continental Research Foundation (ACRF); the conversion and improvement of the African Academy of Sciences into the African Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (AASEM); institutionalisation of the National Science and Technology Advisory

Boards, orchestration of support funds from a variety of sources to start an African Science and Technology Endowment Fund (ASTEF); the establishment of two Regional Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship Parks (RSTEP); the development of high-class research institutions in Africa; and incorporation of entrepreneurship programmes in tertiary institutions. The concern of Ndon was ‘Agricultural Systems for Livelihood Support’. He said the major factors that impede agriculture in Africa are pest and diseases, lack of capital, poor irrigation system, inadequate land supply, inadequate labour, poor mechanisation and technology, inadequate processing and storage system and lack of entrepreneurship. Ndon said: “African scientists, farmers, agriculturists and the international community must bring up up-to-date information on sustainable agricultural production, poverty reduction, food security.” He called for adequate funding of agriculture, provision of irrigation system as well as processing and storage facilities. Abdourahamane called attention to the devastating effect of climate change on the continent. He said: “Climate change is a long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in the average weather conditions or a change in the distribution of weather events with respect to an average, for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events. Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole earth.” He said between 1912 and 2011, the mass of ice on the summit of the Kilimanjaro decreased by more than 85 per cent and Lake Chad decreased by more than 90 per cent. “Africa’s climate is changing, and it will effect temperature and rainfall. It is predicted to warm during the next century. All seasons in all regions will have a median increase in temperature from 3-4° C. It is also predicted that the annual rainfall will decrease in Mediterranean Africa, North Sahara and southern Africa but on the other hand, there will be an increase in rainfall in East Africa. Hydro-meteorological hazards are burning issues with high regional characteristics controlled by climate change. Their spatial and temporal variability remain a challenge for the scientific community. There is the need to improve our predictability capability and over-

come technical constraints,” he said. Hasan’s worry was on how to build affordable solar energy systems for development in Africa. He said solar energy has many branches that require minimum technical skills. He called for the adoption of the Mohammad Yunus model on microloans to encourage solar power development, adding that universities can help in creating both the technical skills and the consumers. Ibeanusi said everything must be done to ensure water consumption growth in Africa is commensurate with population growth. He observed that much of this consumption is wasteful, entailing precious potable water being used for nonpotable purposes. He said: “Despite the added tangible incentive of rising rates, the logical solution of recycling water for non-potable uses is not supported by existing municipal infrastructure. Existing technologies also typically are not able to be located in a compact facility onsite to enable water reuse.” N the impact of water shortage on energy, he said: “Apart from firewood, modern energy production is dominated by petroleum products (about 63 per cent in 2000), coal (19 per cent), natural gas (15 per cent) and hydroelectricity (11 per cent). The region has already experienced declines in hydroelectric production, partly due to declines in the volumes of various water courses that provide electricity in the region. In Ghana, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, most economic activities constituting the backbone of national economies are situated in coastal areas. The latter also form the breadbasket of the region (Watson et al. 2001). In the Gulf of Guinea, sea-level rise could induce the overlap and even the destruction of low-barrier beaches skirting coastal lagoons whilst changes in rainfall could affect the river landfills energizing them. “Given the global challenges that impact freshwater sources, there is the need to adopt a multi-sectoral approach to water resources and its management as a matter of urgency, and incorporating principles of ecosystem-based management by connecting sectors of the economy that will reap immediate benefits from water resources management. Systems should be designed to: reduce the volume and extent of water pollution through preventive practices, capture water once it has been polluted; treat polluted water using appropriate tech-

nologies and techniques for return to the environment; and where feasible safely reuse and recycle wastewater thereby conserving water and nutrients, and provide a platform for the development of new and innovative technologies and management practices. If investments such as these are scaled up they will generate social, economic and environmental dividends far exceeding original investments.” On the promotion of innovation development, Konde said some basic elements need to be in place. He listed them as: expanding partnerships for science, technology and innovation; attracting technology intensive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); and strengthening partnerships between academia and industry. He also urged policy makers to focus on education, investments in research and developemnt activities and creating innovative policy environment. Former Botswana President Festus Mogae, who spoke at a dinner in honour of participants at the workshop, said there was need for unity of effort and purpose in the area of scientific and technological research. Mogae, who is BIUST’s Chancellor, said: “Africa lacks behind in these critical development initiatives. Countries and economies that are today riding the tide of global economic competitiveness and superiority have long realised the need to constitute collaborative and collective resource pooling at regional and continental levels. When we act individually and in silos as countries, we will continue to be eluded by exponential growth that would have been possible had we acted collectively. “Scientific and technological research that does not provide solutions to national and global challenges is a waste of resources. When research work remains theoretical and cannot change lives, such research is undesirable. Tertiary institutions that pride themselves in non- commercialised research are living in the distant past and therefore, have no place in today’s world of scarce resources. Scientific research must be carried out for the sole purpose of changing the lives of our citizens for the better. “The best economic benchmarks of the world are those that came to this realisation many decades ago that investment in human capital always multiple effects in the country’s economic development. These countries are not only exporting manufactured products, but they export skills as well.”

Skills acquisition, which may ultimately lead to skills’ export, is receiving some help from the Japanese government. MBASSADOR of Japan to Botswana Hiroyasu Kobayashi said: “Over the next five years, Japan will offer undergraduate and graduate education in Japan to 1,000 young people from Africa, simultaneously providing opportunities to work as interns at Japanese companies. The ABE Initiative is a new scheme that is separate from the existing Japanese Government Scholarships, and work is currently underway to nail down the details of the programme and attain cooperation from the academic and business circles in Japan. “Additionally, Japan will also construct hubs for human resource development at 10 locations in the field in Africa, including in Ethiopia and Senegal. We will be sending experts in vocational training to these hubs. “We do not think that this is improbable, as we already have a superb precedent: the ‘Toyota Kenya Academy.’ Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation has built a school in Kenya with an expansive campus. At these facilities, through a cooperative arrangement with JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the school trains technicians not only in automobile mechanics but also construction machinery and farm machinery. “This is a school for developing professional human resources operating truly at Japanese standards. “In relation to Botswana, the Government of Japan has been receiving two to three students from Botswana ever year to study in Japan at the postgraduate level, many in the field of science and technology. However, these exchanges have not been limited to government initiatives. This very academic institution, BIUST, has been directly cooperating with the Akita University of Japan, sending students to Akita, one of whom has just received her doctoral degree. Furthermore, in the field of intellectual property, the Nara Institute of Science and Technology of Japan, or NAIST has been conducting a joint research project with the Ministry of Agriculture of Botswana, regarding the Kalahari watermelon gene.” What was clear at the end of the workshop was that the time had come for Africa to stop playing the second fiddle in the use of science and technology to solve the challenges facing it. Inyang said he would ensure the session did not turn out another talk shop.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS My successor, by CBN boss Sanusi Continued from page 1

•Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke with his wife Obioma, distributing flyers to motorists while leading thousands on a city walk to commemorate the 2013 world AIDS day in Calabar...yesterday.

Fear of APC: Jonathan set to drop more ministers Continued from page 1

shock of last Tuesday’s merger of the New PDP with the APC, according to sources. According to sources, the President met with his strategists, key PDP leaders and Senate President David Mark, on Wednesday and Thursday on how to deal with the challenge posed by the APC. Although some harsh steps were suggested, it was learnt that Mark insisted on the rule of law to manage the situation. A source said Mark claimed that it would be difficult for him to declare the seats of senators who have joined APC vacant since they are yet to form the Senate leadership of their action.

Having reached a brick wall, it was gathered, the President’s strategists came up with four options to tackle the APC challenge. The options are: •engaging those who defected in legal battles to declare their seats vacant; •sponsoring political dissidents in their states; •creating legal and political hurdles for anyone with a case or their relations; and •ridding the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the defectors’ loyalists. It was learnt that the cleansing of FEC of those loyal to APC leaders is one of the immediate options on the card. A top source said: “The battle line has been drawn. Ministers

are now left with the option of either identifying with PDP and the President’s cause or seeking refuge elsewhere. “Some ministers and board members may be dropped because those who nominated them have defected to the APC. The alternative is for such people to openly denounce their godfathers or be shown the way out. “Although some of the ministers have performed but Jonathan’s strategists believe they should be asked to go. These strategists do not see defection to APC as a matter of political game; they believe in do-or-die politics. “The ball is in Jonathan’s court to determine whether he will take to the advice or not.”

The President had earlier sacked some ministers, allegedly linked to the G-7 governors when the New PDP was formed. They were part of the nine ministers dropped from the cabinet. Sacked were Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs), Hadiza Mailaifa (Environment), Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning), Ama Pepple (Lands, Housing and Urban Development), Rukayyatu Rufai’ (Education) and Ita Ewa (Science and Technology). The others were Minister of State for Defence Olusola Obada; Minister of State for Power Zainab Kuchi and Minister of State for Agriculture Bukar Tijani.

Jonathan to ASUU: Go back to work or get sacked

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has told university teachers to choose between returning to work on Wednesday, or get sacked. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe, sent the President’s warning to the lecturers yesterday at a news conference. The President’s aide described the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as rigid and insensitive, adding that ASUU was out to undermine the Presidency and

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

subvert the Federal Government. Okupe said: “The negative disposition of the ASUU leadership is unarguably a pre-conceived and calculated treacherous plot pointedly intended to undermine the Presidency and subvert the Federal Government of Nigeria. “This is clearly a hallmark of a leadership that is determined to employ subterfuge in an attempt to hold government, stu-

dents and their parents and other stakeholders to ransom in a reckless and irresponsible display of insensitivity, lawlessness and absolute lack of patriotism and even the fear of God. “Unfortunately, all this is perpetuated using unsuspecting but otherwise loyal, patriotic and responsible members of ASUU whose families are also sad victims of this reprehensible and callous attitude of their leadership. “From all indications therefore and other information available

to government, it has become obvious that this is no longer an altruistic strike borne out of good intentions and aimed at improving the welfare of students and staff of the universities and the standard of our educational institutions. “Rather, it is an evil programme motivated by selfish political interests and motivations within the polity.” The government lamented what it described as ASUU’s intransigence despite the various

Continued on page 53

his likely successors were already in public view, new candidates might emerge before the announcement. Analysts have tipped some of the CBN deputy governors among Sanusi’s likely successor. Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo; Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Sarah Alade; and Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Kingsley Moghalu have been mentioned. Also linked with the job are: Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustafa Chike-Obi; Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Bisi Onasanya and Managing Director, Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukuede. Sanusi said it would be good for his successor to be named on time. “If I have anything to say, I would want to encourage that we announce two to three months before the end of my tenure so that everybody knows who that person is and what his views are,” he said. On the economy, Sanusi spoke of the need to invest in areas that promote growth, adding that

Deji of Akure passes on at 63

HE Deji of Akure , Oba Adebiyi Adesida, Afunbiowo (11), the Ondo State capital’s paramount ruler and chairman of the Council of Obas, passed on yesterday. He was 63. The demise of the ruler who mounted the throne on August 12, 2010, was announced at 4pm at the palace by the Akure Council of Chiefs. The Sao of Akure, High Chief Moses Adewole Adebayo, described Oba Adesida’s passage as “an embarrassment and a rude shock to the people of Akureland”. He eulogised the late monarch in an emotion –laden voice. He said he impacted on the ancient community and that his achievements were immeasurable. The High Chief said the Akure people and the Council of Chiefs would today decide the funeral rites for the late traditional ruler. He said: “Nobody has heard about the demise of the Deji of Akure, until I made the announcement at 4pm today.” Adebayo warned against using the mourning period to en-

ASUU tells members to stand firm as govt threatens sack Continued from page 1

restable but also reversible.

“We believe even more strongly that, the key to turning round the University System lies in the sincere implementation of the Agreement. “What government has so far been doing is no more than a repeat performance of a oneact-play: all the deceptions, propaganda, lies, mischiefs and such other Shenanigans were tried by previous Governments, including Military Juntas, but our resolve to save the University System and our Country remained unwaivered. “We will continue to carry the banner of this struggle to its logical conclusion. I urge all our members to maintain the spirit of camaraderie and remain firmly resolute in ensuring that our patriotic struggle succeeds. United we Bargain, Divided we Beg!” ASUU members at the University of Abuja have voted to continue with the strike . Although Vice-Chancellor Prof. James Sunday Adelabu, directed the students to resume yesterday, the lecturers have vowed not to teach. According to a leader of the union, who spoke with our correspondent, the decision to sus-

progress is being made in the power sector reforms. “If you want to invest in the economy, then you need to invest in areas that create growth. And there are a lot of things to look out for. First, where is the government budget and where are we spending money? Nigerians have to decide whether to invest short term or long term. We want to enjoy cheap petrol, but the money subsidising petrol is the money that could go into education. It could go into infrastructure. It could go into power. It’s a choice,” he said. Sanusi said low interest rate alone cannot foster growth, unless it is accompanied by structural reforms. “And even if you have very low interest rate, that will not create growth and services without structural reforms. I always tell people, I am only the governor of the Central Bank; I am not the Minister of Agriculture or Minister of Education. I am not the Minister of Finance. I am not the Minister of Industry. We have to continue to improve services across the entire value-chain for growth to happen,” he said.

From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

gage in the breakdown of law and order. Following the announcement, the popular Oja Oba (Erekesan) market was closed. Traders shut their shops as a mark of honour. Palace sources said the late Deji died early yesterday after complaining of a slight headache. The Nation learnt that medics who were alerted immediately after his complaint, struggled in vain to rescue him. Symphatisers trooped to the palace to ascertain the news of the monarch’s passing The late Oba Adesida was born into the Ojijigogun ruling house. He ascended the throne after being recalled from London following the dethronement of Oba Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, for gross misconduct and abuse of office. The late Oba Adesida attended the wedding of his son, Adetunji Oluwagbemiga, in Lagos two weeks ago. A few months ago, there were rumours that Oba Adesida had Continued on page 53

APC slams govt over sack threat

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the Federal Government for issuing a sack threat against striking university teachers, saying the resort to such military-era tactics reflects the government’s poverty of ideas. In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party criticised the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, for talking down on the teachers, while issuing the ill-advised, goback-to-work-or-be-sacked threat. The government denied the issuing threat, saying it was (the threat) from the Committee of Vice Chancellors. ‘’Wike’s language was crude, his presentation was rude and his threat was demeaning and counter-productive. We believe his lack of finesse and the inability to think out of the box in handling the whole strike issue will not bode well for a quick resolution of the crisis. ‘’We also disagree with the Minister’s inference that the lecturers should automati-

tain the strike was taken last Thursday by the lecturers. The ASUU leader said: “We voted overwhelmingly for the continuation of the strike at our congress. “As we were voting, the VC was busy summoning a meeting of the Senate which could not form a quorum. Out of about 200 members, only 20

cally call off the strike because the President intervened and sat for long hours with them. It is this unnecessary deification of a democratically-elected President that has almost turned this President into an Emperor. What is the big deal in President Jonathan sitting with ASUU members, his former colleagues for that matter? What is a President elected to do if not to solve problems?’’ it queried. APC said it was unfortunate that Wike can be threatening to sack university teachers at a time there is a shortfall of 60,000 lecturers in Nigerian universities, adding that the threat itself has shown that the government does not understand the enormity of the problems facing public universities in particular and the education sector in general. ‘’The poor remuneration of university teachers and the inadequate facilities for teaching and learning in our public universities have combined to trigger a brain drain in the institutions. The pauperisation and frustration of the teachers through the nonimplementation of the pacts aimed at ame-

Professors, mostly consultants attended the session. You can see that the December 4 ultimatum will not work. “Let the VC open the school, there will be no one to teach the students as from Monday. You can force a horse to the riverside; you cannot force it to drink water.” ASUU National Treasurer Dr

liorating the situation have discouraged those who may want to become university teachers. Yet, the few who have defied the odds to take to this noble path of helping to mold our future leaders are being threatened with dismissal. This betrays a painful lack of understanding of the long and tortuous path it takes to produce a university teacher. ‘’It also shows that the so-called Supervising Minister of Education is not better than the misguided market women who, having being hired and paid to protest against ASUU, threatened to invade the universities to chase out the lecturers if they won’t call off the strike. ‘’This is what a country gets when it puts round pegs in square holes. It is not everyone who can mobilize campaign funds for the President or organize thugs during an election who should be rewarded with a ministerial post, not to talk of being given such a sensitive ministry as that of education, which is directly responsible for the

Ademola Aremu, said the union did not take the one-week ultimatum issued by the Federal Government seriously. Aremu, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone yesterday, explained that the union did not understand why a letter requesting the government to assign an officer higher in rank than a permanent sec-

Continued on page 53

retary to sign the new agreement it made with the union should warrant such a reaction. According to him, the government had only paid N30 billion out of the N130 billion it pledged to release for this year. He said the union only asked the government to release the balance and also sign the agreement as a condition for sus-

•Mohammed

pending the strike. He said the two conditions were those given by their members nationwide after meeting President Goodluck Jonathan last month. Continued on page 53

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS Mr Biggs begins promo

Chief Detective to hit newsstands tomorrow

NEW crime detection magazine, Chief Detective, will make its debut at the newsstands tomorrow. The monthly magazine seeks to re-establish the classical investigative style of reporting. The magazine is the product of experienced and established investigative journalists, led by the multiple-award winning Crime Reporter/Editor, Dipo Kehinde. The award-winning journalist has 24 years experience in investigative journalism, including his stint at The Sun where he was the pioneer Crime Editor. Kehinde is also a winner of the BBC Prize for Excellent Reporting; Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA), winning the Newspaper Reporter of the Year; Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME), winning the Press Reporter of the Year and Academy Press Award for Excellence in Visual Arts. The mission of Chief Detective is to assist security agencies combat crimes, protect the business environment, build a safe and secure society and raise people’s consciousness towards the transformation and advancement of Nigeria.

New president for NIM By Nneka Nwaneri

Dr Nelson Uwaga, a consultant pharmacist, is the new president of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He is an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State. Dr Uwaga takes over from Chief Michael Olawale-Cole as the 19 th president and chairman of council of the institute. Dr Uwaga, who will run its affairs for two years, was the vicepresident of the institute. A statement by the Registrar and Chief Executive, Mr Maurice Lakanu, said Dr Uwaga’s investiture will hold on December 12 at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello after inspecting Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja…atthe weekend. With him are his Information and strategy counterpart, Lateef Ibirogba (second right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment Dr Taofik Folami (second left) and Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Ola Oresanya. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

North’s senators reject FIRS new chair

ESPITE the persuasion of the Presidency, the North’s senators have refused President Goodluck Jonathan’s nomination of M’fon Akpan as the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). It was learnt that Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio will today lead a lobbying team to the Senate leadership to back Akpan’s nomination. The Senate, last week, rejected the nomination of Akpan but the Presidency has continued to push her for the position. Our correspondent learnt that some members of the Northern senators’ Forum met in Abuja on Saturday to review Akpan’s nomination. The senators, it was learnt, vowed to stand by their decision because the appointment of Akpan al-

NIGERIA’s frontline indigenous quick service restaurant, Mr Biggs, in collaboration with Coca Cola, is rewarding customers with the maiden Coke Cup promotion. The promotion, through which Nigerians will win 120,000 Coca-Cola cups, is aimed at rewarding loyal consumers at the Yuletide. The cups come in five exciting colours - black, yellow, green, blue and red. The Marketing Manager, Nnenna Azuka-Onwuka, said the cups are exquisite, adding: “Once you collect one colour, you want to collect all five. It is a collector’s item and we want them in many homes.” The Managing Director of UAC Restaurants Limited, Derrick Van Houten, said the strategy to make the cups in five colours was to give the customers something different to look forward to at every visit. The promotion started on November 22,and ends on January 12.

During

the

period,

•Akpabio leads lobbying team From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

legedly violated the Federal Character principle. Some pro-Jonathan senators at the session alleged that they warned the President not to give the slot to the Southsouth, which has occupied it in the last 10 years. A senator said: “We are united this time round on the FIRS slot going to the North, after the Southsouth has occupied it for almost 10 years. “Also, on merit, we want to know why the acting FIRS Chairman, Kabir Mashi, who had shot up the revenue of the agency from above N3.4 trillion to about N6 trillion, is not qualified. “Of about 800 chartered accountants in the FIRS, 10 are in the directorate cadre. Yet, the government did not

find any of these Nigerians qualified to lead the agency. Something must be wrong.” A woman senator from the North said: “Some of us are angry because we are suspecting that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, is leading a cabal in the cabinet to force Akpan on the President. “We have watched how she tried in the last few months to undermne the achievements of the FIRS to pave the way for this candidate. “The minister hired consultants to interview shortlisted candidates. But the FIRS Act does not create room for the use of consultants to carry out a process. This would have been better handled by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) as has been previously done. In addi-

tion, the criteria put out by the consultants were at variance with the requirements in the FIRS (Establishment) Act. “And the process of selection was not transparent to the extent that a senator had to withdraw from the selection panel.” Another senator, who spoke in confidence, urged the President to re-examine Section 16(2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution. He said: “The section says the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group. “The way it is now, the secretary to the Government of the Federation, the ministers of Finance, Petroleum Resources, Aviation,

•Akpabio

Works, Education, Health and others are either from the Southsouth or Southeast. Akpabio is said to be lobbying the senators to have a rethink. A source said: “We have been notified that Akpabio will be meeting some northern senators on Monday to lobby us. “This is, however, a lost battle. We will not change our minds on the nominee at all. Let the President work with Kabir Mashi or apply the Federal Character and allow the North to have the slot.”

Activists urge Babatope, others to join Tinubu, progressives

OME activists yesterday rose from a meeting in Oyo State, with a message to ex-Minister of Transport Chief Ebenezer Babatope, and other exprogressives in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) to liberate Nigerians from PDP’s “misrule”. The activists said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other APC leaders were concerned about giving Nigerians a new lease of

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

life since the PDP had continued to shackle the nation with sundry problems. Adebiyi Odekanyin, the spokesman, who read the resolutions, said: “Many unpatriotic Nigerians have been seeing the role of the former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as embarrassing and uncalled for. What Asiwaju Tinubu and other progressives are saying is that a drastic disease needs a drastic treatment. In

other words, they are telling the nation that on no account is God ready to manifest Himself to cowards.” Odekanyin noted that in the United States and other nations, the people are conscious of the type of people who govern them. The activist said this type of political culture had not been used in Nigeria since 1960, when the nation became independent. He said: “Human type, garrison mis-commanders, misfits, kleptocrats and lawless street urchins have been our political heroes

and heroines. This explains why Nigeria is going down the drain seasonally and moment-by-moment. We have never succeeded in organising ourselves for peace, love, stability, progress and development.” For the nation’s electoral processes to create a people’s government, the activist said the electoral system should be reformed to avoid impunity and malpractices. He said people in power were unfit for such positions. Odekanyin said: “And

the most fascinating feature of it is that they do not know what to do, but posing to their own discredit and destruction that all is well that ends badly.” The activist regretted that when presidents and prime ministers in the U.S, Europe and Asia speak, their words are taken as law. “But when leaders speak in Nigeria, it is a call for uncertainty and confusion, because they lack focus and direction. The mandate of governance were always stolen and never emanated from the people,” he said.

Court okays Bi-Courtney’s takeover of airport terminal

I-COURTNEY Group may have moved a step closer to reclaiming the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Ikeja, Lagos. The GAT was taken over in controversial circumstances by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in purported viola-

tion of the concession agreement between it and Bi-Courtney. Justice I. N. Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, struck out the application of FAAN to restrain Bi-Courtney from taking possession of the GAT, despite the Appeal Court’s affirmation of the firm’s ownership of the terminal.

According to the court’s documents, FAAN filed the application on December 5, 2011, seeking several reliefs “in respect of the use and operation of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 2, Ikeja, Lagos, by the defendant (Bi-Courtney), pursuant to a concession agreement executed between the Federal Government and

the defendant.” FAAN sought “to restrain the defendant from taking over the control of the General Aviation Terminal of the airport.” The plaintiff (FAAN), the documents showed, also filed an ex-parte application seeking certain interim injunctive reliefs, which were granted by the court on December 6, 2011.

Bi-Courtney, however, filed an application seeking an order to set aside the interim order granted FAAN on the grounds that it concealed and/or failed to disclose facts upon which the exparte interim order of December 6, 2011, was granted. The court delivered a ruling on February 27, last year, setting aside the interim order.

Bi-Courtney filed a notice of preliminary objection on April 10, last year, challenging the competence of the suit and seeking “an order of court to strike it out for failure to fulfil condition precedent as contained in the concession agreement between the parties or alternatively an order dismissing the suit for being an abuse of court process.”

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS

‘National Assembly has power to discuss conference report’

EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has said the National Assembly has the power to discuss the report of the proposed National Conference. He said the recommendations of the National Dialogue could only become part of the constitution, following their ratification by the National Assembly. Ekweremadu also reflected on the ongoing constitution review, saying the proposed singe term tenure would resolve the crisis arising from the competition for federal power. He noted that though the proposal on the single term was rejected by the senators, it remained a viable option.

•Single term tenure is best By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

The deputy senate president addressed reporters in Lagos on the review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly. His remarks about the constitutionality of ratifying the conference report may remove the notion that the recommendations may automatically become the new constitution. Ekweremadu said: “Whatever recommendation that comes from the National Dialogue will need to be tabled before these institutions whose re-

sponsibility is to make laws. The Senate is hopeful that if it is able to amend Section 9 of the Constitution, which deals with the amendment, the outcome of the National Conference will serve as a platform to bring about a new constitution.” The senator, who chairs the National Assembly’s Committee on Constitution Review, maintained that the National Conference was not final. He added: “If some

people come together and agree on a constitution for Nigeria and bring it to the parliament, there are experts in legislative processes in the National Assembly who will look at the document carefully, line-by-line and make sure everything is right and Nigerians agree on it. “This is why there is going to be a debate over the outcome of the planned dialogue at the National Assembly. It is going to be subjected to a critical debate. It has to go through legislative processes. In the course of doing this, something fundamental can be discovered.

Kuku decorates new pilots

HE reintegration component of the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been further bolstered with the graduation of seven new pilots at the Fujairah Aviation Academy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. (Dr.) Kingsley Kuku, while decorating the seven delegates with their Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) at a colourful event in Fujairah, said given the ongoing sweeping reforms in the Nigerian aviation sector, job prospects were now brighter for the new pilots. “We have done our bit. The mandate of my office is to give you first-class training and to ensure you secure globally acceptable pilot certifications. We have achieved this mandate with the full support of our dear President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. “However, I wish to assure you that after your jet/type-rating programme, you will not have problems securing gainful employment in Nigeria given the sweeping reforms currently going on in the nation’s aviation sector,” Kuku said. The PAP chairman noted that Nigeria’s aviation sector ranks among the fastest growing in the world. The cadets had earlier earned the Private Pilot License (PPL), having successfully passed ground courses and flight operation techniques prior to attainment of their CPLs. The courses include Meteorology, Navigation, Air Law, Flight Planning, Instruments, Radio Aids, Aircraft Technology and Human Performance.

Tukur: I’m a necessary virus

HE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday admitted that he is a virus in the party but one for necessity. Reacting to Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido’s comment that he (Tukur) was a virus, the PDP national chairman said he was a necessary virus for the entrenchment of democratic culture, discipline and good governance in the party. In a statement by his Special Assistant, Oliver Okpara, the PDP chairman said the G7 (aggrieved PDP governors) should be treated as coupists for their actions, because they walked out of the party’s convention. He, however, hoped that Lamido would contract the necessary virus for the good of the party and the nation. Tukur said: “If the virus had spread enough, the like of Governor Sule Lamido would not have walked out on the President of the coun-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

try and other party chieftains during the party’s last convention. “Discipline is a necessary instrument in the smooth running of any political organisation or society, to avoid anarchy and catastrophe.” According to him, it is only in a political dispensation that the governors can go free after their conspiracy. The PDP national chairman said the actions of the G7 governor amounted to a political coup, which should be condemned. Tukur assured PDP faithful of his preparedness to continue to lead the party as a father and founding member, notwithstanding the present distractions. He added that the PDP would record more electoral victories and move to greater heights.

Perm secs redeployed

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

R. Henry Akpan has resumed as the new Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, following the redeployment of the erstwhile occupier of the position, Dr. Tunji Olaopa. During the handover ceremony in Abuja at the weekend, Akpan promised to continue with the framework his predecessor laid down. He said the philosophy behind the new thinking had the capacity to reform the youth sector. Akpan said his background in the Health sector would enable him to tackle the challenges facing youths in the country. The permanent secretary noted that unemployment was a major challenge facing the country. He hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for confronting the problems of youths.

‘System failure hampers Nigeria’s manufacturing’ By Ajose Sehindemi

The Scientific Product Association of Nigeria (SPAN) has said Nigerian manufacturers import scientific products because of system failure in the country. The association noted that power failure, government neglect, infrastructure deficiencies and irregularities affected the manufacturing of the products in Nigeria and importation from overseas. SPAN’s President Gbolade Famoriyo addressed reporters in Lagos ahead of tomorrow’s Lab and Science Exhibition at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Famoriyo said SPAN members were willing to manufacture the products locally but for the higher cost the products would have over their imported types. He said: “How can you produce a charger locally and it costs N400 while the imported cost N300 and are better? Which one will you go for?”

• Kogi State Governor Idris Wada cutting the tape to inaugurate the Bassa rural electrification project in Oguma. With him are his deputy Yomi Awoniyi (left) and Industry Commissioner Mr Alih Aju

Jonathan: AU to end HIV/AIDS by 2030

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja said the African Union (AU) member states would eliminate HIV and AIDS by 2030. Jonathan was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, at a special sensitation programme to mark the World AIDS Day in Bwari, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The global theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is: Getting to Zero: Know Your HIV Status. He said the continued spread of the virus was a threat to the achievements of the transformation agenda and the aspirations for sustainable development. Jonathan said:“This is because there are signifi-

cant gaps in mobilising internal resources; providing adequate services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and putting more HIV- positive persons on treatment. “Perhaps, the most significant of these challenges is the need to provide HIV testing for millions of Nigerians. “The Federal Government will continue to remain committed to the fight against HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. “To this effect, HIV and AIDS services shall remain free in all Federal Government hospitals, including testing, treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission.” He said that the government had taken bold steps to meet the universal access tar-

gets and the commitment toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Goal Six by 2015. The MDGs Goal Six is to combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases by 2015. The President said he had directed the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to formulate a strategy to cover the existing gaps in the national HIV and AIDS response. Prof. John Idoko, the director-general of NACA, said the country was making progress in the fight against HIV as the epidemic was being stabilised. Idoko noted that with the support of government and donor partners, HIV commodities had been made available in the last one

year. He said: “This has led to an increase in the number of HIV testing sites and the number of expectant mothers attending ante-natal care services leading to improved maternal and child health. The NMA National President, Dr Osahon Enabulele, decried the increasing rate of cases of HIV/AIDS among Nigerians, especially among the adolescents, the most vulnerable because of their adventurous life style. He said: “The Nigerian Medical Association decries the continued persistence of the socio-demographic factors in the epidemiology of the disease, and its high level in the distribution of the disease among Nigerians...”

Zenith named 2013 Banker of the Year

HE Banker magazine, a publication of Financial Times of London, has named Zenith Bank this year’s Bank of the Year in Nigeria. The award ceremony, which was attended by leading personalities and institutions in business and finance from around the world, held at the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel in London. It celebrates the achievements of the world’s leading financial institutions. Nominees for the award were judged by their ability to deliver shareholder returns and gain strategic advantage in market vis-

ibility and positioning. The award also indicates the level of trust and confidence on the brand and is a testament to the strong management, sound business model and prudent risk approach of Zenith Bank Plc. The Banker m a g a z i n e said Zenith Bank was selected for its overall performance among other financial institutions and the opinion of leading financial analysts from the world’s financial markets. Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, dedicated the award to the customers.

He hailed the management and the workers for building Zenith into a respectable global brand. Emefiele said: “The bank’s competitive advantage as a financial powerhouse for value creation in Nigeria and the several achievements and successes of the brand are a result of a strategic combination of people talent, proprietary knowledge, strong brand equity, leadership, integrity and relationship management.” Zenith Bank was earlier named Nigeria’s largest financial institution by The Banker magazine.

In its 2013 rating of the world’s top 1,000 banks, The Banker listed Zenith Bank as Africa’s sixth largest by Tier 1 capital, having grown its Tier I capital to $2.969 billion within 12 months. Zenith Bank has continually evolved through innovation, dynamism, insight and leadership and has ultimately become a brand adored globally for its tremendous success in the deployment of cutting-edge technology, niche marketing, competitive advantage, provisioning and unwavering commitment to providing best-in-class service to its customers.

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS Osun workers to get 100% 13th month pay From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

From left: Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo; Senate President David Mark; Catholic Archbishop-elect of Ibadan Archdiocese Rev. Gabriel Leke Abegunrini; Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare and his wife during the funeral of Omoworare’s mother at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID in Lagere, Ile-Ife, Osun State… at the weekend.

Bamidele joins LP for Ekiti 2014

S widely expected, House of Representatives member Opeyemi Bamidele (Ifelodun/Irepodun) yesterday joined the Labour Party (LP) to contest next year’s governorship election in Ekiti State. Bamidele was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He refused to identify with the All Progressives Congress (APC) since it was formed by the defunct (ACN) and other parties. When the APC was inaugurated in Ekiti State, Bamidele , a former commissioner in Lagos State for 12 years, did not attend the event. Yesterday, he told report-

•APC: it’s ‘good riddance to bad rubbish’ ers in Emure-Ekiti that he had defected to LP. Bamidele said after consultations with stakeholders and his supporters, the move became necessary for him to realise his governorship ambition. He spoke after visiting relatives of Mr. Foluso Ogundana, who was killed by some hoodlums on November 3 in Emure during a political clash. Bamidele, who said his decision was supported by “progressives elements and political soul mates, who are desirous of change in the governance of the state,” said the declaration was a quit notice to the APC administration.

Speaking to reporters in the company of the late Ogundare’s wives, children and Mrs. Beatrice Ige, who was injured by the hoodlums, Bamidele said: “I and my supporters are quitting the ranks of political desperados to embrace a new political order that will take Ekiti to a new height. “Let it be known that as I quit their party today, I am also giving them quit notice in the Government House. I am giving quit notice to poverty and hunger in our land.” He described LP “as a renowned progressives’ platform”. APC Interim State Chairman Chief Jide Awe de-

scribed Bamidele’s exit as “good riddance to bad rubbish”. Awe said APC would not feel the lawmaker’s absence “since he had no contribution to the party’s growth”. In statement by its Publicity Director, Segun Dipe, APC said: “Bamidele’s declaration of his governorship ambition today in Emure and on the platform of the LP is a welcome development. This is democracy and it is about free entry, free exit. “We are not surprised because we knew his destination all along and we called the attention of our party members to his impending declaration for the LP.

•’Era of bloodshed is over’

lent in your prayers for the success of our administration. The principalities and powers your prayers uprooted in 2011 have not given up. Continue to pray for the eventual triumph of good over evil, that God will vanquish all those who desire to drag our state back. “I am here to appreciate the prayers of the body of Christ – pastors and the congregation – which led to our victory in the 2011 elections. I confirm that it was those ceaseless prayers, offered from the tabernacle of faith and in the closets of the children of God, which brought us into office. As the electioneering process commenced, it was apparent that we were not only going to fight flesh and blood, but principalities and powers in high and low places.

“Indeed, we were like the biblical David, who was poised to fight a battle with Goliath. At every point, however, we felt the spears and arrows of prayers from the body of Christ piercing the stronghold of the principalities. At the end of the day, the prayers of the righteous won. “Immediately we came into office, following best practices in the world, we put together a list of the people’s needs, like the Maslow’s theory of needs. At the top of that list was the security of life and property. You will recall that prior to our coming into office, our state was renowned for the shedding of blood and brigandage. Through our God-given sagacity and investment in ensuring peace, our people now sleep with their two eyes closed.

Osun APC alleges plot to cause mayhem From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged plans by a governorship aspirant to disrupt the peace in the state. In a statement, APC Interim State Chairman Adelowo Adebiyi alleged that the aspirant was planning to sew the uniform of Osun Youth Employment Scheme (OYES) cadets for some hoodlums, who would be used to cause mayhem in various parts of the state. Adebiyi said the plan was for the hoodlums to appear like OYES cadets and cause trouble. He urged security agents to be at alert to foil the plot.

Defection: Ekiti deputy speaker hails nPDP

Charlatans’ll never govern Oyo again, says Ajimobi O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said charlatans will never govern the state again. He spoke on Saturday at the opening of the 10,000-seater Cathedral of the Livingspring Chapel in Ibadan, the state capital. Explaining that his administration has raised the bar of governance, Ajimobi said: “We have changed the face of governance in our state and raised the bar so high that never will charlatans administer Oyo State again. We are redefining governance so much that those who cannot cope with the mental rigour it requires would not dare to move near it. Governance in our state is no longer for anyone who can shed rivers of blood; it is for those who can exercise their mental faculty enough for the ultimate development of our people.” Urging Christians to prayers for the success of his administration, the governor said: “I urge you all not to re-

“While wishing him good luck, we advise that he stays courageous and empathic with his ambition. We are saying this because some months ago, he allegedly printed posters to this effect, which he denied. Secondly, why declare his ambition at Emure at a time the dead is still being mourned? Our people can see how he is now dancing on the death of our citizen in Ekiti. “Governor Kayode Fayemi postponed his trip to Emure in reverence of the dead. Why can’t Opeyemi allow the dead to be buried before going there to play politics? “More so, since his ambition was concocted in Akure, the Ondo State capital, and his supporters are there, would it not have been better he declared there?”

THE Osun State government has increased workers’ 13th month salary from 25 per cent of their basic salary to 100 per cent. This is coming a few days after N4,527,820,000 car refurbishing loan was given to civil servants. Governor Rauf Aregbesola said his administration will continue to improve workers’ welfare. Aregbesola urged traders not to increase the price of commodities because of the gesture.

•Ajimobi

“Next on the pyramid is environmental sustainability. Again, we are all witnesses to the profiling of our state and its capital as one of the dirtiest in Nigeria. This made investors flee our state. Immediately we came into office, we focused on improving the aesthetics in line with best practices that obtain in cities of the world. I am proud to announce to you that today, Oyo State and its capital are inviting and have succeeded in inviting investors, who are fascinated by the new aesthetics and peaceful atmosphere...”

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

KITI State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Adetunji Taiwo Orisalade has hailed the defection of some members of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He described the development as “the advent of a dream Nigeria”. In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Taiwo Oluwaleye, Orisalade said the defection was “the consequence of the misrule that has been foisted upon Nigerians since 1999 by the PDP, which must be ended by a parley of progressives across the country”. He said: “The merger is a positive development in Nigeria’s politics. Despite the country’s resources, the current PDP-led government has failed to alleviate the people’s suffering. “Nigeria has remained an example of a country where poverty reigns unrestrained, despite available resources. The latest insecurity is, in part, the result of the PDP leadership’s failure to address fundamental questions of poverty and development. “Nigerians have continued to experience a lot of discomfort since 1999 when the PDP took over power at the federal level and this stems from its pattern of inconsiderate leadership. The latest fusion of progressives would continue until the PDP is sacked in 2015.” The deputy speaker said there are progressive and retrogressive elements in any political group, adding that the “outlook and identity portrayed by such group would be dictated by the strength of the competing elements”. He urged Nigerians to be thankful to God that the progressive elements in the PDP have been liberated and have joined APC to salvage the country.

Violence rocks Ondo community over kingship tussle

OUSES and vehicles were at the weekend destroyed in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State by hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the embattled Olofun of Ode-Irele Kingdom, Oba Cladius Olarewaju Lebi, following the emergence of another Olofun, Oba Augustine Bamidele Ekunsanmi, the Opetusi (III). It was gathered that the violence began when the king-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

makers were performing the final coronation rites for Ekunsanmi at “Maloku’s Shrine” to replace Lebi, who was sacked by an Okitipupa High Court. The hoodlums blocked the palace gate situated opposite the major road in the community, hindering the free flow of traffic. Several ceremonies held on Saturday were disrupted by

the hoodlums and guests, particularly those who were not indigenes of the community, fled the town. Lebi, who has refused to vacate the seat, said he had filed an appeal challenging the lower court’s ruling. His lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, filed two applications at the Akure Appeal Court, in which hearing will come up on January 27, next year.

The head of the Opetusi Ruling House, Chief Sola Olajide, whose house was among those destroyed, said the Oyelusi Ruling House, which Lebi lays claims to, was not among the three ruling houses that produce the Olofun. Olajide said members of the Oyelusi Ruling House can only contest the Jomu chieftaincy title, which is the third in command to the monarch. He said: “In 1993, we chal-

lenged Lebi for contesting the seat, but due to his influence with the military, he was installed in 1995, despite the court injunction restraining him from the seat. We went to court to fight for our right and in 2010, the Okitipupa High Court ordered him to stop parading himself as the monarch. It also ordered us to produce a regent, pending the time we produce a new king. “Though we learnt Lebi has

filed an appeal, we have performed the necessary rites for the new Olofun, Ekunsanmi. We began the rites nine days ago and they ended on Saturday. “We got the hint that the police may prevent the coronation and went to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to inform the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in this zone, who gave us some security men and told us to go ahead with the event.”

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS Mimiko, Ajimobi, Amosun mourn Deji of Akure

•From left: The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and one of his wives, Abiodun, after their installation as Obasayero and Yeyeniwura of Oyo.... at the weekend.

Obiano ascribes victory to Obi’s hardwork

NAMBRA State Governor-elect Chief Willie Obiano has ascribed his victory in the justconcluded election to the hard work of Governor Peter Obi. Obiano, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said Obi’s commitment to improving the state assisted in ensuring his victory. He was reacting to his victory, which was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka yesterday. Obiano said: “Obi’s good work led us to victory and I commend him for his exemplary show of support.” He thanked the people, APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh, party stalwarts and security agencies for their commitment to their duties during the election. Obiano hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for “ensuring credible polls” in the state and assured him of his unflinching support. He said: “I assure the peo-

•Jonathan, Umeh hail governor-elect ple of Anambra that I will continue with Obi’s great strides in improving the state.” President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Obiano and urged him to build on Obi’s achievements. In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan urged Obiano to protect the people’s interests, irrespective of their political affiliation, and promote harmony in the state. He assured Obiano that the Federal Government, under his leadership, will continue to work with the Anambra State government and other states to achieve better living conditions for Nigerians. Noting the complaints that trailed the conduct of the election, he urged aggrieved persons to keep their bids for redress within the bounds of legality, decorum and acceptable political conduct in conformity.

Obi thanked Jonathan for “remaining committed to democracy, fair play, free and credible polls”, saying: “For us in APGA, we have every reason to show appreciation to President Jonathan because this is the second time after 2010 that he is ensuring credible polls. He is our presidential candidate and we will continue to support him.” Umeh said: “We dedicate this victory to the evergreen memory of our great leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, whose dream and legacy have been sustained. The light that shined when he was alive is now shinning gloriously.” Thanking the President for “keeping faith with democracy”, he said: “If it was not for Jonathan, we could have had problems now. The victory did not come as a surprise, it came as a result of the superlative performance of Obi.”

Umeh assured the president of the party’s continued support and hailed INEC for “doing an excellent job”. He urged other contestants in the poll to give peace a chance and consider the interest of the state before their personal interests. Umeh said: “I congratulate them for contesting. Some of them worked hard but the people have spoken. This is the time to show that they have the interest of the state at heart by congratulating the winner.” Obiano polled 180,178 votes; Mr. Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 97,700; Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC), 95,963; and Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party (LP), 37,495. The declaration of Obiano as winner followed the completion of the supplementary election in the state on Saturday in areas where election did not hold on Nov. 16.

Don’t repeat Anambra mistake in Ekiti, monarch cautions INEC T HE Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that next year’s governorship election in Ekiti is free of “human errors”. Oba Adejugbe spoke in his palace at the weekend while hosting Governor Kayode Fayemi at the end of the latter’s tour of the 132 communities in the state. The monarch said the Anambra election showed that a

•Fayemi ends tour

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

lot needs to be done “with the present INEC as constituted by the Federal Government”, adding that “the electoral malpractices witnessed in Anambra last month were uncalled for and unjustifiable”.

He said: “Ekiti does not want an election that will be inconclusive or rigged like they had in Anambra State. For an election to fail in one state is disappointing to Nigerians and bad for Nigeria’s image. “All stakeholders, including the police, INEC, youths and politicians must work according to the rules. They have to be cautious for Nigeria to attain greatness and get its democracy right.” Oba Adejugbe urged traditional rulers to appeal to stakeholders in their communities to put the people’s interests above partisan interests. Applauding Fayemi for his “massive” investment in ed-

ucation, health, electrification, road and urban renewal projects, the monarch urged the government to look into the perennial scarcity of water in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Fayemi urged monarchs to champion the campaign against violence, adding that next year’s election was important to the survival of Ekiti. He said: “I appeal to our monarchs to warn politicians and youths against violence. Election will come and go, but Ekiti will remain because we have no other state to call our own. “We need to adhere strictly to the rules guiding the game of election. We have to be civil and engage in issues-based campaigns, rather than whipping up base sentiments and heating up the system unnecessarily. This will do Ekiti no good.”

Ondo Trauma Centre begins operation

THE Ondo State Trauma Centre will begin operation today. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the centre located in Ondo town, Dr. Oluwole Ige, said there is a three-year agreement for the maintenance of equipment at the centre with the companies that supplied them. Departments at the centre include Trauma Unit, Orthopedic, Orthoplastic, Knee Unit, Bumps and Plastic, Cardio-therapy and Ear, Nose and Throat.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

OVERNORS Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo State), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo State) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State) have mourned the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II, who joined his ancestors yesterday. The late Oba Adesida was 63. Mimiko said: “The tiger has fallen into a deep sleep.” In a statement by his media aide Eni Akinsola, the governor said: “The news of Oba Adesida’s demise was shocking to the marrow, not because we do not know of the eventuality of death, but because he was vibrant, agile, and had an aura of health and life around him. “He was a true leader and a devout servant of God. He wrote his name in gold in the history of Akure Kingdom and the state within his short reign. The people have lost a great father, whose love for the kingdom is unparalleled. “We are yet to come to terms with this sad news and fathom the gap his demise will leave in our lives. The tiger has fallen into a deep sleep. This elephant has fallen. Oba Afunbiowo II has gone to the place of his forebears. We mourn him; we will miss him.” Mimiko prayed to God to grant the monarch’s family and subjects the fortitude to bear the loss. Ajimobi commiserated with the people of Akure and the Ondo State government He said the late Deji was a good monarch, who would be sorely missed by the people and his friends. In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi said: “I am indescribably shocked by the passing of the highly respected monarch. He was my personal friend of many years and I confirm the words of encomium that are being showered on him for the wonderful leadership he offered the people of Akureland and Ondo State in general during his brief reign as the Deji.” He regretted that the Deji had to pass on at this time when Akureland and the state needed his reputed wisdom and “widespread social tentacles”, which he was employing to uplift the state. Ajimobi said the people of Oyo State and the state capital would miss the monarch, who lived in Ibadan for decades. He said: “He was our good son, who happened to have come from the royal lineage of Akureland. He was a man who never belittled his friends and treated all equally. We will miss his gentle kindred spirit and love for his people.” Ajimobi prayed for the repose of the late Deji’s soul. Amosun in a statement by his media aide, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, commiserated with the royal family of Ojijigogun, the government and people of Ondo State. He described news of the Deji’s death as “shocking”. Amosun said: “He was a true patriot, who served his people well. Our sincere condolences and sympathy are with the government and people of Ondo State, and the Ojijigogun royal family at this sad time.” Amosun prayed God to grant the soul of the late monarch eternal rest and the royal family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. The Akure National Union, Ibadan chapter, cancelled its monthly meeting to honour the monarch. In a statement by its President, Prof. Abiodun Ayodele of the Department of Botany, University of Ibadan (UI), the union described Oba Adesida’s passage as a monumental loss to Akureland, Ondo State and Nigeria. It said the late monarch was an embodiment of humility, love and passion for the development of the ancient city. The union said: “Sons and daughters of Akureland are very shocked at the news of the passage of our king. He was well respected and revered. We had very robust relationship with him as he was one of us while sojourning in Ibadan.” Ayodele said Akureland witnessed tremendous progress during the late Oba Adesida’s short reign. He cited the renovation of the palace and the modern development he has brought to the traditional institution, especially the building of a new palace, a mosque and a church inside the palace, as some of his achievements. The union noted the late monarch’s efforts to transform the palace into a tourist centre. It said: “We commiserate with all sons and daughters of Akureland, the Akure Traditional Council and the governor on this transition. May God give us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Cleric hails Ajimobi From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

•Akeugbagold

HE Chairman of the Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeeq Akeugbagold, has praised GovernorAbiola Ajimobi for his development strides. He spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, during a briefing on his achievement at the board in the last three years. Akeugbagold said: “Ajimobi has added value to this state and has ended the years of confusion. There is no more confusion; everybody can now

differentiate between light, the way and darkness. Whether he campaigns in 2015 for a second time or not, his achievements over the years will campaign for him, and I am sure he will win again. You can see that there is no formidable opposition on ground to compete against him, because his achievement is enormous and nobody can say he has not performed. Even his enemies knows that he has performed. “I do say it everywhere that Ajimobi has been able to do two things, which none of his predecessorsdid. He has given this state hope, the highest thing a man needs is hope and the least a man needs is hope.”

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

CITYBEATS

Woman arraigned for alleged HE Lagos Water Corwater theft poration (LSWC) Ijora

has arraigned a suspected water thief. The defendant was arraigned after a raid supervised by the corporation and the Task Force on the Environment on November 12. LAWC’s Executive Director Mr. Diran Akingba said the

raid led to the arrest of one Mrs. Abiye Oshindele in the Ijora Badia. She was arraigned at the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Court at Alausa, Ikeja. She was granted bail by the court.

Lawmaker urges constituents to clean up environment

enator Gbenga Ashafa, at the weekend sensitised residents of communities in Ibeju-Lekki on the need to always keep their environment clean to prevent breaking out of diseases in the area. Ashafa, who represents Lagos East Senatorial district, during the Saturday’s environmental sanitation, deployed his constituency workers to join residents of Ibeju-Lekki to clean up the community. They were led by the chairman of IkosiEjirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon Segun Adetola and secretaries to Somolu Local Government and IkosiIsheri LCDA, Dr Owolabi S a l u a n d H o n Sh o l a

By Wale Ajetunmobi

Odubiro. Sweeping materials such as brooms, parkers and polythene refuse bags were freely distributed to the residents to prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the road. The people were also told not to always wait for the government before they carry out sanitation in their environment. The Constituency Mana g er , wh o r ep r e s e n t e d Ashafa at the exercise, said the aim of the initiative was to support the efforts of the L a g os S t at e government in preventing spread of contagious diseases in the state.

Pay for LAWMA services, Commiissioner urges

HE Commissioner for Commissioner Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello has urged residents to pay for the services by Lagos State Waste Management Authority to enhance efficient waste collection. Bello spoke at the launch of 100 additional mini-garbage trucks,at the weekend. He said residents should embrace the government’s initiative to bring efficient waste collection services closer to the people. Bello said:”The mini truck can easily be maneouvred and most significantly, will also be driven by ladies and as well will serve the dual purpose of public enlightenment and education to improve public hygiene in such communities”.

LAWMA Managing Director Mr. Ola Oresanya said the mini trucks were introduced because of the contemporary impediments of Private Sector Participation (PSP) in refuse collection particularly in low income areas. He said the success of the pilot scheme introduced three years ago in Badia, Makoko and Iwaya, among other communities, influenced the authority to replicate it in other parts of the state. “We are aware of the complaints by our people, and people are trying to justify this inaccessibility of some roads to patronising cartpushers; these vehicles will provide the same services the cart-pushers intended to provide”, Oresanya said.

CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

Why we kill policemen, by suspected robber

ROBBERY suspect has stated why his gang kills policemen and steal their rifles. Abdulrasaq Ogunmuyiwa, who was arrested by members of Oduwa Peoples Congress (OPC) and handed over to the police at Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, said his gang saw policemen as “a threat anytime we are operating. Ogunmuyiwa, who is being interrogated at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, said his gang members attacked a stationary Rapid Response Squad (RRS) van at IdimuEgbeda, a Lagos surburb, in April, killing the police driver and an inspector, add-

By Jude Isiguzo

ing that they made away with their rifles.” He said because they see policemen as a threat anytime they are operating, “we do not spare them, even if they are not after us”. Police sources said, because Ogunmuyiwa lives in Mushin, Lagos, and his family house is there, he always kept away from operating in that area. He said after killing the policemen, their colleagues fled, adding that the gang collected the rifles of the slain inspector and the fleeing policemen. Ogunmuyiwa said he

worked with another at Ojo Cantonment area in Lagos which was led by one Seyi. Seyi was killed a month ago with four other members of the gang, while Ogunmuyiwa sustained bullet wounds. Slowed down by the bullet wounds, Ogunmuyiwa fled to Mushin, but could not reach his family home because policemen were on his trail. Ogunmuyiwa hold up with a friend, Musini, nursing his wound and later went on operation with him at Fatgbem’s Filling Station. “We were expecting millions after we attacked the filling station, but only got N67, 000”, he said.

A police source said: “Ogunmuyiwa was very angry with Munisi, blaming him for the poor robbery operation. He said he couldn’t afford to get killed just because of only N67, 000. Just as they alighted from a bus at Command area of Ipaja, members of the OPC stopped Munisi. As Munisi attempted to run, the OPC men chased and arrested him. The OPC men recovered a locally made gun from Munisi. He was beaten and inflicted with machete cuts.” Policemen from Ipaja Police Station were alerted and they went to the scene to arrest Ogunmuyiwa and Munisi.

Ex-Army chief makes case for fire extinguisher

By Nneka Nwaneri

O reduce incidence of fire, the Corporate Institute of Risk and Safety Management (CIRSM) has advised that every home should have a functional fire extinguisher, where as parents, children and ward should be thought on how and when it should be used. In addition, homes, no matter how small should have two exit doors to serve as emergency exit whenever there is a fire outbreak. The institute spoke during the weekend through its VicePresident, General Alex Ogomodia (rtd), who was the chairman of the third public lecture and induction of members and fellows of the CIRSM. He noted that because safety is everyone’s business, we must always be security conscious by having a sharp nose to smell any suspicious air around and such smell should be traced to the root to avert any upcoming danger. Not only should families inculcate safety habits in children, the small black extinguishers are known to be the best bet to fight the smoke that choke people to death and is advisable that the extinguishers be bought from a fire department. At the ceremony, a total of 68 people were inducted by the Registrar of CIRSM, Mr Daniel Umoh include the Assistant Commandant General of the Nigerian NSCDC Osaro Lugard and Dr Marcus •CMDR Lugard (right) receiving his plaque from Gen Ogomudia Olorunwa of the Lagos state College of Health Technology.

Lagos warns residents over violation

AGOS State Government has fumed at what it calls the flagrant violation of its physical planning laws by residents in Ayobo-Ipaja, a suburb of the metropolis. The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, during the monthly

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

environmental sanitation, at the weekend, said apart from the enviroment’sdistortion, many lives were endangered by the practice. The government, he said, would soon begin the demo-

lition of houses built under high tension electricity cables across the state. “How can people be erecting structures under high tension cable? It is a noted matter over the years that people shouldn’t build under the high tension cable and pole. But look at that place, the entire area was unplanned. And they are demanding for drainage. “That place was ordinarily a wet land. And we all know the nature of wetland especially what it does to nature. And they want us to construct drainage under high tension, who will ever do that? We cannot do drainage under high tension. “If fact what we should do is to demolish the entire house under the high tension

pole and I have instructed the ministry of Physical planning and urban development, to take note and deal with that. They have invaded the place and destroy the natural habitat”. He said the government would tackle the perennial flooding in the area before the end of the year. Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure Mr Ganiyu Johnson said progress has been made on Ipaja-Ayobo road, adding that it will soon be completed. “You will all agree with me that the road has been defined and the right of way is established. The drainage lines have been marked and the interlocking blockings are ready for fixing.”

‘We will abide by code’

OCAL government o f f i c i a l s nationwide are ready to abide by the Code of Conduct for public officers contained in the Constittuion, President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Hon. Nwabueze Okafor has said. Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the “Code of Conduct for Public Officers: Compliance Training Programme” organised by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, in partnership with Inter Governmental Action G r ou p A g a i nst M oney Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, and Discovery Cy-

cle Ltd., Okafor praised CCB for using enlightenment instead of force without first educating council chiefs on the ground rules as public officers. “They are showing the light to other agencies that education is the key to make public officers perform better,” he said; adding: “They don’t want to summon. They are teaching you how not to be summoned.” He urged the participants comprising council chairmen, deputy chairmen, secretaries, heads of councils and auditor, among others from across the 36 states, to and ensure the training impacts positively on their duties.

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

Patient needs N3m to battle kidney failure

UNICEF, firm partner to fight cholera

SPARE part dealer, Jochim Iheagwam, who is battling kidney failure, requires N3million to live. Until his ailment, Iheagwam dealt in spare parts at the Ladipo market in Lagos. Iheagwam was diagnosed of the ailment in November last year, and since then he has spent his family savings and contributions from St Vincent De Paul Society (St Peter’s Catholic Church Ejigbo in Lagos on weekly dialysis to provide temporary relief for him. One year after, he told The Nation that life has not been easy. “Initially it started like mere cough and catarrh, I began to spit a lot and at some point my body was swelling and peeling. I went to many hospitals and had many tests

•Iheagwam on his hospital bed

By Julius Okorie

before it was eventually confirmed to be kidney failure. I go for dialysis twice a week. When we started, each session cost N66, 000 before it came down to N35, 000. When we are able to raise the money I keep the appointment at the General hospital at the Island,

but sometimes the money will not be complete so I have to wait until we are able to raise enough to take care of one appointment. It has not been easy,” he said Iheagwam, who described his situation as demoralizing, called on public spirited Nigerians to help him.

Vitafoam rewards long service

N appreciation of loyalty and dedication to work, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has recognised and honoured her members of staff who have spent 10 years and above at the 2013 Long Service Awards ceremony in Lagos. The Managing Director, Mr. Joel Ajiga, who led other members of the board, acknowledged the recipients as good team players who were ready to accept responsibilities thrust on them and flexible to the call of duty. He said they deserved the honour because through their efforts, the company had grown tremendously ready to step into the future with confidence and take on the challenges to come. He also paid tribute to their spouses who have stood by them and in the process ensured that the passion and commitment of the recipients since joining the company have been sustained.

“I just want to beg Nigerians to help with anything they can to have my life back. Nothing is too small and I pray God to replenish their purses a hundred fold,” said. Contributions can sent to Eco Bank account No.2741282441 which is in his name.

Firm allays fear over bridge

By Kunle Akinrinade

PERATOR of a wooden bridge linking Igando community with Ayobo community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, has denied reports that the bridge is collapsing. The Chief Executive Officer of the firm managing the bridge, Road Link Ventures Ltd, Chief Oladipo Omojolowo said: “It is not true that the bridge would collapse because it is constantly maintained and no vehicle had fallen off the bridge as a result of its purported decrepit state. We have security men in our employ that patrols the bridge to safeguard lives and property. We operate a toll system that is affordable and in line with standard practices.

By Wale Adepoju

NICEF Country Representative, Nigeria, Mrs Jean Gough has said everybody should be involved in life saving interventions to prevent cholera disease. Gough, represented by Chief of UNICEF, Lagos Office Mrs Sara Beysolow-Nyati said the organisation had been involved in rural development to ensure purification of water, among others. Gough said UNICEF was happy to partner with Unilever PLC in areas of hand washing and other sanitation activities. She noted that the promotion of hand washing with soap has high impact in reduction of children deaths, andding that the availability of soap will make a difference in hand washing and proper hygiene. Beysolow-Nyati said with the donation of Lifebuoy soap to UNICEF by Uniliver, “we will reach out to households to make them understand hand washing and its practice. This is the first step of a bigger picture of behavioural change. “Our aim is to improve and promote handwashing, the soaps are not for UNICEF but for schools, offices, house to house campaign on handwashing. The soap will definitely get to those who need it. We are partners in progress,” she said. Unilever’s Corporate Relations Manager, Yemi Adeboye said the company donated some Lifebuoy soaps and participated in intervention programme to stop the spread of the disease. Adeboye said the company was aware of cholera outbreak in Lagos, Ogun and Zamhfara, and Gombe and Jigawa States, which claimed no fewer than 100 lives. He said more than 70 per cent of those who died were children below five years. Evidence, he said showed that hand washing with soap and water at critical times can reduce cholera risk by 70 per cent and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) by 50 per cent. “Hand washing with soap has been cited as one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent cholera, he added. Adeboye said Nigerian didn’t wash hands regularly despite having access to soap and water. “Only 17 per cent of people according to a global review of 11 countries wash their hands after using the toilet. This is three per cent in rural areas in the country. The soap is promoting hand hygiene in the country. It aims to change the behaviour of 120 million across the world towards “its goal to reach one billion people by 2015.” He said about five million were reached by Lifebuoy since 2011, stressing that it aimed to influence government policy to make hygiene education and appropriate behavioural change part of every school curricula.

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Nigeria’s Wizkid wins Channel O’s best

IGERIA had received 20 nominations and made a few, but remarkable wins, including the overall prize at the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards (CHOAMVA) which held Saturday night, at Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown Soweto, South Africa. The biggest category, being the Most Gifted Video of the Year, featured an unusual 12 nominees, and was clinched by Ayodeji Balogun aka Wizkid for the music video Azonto. In its 10th edition, winners were chosen by music fans around the continent, who had voted for over two

•As P-Square gets special recognition award Stories by Victor Akande

months via sms, web and WAP, were announced at a ceremony that was broadcast live on Channel O. also winning from Nigeria, in the Most Gifted R&B Video was Banky W for Yes/No. The special recognition award – the only category decided by organisers of the show also went to Nigerian R&B duo P-Square. The brothers also proved they are still very much at the top of their game by taking home Most Gifted African West Video for Alingo. The presence of Jude

Okoye, P-Square’s brother and manager at the event, may have put to rest, insinuations that the former has called it quits with his brothers. Rumour of possible tussle broke when Jude was missing at the wedding of Peter, the onehalf of the singers, two weeks ago. Touted as the longestrunning and most highprofile awards event on the continent, the show featured the who-is-who of African entertainment and spectacular red carpet glamour. The prevent razzmatazz

was followed by an array of world-class performances, happening intermittently, as recipients came up stage to pick their plaques. Some of the acts of the night included Cassper Nyovest featuring Okmalumkooklat, Burna Boy, The Soil, Khuli Chana, Victoria Kimani, Buffalo Souljah, Wizkid, Aka featuring Da L.E.S., KCee, Lizha James, and Mafikizolo. The show which was jointly emceed by Naeto C and AKA, saw the latter also walked home with the CHOAMVA’s Most Gifted Hip Hop Video for Jealousy – one of the most hotly fought

Fast and furious race actor dies riding

genre categories on the night. A repeat broadcast of the

event will air on Wednesday on Channel O, organisers say.

Calabar Festival kicks off in style

•Mixed feelings over actor’s death, replacement

S the movie world mourns the death, Saturday, of Paul Walker, an undercover agent in the cash cow series, Fast and Furious, there arose mixed feelings among fans who juggle thoughts between the actor’s painful demise and curiosity over the re-scripting of the much anticipated 7th installment of the action film, gunning for next year. Walker who played agent Brian O’Conner in the movie was killed in a tragic car accident in California. He had been shooting the next installment of the Fast and Furious franchise in Atlanta, but was said to have returned home to California

•Wizkid

•The late Paul Walker, left with colleague

for thanksgiving when the accident occurred while on his way back from a charity event. The thespian was a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT driven by his longtime friend, Roger Rodas. Reports say Rodas lost control of the car and

crashed into a light pole and tree in the community of Valencia, north of Los Angeles. When police arrived at the scene of the accident, the car was in flames and the two men inside the car were declared dead at the scene. Walker, 40 is sur-

vived by a 15-year-old daughter named Meadow. The Fast and Furious brand which released its 6th outing last May is known to have topped box office sales chart at every release since 2001. The American street-racing action film started off with Paul Walker, Vin Diesel among others, and only just added Transporter star, Jason Statham in the last series. Concerns among fans of the series who have kept social media buzzing since Saturday is similar to the ones expressed two years ago when Andy Whitfield, the British star of US TV drama Spartacus died, and for a long while shut down production until Aussie actor, Liam McIntyre was brought in as replacement. Even then, McIntyre disclosed Whitfield’s shoes were too large for his legs. With so much intrigue, the 6th installment has heightened expectations, bringing the tale of Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), and their fellow professional criminal/car racer types to a conclusion of sorts. It is said that not only was Fast and Furious 7 on the way, the sixth and seventh installments in the high-octane thrills franchise were shot back-toback with the addition of Statham. Chris Morgan who penned the last three chapters in the franchise is said to have scripted both the sixth and seventh movies. The 7th chapter has been shooting partly in Abu Dhabi since November 8. It is due to be released on August 7, 2014, but with the passing of Walker, the feasibility of the target date may depend on Morgan and how ‘fast and furious’ other factors may turn out.

ATURDAY night, marked the beginning of the line-up of events fin this year’s edition of the popular Calabar Carnival, with the ceremonial lighting of what organisers touted the tallest Xmas tree in Africa. True to their hype, the ceremony kicked-off with colour and panache, as it was witnessed by top celebrities, captains of industry, politicians and revelers, including the host governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who were treated to high octane entertainment at the Millennium Park, Calabar, Cross River State. The event, which lasted two hours, saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at midnight, accompanied with fireworks. Before then, there were performances by up and coming musicians discovered during auditions for the 2013 Festival. Ace comedian, I Go Die left the guests, which included the Governor’s wife, Obioma, Minister for Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, former Military Governor of the state, Air Vice Marshal Gregory Agbonemi and Nollywood stars Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Gideon Okeke, Bryan Okwara and Executive Director of First Bank, Mr. UK Eke on the edge of their seats. “We remain that place in Nigeria where every Nigerian would be proud to be, where every Nigerian will say there is one state in Nigeria where you can see the governor walking about, associating with his people, he is not afraid, he is part of the crowd, and the people are warm, happy and beautiful”, Imoke said. While urging youth to make use of their talents, Imoke recalled that like music star, Inyanya, many talents are discovered every year during the festival. The governor contended that the two brands recognised by the world today are Nollywood and the Calabar Carnival, noting that, the tree-lighting exercise will go down in the record of Nigeria that next to the tallest and biggest flag in Nigeria is the tallest Christmas tree. Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, stressed the need for government to galvanise resources and train young artistes in order for them to use their creative abilities to better their lots. Duke also urged ‘Cross Riverians’ to find in each of them their creative talents that they may showcase to the world instead of waiting on government to provide their needs. He hinted that the siting of over N2 billion project for a creative academy in Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area remains a clear testimony of how important government holds the works of creative arts among youths in the area. Edem Duke also used the opportunity to announce the offer of 10 scholarships by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to provide opportunities for people to learn creative arts of carnival. He disclosed that the scholarship would be available from next year, adding that carnival has transformed from a street party into an economy. Executive Director Public Sector, South, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. UK Eke, lauded Cross River government for its initiative which has also helped in uniting people from several cultures while bringing happiness to Nigerians.

•Calabar biggest xmas tree

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

What is NNPC hiding? • It is doubtful if the latest House probe of the corporation will count

OR how long will the outlaw Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) continue to mock Nigerians with its stubborn refusal to yield to legitimate entreaties to come clean on its activities to its numerous stakeholders? Not too long ago, the corporation earned the unflattering sobriquet from an international body – the Berne Declaration – as the most opaque national oil corporation on earth. Since then, it has carried on with the same arrogant air of defiance, impervious to reason, as if it does not matter. We recall too that the corporation has also turned the monthly meetings of the Federation Account Allocations Committee into a theatre of discord; more than twice, the meetings of the body could not hold amidst allegations of underremittance by the corporation into the federation account, with a staggering amount involved said to be in excess of N150 billion. The governors body, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has in recent time, not only lampooned the corporation over the bizarre accounting that runs foul of commonsense, but also for its continuing intransigence over demands to lay bare the basis of its computation of revenue accruals into the federation account. Now, another storm appears to be brewing over alleged discrepancies between the value of oil sales and actual remittances to the federation account. The House of Representatives has ordered a fresh inquiry into the

operations of the corporation over the same set of issues. That was after a member, Haruna Manu, intimated the House of an alleged discrepancy of $13.9bn representing the difference between the $20.9bn said to have been realised from oil sales between January and August, as against the $7bn actually remitted into the federation account during the period. Now, the investigation, to be conducted by an ad hoc committee of the House is to determine the “volume and value of crude oil sales and remittances” by the corporation from January to date, and is expected to last four weeks. Given its legendary tradition of obduracy, the natural question is whether the latest probe will amount to anything, or if indeed, it would reveal anything about the outlawry of the corporation that is not already revealed in one form or the other by either the Auditor-General of the Federation, AGF, the Public Accounts Committees, PAC, of the two chambers of the National Assembly, or even the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI. Nonetheless, we consider the probe important for several reasons. The first is to insist on the obligation of the corporation to render the records of its operations to its stakeholders, in a satisfactory manner. Nigerians of course expect the reconciliation of the conflicting figures if only to lay the on-going controversies to rest. We want to know

how many barrels of crude oil are sold daily and for how much. The time has come to end the corporation’s tradition of muddling things up. We also expect the probe to shed light on why the corporation, aided by the petroleum ministry, has been so powerful to the extent that it can routinely defy oversight bodies like the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee and the office of the AGF. We want to know: does the NNPC or its officials enjoy immunity from scrutiny from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission? Nigerians eagerly expect the outcome of this latest round of probe. The surprise though will be when the probe finally meets their expectations.

‘We consider the probe important for several reasons. The first is to insist on the obligation of the corporation to render the records of its operations to its stakeholders, in a satisfactory manner. Nigerians of course expect the reconciliation of the conflicting figures if only to lay the on-going controversies to rest’

Selfish agenda •Bill to allow public officials operate foreign accounts is in bad taste

HE bill seeking to allow public officers operate foreign bank accounts, now before the House of Representatives is, expectedly, generating public curiosity. The bill, which has passed the second reading, if eventually passed into law, seeks to amend the extant Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004. The Act makes it a criminal offence for a public officer to operate foreign bank account. Proponents of the bill have argued that because no public officer has been successfully sanctioned for breaching the Act, then the law is weak and ineffective. They therefore want public officers to operate foreign accounts with a proviso that the leave of the bureau must, ab initio, be obtained. To them, formal disclosure of such accounts would remove ‘secrecy’ that usually surrounds the operation of foreign accounts by infracting public officers. But those opposed to the

This bill is capable of undermining the local economy. There is a cliché that a man’s heart is where his money is. If public officers, including lawmakers, could be promoting this kind of bill, it shows they have lost confidence in the Nigerian economy and are ready to transfer their commitments to foreign countries where they could stockpile their money.

bill amongst them simply believe that to allow such amendment is to legalise corruption through stashing of ill-gotten wealth in foreign banks. Whatever the merits and demerits of the arguments, the over-riding question is: of what benefit is the operation of foreign accounts by public officers to the country? At a time that the nation is battling corruption and capital flight, it is contradictory for any of its lawmakers to be promoting this bill with high proclivity for serious abuse. Whose interest are the proponents of the bill pursuing? Is it that of the generality of Nigerians that are groaning under excruciating bad governance, or a select few in power and their cronies in government’s agencies? The position of the law as at today is that no public officer should operate foreign account and, to us, this is sacrosanct. The fact that the law has not been fully tested does not mean that it should be arbitrarily changed. At any rate, is it not the duty of government to enforce the law? Is it then right to suggest that the law has not been strictly enforced so as to give room for this kind of selfish agenda that our House of Representatives members are now contemplating? The Act in question, after all, does not forbid public officers from running domiciliary accounts with domestic banks. What then is the compelling reason why this class of people should be edging to operate foreign accounts when in the end the same purpose could be served through the domiciliary accounts? With the introduction of new banking technol-

ogy which has interconnected the world, transactions can be conducted internationally with just a punch of button or a slip of credit card in cash-points around the globe. The banks and the economy generally benefit from this process. By contemplating this bill at all, the lawmakers have shown crass insensitivity to policy decisions taken around them when they are expected to conduct lawmaking business from an informed position. By allowing the bill to scale the second reading, it means they are oblivious of the recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) order giving unwavering priority to the nation’s currency. The CBN has mandated banks not to pay money sent through Western Union in foreign currency again. Why then should our lawmakers be seen to be promoting a bill that would encourage capital flight? In our view, this bill is capable of undermining the local economy. There is a cliché that a man’s heart is where his money is. If public officers, including lawmakers, could be promoting this kind of bill, it shows they have lost confidence in the Nigerian economy and are ready to transfer their commitments to foreign countries where they could stockpile their money. This is against the oath of allegiance they swore to. We object to this bill because it would not foster transparency and accountability. It amounts to nothing but an attempt to legitimise money laundering in the country.

Egypt veers off the road to democracy

FEW WEEKS ago, in his first visit to Egypt since the military removed President Mohamed Morsi, Secretary of State John F. Kerry urged the nation’s leaders to stay on track for a return to democracy. He said they should stick to their “road map,” a plan for a referendum on changes to the constitution and for parliamentary and presidential elections by next year. “The road map is being carried out to the best of our perception,” the secretary declared. There wasn’t much evidence of a democratic transition when Mr. Kerry said those words, and in recent days the road map has gotten still more tattered. A state of emergency imposed by the military-led government expired but is being replaced by other repressive measures. On Sunday, the interim president, Adly Mansour, issued a law that could sharply restrict public demonstrations such as those that have roiled the country in the past two years. The new law effectively bans any public gathering of more than 10 people without government approval, requires those holding a protest to notify the government three days in advance and bans all demonstrations at places of worship. Many demonstrations and marches in the past two years have originated at Friday prayers at mosques. The law gives the authorities the right to prohibit any protest on extremely vague grounds of a public security threat and empowers the police to forcibly disperse protesters who do anything to “violate the peaceful nature of expressing opinions.” The new law is an ominous invitation to continue repression of the Muslim Brotherhood, which supported Mr. Morsi, and others opposing the government. In another setback for democracy, the 50-member committee writing amendments to the constitution approved an article allowing military trials of civilians in certain cases. The article would give the regime yet another bludgeon over any opposition, threatening to bring them into military courts. On Tuesday, a group of demonstrators took to the streets to protest the new law and the constitutional article on military trials. Apparently acting under the new assembly law, police dispersed them with water cannons and made arrests. On Wednesday, authorities followed up by issuing arrest warrants for two of the most prominent secular liberal leaders of the 2011 revolution against the regime of Hosni Mubarak, Ahmed Maher and Alaa Abdel Fattah. All this adds up to a government in Egypt steering toward autocracy rather than democracy. Mr. Kerry said in Cairo that events were “moving down the road map in the direction that everybody has been hoping for and concerned about.” In fact, they are not. As a State Department spokeswoman noted Monday, the new law on public assembly “does not meet international standards and will not move Egypt’s democratic transition forward.” The Obama administration has been eager to show support for Egypt’s leadership, but it is long past time to be honest about its behavior. •Washington Post TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Dep. Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

CARTOON & LETTERS

DUCATION Minister Nyesom Wike’s press conference on ASUU was a re-enactment of military regime. No doubt, the supervising minister was frustrated and allowed anger to take a better side of him. People like this should be far away from corridors of power. Most unfortunate and very worrisome too, the NUC executive secretary, Professor Juius Okogie, who should know better, was part of the embarrassing and intimidating conference. Agreed, the ASUU strike has dragged for too long, and must be brought to an immediate end but the latest move by the government will not resolve the logjam. History has shown that such military approach will worsen the situation. Wike would have won my heart, and indeed Nigerians, if he had premised his marching order and threat on the fact that the govern-

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

Wike’s dance of shame ment has signed the Nov 4, fresh agreement with ASUU. Instead of grandstanding, one would have expected that the quality education President Jonathan and some of his ministers are exposed to should create awareness and help them deal with the numerous problems that FG/ASUU agreement seeks to address. If I were the President, this strike would end within hours by doing the needful: guarantee the release of needed funds to capture the tenets of the agreement. The President should

think less about 2015, his major distraction and divert the resources and energy reserved towards solving the immediate problems of security and education. Perhaps the government has not thought of the effect of the rot on our campuses and its implication on nation building. We have a system that believes and promotes dysfunctional learning. Apart from older generation and seasoned few individuals, many of the millennium lecturers in both public and private universities are products of a defec-

tive system. How and what they deliver in classes is what the system indoctrinated in them. If the trend continues, we shall soon have these millennium lecturers as professors and university administrators. One wonders what quality these ones will bring into the system. As it stands, our university education system has placed a lot of importance on academic excellence; which is mostly unattainable. Achieving a grade is the ultimate dream of any student not minding if the facility was in place for prop-

So Bamanga Tukur could soft-pedal?

“P

OWER corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”, thus goes the old saying which, in itself, seems to canvass that power is sweet and so sweet that it can produce deadly consequences in the powerful. Yet, being powerful is not as delicate or dangerous as being power-conscious or power-drunk, which was the situation in which the PDP as a proud “largest political party in Africa” had found itself in recent times. Well, we all know that no political party anywhere in Africa has an influence beyond its country’s borders but PDP still found it very fashionable to attribute to itself the irrelevant countinental size as a method of celebrating its power! Each time the PDP chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, spoke on, or reacted to the escalation of the PDP crisis of recent, one had wondered what was befalling him or his party. He had sounded so carefree about possible peaceful, positive resolution of the crisis. One had thought that his attitude could be a result of his self-confidence in his old leadership style of firmness and ruthlessness which had served him well in the past in his career as a customs boss but one was taken aback when he was reported to have been shocked by the defection of the five PDP governors to the APC.

Tukur was reported to have said that the five governors “went too far”! He betrayed his habitual toughness and failed to condemn or rebuke them as ‘good riddance to bad rubbish’ as would befit a nononsense character like his. So the decamping of the governors could soften Tukur? If so, why was the break-away of the new PDP (nPDP) not worrisome enough to make him a good listener and strategist? One would think that the emergence of the nPDP was almost as alarming and shocking as the defection of governors but it was thereafter that Tukur and his

party had decided to display most brazen impunity as if peaceful atmosphere was unimportant in politics. And, come to think of it, what the aggrieved nPDP members had encountered during the crisis had been the fate of the whole of the nation under the PDP all along. The nation had witnessed insensitivity to the sufferings, yearnings, pains and hopes of the governed. Whatever was outside the desire for and sustenance of power had hardly interested the PDP. It was a party that had been well-known for pretending to serve the people in

the belief that it could always win elections with its intimidating posture, anytime, anyhow. Receiving the news of the defection, it must have dawned on the PDP chairman that the absolute power of the party with which it was able to do and undo was fast slipping away with the loss of a whole five governors at a go, so he sounded sober and rational for once, even if briefly! Thanks, you would say, to the divine wind of change that has started to blow in Nigeria. •Jide Oguntoye, Oye-Ekiti

er tutelage. Excellence in exam is what the government and parents use to gauge the learner and ultimately determine the economic failure or success of an individual. Neither the government nor the parents care to know how defective the procedure that moulded the graduates was. The culture of ‘certificate matter’s at all costs is a sad reality which has resulted in prevalence of social and political evils such as corruption, moral decadence and leadership failure. ASUU shares part of the blame. Many of our lecturers and professors are guilty of advancing the concept of utilitarianism in our universities. Some of them teach with the sole aim of giving grades to their students because the facilities required to augment teaching are not there. The intellectual discourses that were characteristic of our universities in the 1980 and 1990s are long gone; some of our lecturers have mastered the art of dictating notes to students as the only mode of delivery. From the federal, state to private, our universities have failed to promote scholarship in the real sense of the term. Many of our professors have become contractors and prefer executive positions to academic. Such ones have failed to serve as mentors to younger academic because they are not on their seats to offer direction and guidance. Honestly, so many things are wrong with our universities. We are genuinely at intellectual war! A war that will leave the universities more devastated and dysfunctional; a needless war that should be checkmated by doing the needful to save the universities and the Nigerian nation. •Tola Osunnuga, Ago-Iwoye

Jega: Honour above everything else

WAS a student of the University of Ilorin when Dr. Attahiru Jega, as he was then known, was the President of the Academic Staff of Union of the Nigerian Universities, ASUU. His uncompromising stand against the military junta’s efforts to cow the ASUU then, was what endeared him to students in those days. I could remember the day Jega visited Unilorin then, he was carried shoulder high by enthusiastic students. He was believed to be upright, forthright and a man of integrity. Consequently, the appointment of

Jega as INEC chairman was applauded by well meaning Nigerians. They heave a sigh of relief that with the reputation of Jega, end has come to show of shame and impunity in INEC. Although, the 2011 election was not perfect, yet it was adjudged as being fair than previous ones, upon which Jega received applause from home and abroad. However, the just concluded senatorial election and gubernatorial election in Delta and Anambra states respectively and the shenanigan that the elections were have put the much touted Jega’s integrity to test. The Abra-

cadabra have shown that it is not yet Uhuru with INEC and Jega could not be absolved from the blame. It is a common saying that if an organization succeeds, the head should be applauded. Invariably, if it is the other way round, the head carries the blame. Consequently, the protest embarked upon by some Anambra women over the INEC’s complicity in the rigging of the recently conducted gubernatorial election in Anambra state and the Thursday November 28, protest embarked upon by the APC leadership in Abuja against the conduct of the

same election, in spite of the opposition from the security forces, show that Nigerian would no longer condone any electoral robbery, either now or in future. It is an irony that some of the eminent people who hailed Jega upon his appointment are the same people who are calling for his head during that protest. This should serve as a signal to Jega that his reputation is on the line and he should rise up to save his name and future from disrepute and shame. •Adewuyi Adegbite. Apake, Ogbomoso.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

COMMENTS

APC vs. PDP: Pathway to impactful democracy

ALL it merger or carpet-crossing, politics in Nigeria is set for impactful democratic dimension with the emergence of a cross-country All Progressives Congress (APC) that will make it a formidable contender of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Concisely, that APC can now become enlarged as an alternative to PDP will be the issue that will make politics meaningful. It does not matter whether the politicians in power are feeling threatened of the possibility of being logged out of office, or those in opposition are excited of the prospect of taking over power, what would be of essence to the people is the build up of democracy in governance. Democracy may be a recognisable utterance by many, but it is a concept still misconstrued and distorted when totalitarians and single-party regimes alike assert popular support by claiming the mantle of democracy. Yet, the power of the democratic idea might have prevailed through a long and noisy history - democratic government, in spite of abiding challenges, continues to evolve and flourish across the world. Democracy, which initiates from the Greek word ‘demos’ or people, is defined basically as government in which the supreme power is vested in the people. In some forms, democracy can be exercised directly by the people; in large societies, it is by the people through their elected representatives. Or, in the memorable phrase of American President Abraham Lincoln, democracy remains commonly defined as government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This common definition of democracy comes with an attractive set of values that when properly implemented guarantees the governed rights and freedoms of people that are unmatched in any other governance system. Pathetically, politics in Nigeria has hardly made meaningful impact on the life of the people beyond military dictatorship, even as the nation has been pretending to become democratic. Consistent civilian administrative failures have been more of not seeing democracy resting upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights. The most imperative and emblematic aspect of democracy is the ability to freely elect the leaders by the people. This characterizes the most noteworthy difference between democracy and other forms of government. Without this vital

constituent, democracy ceases to exist. Since the ancient Greeks forged the contemporary knack of democracy, it has triumphed against other systems of government and become the global model. By its very nature in which leaders emerge and can be removed only through the vote of the people, democracy no doubt better guarantees the responsiveness of leaders to the needs of their people who voted them into office. With the many years of civil rule, Nigerians of all bands are staggering in disillusionment as they live through a dubious democracy that has turned out to be a most visionless and ethnic-oriented in the nation’s declining history. The first republic ended in disaster. The second republic was also truncated by the military in desperado. The only opportunity that would have pumped up true democratic leadership choice in the June 12, 1993 presidential election was aborted to pin down the factual will of the people. Today, the damaging tendency is still on – up to the current Anambra State sabotaged gubernatorial election. With such fraudulence and electoral manipulation of the will of the people, 14 years of PDP in dominant federal rule has not brought any tangible developmental improvement into the nation. While illegitimate leaders continue to pretend with the false label of a democracy, in reality it has been more a replica of military juntas where the usurpers of power have used the apparatus of the state, complemented by godfathers and other enablers to deliberately and routinely rig elections and impose candidates at every level of government. Genuine democracies conduct habitual free and fair elections open to citizens of voting age. People in egalitarianism have not only rights, but also the responsibility to participate in the political system that, in turn, protects their rights and freedoms. The sham system that pretends to be a democracy has given a free rein to an unconscionable and blatant cluster of inefficient and uncommitted leadership in governance. Today, we are experiencing another utmost looting spree, like under the military, in the nation’s account. With fuel subsidy scandals and unaccounted excess oil incomes, there is absolutely nothing to show for the record earnings. The most fundamental infrastructural necessities of life such as good roads, power supply, pipe-borne water and serviceable hospitals are physically fictional and imaginary – except in the few states of the opposition parties where works are truly being done. The strength of a nation is determined by those who man it. The people entrusted with the custody of governance must practice the basic life principles of ethics, integrity and responsibility. Of course these principles go out the window

WENTY seven years after Dele Giwa was bombed at breakfast, it is fascinating that a new book seeks to reinforce the weight of public suspicion that Gen (retd) Ibrahim Babangida, the former military ruler who was in power at the time, probably had a hand in the macabre murder of the colourful journalist. Perhaps the devastating beauty of the 360-page volume, entitled Honour for Sale, derives from the fact that it is signposted as “An Insider Account of the Murder of Dele Giwa,” making it the first version of events written from close quarters unambiguously pointing an accusing finger at the Babangida administration. The author, Major (retd) Debo Basorun, has a faultless qualification for the documentation, having served in the Babangida regime under the title of Press and Public Affairs Officer (Military Press Secretary) to the Military President of Nigeria between 1985 and 1988. His effort, therefore, can be considered as a testimony by a member of a charmed circle, who should know what he is talking about. Indeed, Basorun drops a bomb in the prologue to his autobiographical book, saying, “It is a laborious attempt at documenting over twentyone years of a kaleidoscopic but exciting career – a gaudy reminder of the sweet days at the pinnacle of power and how a miscalculation on the part of the powers-that-be led me to uncover the truth that, in concert with his Intelligence Chief, Colonel Haliru Akilu, Babangida has not come clean with the Nigerian people - nay the world - concerning the duo’s roles in the mindless assassination of a foremost Nigerian journalist of his time, Dele Giwa.” In addition, Basorun states in explicit terms, “I am hopefully looking forward to the day when General Ibrahim Babangida, Colonel Haliru Akilu and myself would be brought before the people’s court to answer all we know pertaining to the cruel murder of a most illustrious Nigerian, Dele Giwa.” Clearly, this is the statement of a willing prosecution witness. The question is: With the release of this explosive book and its accusatory contents, wouldn’t it be appropriate to reopen the Giwa murder case?

‘His effort, therefore, can be considered as a testimony by a member of a charmed circle, who should know what he is talking about... Clearly, this is the statement of a willing prosecution witness. The question is: With the release of this explosive book and its accusatory contents, wouldn’t it be appropriate to reopen the Giwa murder case?’

Bombing Babangida Unfortunately, such a possibility would appear complicated, particularly in the light of certain precedents. It is instructive that quite early in the tragedy, efforts to obtain justice by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Giwa’s enthusiastic lawyer, were dampened by the mysterious stance of the journalist’s colleagues and co-founders of Newswatch magazine who disowned the legal activist in a November 5, 1986 edition; this was under one month of Giwa’s killing on October 19. Similarly enlightening is the fact that in 2001, Babangida rigidly refused to appear before the Human Rights Violations Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, concerning the Giwa murder. Remarkably, Babangida betrayed desperation for silence by going to court. With Col (retd) Akilu of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) in his regime and Lt. Col. (retd) A.K Togun who was the Deputy Director of the State Security Service (SSS), he obtained an order barring the commission from summoning them to appear before it. It is apt to contemplate why they were so unwilling to face the public on the controversial matter, considering that the forum provided a golden opportunity for their exculpation. An astounding travesty of justice followed with the reported comment by the commission’s chairman to the effect that while it had powers to issue arrest warrants for the trio, it decided against such a move “in the over-all interest of national reconciliation.” Against this background of serial difficulties in the path of justice, it will surely require reimagination on the part of the justice system to resurrect the Giwa case. However, it would be a huge discredit to the country’s treatment of crime and punishment if Basorun’s momentous insights are trivialised by those officially positioned to act on such “revelations.” There is no doubt that Basorun’s bold account brings fresh dimensions to the unpleasant incident, and deserves to be investigated. If the book’s contents are ultimately swept under the carpet for convenience, it would amount to an official endorsement of impunity and send a dangerous signal that

when the people are hungry and cannot take care of their families. People are not merely fulfilled having access to the ballot box when their wills are denied. Rather, they should have access to the basic necessities of life which is necessary for building and maintaining strong nation. The higher the edification of the people, the better placed they are to understand the issues and hence their ability to choose the right people to represent them in government. Making the wrong choices can negate the hopes and aspirations of the entire nation. The one-major party democracy we are currently practicing is a charade. In order to make progress as a nation we must get rid of pretence and go through the pains of development by having the opportunity of making alternative choice. As democracy includes genuine competition for power, if APC is strengthened with authentic progressive visions and missions, a voter can make a choice between it and the non-performing ruling party that just became proud as the biggest party in Africa simply because people in a corrupt nation wants to be partakers of the defrauded goods of the land. Meaningful democracy must be directed to the interest of the poor who form majority of the voting class. In a democracy, everyone has one vote. The professor in the university and the peasant farmer in the village each have equal say. The problem is that if majority of the citizenry are poor, uneducated people, there would not be the high level of civic sense necessary for a successful democracy. This is why bad governance decisions can easily be made. Corrupt and inefficient politicians are taking advantage of the underprivileged by offering cheap bribes in exchange for their votes. Ongoing story of Anambra State is an example which INEC wants to close eyes to with what it tagged supplementary election instead of total reformation of unrighteousness. This might of course negate the quality of the democracy we should desire to build in 2015. Free and relatively fair elections must be the rule if politics would develop the nation. It must not be ethnic resolution that has been bringing insolent people to power just for the sake of power.

‘Free and relatively fair elections must be the rule if politics would develop the nation. It must not be ethnic resolution that has been bringing insolent people to power just for the sake of power’ murder might not necessarily be a punishable transgression. It is the kind of dismisiveness that continues to encourage killers. In this connection, it is disturbing that so far no suspect has been formally charged with Giwa’s murder, a situation that Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), one of the high-profile symbols of social conscience who witnessed the book presentation, described as “the institutional failure of the state.” It is intriguing that Basorun, for all his emphatically implicating allegations against Babangida on the Giwa murder issue, fails rather disappointingly to provide an answer to the crucial question as to why the journalist was killed. This central subject of the motive for his peculiar murder by mail bomb has unsurprisingly spawned a rich collection of conspiracy theories, which Basorun’s book does little to clarify. Evidently, the knot is at the heart of the puzzle, and untying it would yield useful clues on the identity of the killers. Perhaps the enduring mystery bears testimony to the uninspiring state of investigative journalism in the country, which is ironic because Giwa had a reputation for that aspect of reporting. It amounts to a grave dishonour to his remembrance that there has been no serious journalistic attempt to unravel the circumstances of his cruel death at age 39. No whodunnit yet, regrettably. In the final analysis, Basorun has written a social service book not only because it is in a general sense focused on the underbelly of society, but also because it particularly illuminates to a significant degree the intricate expressions of “intrigue and treachery, clannishness and base humanity” characteristic of some of the military characters who abused power in the country. However, it would appear unfair to be judgemental based on Basorun’s book, despite its persuasive confidence. It is precisely this necessary margin of doubt that the accused should exploit in order to redeem their soiled image. As Babangida particularly, who is 72, advances in age, he should take advantage of the window to wash his hands clean, specifically in connection with Giwa’s blood. Giwa’s killing was a crime against humanity. Let no guilty party be under the illusion that strategic quiet will calm the storm. One curious dimension to this tale is the place of conscience in human affairs. It is inevitable to reflect on the possibility that Giwa’s murderers might be troubled in their souls, but that is not enough. On the other hand, supposing the killers here are monsters with repressed conscience? Possibly the high point of the book launch on November 22 at Freedom Park, (Old Prison Yard), Broad Street, Lagos, was the moment Basorun made his remarks with emotional sobs. His most poignant line was expression of regret on account of his association with what he termed “a government known for evil.” He ends the book on a revealing and deeply frightful note, saying, “I will count on all well meaning citizens of the country not to be deterred if Babangida eventually succeeds in snuffing the life out of me.”

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

COMMENTS

AST week’s defection of the Abubakar Baraje-led PDP to the All Progressives Congress APC will for quite sometime, continue to dominate public discourse. Not only did it herald a redefinition of the political equation of this country, it is bound to send the ruling party back to the drawing board. There are now higher prospects that these coalescing interests will culminate in the emergence of two strong parties that can checkmate each other during elections. This should be something to cheer for all true lovers of democracy The defection is seen by many as the long awaited birth of a two party system and a prelude to the deepening of democracy on these shores. In the days ahead, we expect to witness alignment and realignments among the various political interests. Though not entirely unexpected, the defection must have taken the leadership of the ruling party by surprise since they are yet to conclude negotiations with the group. Issues tabled before the president as conditions for peace include among others, the sack of the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, reinstatement of dissolved state executive committees of the party in Adamawa and Rivers states, commitment from Jonathan that he will not run in 2015 and cessation of harassment of some of the governors by officials of anti grant agencies. With the sudden defection by five out of the seven dissenting governors, it would seem that a death knell has been sounded to whatever remains of that negotiation. Having joined the APC, all further negotiations appear foreclosed even as two of the dissenting governors still hope to go on with it. How they intend to do this given the new development is hazy. Expectedly, the development has generated considerable interest from a broad spectrum of the Nigerian population depending on which of the political divide one belongs. The APC leadership sees it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s political history. With 16 governors in its fold, it envisions the strengthening of a strong two party system. In its calculations, the defection has made it a strong alternative to the ruling PDP with higher chances of defeating it in the coming national elections. Such has been the level of optimism generated. There are merits in this optimism especially when the efforts that crystallized

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

PDP in APC into the formation of APC are put into reckoning. But the PDP sees the development as good riddance to bad rubbish. For them, the move is long expected as it would now enable the party to put its house in order. The party said it will not lose sleep since decampment is not novel to it. It believes the PDP is such a large organization to be rattled by the actions of the five governors. The PDP is entitled to its views on the matter no matter how unconvincing they might seem. Beyond these however, are very fundamental issues that have been thrown up by the defection. The strengthening of a two party system is one especially given the dangerous slide to a one party state. There is also the issue of giving the electorate a plurality of choice. These are bound to find expression in the emerging order provided certain conditions are met. The first of such conditions is that the two parties must be visibly distinct in both ideology and orientation to be able to offer alternative political choice. Their manifestoes and programs must proffer alternative paradigms on governance and how to provide for the greatest good of the greatest number of our citizens. They must also be peopled by those who have shared vision on how best to tackle the developmental challenges of their constituents. Compatibility of interests, orientation and perception on the essence of governance is a sine qua none for co-habitation. That is where the defection has serious draw-

N a hot, sweaty May 1958 afternoon, two adults and one adolescent stood in front of a room on the balcony at Tedder Hall in University College, Ibadan. Posted on the door was the bold notice in capital letters: “OPERATION LONDON, 33 DAYS”. Silence and bewilderment; then solemnity. May the Lord God keep and protect him, intoned Ajoke Aboderin, wife of Chief Moyo Aboderin who had requested “Uncle Bayo” - an adult factotum at her Oke-Bola, Ibadan residence and myself to accompany her on a visit to “Lekan”, then a final year student. He was reported to be recovering from a serious leg fracture which he had sustained during a football match at the university. So, was he going to be operated upon in London and away from the country for all of 33 days ? Hoping to receive more information on this “disaster” from another student who was passing by, we told him our mission. The student then knocked hard on the door and, to our great stupefaction and evident joy, it was opened from within and out came Lekan himself, leg in plaster, smiling and obviously as delighted to receive us as we were to find him there. He then explained that his injury, though serious, did not necessitate overseas intervention, that the notice on his door was his own daily countdown reminder to the other students of the number of days remaining to the commencement of the final degree examinations of the college – the operation. The examinations of the college were conducted in those days by University of London. On the day of our visit, it was 33 days to go. So, you see - to borrow Dr. Are’s own favourite jargon - his remarkable sense of humour is indeed of early origin. Although I had known “Brother Lekan” since my late primary school days during his visits to Oke Bola, it is that incident that has remained stamped in my memory among my earliest recollections of him. Of his mother, I have earlier consciousness. Mama Nihinlola, born into the Aboderin family, was a regular visitor to my mother, who lived at Oranyan, which was not far from Opomulero House where she then lived with “Brother Lekan’s” maternal siblings and her husband. She must have been about 15 years younger than my mother. After completing my Higher School Certificate course in December 1963, I was considering whether to attend university in Nigeria or travel abroad as I had also gained admission to University of London. Brother Lekan firmly advised that I should not go abroad until after my bachelor’s degree. He had obtained his Ph. D. in the U.S in 1962 and what he saw there had obviously led him into that belief about the stress implications of studying abroad at an early age. His advice was an important factor in my decision to drop London for Ibadan and it proved to be the right decision. Brother Lekan probably inherited most of his visible physical attributes, including his height and infectious smile from his

backs. The APC prides itself as the party of the progressives. It also sees the PDP as a conservative party. But it has gone to town celebrating the coming into its fold of a group that had been deeply ensnared in the conservative train. It remains to be imagined how the APC intends to wean them of this conservative predilection. Or are we about to be treated to the biblical similitude of the pouring of an old wines skin into a new one? Will the new wine not be contaminated by the mixture? That is the challenge ahead. The way it is resolved will lead us closer to whatever national value or lack of it there is in the current marriage. The action of the PDP governors has been hailed in some quarters for its capacity to deepen democracy. That could as well be. However, when their reasons for leaving their party are juxtaposed against this optimism, the entire euphoria may add up to nothing. The issues they tabled before Jonathan say it all. Apart from the matter of internal democracy, all others in their agenda are largely propelled by self-serving and sectional considerations. Even the agitation for internal democracy must be taken with a pinch of the salt. Before now, these governors had benefited disproportionately from the scant regard of their party for internal democracy. They had been part and parcel of the bazaar that is the imposition of candidates both at the national and state elections. It served them well as long as they took advantage of it to determine

who runs for political office or not. They saw nothing wrong when they sidelined their opponents through their undemocratic control of what has now become known as political structures. Now they have been cornered by their own dialectics, they complain. Is it not an irony of sorts that these later day apostles of internal democracy had the temerity to demand that Jonathan should repudiate his right to contest the 2015 election as a condition for peace? This demand has inflicted incurable damage to their claim to being apostles of good conscience. At any rate, were they not part and parcel of the Jonathan regime that has received unmitigated bashing from the opposition? What has been their reaction to all the ills bedeviling the country since that party has been in power? These are the issues to ponder. It could well be that the defection is a fresh undertaking by the governors to turn a new leaf. Only time will bear that out. To be sure, the defecting governors are within their rights to seek political accommodation in any party of their choice. But there is a problem when you hide under seemingly national goals to project interests of a selfish or sectional nature. Governors Chibuike Amaechi and Muritala Nyako’s further insight into the reasons for their defection bear this out. Amaechi told reporters that it is to protect Rivers oil wells that are being ceded to other states. Nyako’s grouse is with Tukur’s dissolution of the state’s executive committee of the party. How these will further the course of national politics and democracy remain at best, illusory. It would appear behind this façade is the masquerading of selfish and sectional interests under the garb of patriotism. Its outcome could turn out a mixed grill of the good, the bad and the ugly.

‘To be sure, the defecting governors are within their rights to seek political accommodation in any party of their choice. But there is a problem when you hide under seemingly national goals to project interests of a selfish or sectional nature.’

Tribute to Dr. Lekan Are at 80 By Ajibola Ogunshola mother, while the achievements of Alhaji K.O.S. Are in business and politics suggest that he may have passed on to his eldest son the genes of his hugely driven personality. But his son would probably prefer to trace this inheritance not only to his father, but to his father’s own grandfather, Latoosa, the 12th Are Onakakanfo (Generalissimo) of ancient Oyo Empire, from whom the Are dynasty and Oke – Are in Ibadan derive their names. After he returned from the USA with Sister Bisi, whom he had married before they traveled, and their daughter, Funke, I was a regular visitor to his residence at Ibadan until I completed my university education and went abroad for professional studies. Because my visits to their residence were often in the afternoon, the meals that I ate in their household were usually local food, but local food of oyinbo (expatriate) quality. As there were only very few phones in those days, all visits were without prior notification. They both treated me like their own junior brother, and sometimes better. I, too, also saw him as a brother, a rising star within the Aboderin and Are families and a notable old boy of Government College, Ibadan. Although he goes to bed at 9 p.m and usually wakes up, naturally, about 6 a.m, he seems capable of finding the time to be anywhere he has and wants to be. Through social events within his and my own extended family, his closeness to his cousins Chief Olu Aboderin and Chief Moyo Aboderin, his high visibility in Government College, Ibadan Old Boys’ affairs even before he became its president - a position he held for many years with exceptional commitment and high distinction - and also my own impromptu calls on his family from time to time, we maintained a continuous and happy relationship. Then, in 1984, his cousin, close friend and founding chairman of Punch newspaper company, Chief Olu Aboderin, who was also my own maternal brother, died. Thereafter I became one of the new directors of the company, on whose board Dr. Lekan Are had been while Chief Olu was alive and of which he was also a shareholder. Chief Moyo became the chairman. I would like to record that he gave full support to the new chairman. During the time I was chairman for over 24 years, I not only enjoyed his cooperation, but often found him especially useful in resolving difficult situations. Above all, his contributions to discussions at meetings were consistently of high quality, informed by his wide experience in public service management, his membership of some private sector boards, and an analytical disposition. And I think there may also be a lesson for others to learn here. Give or take a few months, Dr. Are is of the same age as Punch chairman Olu; 15 years younger than Punch chairman Moyo; 10

and half years older than Punch chairman Ajibola; while Wale Aboderin, the present Punch chairman belongs to the same age group as Funke, Dr. Are’s eldest child: in matters of corporate business and money, what is of essence is the goal while hierarchy by age must take an inferior position. His example made it easier for me, as chairman emeritus, to decide to remain on the board of the company. Dr. Are is well regarded for his integrity, his straightforwardness. I have always known him to be assiduous and thrifty and he started investing early, which have greatly contributed to being the wealthy man that he is today. He values loyalty and never forgets past favours. He literally revered his late paternal uncle, Alhaji Amusa Olaniyi Lawal Are, who retired as a principal manager from United Bank for Africa, for the helpful role he played at a critical juncture in his early life as a schoolboy; he retained special affection for his maternal uncle, Late Pa Emmanuel Layi Aboderin, who showed him more than avuncular love in his childhood days. I congratulate Brother Lekan for attaining the age of 80; an age at which nobody can still pretend not to be old. I convey my felicitations and, as his aburo, claim the right to express my gratitude to Sister Bisi, a nutrition and education expert in her own right and former school principal, not only for the love and care she gave our egbon, but also for, in our lingo, bearing him a daughter and two sons Funke (Mrs Igun), Ayokunnu and Damola all of whom any parent would be justly proud. While he was in his mid – 40s, he suffered from a kidney complication and, ill in London, he realized he would need to undergo an operation from which he thought he might not return. So, as is the custom among brothers and cousins of that generation, he in one of his low moments told Olu (Aboderin), who was beside him at the time – Olu, if I do not survive this, I know you will see to the welfare of my children. Olu, while still in good health, recounted this incident to me one evening about two years before his own death on February 28, 1984 at the age of 49. Observing now his steady gait as he moves around, and contemplating his essential vitality, let no one be then surprised if, in 10 years’ time, Chief Lekan Are is still around, on his own two feet, recounting the story of his 90 years. And, who knows, with Sister Bisi coming behind, standing beside and continuing to keep him in check as occasion demands, this proud and valiant descendant of a quondam generalissimo of a historic empire may, even beyond his own expectations, victoriously fight his way into the very exclusive order of Nigerian centenarians. •Chief Ogunshola is former chairman of The Punch

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

POLITICS ‘Nation conference is the answer’

The Chairman of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, in Lagos State, Chief Supo Sonibare, spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on the Jonathan Administration, the proposed national conference, and the Afenifere crisis.

HAT is your assessment the political situation in the country today? There is confusion in the polity. The great confusion is as a result of the inability of principal political parties to have a defined ideology. The moment is simply being that of power brokers or money mongers. This is why there is fluidity in movement among major parties. There is no loyalty to any political party or group. The politics we are playing nowadays is largely self-centred. The Southwest has always being the leading group uniting the progressive forces. It normally does this in concert with reliable progressive elements in Northcentral, Northeast, Southsouth and Souteast. Unfortunately, because of the disunity in the leadership of the progressives in the Southwest, it was unable to lead in the traditional manner that we are used to in assessing progressive forces. In 1998, with very little resources, we were able to have close to 70 per cent of people’s support in the Southwest. Though the ACN has done its best, but with huge resources, it has not been able to repeat this feat because of disunity among the progressives in the Southwest. If the is unity in the Southwest, it may be possible to offer a Nigerian state better direction that has an ideological bias. President Jonathan is planning to convoke a national conference. Do you think this is the appropriate time, given the 2015 general election that is fast approaching? The issue of national conference has exposed the disunity among the progressives in the Southwest. All progressives agree that the 1999 Constitution is a military constitution, that it is incurably defective. When you are confronted with that kind of situation, the obvious alternative is to have the national conference that will bring about the people’s constitution. All progressives should unite in welcoming such an arrangement. Even, if President Goodluck Jonathan has a hidden agenda, the onus is on those who think there should be a new constitution to proffer ideas and methodology that is apt to bring about a new constitution. With respect to those who are opposed to it, why can’t the APC and other progressives use this opportunity to suggest the ways and means to hold the national conference. It is wrong to put the struggles for power ahead of putting in place an enduring foundation for the nation state. Enduring foundation cannot came about by piecemeal, that is amendment of the constitution. I know the Southwest is not satisfied with the presidential system of government, with the revenue allocation and lack of transparency in polity. The only way to effect changes is through a national conference. How best do you think a national conference can be organised? The view of Afenifere is the less contentious division of Nigerian state into six geo-political zones. The quality of delegates from each zone matters a lot. Not more than 10 per cent of the delegates should come from labour, students union and other organised bodies. The conference should have a maximum of 600 delegates. These delegates would write a constitution for us. After writing the constitution, the President should put the resolutions to yes or no vote. If it is no vote, it is a failed enterprise. But if it a yes vote, the president will use his inherent powers as contained in the constitution to advise the National Assembly on what to do with the resolutions. The President will execute an order in council in presenting the deliberation and results of the referendum to the National Assembly and also advise the National Assembly to repeal Decree 24 of 1998 that gives the present constitution its authority and to replace it with the constitution written by the Nigerian people. It is better to do this before 2015 than to continue with the constitution we are now using after 2015. Now is the best time to lay solid foundation for the nation before 2015. What should be the criteria for selection of delegates to the National Conference? Ninety per cent of the delegates should emerge through election. There should be an independent conference secretariat, which will be independently funded from the Federation Account and which will be responsible for putting in place the administrative process and arrangement for the election of delegates by the INEC. It is however, the constitutional conference secretariat which will be headed by a highly reputable Nigerian acceptable to all various groups in the country, including those in power that the INEC will report to. It is this body that will be responsible for the mode and logistics for the election. The NEC will be directed as and assisting electoral body in actualising the arrangement of the constitution conference secretariat. The INEC will also be responsible to the secretariat for purpose of arranging the deliberations of conference and organising the referendum. Afenifere is no longer a united body. What was responsible for the split? Afenifere leadership is disunited. Apart from our leaders that are no longer with us, such as the late Bola Ige, Alfred Rewane, Otunba Solanke Onasanya and Abraham Adesnya, all the main leaders are still together. The core leaders I am referring to Chiefs Olaniwun Ajayi, Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae and Chief Reuben Fasoranti. The problem of Afenifere has to do with the dynamics of having core leaders, who are not in government and having governors who are effectively heads of government. At the time of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he wielded the power of the head of government and the leader of Afenifere simultaneously. When he was no longer the Premier, there was the aspiration of becoming the Prime Minister as the Leader of the Opposition then. In the new Afenifere, we have leaders who are not in government and governors who are heads of government. The governors are now supposed to subject themselves to the authority of leaders, who are not part of government. The leaders could only use moral persuasion and cannot compel any governor to do their bidding. That dichotomy of power brought about the discord and the split of the group. This division was managed by, the late Chief Adesanya. His successor, Chief Fasoranti, presided over a meeting without both factions of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). For years, Fasoranti group has been amenable towards reconciliation. May be, one day, before it is too late, the core surviving AD governors will be amenable to encouraging efforts of recon•Sonibare ciliation.

AREGBESOLA THIRD ANNIVERSARY The Director, Osun State Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, highlights the achievements of the Aregbesola Administration in the last three years.

By innovation, harvests increase

Y November 2010 when the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over the baton, Osun was barely a year less than two decades. What the entire state could boast of in internally generated revenue (IGR) in almost twenty years was no more than N300 million every month at the very highest. Records indicate it fell short of that many times. However, by November 2013, a period of three years, by merely blocking all the leakages, Osun now rakes in N1.6bn in IGR monthly without expanding the tax net and the prospects are high and encouraging. What this indicates in clear terms, is that in all of its 19 years of existence as a state before the advent of the Aregbesola administration, Osun could muster a paltry N300million in what its people could contribute for its survival and continued existence. Conversely, in three years, the state grew its IGR by 433 percent. Glimpsed from the perspective of this phenomenal growth, Nigerians are wont to go back to such statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics in terms of development indices to reason why Osun shows the highest capacity for outstanding growth in the whole country at the moment despite the unenviable 34th place in the revenue allocation ladder and meagre opportunities to generate funds internally. The National Bureau of Statistics announced to the world that Osun ranks highest in public school enrolment in the country in a national environment where public school enrolment figures make very loud statements of the rot in the country’s education sector. Within the same period and owing to the same factors, the National Bureau of Statistics placed Osun in the league of states with the lowest unemployment rate with the lowest figure of 3.0 where even Kwara ranks 7.1, Lagos ranks 8.3 and Oyo 8.9. Of course, the obviously low crime rate in the state did not elude the observation of Participants of the Course 22 of the National War College Abuja which spent some days in the state on an assessment tour within the last two months. All these indications of success cannot be happenstance. If anything, they represent the direct outcomes of ingenious, coordinated and determined interventions in the affairs of a state that was brought to its knees in all spheres of life. Declaring that “For me and for all of us, it is work, work and more work!” on the day of his inauguration at the state capital, Osogbo on November 26, 2010, Governor Aregbesola left no one in doubt on the direction his administration was to follow more so with the resolve to run an unusual government. He seemed to have read Alfred North Whitehead well. Whitehead’s logic that “simple solutions seldom are,” and that “it takes a very unusual mind to undertake analysis of the obvious” readily provides the only template for any critical mind to analyse the problem-solving fervor of the governor. The state with a population of about 3.8 million people had its difficulties spelt out in all the areas. The education sector presented a depressing outlook. Schools did not promise learning. Hospitals did not promise health. Roads did not promise safe journeys. Markets did not promise sales. Farms did not promise food. But even in the face of these, the people had resigned to fate; having been cowed into silence and trepidation by the combined evil forces of foisted poverty and festering violence. But realising that “fear is the lack of faith in one’s ability to create powerful solutions,” as reasoned by T.F. Hodge in his From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious En-

• Aregbesola

counters with “The Divine Presence”, what have emerged in the last three years in Osun represent “powerful solutions” to break the shackles of poverty and set the people on a path to greatness. The distinct admission, that the same old solutions cannot continue to be applied to the same old problems, have culminated in ground-breaking ideas that have only placed the state steps ahead of its peers. The youth employment strategies employed by the government have proved to be not only ingenious but efficacious. Forty thousand youths engaged through the Youth Empowerment scheme and its allied forms are the reasons for such commendations by the World Bank, National War College Course 22 Participants, American embassy, the Sultan of Sokoto, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, and a host of others who have seen that something unique is taking place in Osun beyond the ordinary. In a country with mounting restiveness in all her regional parts, the Osun job creation specimen provides development experts fresh vistas of ideas to solve not only Nigeria’s but Africa’s bourgeoning unemployment predicament. That the World Bank adapted this model and presented it to the Federal Government culminating in the Youth Employment Social Support Operations, YESSO speaks volume about the Osun’s now established thinking out of the box. Yes! The reforms in the education sector have brought about hoopla. But that is only to the very extent that humans must naturally resist change even when they are to transit from hell to paradise. This is coupled with the fact that the ever-opportunistic opposition camp, boxed to a corner and dazed by the chains of innovative projects, is poised to confuse the citizens with its dubious manipulative characterization. Ranking Opon Imo, the Tablet of Knowledge among four best global learning tools by the United Nationsbacked World Summit Award Global Congress strengthens the claim that from Osun has emerged “powerful solutions” to the problem facing qual-

‘That the same old solutions cannot continue to be applied to the same old problems, have culminated in groundbreaking ideas that have only placed the state steps ahead of its peers’

ity education. A combination of uninspiring learning environments, ill-motivated and unqualified teaching personnel, inadequately prepared curriculum and other problems had all conspired against quality learning. If governance means responsibility to the people at all, the solutions proffered have addressed the roots of failure and ignited fresh passion for learning. The years to come are to confirm the ingenuity that lies in the solutions as examinations results are already indicating that the rot is disappearing. The Senate Committee on Education, led by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, did not just recommend the Osun education model for the entire country for nothing. There is no argument about the fact that Nigeria has lost its grip on the education sector with the concomitant huge costs to progress, order and development. A large illiterate population readily promotes poverty, diseases, stagnation and violence. The Senate’s assessment of the Osun model and subsequent recommendations for national acceptance and adoption as a way out of the present conundrum is a powerful endorsement of the creative governance in the state. The creativity resonates in tourism to attract people to Osun; it resonates in agriculture to cause massive food production; in youths engagements to re-orientate youth and create the new total man who is useful to his society. In environmental cares, the government has demonstrated a rare foresight in the management of its affairs that a hitherto uninspiring environment now greens with order and coordination. It is also on record that this foresight made the state to stay afloat when many states of the federation came under the mercy of massive floods; a national catastrophe that had forced the Federal Government to belatedly spend billions of Naira to limit loses of lives and properties. Just before the current administration took over, it was tragedy galore as flood swept humans and goods away even before the very eyes of those who had no solutions to society’s pressing problems. The innovative nature of the solutions always provided is the very reason for the noise. But there has emerged a pattern. Virtually all innovative ideas that had ignited heated debate and hullaballoo have been embraced surprisingly by their initial vociferous critics. What other states of the federation and the Federal Government have done with the youth engagement strategies, rebranding of the state, and others have merely shown that it is a matter of time for the education reforms models, projects financing strategies and others to be adopted as indispensable options for rapid growth. Of course, some have accused the administration of obduracy; castigating it for sticking to its ideas of development even in the face of mounting criticisms. But the driver behind the wheel, just like the American inventor and businessman of the 19th century, Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth, says, “I’m convinced that the best solutions are often the ones that are counterintuitive - that challenge conventional thinking - and end in breakthroughs. “It is always easier to do things the same old way...why change? To fight this, keep your dissatisfaction index high and break with tradition. Don’t be too quick to accept the way things are being done. Question whether there’s a better way. Very often you will find that once you make this break from the usual way - and incidentally, this is probably the hardest thing to do—and start on a new track, your horizon of new thoughts immediately broadens. New ideas flow in like water. Always keep your interests broad - don’t let your mind be stunted by a limited view.”

BUSINESS

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

JOBS

THE CEO

SURE-P raises hope on jobs for youths - P. 37 News Briefing ‘Gas sector needs $600m’

ABOUT $600million new capital investment is required to grow the Nigerian Liquefied natural gas value chain to an enviable height, the Managing Director, Rivers Bank Capital, Mr Akinyemi Osinubi has said. –Page 26

Telcos fret over NCC broadband policy TELECOMS services providers have kicked against the open access policy of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which proposes giving subsidies to new players, arguing that the policy is against liberalisation and deregulation, which opened up the sector to investments. –Page 26

Education workers ‘strike’ ends today

“Nobody in AMCON knows who Enterprise Bank bidders are. Nobody in AMCON knows how many the bidders are, or who will be shortlisted. It is only when they (the advisers –Citi Bank and Vetiva Capital) have looked at all of these people that they decide who and who are qualified,” -Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) CEO, Mustafa Chike-Obi

Housing could be social, but it’s a business venture - P. 27

Inflation’ll drop to four per cent by 2015, says Sanusi T

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said inflation will ease further to between four and seven per cent by 2015. Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) 50th Anniversary Awards Night held at the weekend, he said the apex bank has achieved a single digit inflation, which stood at 7.8 per cent by October. Inflation further declined from eight per cent in September to 7.8 per cent in October, the lowest since March 2008. The CBN lowered the inflation target band for next year from six to nine per cent, and expects low rates for the rest of the year. Sanusi said the naira, when compared with other African

• MAN: no impact of low inflation on manufacturing By Collins Nweze

and global currencies, have been relatively stable, losing only 1.6 per cent of its value in the last one year. He said the CBN has also achieved its monetary policy objectives, based on the level of stability recorded in the financial services sector and economy. The CBN chief said the apex bank under his leadership has achieved exchange rate stability, banking sector stability and achieve single digit inflation target. He said the CBN has ensured that throughout the

resolution of the banking crises, no depositor lost money. He said corporate governance and risk management issues that threatened the financial system had been addressed, adding that banks now understand and are aware that there are consequences for misdemeanour. Sanusi also said banks funded over 80 per cent of the power sector privatisation projects. The figure hits about N320 billion. However, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kola Jamodu said there was need for the CBN to review interest rate

downwards, adding that although inflation is declining, it has no impact on interest rate. He said inflation slide should be accompanied by a cut in interest rate. He added that borrowing at 25 per cent does not add value to any manufacturer or player in the real sector of the economy and that the manufacturing sector needs low interest rate to thrive. The Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the benchmark rate by which the CBN determines interest rate, has been at 12 per cent in the past two years prompting manufacturers

THE Federal Ministry of Education workers’ warning strike aimed at protesting the government’s failure to honour its pact with them, will end today. –Page 29

‘Foreign airlines remit N300b yearly’

DATA STREAM

By Kelvin OsaOkunbor

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

and other key players in the real sector to call for a review. Sanusi also said the biometric solution for banking would cost $50 million and would take off by next March. He said aside bank customers, capital market investors and pensioners will have their data captured through the biometric machine. He said the cost of the biometric would be borne by the industry and the CBN and that the new system, when it goes live, would promote the use of thumbprint as major means of identification in banks. Sanusi said the device would help in boosting Nigeria’s image internationally, deal with money laundering, tackle fraud, help extend credit to people without worrying about where to find them and who they are, that this would also help those who are not educated to use biometric to be part of the payment system.

• From left: Obazee, Hajia Ibrahim and Council member Dr Etofolan Felix Osuji, during the meeting in Lagos.

Unified Code of Good Corporate Governance coming, says FRC N

IGERIA will soon have a unified Code of Good Corporate Governance, The Chairman of Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Hajia Maryam Ladi Ibrahim has said. Hajia Ibrahim, who made this known in Lagos over the weekend, said the Committee put in place by the Minister of Trade and Investment, OlusegunAganga, on the issue, is already working on the process of harmonising the various codes of corporate governance, assuring that by the end of the year, the final draft of the document would be ready. She said a stakeholders meeting would be held to consider its provisions before it would be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval. “And when that is

By Simeon Ebulu

approved, Nigeria would have arrived by having a singular Code of Conduct for Good Corporate Governance in this country,” she added. The FRC chair, who was on her maiden outing in Lagos, said the Council is working towards increasing the flow of Foreign Direct Investment into the country, through adherence to reporting professionally. The FRC is making sure that the reporting standards are complied with in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). She said the body would embark on enlightenment, as well ensure that pro-

fessionals are well trained as much as possible. She praised the Executive Secretary, Jim Obazeeforthe manner he has sustained the FRC’s drive to uphold the tenets of the accounting profession, assuring that the Board will give the necessary support to ensure effective administration of the body. Dismissing any insinuation about her qualification for the job, she said as a professional, she is qualified to work anywhere in any capacity, whether in the public, or private sector, “so whichever way, I think I fit in. If you are trained as a professional accountant, you can work anywhere, and with the wealth of experience from the public sector, yes, but I have

equally, a wealth of experience from the private sector in my years of service.” Hajia Ibrahim, said the delay in the take-off of the FRC Academy, was due to some infrastructural deficit, which she said have been met. “We have issues of infrastructure, that is what is responsible for the delay in the effective takeoff of our operations. Although we have started, but the pace of our operations is being slowed by lack of adequate infrastructure. We are hoping that as we enter into the new year, we would move in the pace that everybody wants us to move and in the level that we want to move, so that everybody and stakeholders will be happy with the Financial Reporting Council’s Board.

• Continued on page 40

RESIDENT, Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore has said foreign airlines remit over N300 billion yearly to their countries from the sale of tickets and importation of aviation equipment by aeronautical agencies. He did not give details. He said in Lagos that such a huge remittance undermines the growth of the industry. He explained that until the government empowered domestic airlines by creating a more enabling environment, revenue accruing to aviation agencies would not exceed the yearly N15 billion. Ore said: “An estimated N300 billion annually is remitted abroad by the aviation sector compared to the N15 billion reported revenue earned by our aeronautical authorities, domestic airlines and associated domestic service providers.” He explained that urgent steps must be taken by the relevant authorities to address issues affecting massive importation of air transport equipment used for air transport operations. He added: “We need to take urgent steps to address the challenges of the importation of air transport equipment and inputs for air transport operations including aviation fuel at very high costs. Most of the airports are running at a loss and most domestic carriers are also struggling to be profitable in this environment.”

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

TUC urges speedy presentation of 2014 budget

MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1. 2. 3. 4.

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

• From left: Programme Manager Enactus Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ajayi; Dean, Students Affairs, Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Khalid Abdullahi; Group Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun and Divisional Head, Human Resources and Change Management of the bank, Felicia Obozuwab during a courtesy visit of officials of the polytechnic and Enactus to FCMB in Lagos ... on Friday.

‘Inject $600m capital into gas sector’

BOUT $600million new capi tal investment is required to grow the Nigerian liquefied natural gas value chain to an enviable height, the Managing Director, Rivers Bank Capital, Mr Akinyemi Osinubi has said. Speaking to The Nation, Osinubi said the industry’s growth has been hampered by poor funding, occasioned by the refusal of local and international financial institutions to provide enough facility to the gas operators. He said: ‘’Liquefied Natural Gas value chain needs between $525million and $600million to make the nation’s gas sector compete with its counterparts in the developed economies. Unfortunately, accessing the required facility for the production, processing and delivery of gas to the consumers has been a task. The banks are not ready to

By Akinola Ajibade

provide credits to gas operators that are not high networth,’’ According to him, banks are not going to provide loans to operators in the gas industry with low credit rating. He said banks would impose 25 per cent interest rate or more on companies that have such problems. ‘’Lack of project financing mechanism, and low credibility ratings of gas’ firms are some of the challenges in the sector. When banks know that a company that is planning to get loans from them have high default rate, they withdraw their services immediately, he said. The Managing Director, Bgl Securities Limited,Mr Sunday Adebola said though the management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is trying to

bring in oil and gas operators to the market to raise capital for growth, there are impediments. He said equity financing represent a viable option for companies intending to raise capital, advising operators in the gas value chain to do the necessary things before coming to the market. According to him, foreign companies would like to look at the equity profiles of the local firms before striking a deal with them. He said the market is deep to accommodate as many companies as possible, advising gas operators to come for listing for growth. He said oil and gas sector will increase market capitalisation by over N1 trillion, once the operators show readiness to tap the opportunities in the market well.

Ghana adopts ‘no premium, no cover’ policy

HE new Ghanaian Commis sioner for Insurance, Lydia Bawa has embraced the ‘no premium no cover policy’ of the insurance industry, saying it is the only way to end the menace of underwriting on credit. She said the Ghanaian industry has set January 2, as kick-off date for the implementation of the policy. Bawa, who was in the country for the just-concluded West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) Educational Conference in Lagos, said she came to tap from the experience of the regulatory agency, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and insurance operators in the country, particularly their experience since the enforcement of the policy in the country. She noted that the menace of

• Begins implementation next year By OmobolaTolu-Kusimo

granting insurance cover on credit had stemmed the growth of the industry as most operators find it difficult to pay claims due to lack of fund. She said: ”The problem we have in Ghana is about payment of claims. Insurance companies are not paying claims, and that is giving us a bad name. The insurers are not paying claims because they are underwriting on credit. So, they are not able to generate enough premiums, invest and make claims. “I have learnt from the industry. From discussion with Nigerian insurance Commissioner, Fola Daniel, I got to know that he intro-

duced ‘no premium no cover policy’, to halt the sale of insurance on credit and it is working well for the industry. “With the policy, premiums are paid up front, underwriters collect their premiums, invest and pay claims and everybody is happy. So, I have decided to implement this effect from January 2, 2014. I have the government’s support to go ahead with it. At this stage, I have written to the industry players, for their comments, and after that, I would go ahead with the policy. “I believe it will restore the confidence that is already lost by policyholders and the general public. This is one major project I have taken as the new Commissioner. “

Telcos fret over NCC’s broadband policy

ELECOMS services providers have kicked against the open access policy of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which proposes giving subsidies to new players, arguing that the policy is against liberalisation and deregulation, which opened up the sector to investments. But the NCC has dismissed any such fear, insisting that the policy would only spur competition and encourage the availability of broadband to people for economic growth. It intends to license seven InfraCos to provide broadband services. They licencees will enjoy Federal Government’s grant to roll out services. Customer Service Executive at MTN Nigeria, Akinwale Goodluck, who chaired a panel

• NCC dismisses fear By Lucas Ajanaku

discussion titled: Broadband: Open access, spectrum, right of way, stimulating demand at this year’s edition of the yearly Telecoms Executives and Regulator’s Forum held at the weekend in Lagos, identified cost and bureaucracy as factors militating against the swift deployment of infrastructure in the country. He lamented that they had also affected the quality of telecoms services to end users. Goodluck, who is also vice chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), spoke on the broadband policy, expressing the hope that it would take into account firms that have invested in similar services.

Managing Director, ipNX Nigeria, EjayiAror, said the deregulation of the telecoms sector has brought some gains to the country. He feared that the attempt by the NCC to reverse the principle through granting of subsidies to some players might create disinvestment in the sector. Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Eugene Juwah, said he would have been surprised if the broadband access policy went unchallenged by stakeholders because other players were coming in. He said the commission was neither against deregulation nor liberalisation, but encouraging the development of the country, adding that the speed of Internet in Ghana was 10 times that of Nigeria, lamenting that there was 10 terabytes of bandwidth capacity lying idle.

By Toba Agboola

HE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Presidency to hasten the presentation of 2014 Budget proposal to the National Assembly for consideration. Its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama said the Presidency should spare Nigerians the excuse that it is waiting for the two chambers of the legislature to harmonise oil price benchmark before the budget wsa presented. He emphasised that good budgeting and its early presentation is serious business that makes for better fiscal and socio-economic planning and should not be subject to delay on the basis of frivolities. “Nigerians want early presentation of the budget,” he added. Kaigama described the forced holiday given to the National Assembly workers recently in preparation for the planned presentation of the 2014 budget by President Goodluck Jonathan, to a joint session of the National Assembly as executive impunity as it is counterproductive and unnecessary. He urged the government to present the budget, take proactive steps to stimulate massive job creation, more business-friendly environment, healthier political climate and all-inclusive democratic culture in the country, and also step up his act in the war against corruption, the Boko Haram insurgency and other threats to national security. He said: ”It is unfortunate that the President is yet to present the 2014 National Budget less than 40 days to the end of the year, whereas most governors have presented those of their states. “We are, particularly, disturbed by the fact that no official reason was given for the stay-at-home order, even though media reports suggest that the order was meant to ensure a hitch-free presentation. We read that the order may not be unconnected with fears of the Presidency over alleged threats by some workers to use the occasion as an opportunity to create a scene over welfare issues.” He said each chamber is entitled to its position, and their benchmarks have never been and must never be a determinant of the timing for presentation of the national budget.

‘Implement 24-hour cargo clearance policy’ By Okwy Iroegbu- Chikezie

Asst. Editor

COUNCIL member of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Adams Idifueko has called for the implementation of the promised policy of 24-hour cargo clearance by the Federal Government. He said in Lagos that the country should address the reality as the issue of cargo congestion has remained unabated at our ports, compounded with multiple inspection and government’s agencies. He said the nation is almost missing the opportunity of being the sub-regional hub as clearing goods in Togo and Republic of Benin is 40 per cent cheaper. Idifueko said with Nigeria’s population estimated at over 170 million, importers should find the country’s ports attractive enough to do business. He said in Singapore, a 200,000 capacity ship takes just about two hours to clear while in Nigeria a 2,000 capacity ship takes 24 hours, adding that with that with this scenario, the nation can never be a preferred hub for cargo destination.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE CEO Over the years, the provision of housing for the citizens has been promised by successive administrations, both at federal and state levels, in the country but this promise is scarcely kept. The Managing Director, Propertygate, Tokunbo Ajayi says government’s venturing into the provision of housing is like running an enterprise which governments are not designed undertake. He said the embrace of public-private partnership (PPP) initiative to address the deficit in housing provision has succeeded. He spoke on other challenges besetting the property and environment sector with SEYI ODEWALE.

ALKING about Public and Private Partnership (PPP) in housing delivery, how has this helped in ameliorating the problems associated with housing provision? I would say, to an extent, taking into consideration places like Lagos, Abuja and other cities in the country, that it has recorded about 70 per cent success. Against this background is the question, if we don’t have PPP, where are we likely to be by now? If you remember, the state was in the business of providing housing and in terms of quantum, the state could not do much just as we did not see anything spectacular in terms of quality. But when the government tried to bring in public, private participation into housing, you could see that it has greatly revolutionised housing delivery. In Lagos for instance, all these HFP developments, Victoria Garden City (VGC) and many others along the Lekki corridor and even on the mainland, are as a result of PPP. What we have now could be likened to an explosion from the private developers. And how did we have that? It is because the Lagos State government allowed it. I know also about Abuja, where a huge hectare of land was given to developers under the private estate developers’ scheme. By this, their participation has not only uplifted housing delivery to an extent. So, I will say that it’s been a very positive development. Going by this, one may ask what business has government in housing delivery. Well, I think before now, the thinking was

• Ajayi

Housing could be social, but it’s a business venture Profile Institutions attended:

University of Ibadan; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA.

Qualification:

BSc. Sociology; M.Sc. Human Resource Management.

Previous position:

Deputy Director, Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Present position:

Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of Cocoa Association of Nigeria and Bolawole Enterprises Nigeria Limited.

Experience:

Over 25 years.

that the government should be the provider of virtually everything for the public but that thinking has changed substantially, not only in the global perspective, but also in developing nations like Nigeria. That explains a lot of changes you have seen in the privatisation programme of the Federal Government. Government is more of an enabler of good environment for private sector to thrive and the government is to concentrate enormous energy on the provision of public infrastructure and other things that could be difficult for the private sector to provide. Housing could be social, but it is also a business venture. The private sector is better enabled to do that. And I think that is what governments of various states and at the federal level have seen that is making many of them divest from housing provi-

sion. Even when they have parastatals doing that, they do it like a private concern. So, it is no longer a social thing. Government can find a way of making housing accessible to others through policies and other measures. Going into businesses such as provision of housing by governments is like running an enterprise. And governments all over the world are not designed to do that, even in communist China; it’s the private sector that is driving China now. What is your assessment of built environment and the construction industry? When you talk about the built environment, you are talking about the totality of real estate, construction, infrastructure and others. I will say we have made some strides, but we still have a long way to go, notwithstanding the gains made. If you look at our

environment, you will see that it is still plagued with a lot of environmental issues. In the area of provision of infrastructure, many governments are trying, but there is so much to do as we are extremely far behind. If you take for instance, Lekki corridor, the corridor is said to be a major developmental asset not only to Lagos, but other parts of the country. But for about 15 years, there has not been any alternative road to the Lekki-Epe road, the only major road to the corridor. You see congestion and traffic gridlock all the time. Even if the road is extended, it can only do a little because what will naturally happen is that a lot of people will move to the area. If you look at areas designed long time ago, that have network of roads, you hardly experience traffic gridlock. But along Lekki corridor, traffic gridlock is giving the area a different look. For instance, if you are caught in the traffic when you are almost getting to where you are going, you cannot do anything about it. Perhaps, the topography of the area did not make the constructing alternative routes attractive. No, I don’t think so. Roads can be constructed on water and the area is not even on water. It is because the roads were not built and you don’t expect the private sector that is providing primary infrastructure, which adds to the cost of providing housing by them, to go and provide this basic infrastructure. If they do this, it will add to the cost of delivering the houses and there is a limit to •Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE CEO •Continued from page 27

which they can go. There is also the problem of non-enforcement of physical planning. If you go to any civilised society, you would not see people building shops anyhow. It is not just possible. These things desecrate the environment; they kill property values. You see people building houses thinking that the houses will be their source of income, but people just come and build shops and all what not, in locations that are hitherto, sought by people. Nobody would want to go to such areas because of the blight created by the indiscriminate shops and shanties built here and there. Another thing is that such environments would harbour miscreants and create serious security issue. This again will make most people to reconsider their living in such environments. Consequently, the value of property in those locations would drop and the owners of such properties would be impoverished. So, in a regulated society, you cannot put even a table on the road or anywhere without permission but here you can do it and get away with it. All these things have serious implications. One of the problems Lagos State has is population. A lot of people come into Lagos. But why? I know the government is concerned, but I don’t think the government has seen the linkage between this environment and population influx. People don’t come to Lagos because they want to see bridges; they come to Lagos because they believe it is where they can make a living for themselves. If you can move into a city and start work almost immediately, then you will see that a lot of people will be interested in coming there. If anybody comes into Lagos today and starts selling recharge cards, what value does that add to the state? When you are looking at those coming into the city, you ask about the quality of those coming in and what they are bringing into the society. Those people will create more problems for the city because the income they are going to make from such activities can hardly make them get by. As a result, they are hungry, homeless, and they become threats to the society. But when you don’t have such opportunities, you will ask yourself what are you doing in the city when you can stay back in your village and help it grow? So, it is a win, win situation for everybody. But when you come into the city and have it desecrated and added no value to it, what happens? Erroneously, we think adding value is about numbers. If that is true, the most populous city should be the richest in the world. But it doesn’t work that way. Unfortunately, we are carried away by sentiments saying that if we move those people from the streets, what are they going to do? But in a way, the government has a responsibility to put people on the right path. A guy selling recharge cards on the road, putting a table on the road to display his wares may probably not have more than N5000 worth of things to sell. Ask yourself where would that lead such a fellow in life? That kind of business is not sustainable. Before now, people engage themselves in various kinds of skills that helped them to make a decent living for themselves. In construction and real estate sector, I know that a lot of services of artisans are needed. And they are well paid compared to somebody who stays on the street. People can learn that and become somebody and be useful to themselves and the society. But a man who sells on the road side can hardly become anything in the future. But again, because we always want populist policies, which in the real sense are not sustainable, we always have issues with them. Again, if you chase somebody selling planks and reinforcement iron on the road, people will make noise saying you are pushing away poor people from earning a living. But a man selling those things is not poor. The value of those rods runs into millions. They take advantage of the state to put their stock on the road. When you have things like this, you cannot have a useful environment. The built environment is also connected with the way it is financed. When we get to financing, you will get the picture. If a place is not well financed, then you have a very big problem in the society. These are some of the problems affecting our built environment. In a nutshell, government must invest in a massive infrastructure. Sometimes I see it as unfair, while it is good to develop certain areas, but at whose expense? For instance, if I look at the massive improvement in infrastructure in places such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island (VI), I say they are nice, but many of those who work there and do not stay there also pay taxes. Where

Housing could be social, but it is a business venture

•Ajayi

‘The government can find a way of making housing accessible to others through policies and other measures. Going into businesses such as provision of housing by governments is like running an enterprise. And governments all over the world are not designed to do that, even in communist China’ they live, have you provided infrastructures for them? There should be a balance where you provide infrastructure across board for people to feel governance. You cannot go to London for instance and put your shop anywhere. It’s not possible. So, why do we do that here? You cannot develop a property without an approval. Once we have infrastructures in place then we can begin to have a more presentable and tidier environment. Is there any hope for a medium or low income earner to own a house in the city? The Lagos State government then was interested in developing the neighbourhood and I can tell you that around 1995, the state government was giving a hectare of land for about N100,000 to private developers because they believe that they would be able to do mass housing for people. But as at two years ago, a hectare was going for N65 million, this is in less than 20 years. I can tell you that those given the land as private estate developers to do housing schemes then, did not help matters. They allowed it to stay for long for it to increase in value. However, it is what you buy that you produce. That is one of the problems. Again, you see land in the hands of speculators, which also is a dangerous dimension. However, whichever way it was done, you see land ending up in the hands of people who are not developers. So, when they had those lands, many of them held them back, thinking that they will make enormous money from it, so they are holding it. Consequently, economic activities are tied down, so everybody is losing. And for developers too, when eventually you are compelled to buy, start point of land alone is very expensive. And by the time you factor in the costs of infrastructure and because of the kind of development you have along the corridor,

those ones have set the benchmark and you don’t want to do something below that because people will compare you to others. Now when you have that cost of producing infrastructure, then you have the cost of providing certain primary infrastructures, which ordinarily should be the responsibility of the state. A combination of all these would give you an expensive product. Then you talk about cost of funding. By the time you put all together, you would realise that cost of houses are high. If you want to buy a plot of land in Lekki Phase I, it’s about N120,000 per square metre and for a thousand square metres; that is N120 million. What can that do for you? And maybe you get a loan of N500 million, the cost of land alone per unit is about N40 million to N50 million, you have not built the house and have not provided infrastructure. So by the time you do that you have a very expensive product. That explains why houses are expensive. The shocking thing, we can be very funny here, we pride ourselves in things that should not be considered as things of pride. People accord much recognition to Lekki corridor as being expensive. Money is money, when you take the value of this product and compare them to others abroad, you will see the difference. If you buy land for about N150 million, that is about $1 million. If you have $1 million you will have property anywhere in the globe in choice areas, but if you compare that neighbourhood with the one you are spending exactly the same amount on, you will see the difference as clear as the difference between light and day. Some of the places you have here do not have street lights, the roads are not good, you see shanties around and you are still going to spend a $1million on them. For people who have lived abroad, they find it

extremely difficult to part with that kind of money. And when they do, it’s because they don’t have a choice. But that is not the way it should be. This tells us that the prices are off the mark. A property is as good as its environment. What is the way out? The way out is a loaded question and I will attempt it from every angle. From the environmental angle, I think various governments are expected to perform their constitutional roles with the provision of primary infrastructures. Let me quickly say that when things are not going right, we usually put the blame on either the Federal Government or the state governments. But the reality is that about 60 per cent of our roads are actually under the management or control of local governments. But there is no enough funding for local governments to do that? That is one of the things we need to address, because if we don’t address them they are not empowered to provide roads. But they are constitutionally required to do that because those roads are under their jurisdiction. But the question is: how many of them do that? So, how do we ensure that this is done? This has to do with the demand of the public. As long as we keep quiet, nothing will happen. But the moment we begin to agitate for what should be done, we will move closer to a perfect situation. And when we start to perform our obligations as responsible citizens by paying taxes, government will be able to do its job. It is also a matter of demand and supply. Why are people coming to a particular location and prices of houses are rising? We talk about Lekki, prices of houses are not high in Lekki because it is Lekki, it is the demand on Lekki. The people coming to Lekki, where are they coming from? Why are they relocating to Lekki? The simplest answer is that in life people want progress. The man is relocating from either, Mushin, Agege or Ajegunle where because of poor performance at the governmental level, those environments have been allowed to decay. Again, because of change of status he wants to move out of those areas. He then asks himself, where do I go? He cannot afford Ikoyi or Ikeja GRA, but he can try Magodo, Omole GRA or Lekki corridor. So as long as people are coming there, the prices of houses will continue to rise But if there is urban renewal programmes and environments like these are made worthwhile for people to begin to live in them and if roads and drainage systems are provided and everywhere is cleared of shanties, people will be encouraged to live there and not relocate. For instance, when Oshodi was cleared nobody ever thought that the place could that beautiful. So if places like Bariga, and other areas that have shanties are fixed, people will ask questions like why do I need to go to Lekki? This will reduce considerably, the volume of people moving to other areas as prices of houses in where they are moving to will come down. For instance, people in Lekki/Ajah area are moving to Lekki Phase I because they are reacting to traffic gridlock around VGC and Ajah round about. VGC in terms of ambience is much better than Lekki Phase I, but Lekki Phase I commands premium value than VGC because people are locating there. The cause of this, you will agree with me, is infrastructureroad network. Abroad, most environments are the same, some places maybe top notch, but most places are the same. That is one of the things to be done to solve the problem. Talking about policies to aid real estate development, you then ask yourself when you are giving land to people, who are you giving land to? Are you giving land to speculators or people in the business of real estate? This is because some people have been given land in Lekki in the past 20 years or more and if you ask them for the land they will ask you to bring billions. And if you say you don’t have that much they will tell you to live the land there. I think it’s proper for government to ask those given the land for over 20 years what they have done with the land. Can’t individual developer approach government for land? It’s possible, because the one my firm, Propertygate, built on, which is Alexandra Quarters, is a direct allocation from the government. And I’m aware that some of the developments along the corridor are like that. But there are also quite a number of lands allocated to non real estate developers. I’m aware of lands allocated indiscriminately to people and the moment they got the land, they came to developers to say that they had lands for sale.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE NATION

BUSINESS L ABOUR

Oil workers plan to resist sale of refineries

IL workers under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have said they would resist the Federal Government’s plan to sell the nation’s refineries. The two trade unions said their opposition to the sale is against national interest and that the country would not benefit from the exercise. PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, claims the deal could benefit some government’s officials’ cronies. He said the reasons for the problems at the refineries were that the government underfunded the refineries and refused to carry out Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM), and supply crude to them. He explained that instead of opting for sale, the Federal Government should adopt a modified process tailored towards the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), with the National Oil Company (NOC), as owners of the four refineries holding a substantial minority shares, while core investors/local participation hold the working majority with the staff, trade unions, and the host communities holding minority shares. He advised that the government to deal with the problem of pipelines vandalism that hamper the supply of crude oil to the refineries as well as carry out TAM and see if the refineries would not work. Ogun said: “The proposed sale of the refineries is against the overall national interest, but in the interest of a few, who are lurking around the corridors of power to milk the country dry. How can a country be selling all its national assets in the name of privatisation? For whose benefit are such sales? “If you recall, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua reversed the privatisation of the refineries by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with a promise to carry out TurnAround Maintenance (TAM), on them to ensure that they were sold not as scrap. On assumption to office, President Goodluck Jonathan also promised to carry out TAM on the refineries. “Even the controversial Kalu Idika Kalu-led National Refineries Special Task Force also had TAM or rehabilitation of the refineries to make them work in a safe and reliable manner as part of its recommendations. As we are talking now, nothing has been significantly done. “Why is the government proposing the sale of these national edifices without doing the needful to ensure that the refineries work at their optimal capacity? Nigerians and the public deserve to know more on the desperate reasons for the spate and row of proposed privatisation, even when the selfish motives of these proposed national assets sales can spell doom for the country.” He also said the refineries should be entities

• Refinery Stories by Toba Agboola

independent of either the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or the proposed NOC as in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), while the board of management of each refining company should be fully responsible for its success and failure. Ogun said those planning to sell the refineries and their cronies planning to buy them should emulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote and establish their own refineries instead of waiting to corner the nation’s common investment. He also said instead of privatising the refineries, the government should grant effective incentives to allow for the development of private refineries alongside the existing ones, adding that a framework should be articulated that will make available, required crude for effective functioning of local refineries. “There is need to incentivize and,or compel IOCs to refine an agreed percentage of crude oil in the country. A suggestion is to tie upstream licensing to downstream invest-

ment and private ownerships of jetties should be encouraged.” “As the privatisation trend continues, the Nigerian public will need to know from the process drivers, the number of jobs and investment that have been created as against the reality that some cronies are now being recruited as technical partners to front for the high and mighty as was the case with Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited, which the government sold to Indorama for $225 million, a mega plant that is the second largest in Africa, which at the time of its sale was worth about $2.5 billion as fair market value.” He continued: “Also at the time of the sale, the company was fully stocked and the materials needed for its TAM were being bought by the government. It only required working capital that was persistently blocked by bureaucratic bottleneck and undue government interference that delayed its efficiency.” “Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke said two weeks ago that the nation’s four refineries would be put up for sale by the first quarter of next year. “We would like to see major infrastructural

Education workers’ warning strike ends today

HE Federal Ministry of Education workers’ warning strike, aimed at protesting the government’s failure to honour its pact with them planned to end last Friday, will end today. The workers under the auspices of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), in a letter to the Minister of Education, warned that the exercise might lead to a strike if the government failed to meet their demands. In a letter, the union said: “Additionally, we wish to inform the management of the Federal Ministry of Education that if nothing positive happens to our demands between November 26, 2013 and the end of the warning strike, other trade union actions which may include a full blown nationwide strike will be embarked upon by the Union to actualise the welfare interest of its members in the Ministry’’ The letter signed by the Secretary-General of ASCSN, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, and sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of

Labour and Productivity, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Director-General, State Security Services, noted the decision was taken by representatives of the Union from all its units in the ministry nationwide at a meeting held on Monday, November 25. The Union said the reason for the strike was the inability of the government to implement the agreement signed with the workers in March, this year on payment of all promotion arrears due to its members and other sundry matters. Expressing its grievance, the union said meetings were held between the Ministry and the union from March to last month, but the Federal Government refused to honour the agreement, though at each meeting, it has promised to pay. “It is, however, disheartening to note that eight months after the signing of the agreement and three months after the August 27 meeting, almost all the issues agreed upon, particularly payment of promotion arrears to affected members of staff were

not implemented by the Ministry,” the union said. According to the union, the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, further restrained the workers from embarking on the strike as earlier proposed. “At the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the Federal Ministry of Education should pay promotion arrears due to members of staff in the Ministry from 2007 to 2011 on or before the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2013,’’ he added. The secretary-general, however, said the ultimatum it gave to the ministry earlier had expired and nothing was done to implement the agreement, noting that it showed that government had taken the Union on a goose chase. “It is on record that the association paid series of visits to the Ministry to monitor the effort being made to implement the agreement. Unfortunately, what we found out was not encouraging,” he added.

entities, such as refineries moving out of government’s hands into the private sector. Government does not want to be in the business of running major infrastructure entities and we haven’t done a very good job at it over all these years.” “We are right now undergoing a major turnaround maintenance programme” of the refineries, Mrs Alison-Madueke said.

Character commission chief to tackle nepotism

HE Federal Character Commission (FCC) has vowed to tackle nepotism and other vices in workers’ recruitment into government ministries, departments and agencies. Acting Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim Funtua, made the pledge at a workshop by FCC’s Committee on Science and Technology, for agencies under its purview in Abuja. Funtua said: “We were established to fight nepotism and other ills bedevilling recruitment in this country and that we have done, and we vow to intensify our activities against nepotism. “We will continue to ensure that, in each recruitment, merit exists. We have a formula which we strictly adhere to and through seminars, monitoring activities and sensitisation; we will insist that nepotism is halted.” Also, Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of the FCC, Alhaji Yarima Aliyu Giade, said the workshop would foster a national consciousness aimed at giving every citizen a sense of belonging regardless of ethnicity and religion. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Akpan Etuk, has commended the management of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), for its efforts, advice and observations on harmonisation of salaries of workers in the country. In a statement signed by its spokesman, Maxwell Eseigbe, the commissioner said the committee also urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to release the balance of a recent allocation made to the commission to enable it execute vital projects on ground. Earlier, the Chairman of the commission, Richard Onwuka Egbule, said his team would continue to do its best in ensuring harmony in the compensation system in the country.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 29-11-13

Equities gain N3.48tr, 38.61% in 11 months

NVESTORS in equities have earned about N3.48 trillion in capital gains over the past 11 months as the stock market survived a last-week downtrend to consolidate its bullish rally in November. Average return dropped by 0.83 per cent, while earlier gains left the market with a gain of 3.45 per cent last month. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities closed last month at N12.449 trillion as against this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening value of N8.974 trillion, indicating an increase of N3.475 trillion or 38.72 per cent. The main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI)-a common value-based index that tracks all quoted equities, indicated 11-month year-to-date return of 38.61 per cent. ASI closed November at 38,920.85 points as against its index-on-board

â&#x20AC;˘Equities retain 3.45% in November By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

of 28,078.81 points for the year. With N3.48 trillion and average year-to-date return of 38.61 per cent, equities appeared in good stead for another record successive performance. In value terms, 11-month capital gain of N3.48 trillion has already surpassed total gains of N2.44 trillion recorded for the entire 2012. Also, real benchmark return of 38.61 per cent is already some three percentage points above average full-year return of 35.45 per cent recorded in 2012. The stock market had closed the first half of 2013 with average return of about 28.8 per cent, equivalent to N2.45 trillion in capital gains. Aggregate market

value of all equities on the NSE had closed the first half at N11.426 trillion while the ASI had closed the first half at 36,164.31 points. Meanwhile, turnover at the NSE stood at 2.17 billion shares worth N24.44 billion in 26,443 deals last week. The financial services sector topped the activity chart with 1.20 billion shares valued at N9.13 billion in 12,226 deals; representing 55.48 per cent of total turnover for the week. Conglomerates sector followed with a turnover of 505.33 million shares worth N2.48 billion in 2,628 deals; accounting for 23.31 per cent of total turnover. Oil and gas sector placed third with a turnover of 196.41 million shares worth N2.372 billion in 3,762 deals. Investors concentrated on low-priced stocks, otherwise known as penny stocks. The trio of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Wapic Insurance Plc- each a penny stock in its category, accounted for 888.95 million shares worth N2.53 billion in 3,119 deals. This represented 41 per cent of aggregate turnover for the week.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-11-13

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

MONEY LINK

CBN pegs weekly dollar sales in BDCs at $250,000

OREIGN exchange sales to bureaux de change (BDC) operators will remain at $250,000 per week per BDC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said. In a circular to authorised dealers and BDC operators, CBN Director, Trade and Exchange, Musa Batari, said the selling rate by the authorised dealers to BDCs shall be the prevailing interbank exchange rate plus a margin not exceeding one per cent. He said foreign exchange cash bought by BDCs from authorised dealers and the CBN shall be sold to foreign exchange end-users at a rate not

Stories by Collins Nweze

exceeding two per cent margin above the buying rate. “For the avoidance of doubt, the margin shall be applicable to all funds to be retailed by BDCs regardless of sources of the fund,” he said. Batari explained that authorised dealers shall continue to render weekly returns on sales of BDCs while the BDCs shall render weekly returns on purchase from authorised dealers. He enjoined BDCs to keep adequate records of foreign exchange sale and purchases for purposes of monitoring by authorities. The CBN had earlier ob-

served that some authorised dealers have continued to deal in ‘free funds’ without adequate documentation contrary to provisions of extant regulation. The regulator reminded the dealers that the circular is still in force and all dealings in foreign exchange must be supported with appropriate documentation and returns rendered to regulatory authorities irrespective of the source of the funds. It said dealers that violate the laws will be sanctioned. CBN in September, replaced Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) with Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) because of the ineffectiveness

• CBN Lamido

Governor

Sanusi

of the former in addressing hitches in the forex market. It also withdrew the licences

of 20 bureau de change (BDCs) operators for violating forex rules, an indication that more licences withdrawal may be seen in future, should the violation continue. Under the RDAS, banks and other authorised dealers place bids on behalf of individual clients who qualify to buy forex at the official auction. The change from WDAS to RDAS allows the authorities to monitor more accurately various sources of forex demand and any potential duplication of forex demand in the system. Banks will remain responsible for all documentation requirements.

Ecobank launches new Western Union Money Transfer

COBANK Nigeria has launched a new service on its retail internet banking platform, named Western Union Account Based Money Transfer service (WUABMT). In a statement, the bank said the product allows cus-

tomers to receive money through Western Union online daily. The bank said customers will receive money from 510, 000 Western Union agent locations worldwide directly to their Ecobank account in Nigeria.

“Western Union just got more convenient at Ecobank,” it said, adding that customers working outside their home countries, can send funds to their own Ecobank account through Western Union, by simply logging in to Internet banking on the bank’s plat-

form and simply transfer the funds to their account with the bank. The bank’s Head, Assets and Liability Products, Domestic Banking, Adeola Dare said the electronic service will boost the successful partnership between the lender and Western

Union across Africa. “It resonates’ a commitment to providing reliable and convenient world-class money transfer service for Africans where ever they might be,” he said.

Corporate Communications Depart m e n t o f t h e bank, the walk underscores and promotes the importance of good health and physical fitness in the country. Explaining the modalities for the Lagos version, which will be kicked off by Mallam Ahmed Kuru,

the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, the statement added that the campaign would involve participants walking a distance of six kilometres on the Lagos Island. The bank said it decided to embark on the walk because walking is

a great way to keep the body fit and healthy. Research has also shown that just 30 minutes of walking every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. Walking can also

reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis (bone disease) and some cancers. Unlike some other forms of exercise, medical experts b e lieve that walking is free and does not require any special equipment or training.

Enterprise Bank’s Walk-for-Life coming

nterprise Bank Limited will on Saturday hold its Walk-ForLife campaign. In a statement, the bank said the event will hold simultaneously across the ten regions of the bank nationwide. The exercise will kick off at 7 a.m. According to the

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 27-09-13

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

JOSBREW CHAMPION FLOURMILL FO VITAFOAM ETERNA COSTAIN IKEJAHOTEL CORNERST INTENEGINS

3.92 16.15 85.04 108.73 4.39 3.98 0.89 0.69 0.50 0.53

4.31 16.95 89.20 114.00 4.60 4.17 0.93 0.72 0.52 0.55

0.39 0.80 4.16 5.27 0.21 0.19 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.02

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

O/PRICE 3.93 4.41 0.81 1.87 44.50 0.64 1.28 0.65 21.02 0.83

C/PRICE 3.56 4.19 0.77 1.78 42.40 0.61 1.22 0.62 20.10 0.80

CHANGE -0.37 -0.22 -0.04 -0.09 -2.10 -0.03 -0.06 -0.03 -0.92 -0.03

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11 MPR

July ’11

6.50%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

6.50%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

July ’12 12% 9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 27-09-13

SYMBOL TRANSCORP LIVESTOCK NPFMCRFBK CUTIX OKOMUOIL COURTVILLE TRANSEXPR UTC ASHAKACEM ABCTRANS

NITED Bank for Africa has said it will reward its customers that embrace cash-less banking this month. In a statement, the bank said the incentives are being announced to encourage more people to use e-payment channels rather than cash for their safety. “Going cashless during this festive period is not only the convenient way to shop this season, but it also enhances your personal safety and protects your hard earned money,” said Divisional Head, e-banking, Yinka Adedeji. He explained that going cashless means customers abstaining from all forms of cash transactions including withdrawing cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and adopting Point of Sale (PoS) as well as mobile and internet banking platforms to pay for all their shopping needs in December. He said the bank has a highly secured mobile platform, UMobile, which enables customers carry out about 90 per cent of all their regular banking transactions on their phones. With UBA U-Mobile customers can carry out funds transfer from one account to another in the same bank or from their UBA account to any other bank’s account. Customers can also pay for different bills, including air time top-up, DSTV subscription, buy local and international tickets or transfer funds to loved ones for the festive season.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

UBA to reward cash-less customers

Offer Price

Bid Price

161.31

160.19

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH

9.17

9.08

BGL NUBIAN FUND

1.09

1.08

BGL SAPPHIRE FUND

1.17

CANARY GROWTH FUND

0.75

0.74

CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST

1.39

1.33

CORAL INCOME FUND

1,598.43

FBN FIXED INCOME FUND

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND

1,000.00

FBN HERITAGE FUND

115.83

115.13

FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

100.00

FIDELITY NIGFUND

1.67

1.62

INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND

1.05

1.03

143.11

142.62

KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME FUND LEGACY FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEBT FUND (NIDF) • • • • •

0.78

0.76

1,868.64

1,860.31

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

‘India’s economy growing faster than expected’

WORKER in an Indian factory A slowdown in key sectors such as manufacturing has hurt India's growth rate According to the Brtish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), India's economic growth rate picked up strongly in the second quarter, according to official figures. The economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.8per cent in the July-toSeptember period, up from 4.4per cent in the previous quarter. The acceleration was faster than analysts had been expecting. Asia's third-largest economy has been weighed down by various factors, such as high inflation, a weak

currency and a drop in foreign investment. This is the fourth quarter in a row that India's annual growth rate has been below the five per cent mark, and the previous quarter's rate of 4.4 percent was the lowest for four years. Earlier this year, the Indian prime minister's economic advisory council lowered the growth outlook for the current financial year. It now expects the economy to expand by 5.3 per cent this year, down from its earlier projection of 6.4 per cent. India's economy has been hurt by a range of factors in recent months, including a slowdown in key sectors such as mining and manufacturing.

Slowing growth, coupled with a recovery in developed markets, such as the United States, has made India a less attractive option for foreign investors. Speculation that the US may scale back its key economic stimulus measure has seen investors pull money out of emerging markets, such as India. This has affected India’s currency, which dipped nearly 25 per cent against the US dollar between January and September this year. Though the rupee has recovered a little since then, it is still down about 13 per cent against the dollar since the start of this year. That has made imports more

expensive and contributed to a high rate of consumer inflation, which was 10.1 per cent October, up from 9.84 per cent in September. High food and fuel prices have contributed to inflation becoming "entrenched", Finance minister P Chidambaram said. As a result, the central bank has had to raise the cost of borrowing in a bid to curb inflation. The latest interest rate rise in October saw the key rate increase to 7.75 per cent. Some observers argue that high interest rates are hurting businesses and households, and having a negative impact on the economy.

especially the mid-level consumer, alive and well over the coming weeks," said Russell. "The important thing will be whether shoppers stay excited through the season." The S&P retail index .SPXRT rose 0.7 per cent. Among some of the most active retail names, Target Corp (TGT.N) rose 0.7 per cent, Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) rose 1.1 per cent to $40.05 and J.C. Penney Co (JCP.N) was up 1.8 per cent to $10.26.

The Dow Jones industrial average.DJI was up 28.38 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 16,125.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 2.38 points, or 0.13 per cent, at 1,809.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 15.37 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 4,060.12. The Nasdaq was boosted by strength in tech shares, with eBay Inc (EBAY.O) up 1.8 per cent to $50.22 and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) up 1.2 per cent at $38.05.

Wall Street edges higher in shortened session

NITED States’ stocks edged higher at the open on Friday, with investors reluctant to make big bets in an abbreviated session, though major indexes remained on track for their third straight month of strong gains. Trading will likely be anemic, as it has been all this week, with many U.S. investors out for the Thanksgiving holiday. The stock market will close three hours early at 1 p.m. (1800 GMT), following an all-day closure on Thursday. The light action could amplify market volatility, though there are few obvious trading catalysts with no economic indicators on tap. That may make it difficult for markets to extend their recent rally, though retail stocks will be in focus as the holiday shopping season begins. "There's nothing to trade on today, but the market is in a momentum story and the rally doesn't seem to be running out of steam," said Robert Russell, president of Russell & Co in Fairborn, Ohio. Equities have surged in recent weeks on the back of expectations for continued stimulus from the Federal Reserve. The Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs on

• New York Stock Exchange Building

Wednesday while the Nasdaq ended at a 13-year high. Retail stocks will be in focus as investors attempt to get an early read on the strength of the holiday shopping season. "Black Friday" typically marks the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season, but many stores opened on Thursday and offered steep discounts. "I'm happy with the size of the crowds I've seen so far; it is very important to see the consumer,

Eurozone unemployment falls for first time since 2011

HE eurozone's unemployment rate has fallen for the first time since early 2011, according to official data. The jobless rate across the 17 countries using the euro currency fell to 12.1per cent in October, the first fall since February 2011, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat said. About 19 million people are out of work across the region. Meanwhile, the annual rate of consumer inflation rose from 0.7per cent to 0.9 per cent. The European Central Bank (ECB) aims to keep inflation just below 2per cent - the level it deems right for growth. The data indicates that the fragile eurozone economy may be

gradually improving, although there are big disparities between individual countries. The unemployment rate in Spain and Greece is about 27per cent, for example, while Austria’s is 5per cent. In a surprise move earlier this month, the ECB cut its benchmark interest rate from 0.5 per cent to a record low of 0.25 per cent. ECB president Mario Draghi said the decision reflected its view that low inflation and weak economic growth would be the dominant story in the region. When eurozone inflation fell to 0.7per cent in October - its lowest level since January 2010 - there were fears that growth could be stalling and that some countries could even be moving into deflation.

DEVASTATING fire ripped through a Bangladesh garment factory supplying major Western retailers in a blaze set by workers angered over rumours of a colleague's death due to police gunfire. Garments are a vital sector for the South Asian nation, whose low wages and duty-free access to Western markets have helped make it the world's largest apparel exporter after China. But deadly incidents, including a building collapse that killed more than 1,100 people in April, has sparked global concern over weak safety standards in the country's $22billion garment industry. There were no reports of casualties in Friday's fire, which gutted a tenstorey building at Gazipur, 40 km (25 miles) north of the capital, Dhaka.

were almost four times fixed pay. The scale of bankers' bonuses remains a hot topic among politicians and the public. Many blame high pay for the risk-taking that led to the 2008/09 financial crisis and a series of mis-selling and misconduct scandals. The European Union is trying to curb excessive pay and has said that from 2014 bonuses for "risk-taking" staff cannot exceed annual salary, or twice that if shareholders give their

approval. The latest data from the European Banking Authority (EBA) shows that 3,529 bankers in the EU earned at least one million euro in 2012, up 11 per cent in 2011. They were paid 6.6 billion euros in aggregate, including five billion in bonuses, representing more than 10 per cent of the EU bank industry's after-tax profits last year. These bankers represent about 0.1 per cent of the three million people who

ONSUMER prices in Japan rose at the fastest pace in five years in October, suggesting policymakers' attempts to end years of deflation are working. Consumer prices, excluding food, rose 0.9 per cent from a year earlier. Prices have now risen for five months in a row. Japan has been battling deflation, or falling prices, for best part of the past 20 years. It is seen as a major drag on its economy and policymakers have unveiled a series of measures to end the cycle. While falling prices may sound good to those experiencing inflation, they hold back economic growth as consumers and businesses tend to put off purchases in the hope of getting a cheaper deal later on, which hurts domestic demand. Hidenobu Tokuda, an economist at Mizuho Research Institute, said the latest data indicated the world's third-largest economy was "making progress toward ending deflation". "We expect core inflation to approach one per cent at the end of this year and then to rise more gradually next year." Japan's central bank has set a target of achieving an inflation rate of two per cent. While consumer prices have started to rise, the rise in inflation so far has been mainly stoked by the rising cost of fuel imports, the result of a weak yen, rather than by an increase in domestic demand. Japan's aggressive measures have seen its currency weaken nearly 25 percent against the US dollar this year, making imports more expensive. At the same time, Japan has suffered a shortage of energy since the closure of almost all the country's nuclear reactors, following the earthquake and tsunami of 2011. As a result, it has been importing much of the energy it needs. Increased fuel imports, coupled with a weak yen, have contributed significantly to the price rises seen in the past months. However, in an encouraging sign for policymakers, a narrower measure of prices, which excludes both food and energy costs, also rose in October, indicating that domestic demand may be starting to pick up.

Fire destroys key Bangladesh garments factory But fire fighters were still battling to douse the fire in four nearby buildings, more than 15 hours after it had begun around midnight on Thursday, after workers finished for the day. "We are still struggling to control the flames," said fire official Mahbubur Rahman, adding that 22 fire service and civil defense units been thrown into the fire-fighting operation. At the scene, a Reuters photographer said burnt garments strewn on the floors bore brand names from U.S. retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters Inc, Gap Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Other brands on the clothes

London leads 11 per cent jump in bankers’ earning

ORE than 3,500 bankers in Europe earned one million euro ($1.4 million) or more last year after a big jump across the continent and in Britain, which had 12 times as many high earners as any other country. Figures from the bloc's banking regulator on Friday showed that London-based bankers would have easily bust the European Union (EU) bonus cap rule coming into effect next year. Bonuses for the highest earners

Japan consumer price rises

work in banks across Europe. Britain accounted for 2,714 of those top earners, up 11 per cent on the year before, partly reflecting London's dominant position as Europe's financial center and home to major operations for banks from the United States, Switzerland and other countries outside the EU. The data shows that banks in Britain and France in particular need to adjust pay structures to meet new the rules because variable pay was almost four times fixed pay.

included Li and Fung Ltd, Marks and Spencer Group PLC, Sears Canada Inc, Fast Retailing Co Ltd's Uniqlo and Inditex S.A. brand Zara. Nur-e-Alam, a senior manager of Standard Group, said the factory had stored the next six months of its supplies for top global retailers, including Gap and Wal-Mart. "We were the biggest supplier of Gap in Bangladesh," he said, adding: "Our cargoes were ready for shipment and all that was burnt up." The loss to the firm could run into more than $100 million, estimated another group official, who asked not to be identified, saying the final tally could exceed his figure. The factory was among the 10 biggest in the country, said Mohammad Atiqul Islam, president of industry body the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, adding that the destruction could cost workers their jobs. "Now all the workers are at risk of becoming jobless," he said. As many as 18,000 people worked at the factory, its owner, Mosharraf Hossain, told Reuters. A local police official dismissed as baseless the claim that a worker had died in the firing, adding that a group of workers assisted by nearby residents had set the fire.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

BUSINESS AFRICA

Kenya launches new railway to reach South Sudan, Burundi

ENYA has launched a new Chinese-financed railway, which should extend across East Africa to reach South Sudan, DR Congo and Burundi. The first section will link the Kenyan port of Mombasa to the capital, Nairobi, reducing the journey time from 15 hours to about four.

It is said to be the country's biggest infrastructure project since independence 50 years ago. The cost of the railway will be $5.2billion (£3.2billion) - mostly funded by China. Some Kenyans have complained that the contract was given to the Chinese state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)

without going to tender. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed the deal in August in Beijing. It is also hoped that the railway will reduce congestion in Mombasa, one of Africa's busiest ports. The current railway network dates back to the colonial era. After the Nairobi section is finished,

West Africa bets on Brazilian style oil jackpot

NVESTORS are stepping up the hunt for hundreds of billions of dollars worth of oil beneath a deep submerged salt crust offshore West Africa, seeking to emulate Brazil's major discoveries across the Atlantic. Geologists have long held that Africa's western seabed mirrors South America's. The continents were fused into a single plate nearly 200 million years ago. Now, high oil prices consistently above $100 a barrel and cheaper technology make it possible for producers to explore thousands of feet below the surface. The enthusiasm follows pre-salt finds by Total and Cobalt in Gabon and Angola, shifting focus to a region that has played second fiddle to east Africa's gas boom. William Hayes, senior VP at explorer Kosmos Energy, told Reuters the firm expected a "suite of smaller, but still globally significant discoveries" in the

region. Jasper Peijs, BP's exploration director for sub-Saharan Africa, said he expected super giant discoveries off Angola. "All the prospects there have the potential to be giant, which I would say is at least 250 million barrels and greater, or super giant of 500 million to a billion barrels and even greater than that," he said at the African oil and gas conference in Cape Town. So far, most of the excitement has centred on Angola where prospecting is more advanced after a licensing round in 2011. "The first year was one of acquiring seismic data, then evaluation of results and 2014 will be a year of drilling for most operators," Jean-Michel Lavergne, Total's General Director in Angola, said, adding that the company will

drill two of the 10-15 pre-salt wells set to be explored in 2014. In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, Angola's Oil Minister Jose Botelho de Vasconcelos said it could take operators eight to 10 years after discovery to start production. Some expect the pre-salt zone to extend further north to the Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea or south to Namibia, stretching along a more than 2,000 kilometres’ coastline. In addition to Angola, at least half a dozen pre-salt wells are either underway or have been announced in neighbouring Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Brazil has made several pre-salt finds since 2007 in the Santos Basin off its southeastern coast. It also has a host of new wells, such as the massive Libra field. The International Energy Agency expects Brazil to become the sixth largest oil producer by 2035 and to meet a third of the net growth in global supply.

• Guest speaker and Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Wema Bank, Akinlolu Ayileka (left), receiving a plaque from the President, Egba Economic Summit Mr. Ayobami Biobaku, at the Egba Economic Summit on Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, (MEMEs) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

"What we are doing here today will most definitely transform... not only Kenya but the whole eastern African region," President Kenyatta told crowds at the ceremony, calling it an "historic milestone", the AFP news agency reports. "As a result East Africa will become a competitive investment destination," the agency quoted him as saying.

Winner emerges in Corolla Giveaway promo A KADUNA-based business man, Usman Shehu Musa, at the weekend in Lagos emerged the winner of Corolla Giveaway promo sponsored by Superior Games Limited in partnership with information communications technology (ICT) firm, MTN Nigeria and Elizade Motors. The winner, who went home with a brand new Toyota Corolla 2013 model valued at N4million, expressed shock that he could win a car valued at that sum with only N500 recharge card, adding that he thought it was a fluke. He said it was his son that drew his attention to text message announcing the promo in his mobile phone, adding that it was the boy that insisted that he participated in the promo. Musa said: "I did not believe it was true when I was called by the company. They sent my flight ticket and here I am now cruising home with a new Toyota Corolla. I thank God and my son that urged me to participate

in the promo. It is so unimaginable that I could spend only N500 to win a brand new car. So, anybody that wants to win a brand new Toyota car should text BIG to 5045.MTN. "The new car will assist me to do my business better because transportation is vital to my construction business. I will also use the money I would have spent on buying a new car to do other things," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Head, Sales, Superior Games, Taiwo Oyekunle, said the promo started at a couple of weeks ago it is going to go on for 12 weeks and end in January. "This promo is a kind of teaser to the launch of the BIG Games brand at the end of January. So we have started this as a teaser in order to get people to be aware of our products and get the brand out there and build up to our formal launch in January. For us, integrity is important," he said.

China’s Huawei to roll out 4G in Addis Ababa

ETHIOPIA'S state-run Ethio Telecom has picked Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's second largest telecom equipment maker, to roll out a high-speed 4G network across the capital Addis Ababa. This is part of a $1.6 billion deal signed in July and August between the Ethiopian firm, Huawei and ZTE, China's second-biggest telecoms equipment maker, to expand mobile phone infrastructure throughout the Horn of Africa country. "In terms of allocation, Huawei will be responsible for the expansion of 4G in Addis Ababa, including other mobile services - the 2G, 3G, IP and the like," Abdurahim Ahmed, Ethio Telecom's head of communications, told Reuters. Abdurahim said: "It is expected to benefit more than 400,000 subscribers. Within an eight-month period, the expansion project of Addis Ababa, including 4G, will be completed." The deal, signed by ZTE in August and Huawei a month before, will enable Ethiopia to double subscribers to more than 50 million by 2015 and expand 3G service throughout the country.

One Alliance plans re-insurance firm

Pirate attacks in West Africa to double in 2014

HE number of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea could double next year if governments do not act to protect off-shore assets, according to Paramount Group, Africa's largest privately owned defence and aerospace business. There have been over 360 attacks on merchant shipping this year and without action by West African governments this could rise to over 700 incidents next year. This could see an average of two attacks every day of the year. However, piracy threatens more than just oil and gas assets, criminal gangs at sea are responsible for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, dumping of toxic waste, illegal bunkering and illegal fishing. This is in addition to the problems caused by the profits from piracy that finance other criminal activity such as terrorism and human trafficking that have a significant human and financial cost. James Fisher, the Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Naval Systems said: "As stronger counterpiracy measures have developed in

with completion due in 2017, it will be extended through Uganda, with branch lines west to Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo, south through Rwanda to Burundi and north to South Sudan. Passenger trains will travel at a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), while freight trains will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h.

East Africa, criminal organisations have come to see coastal assets in West Africa as soft targets. The result is that the waters of the Gulf of Guinea are now the most dangerous in Africa for merchant shipping. "West African nations are rapidly developing their oil and gas infrastructure to capitalise on existing assets and exploit new offshore discoveries. These assets can serve as the driver of longterm economic development in these countries, boosting industry, creating thousands of jobs and bringing in billions of dollars of foreign investment. "Unless it is tackled quickly and effectively, piracy could do serious damage to Nigeria'soil and gas industry, slowing development for years to come. "The solution is not to seek international help to solve these African problems, but to build African solutions to them. The development of a strong African shipbuilding industry means it is possible for African nations to find

African solutions to the threat of piracy.” In response to growing demand from sovereign governments across Africa and the developing world, Paramount Naval Systems is developing a fleet of multi-role patrol vessels. The speed and flexibility of Paramount's ships mean they are ideal for a wide range of operations in coastal waters to prevent illegal activity and protect assets and territory. Paramount presented their multirole naval vessels as part of the fight against piracy in West Africa atAfrica's largest maritime security event, Maritime & Coastal Security Africa in Cape Town (November 2527), where Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Navy, highlighted developments in West African navies' response to piracy threats. Attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Guinea have become the greatest threat to merchant shipping in Africa, surpassing attacks off Somalia last year.

ONE Alliance Insurance, the South African company that has just sold Angola's largest closely-held insurer by revenue, plans to start a reinsurance arm focused on the continent, Chief Executive Officer Robert Lewis said. The firm is seeking a re-insurance licence by June in the United Kingdom for a new company called One Re to do business in Africa, Lewis said today in an e-mailed response to questions. One Alliance is also targeting expansion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Southern Sudan. "In these three countries we will be aiming to establish property and casualty insurance companies aimed at large national and multinational organisations," Lewis said. Insurers, including One Alliance and Old Mutual Plc (OML), the United Kingdom-based company that has the biggest share in Africa insurance, are vying for business on a continent that's seeing returns growing at a faster pace than more mature markets. Premiums in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, are expected to increase four-fold over the next five years, the country's National Insurance Commission said.

S/African economy expands at slowest pace in four years

SOUTH Africa's economy, the biggest on the continent, grew at the slowest pace in more than four years in the third quarter as strikes at carplants cut manufacturing (SFPMNSAY) output. Gross domestic product rose an annualised 0.7 per cent compared with the second quarter, when output increased a revised 3.2 per cent, Statistics South Africa said in a report released in Johannesburg today. The median estimate of 19 economists in a Bloomberg survey was one per cent. Strikes by workers at carmakers including Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volkswagen AG (VOW) in the third quarter curbed output from an industry that accounts for almost 10 per cent of the economy. The Reserve Bank last week cut its 2013 economic growth forecast to 1.9 per cent from two per cent and kept the benchmark repurchase rate at the lowest level in more than three decades to help support consumer spending. "The main reason for the slow growth was the bad manufacturing performance," Ilke van Zyl, an economist at Vunani Securities Ltd. in Johannesburg, said by phone. "Apart from the strike action, private sector consumption growth slowed down, government expenditure slowed and there was heightened uncertainty in global financial markets."

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

EQUITIES WATCH First Bank of Nigeria, listed under the name FBN Holdings Plc, holds strategic position in the Nigerian financial services sector, the Nigerian economy, West African region, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the continent generally. As Nigeria's flagship bank, First Bank determines, to a large extent, not only the outlook for Nigeria but the regional and continental banking dynamics. Capital Market Editor, examines implications of First Bank's recent regional expansionary initiatives.

HE banking sector generally is one of the axles on which the economy rotates. While the degree of influence of the banking sector differs from economy to economy, depending on the degree of sophistication and development of other segments of the financial industry, most emerging economies depend heavily on the banking sector. The current theory of "too big to fail" that features prominently in global regulatory framework underlines concerns about the impact of the banking sector, financial services industry, and the importance of the leading financial services companies. In Nigeria, like other African countries and emerging economies with less-developed non-bank financial market, the banking sector is the sector to track for the economic and investment outlook. To a very large extent, the Nigerian financial services industry, and the economy generally, depends on the banking sector. The financial services sector accounts for about 30 per cent of total market capitalisation of the Nigerian stock market. Quoted banks and bankholding groups account for more than 94 per cent of the market capitalisation of the financial services sector, which includes commercial deposit money banks, bank-holding financial services groups, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, microfinance banks, asset management companies and allied financial services companies. FBN Holdings Plc, the holding company for First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), accounts for 14 per cent of the entire financial services sector and 15 per cent of quoted banks and bank-holding companies. There are 56 financial services companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) including 12 commercial deposit money banks, 29 insurance companies, two microfinance banks, four mortgage bankers and nine other financial services firms. Among the nine other financial services firms are the three bank-holding groups-FBN Holdings, FCMB Group and Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

The big bank impact The overall technical importance of First Bank is better appreciated within the context of the general market situation. At opening value today, FBN Holdings is bigger than each other sector and sub-sector on the NSE with the exception of its financial services sector, consumer goods sector and industrial goods sectors. Technically, FBN Holdings, on its own, holds significant influence on the overall market situation than several other individual sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, construction, information and communication technology and healthcare among others. With capitalisation more than three times the size of entire populous insurance subsector, FirstBank's pricing trend will exert more influence on overall market situation than the collective trend in several subsectors. Fundamentally, FirstBank is Nigeria's largest bank. With total assets of N3.3 trillion, customer deposits of N2.6 trillion and a strong capital adequacy ratio of 18.9 per cent, nearly twice the minimum 10 per cent requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), FirstBank ranks among the largest corporate and retail financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. First-half report for the period ended June 30, 2013 underlined the fundamentals of the bank and the holding company. FBN Holdings grew its top-line to about N195 billion in the first half of this year, posting the largest revenue by any financial services group. Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of FBN Holdings, showed that gross earnings increased from N180.9 billion in first half 2012 to N194.9 billion in June 2013. The report showed improvements in all key indices, although the growths were marginal, the pervasive industry trend that has characterized earnings reports of banks in recent period. Profit before tax rose from N53.5 billion to N55.1 billion while profit after tax increased from N45.35 billion to N46.10 billion. The company expanded its balance sheet size to N3.4 trillion with total customer deposits of N2.6 trillion. Total customer loans and advances stood at N1.5 trillion. The group rested heavily on FirstBank, which recorded gross earnings of N186.1 billion and profit before tax of N49.9 billion in first half 2013. The bank's aggregate balance sheet grew to N3.3 trillion by June 2013 as against N3.1 trillion recorded at the beginning of the year.

Financial conglomerate Beyond the technical and fundamental figures, the structures and operations of FBN Holdings and FirstBank lend credence to its leading position. The most diversified financial services group in Nigeria, FBN Holdings

How will First Bank's expansion impact returns? operate products and services across commercial banking, investment banking, insurance and microfinance business in seven countries including its primary market and head office- Lagos, London, Paris, Johannesburg, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, and Democratic Republic of Congo. While the group rests primarily on FirstBank, other subsidiaries include FBN Capital, a leading investment banking and asset management company; FBN Life Assurance, a life insurance business; and FBN Microfinance Bank, which offers microfinance services. With some 1.3 million shareholders, FBN Holdings has the largest shareholders' base. The recent announcement of FirstBank's expansion into West Africa through the acquisition of some of the operations of International Commercial Bank (ICB) marked a milestone in the expansion of Nigerian financial services companies within the sub-region and Africa generally. While African expansion has been at the forefront of Nigerian bankers' strategies since mid 2000's, FirstBank had cautiously concentrated on organic growth and consolidation of its domestic base. The strategy had worked out perfectly. While several Nigerian banks that had opened or acquired foreign operations in many African countries were either acquired or liquidated in the following financial and economic meltdown, FirstBank had further consolidated its leadership. So why has the bank now decided to spread its wings beyond the shores of Nigeria? According to the management of the bank, the acquisition of ICB operations in West Africa is the next stage of growth and provides a strong geographic and commercial base from which FirstBank can continue to grow progressively in Africa. With operations in Guinea, Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, ICB provides FirstBank with a strong geographic platform for growth and an established customer base across the mid-corporate, small and medium enterprises (SME) and retail segments that complement the bank's existing strategy in Nigeria. ICB has over 600 employees and 120,000 customer accounts spread across these four markets. ICB also operates in markets with major investments in key growth sectors on the continent, most notably the major mining industries that are prevalent in Guinea and Ghana and emerging in Sierra Leone as well as positioned for the commercial operations in the emerging oil and gas opportunities in Ghana and Guinea. It should be noted that FirstBank had in 2011 acquired BIC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, starting its progressive and case by case approach to inorganic growth opportunities. Since acquiring BIC, the bank has successfully managed an integration process that has incorporated BIC into FirstBank's

operations while delivering short term improvements in financial performance as well. This is the strategy that it will further deploy to harness and integrate the synergies and opportunities presented by the latest ICB acquisition. While many Nigerian banks are now actively expanding across the African continent and are implementing diverse business models as they seek to maximise growth, FirstBank's approach customarily reflects its progressive approach. Its approach is rooted in the multi-local business model which ensures that the best of local culture and experience is mixed with the banking expertise the bank has built up over more than a century of operations. A multi-local business model is designed to ensure the markets where FirstBank is expanding retain the local culture and approach that make them an integral part of the local economy. By ensuring each FirstBank business across the continent adopts a locally led approach, while leveraging the international reach and experience of the parent company, the bank believes it can engender a long term sustainable approach to doing business in new markets, Africa in particular. "We are committed to developing a multi-local business model that broadens our geographic revenue base while providing enhanced service delivery to our new customers," Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bisi Onasanya reiterated on the confirmation of the acquisition of the ICB assets. According to him, the acquisition of ICBGFH assets in Ghana, Guinea, Gambia and Sierra Leone fulfilled the first stage of the bank's ambitions to steadily build broader and more diverse footprints across Africa. The new acquisition would also strengthen FirstBank against increasingly tough domestic operating environment and secure new markets for stronger growth momentum. In its latest 'Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA)' on Nigeria, Standards & Poor's Ratings Services had outlined operating challenges confronting Nigerian banking industry amidst the lop-sided economic system and deficient infrastructure. "The Nigerian banking sector has undergone two major consolidation periods in the past 10 years. In our opinion, the second phase is close to an end, although the future of the three quasi-nationalized banks remains unclear. As the new industry landscape clears, we expect competition to increase and the sector to continue to organize itself into three distinct tiers. Most rated banks are in the upper and middle tiers. Positively, with 21 banks operating in the sector, we don't believe there is any significant overcapacity because of inherently low leverage and retail penetration, as well as strong long-term economic growth fundamentals. We anticipate stiff competition, however,

â&#x20AC;˘GMD, First Bank of Nig., Bisi Onasanya

on at least two fronts: attracting low-cost retail deposits in a country with low banking penetration, and banking large corporates together with their staff, third-party suppliers, and distributors. We believe foreign banks will continue to attempt to enter the sector in 2013-2014, but barriers to entry remain high for banks without significant capital or scale," the report outlined the industry stability outlook. Both the challenges and opportunities represent better prospects for FirstBank with its large domestic scale and built-up retail base as well as the new openings presented by the ICB acquisition. Onasanya said the ongoing domestic initiatives aimed at optimizing benefits of recent investments and countering pressures induced by regulatory changes would complement the bank's expansionary drive to deliver greater earnings diversification and increase shareholders' value through higher returns on equity among other benefits.

Under-pricing the potential? However, the price of FBN Holdings appears to lag behind the gathering operational momentum. At opening price of N16.11 per share today, many analysts believe that FirstBank's pricing trend is significantly below the current and future earnings potential. While it had traded at a high of N21.50, the current market price appears to be base-forming around the group's low of N15.20 per share. The low price may conversely represent above-average yields for discerning investors that take opportunities of the time-lag to take positions ahead of the herd rush. With average year-to-date return of 38.61 per cent at the Nigerian equity market, several equities obviously are within their high band. But with several financial services stocks trading below average, the sector may well be next growth phase of the market. Investors only need to think and look beyond the immediate earnings to future earnings and sustainability.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

MONEY MARKET REPORT

‘Why interests on SMEs’ loans are high’ Financing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is not a familiar terrain for most banks. The risks associated with such funding make the few lenders operating in the subsector to lend at high rates. COLLINS NWEZE writes

HOUGH the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) remain a key driver of the economy, not many banks are willing to lend to the sub-sector. Many times, when the loans come, they are priced higher than what obtains when lending to multinationals or other operators in the real sector of the economy. The Executive Director, Retail Banking (South), FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbenga Shobo, said the sub-sector has the highest non-performing loans (NPLs) in the financial services sector and most lenders have to price the risks into the loans. Despite this, Shobo said SMEs remains the engine room of the economy creating millions of jobs for the population. He said banks have to create successful SMEs for the economy to fully benefit from the operations of the sub-sector. He said it will take lenders a long time to really play major role in creating jobs through SMEs support, adding that FirstBank has shown much commitment in funding the sub-sector. “Definitely, there is a lot of large buzzword right now as a lot of banks are saying they want to do SMEs finance. But we have been relatively successful in financing SMEs. A recent survey showed that FirstBank, more than double any other bank, in giving SMEs finance in the last three years. So, it won’t resolve everything now, but definitely it would go a long way in reducing it,” he said. He said at present, about 50 per cent of the funds of the lender comes from retail banking. “Those funds are from our SMEs, our affluent and our mass market. Retail banking is split into those segments. The CRR (cash reserve ratio) itself doesn’t affect retail banking directly because it was meant for public sector funds. But it shows how more important to the banks the funds from retail banking would be because no CRR affects it. So obviously, there is more focus on retail banking funds. That is why we are doing more to get more SMEs,” he said. Shobo explained that on the affluent side, the bank has created premium lounges. These are separate areas within branches where they can bank with preferential treatment. “We also have the premium card which the affluent have and they can go to any branch and get premium services so they don’t have to queue. We have about 20 lounges in the south and about three in the north. We have built them in such a way that they are like hubs and it gives access to most affluent and high net worth individuals,” he said.

Branch expansion

He said the bank’s branch network has increased tremendously in the last two years. “This is just to make sure that we bank the mass population more comfortably,

• Shobo

without queues and things like that. “Why do we have queues? It’s because we have more customers than the number branches can handle. We have expanded the number of branches; our ATM network is by far the most in the whole industry. Of course, if you treat your customers better, they will give you more funds. So we are really concentrating on servicing our customers in all segments much better,” he said. He also said the bank discovered that it needed to have different ways of approaching different segments within the youths. He said the way youths see things is different from the way older people see them, adding that the youths prefer online banking. “You find out that a lot of the hits on the website are from the youths,” he said.

SMEs in Nigeria

Shobo said SMEs in Nigeria have to grow because that is the only way the economy can grow. “So it must grow and that is why we are doing the national conference and after that, we are going to have regional conferences. After that, we are going to have industry specific conferences to make sure that we take the SMEs to another level,” he said. He said experience in SMEs financing is what separates FirstBank from other lenders. “We have the most SMEs, we have had them for a long time, we understand their needs better than anybody else and clearly that informed the way we approach them. The SMEs, most other banks don’t even focus on them. We have relationship managers focused on them. We have products that support SME operators that do not have collateral, which a lot of other banks don’t have. I think what we haven’t done well in the past is the capacity building and that is where we want to focus on now,” he said. He said the bank listens to SMEs to know their problems and

• Khan

address them. “We currently are the number one SMEs’ bank in Nigeria, but we do not want to stop there. We want to be able to create value for our SMEs. In listening to them, survey and focus discussions and all that, we found out that capacity is a big problem. When I say capacity, I mean being able to develop proposals which banks can finance or indeed which anybody can put money to finance for them. A lot of people have dreams on what they like to do.You find out that a lot of SMEs cannot do that successfully. That is one,” he said. Shobo said several SMEs go into businesses and they run into trouble because they just can’t do the business properly.

Foreign reserves

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have declined by about $400 million in six weeks which ended November 27. The reserves were at $44.6 billion as at November 27, contrary to $45 billion recorded on October 14. Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website showed that at $45.2 billion, the reserves had increased by $200 million from October 14 to 28, before dropping further. The reserves were also at $45.2 billion on November 1 before they kept dropping on daily basis till November 27. Other figures showed that the reserves were at $47.7 billion on July 1, and dropped to $47 billion on July 15. It also entered August 1 at $47 billion. The foreign currency reserves had, five years ago, in August 2008, peaked at $68 billion before the global financial crises impacted negatively on it. Chief Operating Officer, Citi Bank Nigeria, Akin Dawodu said the reserves are assets held by the CBN and monetary authorities, mostly in dollar to back their liabilities, such as the naira.

He explained that manipulating reserves levels can enable CBN intervene against volatile fluctuations in currency by affecting the exchange rate and increasing the demand for the naira. “Reserves act as shock absorber against factors that can negatively affect a country’s exchange rates and, therefore the CBN uses the reserves to maintain a steady rate,” he explained in Lagos. Analysis of foreign exchange utilised by sectors revealed that $7.83 billion was expended on the importation of visible goods into the country in the second quarter as against $6.63 billion and $7.74 billion in first quarter and second quarter of last year.

Budget

Nigeria’s Medium-Term Budget Strategy has suggested a moderation of total spending in 2014, to N4.5 trillion, from N 5tn in 2013, Head African Research, Standard Chartered, Razia Khan has said. In an emailed report at the weekend, she said from a growth perspective, the share of recurrent spending would rise to 73.8 per cent of total spending, up from 64 per cent in the current fiscal year. This constitutes an increase from N3.32 trillion in 2014 from N3.2 trillion in 2013, thereby squeezing capital expenditure. She said a benchmark price of crude of $74/barrel was initially proposed, although this has typically been subject to upward revision in the past. Average oil output levels of 2.39 million barrels per day (mmbd) are also assumed. Khan explained that given the current political backdrop, budget assumptions for 2014 appear overly ambitious. “Official estimates suggest that as much as one-fifth of the country’s oil output is lost to theft. Actual output levels have averaged

‘Definitely, there is a lot of large buzzword right now as a lot of banks are saying they want to do SMEs finance. But we have been relatively successful in financing SMEs. A recent survey showed that First Bank, more than double any other bank, in giving SMEs finance in the last three years. So, it won’t resolve everything, but definitely it would go a long way in reducing it’

far less than the 2.53mmbpd assumed in the 2013 budget. It is likely that oil output levels will similarly undershoot the 2.39mmbpd assumed for 2014, necessitating reliance on Nigeria’s excess crude earnings for budget ‘augmentation,” she said. According to her, the net effect is to reduce any buffer Nigeria might have in place against a more sustained decline in oil earnings. “With politics moving to centre stage, the consensus needed to tackle oil theft may be elusive. Spending and borrowing plans should be gauged in this light,” she advised. She said whatever the aims outlined in the budget framework; Nigeria has rarely faced elections without seeing a rise in spending. In 2010, the year before the 2011 elections, Federal Government spending increased by 50 per cent year on year, boosted by supplementary budgets. “While the plan is to cut overall spending in 2014 because of the strain on oil earnings, Nigerian politics are notoriously dependent on patronage. A protracted period of negotiations ahead of party primaries would likely require even greater spending than outlined in the 2014 budget,” she said.

Customer service survey

African banking customers have been fairly clear about what they expect from their banks, and what they are not yet getting, KPMG report on the sector has said. A customer satisfaction survey conducted by the auditing firm in Nigeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe showed that banks in Africa will need to focus on maintaining their financial stability while simultaneously sharpening their customer service capabilities if they hope to capture and grow their markets. It explained that while more than one in five respondents said their top criteria for selecting a bank was their ability to remain stable, it was attention to customer service that seemed to separate the leaders from the rest of the pack. It said customer care factors were seen as being among the most important indicators for many respondents, leading to 43 per cent to say that they would change their banks as a result of poor service quality. "Not surprisingly, therefore, customers were also quick to call for improvements in this area; around 16 per cent said they wanted to see friendlier staff while 14 per cent said they would like faster and more effective complaints resolution from their banks," it said. The survey also highlighted a number of other key areas where African banks could make improvements in order to gain market advantage. One in five respondents prioritised a reduction in wait times for transaction processing and requests as their top area for improvement while 17 per cent said they wanted to see improvements in the way services are delivered through channels. It said alternate banking channels are starting to gain a foothold in many markets, creating another opportunity for banks to differentiate themselves and build loyalty among customers. Already, more than six per cent of respondents said they would switch banks if they offered more innovative products and services versus eight per cent who said they would switch because of the proximity of branches.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE NATION

BUSINESS I NSURANCE

‘80% of insurance products doing well’

HE new insurance products have witnessed a boom with about 80 per cent of the products approved last year performing well. In a report by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and signed by the Head, Corporate Affairs, Salami ‘Rasaaq, the 12 insurance firms that introduced the

products are International Energy Insurance Plc, Unitykapital Insurance, Fin Insurance, Crusader General Insurance Ltd, Crusader Life, IGI, Wapic Insurance Plc, Wapic Life, Mansad, Old Mutual Nigeria Life, Leadway Assurance and ADIC Insurance.

The products include Home Care policy, Graduation Guarantee Insurance, Third party Motor Policy, Personal Accident policy, Household/House owners Insurance, Funeral Insurance, Esusu Shield. The report reads: “Following the trends of the emerging market, the Commission encourages the insurance companies to design and mar-

ket attractive new products to entice customers with the aim of increasing sales and market development. The companies were to subsequently submit updates on the product performance on quarterly basis after approval has been granted to them by the Commission to sell the products.” It added: “The report revealed

that about 80 per cent of the products approved for the year 2012 are performing well.The world is witnessing a paradigm shift from simple to a complex society due to technological advancement. The dynamics of the environment changes the consumer’s wants and needs in respect of insurance products.”

‘Agents vital to insurance growth’

HE newly elected President of the Association of Registered Insurance Agents (ARIAN), Mr. Olamerun Gbadebo, has described the contribution of insurance agents as a panacea to deepening insurance penetration. Olamerun, who made this known while speaking with journalists in Lagos, said poor remuneration, premium suspension and poor perception of agents in the country have been the bane to the agency business, hindering their contribution in achieving the desired results. He said the association was, however, poised to deepen insurance penetration and increase insurance contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by ensuring proper remuneration of the agents and drive member’s active contribution. He said the role of agents in selling insurance to the grassroots cannot be over emphasised, adding that they were the major stakeholders in delivering insurance products to every nook and cranny of the country. He explained that his mandate as

By OmobolaTolu-kusimo

ARIAN chief is to make insurance agency business easy by collaborating and partnering with other stakeholders, especially the regulatory body, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), and other bodies, like the Nigeria Insurers Association, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and Nigerian Council of Registered insurance Brokers (NCRIB). He added that poor perception of the agents and premium suspension by a few agents is a challenge the association is working to eradicate through professionalism among its members. He said: “In this regard, ARIAN intends to eradicate fraud among members by making sure alert system for premium paid is activated by underwriters such that any client who does business with an insurance company and does not get payment alert can report the agent to the regulator for sanctions. “ARIAN will also make a benchmark to ascertain what is profitable for agents across board.”

• From left: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Royal Exchange Insurance, Sheila Ezeuko; Mr Odogwu; Group Managing Director, Mr Chike Mokwunye and Mr Daniel Maegerle, during the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Regency Alliance records N391m profit

EGENCY Alliance Insurance Plc has recorded a profit after tax of N391 million in its financial year ended December 31, 2012, from the N21 million recorded in 2011. The gross premium written rose

Royal Exchange makes N743m profit

OYAL Exchange Group has made a profit before tax of N743 million in the financial year ended 2012 as against the N210 million recorded in 2011. The company, however, gave out dividend of 4k per 50k ordinary share for shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2012. Chairman, Royal Exchange Group, Kenneth Odogwu told shareholders at the 2012 Annual General Meeting in Lagos that the result was credited to marked improvement in the performances of subsidiaries, except for Royal Exchange Prudential Life Plc which posted a low of N223million. The group consists of Royal Exchange General, Royal Exchange Healthcare, Royal Exchange Pruden-

• Declares 4k dividend tial Life, Royal Finance, Royal Exchange Microfinance Bank. Odogwu said despite the hostile operating environment, experience by the insurance sub-sector and in finance industry in general, Royal Exchange Group remained resilient in its performance, exploiting new opportunities and maintaining a strong hold on its existing business in 2012. He said: “During the period under review the company generated gross written premium of N7.6 billion,while that of his preceding year was N6.82 billion, representing 11.85 per cent.. “Claims expenses during the year amounted to N1.63 billion similar to N1.64 billion spent in 2011. In rela-

tive terms, the claim ratio dropped from 35 per cent in2011 to 30 per cent in 2012.” The Royal Exchange boss said this translated in to net income before overhead expenses of N3.5 billion as against N3.1 billion of 2011, an increase of 11.91 per cent. “Similarly, investment income increased significantly by 35.1 per cent from N475.2 million in 2011 to N642 million in 2012. The appreciable recovery of the capital market and pricing of money market instruments enhanced the ability of your company to maximise returns from our quoted equities and cash portfolios within the year,” he added.

From left: Commissioner of Insurance/CEO National Insurance Commission, Accra,Ghana, Miss Lydia Lariba Bawa and Founder West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) Prof. Joe Erukwu, during WAICA Educational Conference in Lagos.

from N2 billion in the preceding year to N2.2 billionin in the year under review, representing an increase of 13 per cent. The underwriting profit also increased by N274.2 million from N786.1 million to N1billion, as adjusted, using the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS). Chairman, Regency Alliance, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, who made this known at the firm’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos, said management expenses increased by eight per cent in the review period when compared with that of last year. He said dividend was not recom-

mended owing to the accumulated deficit in the retained earnings. He said the contribution of the subsidiaries to the groups’ profit after tax, after deducting what is attributable to non-controlling interests, increased from N9.3 million in 2011 to N38.6 million in 2012. He said: “In line with the decision of the Federal Government, significant public interest entities and companies listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange were mandated to prepare their financial statements in line with the IFRS which replaced the statement of accounting standards which were issued by the defunct Nigeria Accounting Standards Board.’’

Ahmed is CIIN DG

HE Governing Council, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria has appointed Mr. Kolawole Raheem Ahmed as Director-General (DG). In a statement, the body said Ahmed is assuming the position after running the secretariat in an Acting capacity, following the retirement of Mr Adegboyega Adepegba. Ahmed joined the professional body as Deputy Director-General, a position he assumed in April, 2012 in line with the policy of the Governing Council to engender a succession plan. He became Acting DG on Tuesday, August 13, this year on the pronouncement of the institute’s Council and started the dawn of a new era in the administration of the institute’s secretariat. The Governing Council on Tuesday, November 12, confirmed Ahmed as DG. Ahmed holds a 1981 Bachelors in Insurance of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). He has capped this with a Mas-

• Ahmed

ters of Business Administration obtained in 2001 from the Lagos State University (LASU). An Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, United Kingdom, Ahmed became a Fellow of the institute 2006. He was in 2007 awarded the Fellowship of CIIN Ahmed’s career spans over 30 years. It started in 1981 at Hogg Robinson Nigeria where he got his first employment after his National Youth Service (NYSC) assignment.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

BUSINESS JOBS

• Youth Corps members

The subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme Fund (SURE-P) is being channelled into job creation for graduates under a special arrangement with companies. The initiative opens a window of opportunity for jobless graduates, AKINOLA AJIBADE reports.

SURE-P raises hope on jobs for youths C

AN the Federal Government solve the unemployment problem? How far can its initiatives go in creating jobs and improving the economy? These are some of the posers to be unravelled in the battle to check unemployment. Last week, the government launched the ‘Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS),’ to address youth unemployment. A product of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), the scheme is designed to build graduates’ skills by ensuring

that they go for one-year internship programme in designated companies. Also, the companies are expected to employ the interns, once they are satisfied with their performance. Firms that have signed up to the programme include, Dangote Group, Dana Group, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Chi Pharmaceuticals, Heir Holdings, Lafarge Cement and West African Portland Cement (WAPCO). Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Keystone Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) are also involved in

the scheme. Also within the SURE-P net are Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services, Community Services Scheme (CSS), Vocational Training Scheme, Community Services, Women and Youth Employment (CSWYE) and others. The GIS, however, remains the joker because of its capacity to help in tackling unemployment. At a media sensitisation workshop on the scheme in Lagos, the Project Director, GIS, Peter Papka, said its goal is to enhance the employability of at least 50,000 unem-

ployed graduates in the 36 states including Abuja. Over 120,000 graduates, he said, had registered with the scheme so far, while 3,000 firms have agreed to take them for intership. Papka said: “Apart from a few large companies and organisations that have taken over the graduates for internship, most of our partners are Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs). There is, therefore, the need to sensitise more •Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

JOBS

SURE-P raises hope on jobs for youths

• From left: Sure-P representative, Mr Colet Odenigbo; Mr Maikori and Mr. Adegbe at the workshop in Lagos. •Continued from page 37

companies to join the scheme so that more unemployed graduates can be gainfully engaged. “As part of the sensitisation efforts, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala has conducted an interactive session with captains of industry and chief executives of major local and international companies, advocacy visits were also paid to firms in major cities. Sensitisation events have been held in 27 states so far, with over 5,000 firms reached, many have been registered.” He said graduates were required to register online, stating their resume, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates, age, referees, among other information. Also, the Convener, CSWYE, Audu Maikori, said the scheme was meant for

graduates of between 18 and 40 in order to improve their job prospects. He said those within the 40 years age bracket were strong, productive, and could easily meet targets, hence the decision to peg the interns’ age at 40. Maikori said graduates would go for one year internship in companies partnering with the scheme, adding that the companies have the right to employ them or ask them to go upon completion of the internship. Graduates that are not employed after the programme, he said, would be advised to go for an entrepreneurship programme introduced by SURE-P. “Under the entrepreneurship project, graduates are allowed to choose and operate in areas of their competence. They would be taught how to start and grow businesses, bringing in new ideas, and improving on the old ones for

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

growth,” he added. Another area where the graduates’ service would be needed, he said, was agriculture, noting that the sector contributes to the nation’s Gross Domestic roduct. He said the government would welcome ideas that are meaningful and capable of providing jobs for people. The Head of Operations, GIS, Akubo Adegbe, said the implementation of the scheme was in three stages of employer, graduate and Project Implementation Unit (PIU). Under the employer category are issues such as registration of companies, intern request, intern skills assessment/development, entrepreneurship plan and others. The graduate stage provides rooms for online registration of school leavers, verification and opening of accounts where his/her monthly stipend of N25,000 would be paid into and others.

The PIU stage deals with employer verification, intern verification and account opening and monthly stipend of interns. He said companies interested in partnering with the scheme must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and have the capacity to keep the graduates for one year. Distress companies, he added, would not be allowed to partner with the scheme. The distressed firms, he said, were known upon investigation by their profitability base, working conditions, and other indices. Companies that breached the law, he said, were required to withdraw from the scheme, adding that breaches can be in different forms. “For instance, if companies decide to take part of the N25,000 monthly stipend the government has agreed to pay the interns, such organisations would not be allowed to continue with the scheme. Some companies may be deducting, let’s say, N10,000 or more from their interns’ salary. Things like this can happen. When it happens, the firms would be delisted from the scheme However, we have not experienced things like this before.” He said companies whose names were delisted from the scheme stood the risk of losing the fiscal incentives promised them by the government. Companies in the GIS, he said, would enjoy tax waivers, among other incentives, adding that they have compensation package agreed with them by the government. He said the project was sustainable, stressing that the government has adopted measures, such as, tax incentives, good policy framework, and strong team to drive it. The project, he said, would not be like others which the government launched in the past without result. The government through the Ministry of Finance, he said, had taken it upon itself to fight unemployment. Some years ago, the government launched the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to check unemployment. The programme allows graduates to learn a vocation of their choice. Though it has created jobs for many, it has not reduced unempoyment. Will the GIS be better? Time will tell.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Developing HR policy for Armed Forces

VERY organisation must have a human resources (HR) policy which are principles established to guide and define the terms of engagement between individual members of the Armed Forces and the institution. According to Wikkipedia, the military has active duty personnel in three armed services, totaling approximately 200,000 troops and 300,000 paramilitary personnel. This is indeed an impressive number which is significantly reflective of Nigeria’s position as the most populous black nation. Such a massive aggregation of people would definitely benefit from a codified set of systems and principles which allows it to demonstrate to both internal and external stakeholders that it meets best practice requirements for diversity, equity as well as its commitment to fairness in relation to promotions and other such reward mechanisms, retrenchments, retirements, etc. Section 217 (e) of the Nigerian Constitution states that “The composition of the officer corps and other ranks of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall reflect the federal character of Nigeria.” However, how has the Nigerian Armed

By Lucas Chikezie

Forces fared in this regard since inception? The Nigerian Armed Forces started as the Royal West African Frontier Force and in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces, RWAFF. Another major milestone occurred in 1956 when the colonial government took over the Nigerian Armed Forces and indeed the headship of the three main branches, the Army, Air force and Navy reflected the colonial domination. The pioneer Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army was MajorGeneral Kenneth G Exham who served in this capacity between 1956-1960. He was succeeded by two more colonial officers, Major General Foster and Major-General (Sir) Christopher Welby-Everard. It was not until five years after full independence in 1965, that an indigenous officer, Major-General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, from the Eastern part of Nigeria, became the most senior officer in the Nigerian army. Ironically, it would take about 40 years for another army officer of

Eastern origin to head the Nigerian Army. Most of the Chiefs of Army Staff, beginning with Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon in 1969 were either from the Northern part of the country or the West. Captain William Francis Skutil was the first head of the Nigerian Navy and during his tenure (19561958), he was widely acclaimed as a man of action and dynamism. Another colonial officer, Commodore A.R Kennedy led the Nigerian Navy for six years between 19581964 before Vice-Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey became the first indigenous officer in March 1964. A renowned officer, statesman and diplomat, Vice-Admiral Wey effectively discharged his responsibilities with great astuteness and fortitude, especially during the critical period of the Nigerian Civil war. Since Vice-Admiral Wey, Rear Admiral Nelson Bossman Soroh held sway between 1973-1975 and for the next eight years, the Nigerian Navy was under the leadership of officers from the Western part of Nigeria, Vice-Admiral Michael Ayinde Adelanwa (19751980) and Vice-Admiral Akin Aduwo (1980-1983). Until the ap-

pointment of the current Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Dele Ezeoba who is from Delta State, most of the Chiefs of Naval Staff have hailed from the South Western part of Nigeria. For the first six years after independence, the Nigerian Air force was led by first, Colonel G. Katz (1963-1965) and then Colonel W. Timmings who headed the Air Force for only a year (1965-1966). The first indigenous Air Force Chief was Brig-Gen G. T Kurubo from Rivers State (1966-1967) and he was followed by Colonel Shittu Alao who served for two years (1967-1969). The longest serving Air Force Chiefs were Brig E.E Ikwe from the Middle Belt(1969-1975) and Air Marshall Ibrahim Alfa (1984-1990) and AVM Yisa-Doko (1975-1980). Air Marshall Alfa was also the first to attain the position of Air Marshall in the history of the Nigerian Air Force. The Nigerian Armed Forces has over the years participated in national and international military exercises notable among which was the civil war which lasted between 1967-1970. Also notable were the Peace-keeping initiatives in Liberia and Sierra

Leone under the auspices of the United Nations and Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) respectively. Like any professional institution, the Armed Forces is very focused on training and upgrading the capabilities of its personnel. The Nigerian Army has at least three excellent training bases including the National War College in Abuja, the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. The Nigerian Air Force Training School is located in Jos while the Nigerian Navy has a more panNigerian outlook in terms of its training facilities. As the Nigerian Armed Forces continues its progression to higher levels of professionalism, it would be auspicious to define its human resource policy and align same with present and future objectives of this important institution by ensuring a greater balance and equity in its reward systems. Prof Chikezie is a USbased policy analyst

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

EMPOWERMENT CLINIC with

Enhancing performance with high expectations

porate results, it is a truism that those in management positions have the onerous task of setting their priorities right as well as setting high expectations. It should be noted that what you expect is what you get. In other words, high expectations lead to high performance, while low expectations lead to low performance. In spite of this principle, leaders and managers find it so difficult to apply this fundamental principle in the business world today. Probably their (in)action is due to ignorance.

GOKE ILESANMI

CONOMIC performance is the basic function and contribution of any business enterprise, and the major purpose of its establishment. To achieve economic performance and results, a lot of (hard) work is required, and the work has to be thought through and done with direction, method and purpose. Peter Drucker, a renowned business management consultant says to make any business effective, the executive can start with a model of the “ideal business” that would produce maximum results from available markets and knowledge; maximise opportunities by focusing the available resources on the most attractive possibilities; and maximise resources so that those opportunities are found that endow the available high-quality resources with the greatest possible impact.

High expectations

To be able to achieve great cor-

Self-fulfilling prophecy triangle

When executives see themselves as solely responsible for the overall success of their organisations, subordinates can hardly be blamed for acting according to predictions. In the words of Paul Thornton, a consultant, assistant professor of business administration and author of “The Triangles of Management and Leadership”, “My math teacher set high standards and was very demanding. My English teacher was the opposite. He expected very little from his students. For the most part, student performance matched teacher expectations. The self-fulfilling prophecy maintains that ‘what you expect is what you get’. High expectations lead to high performance; low expectations lead to low performance.”

Research

Research has shown that the three parts of the self-fulfilling prophecy triangle include assumptions; manager/leader ex-

pectations and behaviour; and employee reactions. At this analytical juncture, let us have a look at these three parts.

Assumptions

As regards assumptions, Douglas McGregor, a social psychologist, proposes Theory X and Y in his masterpiece “The Human Side of Enterprise”. Theory Z was developed by William Ouchi in his book “Theory Z: How American Management Can Meet the Japanese Challenge”. Each theory starts with a set of assumptions about people. Theory X assumes the average worker dislikes work and attempts to avoid it; prefers to be directed; avoids responsibility; and wants security above all else. Theory Y assumes the average worker finds work fulfilling and enjoyable; is self directed to meet objectives if he/she is committed to them; seeks and accepts responsibility; and wants to learn, grow and develop. Theory Z assumes the average worker is loyal; can be trusted; is able to handle freedom in doing his/her job; and is interested in teamwork.

Expectations and behaviour of managers

As regards expectations and behaviour of managers, research has confirmed that the assumptions managers make about their employees influence what they expect and how they treat them.

According to Thornton, “For example, if I assume people are lazy, irresponsible and unmotivated, I will assign tasks on a piece-meal basis and micromanage. In addition, I will frequently criticise their work and tell people they are lazy and irresponsible.” On the other hand, if you assume people are smart, motivated, responsible, and eager to learn, you will provide challenging assignments, freedom to do their jobs, and frequent coaching. Also, you will periodically praise their accomplishments and affirm your belief in their talents and abilities.

Reactions of employees

As far as reactions of employees are concerned, research shows that employees tend to respond positively to a manager’s high expectations and confidence in their abilities. If you expect people to be “winners” and treat them like “winners,” very soon they start to act like “winners”. As people achieve assigned goals, they are given more responsibilities for growth and development. The opposite is also true. If a manager’s expectations are low, employee productivity is likely to be poor. More often than not, people do what they think they are expected to do.

Academic environment

Dr. Glenn Latham, former professor at Utah State University,

was recognised as an expert in the behavioural sciences, particularly in family and school settings. He did some interesting research on how teachers’ behaviour influences student behaviour. In some classrooms, he found students were hardworking, cheerful and well mannered; in others students were lazy, sullen and poor-mannered. On the reason for the difference, Latham submits thus, “There are many contributing factors, but I believe the major one may be the ratio of positive to negative interactions between the teacher and student. The higher ‘P/N Ratio’ the better the atmosphere in the classroom, the better students behave, and the more they learn.”

Addition

In some classrooms, the average P/N ratio was one to four. In other words, teachers typically interacted with students in negative ways four times as often as they interacted in positive ways. Latham taught many teachers how to be more positive with students. Increasing the “P/N Ratio” to say 10/1 had a marked effect on the emotional tone of the classroom and the students had increased academic success. In this case teachers were coached to change their behaviour which resulted in better student performance. To be continued PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details. Till we meet on Wednesday.

WORKPLACE MATTERS

Why firms should keep accurate employee records

NE of the tasks that organisations need to take seriously is the accurate handling of employee records. It is necessary or even compulsory for organisations to maintain and update an employment file on every employee at least for organisational and legal purposes. In short, documentation of employee performance and conduct is a critical function for effective managers today. Keeping employee files allows organisations to keep credentials and reviews at their fingertips. It also allows organisations to present information to one another quickly. Many firms need to share employee data among departments - accounting and human resources, for example and files are the ideal way to do that.

Experts

Experts like Susan Corey, a workforce development manager for the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance submit that in today´s computer age, many companies choose to keep files electronically or in databases, but plain manila folders still work well in many cases. This implies that you can use whatever is most comfortable for you - and most likely to make you keep your employment folders up-to-date.

Organisation

When organising your employee folders, try and keep the information in order by date, beginning with the workers’ curriculum vitae and references, and

By Goke Ilesanmi

an employment application letter. Also, keep the original job description for each new employee and create room to note any changes in responsibilities over the coming months and years. This strategy will make it easy for both an organisation and the employees to track how the position and skill set required for the position have changed. According to human resource experts like Denise Bissonnette, an author, this part of the employment file should also include the date set for the first performance evaluation and once that takes place, a written review should be added. Organisations need to keep all such reviews, just in case and they may be called upon someday to justify a firing or a bad review.

Research

Research shows that if your company offers health benefits, you will need to keep copies of any paperwork on those plans that an employee has filled out. This is because health care paperwork contains, especially sensitive information and it is smart to keep it separate from all other types of employee paperwork, in a folder with tighter access control. Keeping good records also means creating standard forms for things you will do all the time with every employee. You will need a standard form for salary increases, another for performance reviews and another for disciplinary ac-

tions.

Contents

These forms should all include the following basic information: name, starting date and job title; date of the review or action, as well as what action is being taken; names of any other coworker involved in the action; specific questions to answer during a review, with a good scale to judge progress; additional space to set new goals and priorities; room for signatures of everyone involved to sign when the form is completed, etc., advises AllBusiness. You must make a copy of all forms that an employee signs for his or her personal records, and by law, employees are entitled to a copy of anything that they sign, and they can request to see anything in their files.

Maintaining manager disk files

Keeping an accurate record of an employee’s work history is necessary for performance management, employee career development, and compensation, discipline, and termination decisions. According to Barrie Gross, a human resource development expert, “Two key questions that often arise are ‘What should be in that documentation?’ and ‘Where should it be maintained?’” Managers should write down notes of conversations with employees about their performance and/or conduct, and these notes

should be written on the same day that conversations take place. Gross asserts that even if the conversation is not about formal discipline or part of the formal performance management process, some notes on the conversation are appropriate. Notes should always include the date, the manager’s name and title, the employee’s name and title, and what has been said. Gross says editorial comments and characterisation are not helpful; the notes should be factual.

Factual notes

If a manager meets with an employee to deliver a written form of discipline, the disciplinary document alone is not a sufficient record of the issues. Factual notes about the content of the conversation between the manager and employee when the document was delivered are critical. And the same is true of meetings to deliver performance reviews. Experts stress that the additional documentation of what was said, and by whom, can help a manager track performance issues and will help protect the company in the event of litigation at a later date.

Reinforcement

Research shows that many times, managers will have ‘casual’ conversations with employees about a performance issue that is not considered disciplinary. Rather, the manager has noticed an issue that he or she wants to bring to the employee’s attention by just getting together for a few minutes in the manag-

er’s office. Unfortunately, most managers will not make notes of these kinds of conversations because they are not considered ‘serious’. But later, if the performance issue continues and harsher action needs to be taken, there is absence of a record showing that the manager has had ongoing communication with an employee on that very topic, illuminates Gross.

Hidden benefit and company policies

Alternatively, the casual conversations could be about something positive. Perhaps the employee performed particularly well on a project or received kudos from another employee or client. Those conversations should also be recorded. As regards where all such notes should be maintained, experts say you can start by looking at the company’s policies. Most companies have a centralised system for keeping personnel files. •GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Certified Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant. Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425 Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

BUSINESS

How auto industry masterplan can work The automobile industry has suffered the plague of policy reversals over the years. President, Automobile Association of Nigeria and Chairman, National Authority on Motorsport, Otuka Anyasi, shows the way to achieve a Nigerian car in this open letter to the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga.

OUR new automobile industry masterplan is good news to Nigeria. The old masterplan that ushered in vehicle assembly plants into the Nigerian economy in 1975 came with great expectations. The great expectation then was that automobile technology would be transferred through advancement of skills of Nigerians working in the plants and the said technology indigenised through the Nigerians. Forty years after, Nigerians are still expecting, hoping and waiting for the blessed indigenised automobile technology. It did not occur then to the military government and its advisers who signed the treaties with foreign automobile makers, co-owners of the assembly plants, that automobile technology has no similarity with brick industry technology. While the brick industry technology remains almost static and unchanging, the automobile technology on the other hand is dynamic and changes everyday at break-neck speed and under constant competitive challenges. There are new innovations and inventions everyday in the motor industry and a new model is introduced every year by each producer. Up till today, this phenomenon appears to continue to mystify the Nigerian government. It is like the masquerade, to watch it you have to follow it. You have to move. Of course, we have always demonstrated that we are aware and conscious of the importance and benefits of the motor industry to our defence and security industries and our economic diversification efforts from petroleum as well as to our social-well being as your Excellency rightly enumerated in your press briefing. The 4 million employment opportunities with its huge spill-over benefits, the advanced manufacturing opportunities and the enormous domestic market still growing and lying lame to foreign exploiters and so forth. We have always known all these. The question Honourable Minister, is whether we now know why the assembly plants on which Nigeria spent billions of dollars collapsed so hopelessly without leaving anything at all for the Nigerians. Peugeot Automobile in Kaduna, Volkwagen at Ojo town, Fiat in Kano, Styre in Bauchi, Mercedes Benz in Enugu and the still-born Isuzu in Maiduguri, Toyo Kygyo in Umuahia, Mitshibushi in Ilorin, Nissan in Minna and the motorcycle plants that all went with the wing. To most Nigerians, it’s as if this immense waste happened only yesterday. What did the Obasanjo administration, Shagari administration and the IBB adminis-

tration got wrong as regard the automobile industry that the Ebele Jonathan administration now has answer to? Have we asked ourselves what are in the emerging motor industries in India, Brazil, China and South Africa (all those countries you listed) that were not in Nigeria’s failed motor industries. Thirdly, have we asked ourselves what were in the Peugeot Automobile France, Mercedes Benz Germany and Volkswagen Germany that were not in the Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria, Volkswagen of Nigeria and Mercedes Benz of Nigeria. Interestingly, the answer is the same for the two above questions, namely what are in the emerging vehicle producing nations that are not in Nigeria, as well as what are in the mother plants of Peugeot, Beetle, and Mercedes in France and Germany that were never in Kaduna, Ojo town and Enugu assembly plants. What Brazil, China, South Africa and even other countries which are just beginning to think of joining the world automobile club such as Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian nations have in common is heavy investment in motor sport, not at all as leisure but rather as hard headed investments in automobile technology research. In Nigeria, when we hear of ‘sport,’ we conclude it is football. Well, the rest of the world do not think so when it comes to motor sport. Elsewhere in the world, motorsport is both the basic automobile technology apprenticeship system and the ultimate automobile technology incubator. Both Peugeot Automobile and Volkswagen knew that the omission of motorsport in the assembly plants treaties was fatal to Nigerian government’s expectations; they tried to make amend but it was too late, besides the mandarins in the Ministry of Industry did not want to know. Facilities for motorsport abound in Nigeria. Vehicles are imported duty free for motorsports; Fidelity Bank Plc issues bonds for importation of motorsports vehicles duty free; we have Nigeria National Motor Rally, the Argungu Motor Rally, the Bar Beach Rally and the Driver of the Year Contest. Details of these can be seen at www.aa-autoclub.com. Motor sport is the missing link in Nigeria’s ambition to acquire automobile technology and indigenise it. We must not ‘miss road’ again! Motor sport must be at the heart of the new masterplan for it to work. Actually, nothing is new in Nigeria’s quest for indigenous automobile industry. The military which set up the assembly plants had dream of four million job industry that would divert attention from petroleum in-

• Continued from page 25

not find anything. In the case of religious organisations, they collect all kinds of funds, some are tithes and offerings. They ought to account for these funds, for each stakeholder, including the government which granted them registration certificates to operate with. So, government is to be aware of how you are using funds to meet the objective for which you are set up. “Because if there is a problem it isthe government the people will hold responsible, not

dustry, satisfy the huge demands for vehicles and enable our diplomats to drive Nigerian cars in world capital cities. Obasanjo demonstrated government’s commitment by riding in Peugeot cars assembled in Kaduna. By the time Dr. Ishmael Igbani tried to make motorsport a permanent part of the motor industry, Shagari regime was overthrown. Then came IBB’s Industry Minister, General Akinrinade who pulled out all steps to produce the Nigerian car. He even applied the fire brigade approach. General Akinrinade shared out responsibilities among those known to have been involved with the Nigerian car dream, Proda of Enugu was commissioned to convert defunct Biafran flame thrower to utility vehicle, Kwara Polytechnic was to produce a three wheeler, Ahmadu Bello University was to produce gear box, other items in the production line were similarly assigned by the minister to interested institutions and individuals. At the end of the day, Nigeria returned to square one. There have also been various individual efforts to produce the ‘Nigerian Car.’ Nothing excites Nigerians more than the dream of a Nigerian car. From Ezekiel Izuogu of Imo State to Prof Ayodele Awojobi of the University of Lagos, the race has been simultaneously on and at a stand still. At best, each contestant produced just one piece of car. The reason all attempts failed was due to the fact that automobile technology is a dynamic concept. It is not for the armchair guru. There are new inventions everyday in the automobile world. This phenomenon is best illustrated in the profile of the Nigerian national Motor Rally at www.aa-autoclub.com. It is designed for automobile and mechanical engineers as well as students of technical colleges, and all those involved in the automobile industry, battery producers, parts and accessory producers, mechanics, fitters, welders and advanced vehicle producers to rub shoulders and learn from one another and also perfect their inventions, old parts and accessories or adapt them for the Nigerian roads and weather conditions. The government must not patronise motor companies that do not demonstrate keen interest in the future of Nigeria’s automobile industry by taking active part in Nigerian Motor sport. Government investments in research must include investment in motor sport companies and institutions that invest in motorsports should enjoy tax relief. Motor sport holds the secrets of the automobile industry all over the world. Nigeria

• Anyasi cannot be an exception, even though we seem bound to pedestrian approach. We hear of the great Indianapolis races, formula one, two and three races and their Grand Prix, the motor rallies, the hill climbs, the endurance tests and the demolition Derbys. They are the tested and universally accepted processes of automobile technology acquisition, the automobile technology apprenticeship system and the technology incubator process. What participants learn from the motorsport process are usually well kept trade secrets that no one can divulge except to their employers. The knowledge they gain from motorsport is what puts them ahead of other competitors in the global race. There is a new model every year courtesy of new inventions through motorsport. It is the duty of those who desire automobile technology to get involved in the process. No one else can get it for Nigeria. Only Nigerians can develop Nigeria. Before India began to produce vehicles, for over 20 years, they were always at the Kenya Safari Rallies where they met and competed against Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, Peugeot and all the great car manufacturers of this world. One does not wake up one morning and go on to produce millions of cars. He needs the know-how and that is what motorsport is all about. It’s hoped that by 2020 when the Nigerian President goes to visit the US President, he will be chauffeured in a wholly made-in-Nigeria Limousine. President Goodluck Jonathan is a man brought out and ordained by God to break the yoke that has held Nigeria back from credible performance all these years. He has done it in the economy and in food production too. He has also done it in the power sector; he is doing it in sports. He will give Nigeria a viable motor industry that will compete with any in the world.

Unified Code of Good Corporate Governance coming, says FRC

Obazee clarified what FRC expects of ‘NotFor-Profit organisations. He said: Financial reporting for Not-ForProfit organisations, is nothing new under the globe. Its something that countries in transition, or developed countries, must have a structure for. Not-For-Profit companies are registered by guarantee, which is non-transferable-interest by those who established it. They cannot say this entity is transferable from me to my child. It is only limited by guarantee, and so there are no shares. It has no proprietary right, it’s an institution of public interest. You set up that, not for profit. It is expected that all stakeholders, including government, that at the end of every financial year, you prepare financial statement. If you object to doing that, government will not register the entity at all. ‘’It is a condition precedent before they are accorded registration. We want to see the accountability from that angle, and how you are meeting the objective for which you were set up. ‘’But if you that are set up for notfor- profit, acquires an oil licenses, that oil company will be treated as a not for profit organisation, it would be taxed.” Those that are charitable organisations, you prepare account so that government can see accountability in their ability to assist the government carry out national planning. In the case of quoted companies, you can see the figures, but in case of non-for-profit organisations you can-

the promoters of the religious group. Other than that the audited account of the religious body ought to be read to all its members for approval. So, it’s purely transparency and accountability.” He said government wants to ensure that the objectives of the entities are met, and they can appeal to donor agencies to support them. He said the organisations can even push for their members to get tax rebates on the 10 per cent tithes that they pay, “that is how it works

internationally. You earned your salary, and it was taxed. You further took 10 per cent of that salary and paid it out for charitable activity. The government was supposed to take the tax that was taken from that money and refund it to you,” he said, adding that FRC’s insistence on documenting these payments is strictly for accountability, and not for tax purposes. The FRC is not a tax arm of thegovernment, it’s the Federal Inland Revenue Service that does that, he said.

(“Blue Diamond”). Blue Diamond is a branch office of a Dubai corporation by the same name. It is located in Guangdong Province in China. The legal representative of the company in Nigeria is Ngozi Maryjane Mbisiogu. The letter had the official corporate seal of Blue Diamond. The owner of the factory stated that the counterfeit clippers were ordered by Blue Diamond. Bob Thomas, Global Special Projects Manager of Wahl Clipper said: “Sale and distribution of counterfeit clippers are criminal activities. Wahl hired an independent laboratory to test two counterfeit clippers from Nigeria. The laboratory determined that the use of the clippers would be dangerous. The clippers did not meet standards established by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. The counterfeit clippers seized in the raid did not have the SONCAP certificate as required by the Standards Organisation of Ni-

geria. The SONCAP certificate assures basic safety standards of electric products.” International Organiations involved in attacking the problem of counterfeit products have voiced concern about the business behind the production and sale of the counterfeits. According to Interpol, the international police organisation: “A clear link has been established between the trafficking of illicit good and transnational organised crime.” The United Nations has reported: “The production and sale of counterfeit goods is a global, multi-billion dollar problem and one that has serious economic and health ramifications for Governments businesses and consumers. Counterfeiting is everywhere – it can affect what we eat, what we watch, what medicines we take and what we wear – and all too often the link between fake goods and transnational organised crime is overlooked.”

Wahl Corporation raids fake China firm

AHL Clipper Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of hair clippers and trimmers said it has conducted a successful raid on a manufacturer of counterfeit Wahl clippers in Yongkang, China. The raid, performed by agents of the Economic Inspection Brigade of the Yongkang Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Jinghua Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce, and officials of the Yongkang Public Security Bureau successfully confiscated counterfeit Wahl clippers in a factory in Yonkang, China. Over 10,000 counterfeit Wahl clippers were seized by the agents while raiding Yongkang Wonderful Electrical Appliance Company. Also seized in the raid was a fraudulent authorisation letter signed by a Festus U. Mbisiogu of Blue Diamond Freight LLC China

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

125TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO. ast Wednesday 20th November, 2013 (17th Muharram, 1435 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and twenty-fourth (124th) sitting under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The sitting was dedicated to those qualified Kano State indigenous students sponsored for studies in various universities abroad. At that meeting, Council acknowledged the return of its Chairman, the Governor from a working visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and the Middle East undertaken with the sole purpose of monitoring the performance of a cross section of the over 1,500 Kano State indigenous students sponsored for studies abroad. During the visit from 15-20 November 2013 to the United Kingdom (UK) the Chairman met twenty (20) State sponsored students undergoing Postgraduate Studies in various courses. In addition, the Governor visited twenty-five (25) students reading Marine Engineering in the country. He also visited fourteen (14) teachers selected from the State Science Technical Schools Management Board who are undergoing training at Bradford University, UK. Thus, in the UK he met fifty-nine (59) Kano State indigenous citizens sponsored by the State to undergo various courses. After receiving "ZAFAA" award as the 2013 Best Governor for his contribution/commitment for "Educational Advancement and Youths Empowerment', awarded by the African Film Festival Organizers, the Chairman proceeded to Amman, Jordan, where he met the 100 State sponsored students receiving Pilot training at the Mideast Aviation Academy. In the same country, he met another set of 56 sponsored students who were among the 501 batch studying at Jordan University of Science and Technology, IRBIT. In continuation of his working visit, the Governor visited Dubai, UAE, where he met the ten (10) State sponsored students undergoing Postgraduate training. Thus, 225 sponsored students studying abroad were met during this working visit of 15 -20 November 2013. Concurrently, the Governor had meeting with the Management of Skipper Electricals Ltd, Dubai, who were awarded the contract for the construction of a hydroelectric power station at Challawa Gorge Dam and Tiga Dam since the project will commence soon. As usual, Council proceeded with its one hundred and twenty-fifth (125th) sitting but not without reviewing the approvals given for the execution of projects and policies at the 124th sitting. The 124th sitting received and deliberated on forty-five (45) memoranda from seven (7) MDAs among which Council approved twenty-four (24) for execution with an expenditure of One Billion, Five Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Eighty Seven Kobo (N1,512,409,513.87) covering twenty (20) projects. Thus, the hundred and twenty-fifth (125th) sitting of the Kano State Executive Council today Wednesday 27thNovember, 2013 (17th Muharram, 1435 AH) is as usual presided by Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Eight (8) MDAs submitted nineteen (19) memoranda for deliberation by Council among which twelve (12) were approved for execution with an expenditure of One Hundred and Twenty Six Million, Two Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifteen Naira, Fifty Three Kobo (N126,217,315.53) covering seven (7) projects. Thus:

1. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Council deliberated on the four (4) memoranda submitted from the Ministry of Education and approved only one (1) for execution. Thus: Request for Funds for the Construction/Furnishing of Four (4) Classrooms at Na'ibawa Primary School in Kumbotso LGCA:The contents of this memorandum informed Council about the deplorable condition of Na'ibawa Primary School in Kumbotso Local Government area. The School has been experiencing serious flooding every raining season, which affects teaching and learning. Usually, the School compound got submerged whenever there is heavy rainfall for days as there is no proper drainage within or in the neighbourhood. This leads to the closure of the School during rainy season thereby affecting School calendar. The presentation reminded Council of its directive for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to propose permanent solution for the yearly flooding of the said School. Proposition was submitted for the demolishing and construction of 4 number storey Kwankwasiyya blocks in addition to the compact laterite filling and the erection of a wall fence to safeguard the compound. This explains the reasons behind the submission of this memorandum. The proposed demolishing of the existing structures and the construction of the new storey blocks was estimated at the sum of N97,463,687.45. Council deliberated on the significance of such a project and approved the request for the execution of the project at the stated sum. 2. MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND BUDGET Both memoranda submitted from the Ministry of Planning and Budget were approved for execution by Council as follows; a) Request for Funds for the 2014 Budget Exercise:Budget preparation exercise is an annual event undertaken in order to produce a realistic budget in accordance with international practice. The State Ministry of Planning and Budget presented to Council, through the contents of this memorandum that activities for the preparation of the year 2014 annual budget are already in full progress, which instigated forwarding the request for the release of the sum of N15,522,500.00 for the purpose. The request was considered relevant as Council approved the release of the sum of N15,522,500.00 to the Ministry of Planning and Budget for the preparation of the year 2014 annual budget for Kano State. b) Presentation of the Review/Amendment of Approved 2013 Budget:The Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Planning and Budget notified Council, through the contents of this memorandum that the final draft of the 2013 proposed supplementary estimates/amendment is ready for consideration/deliberation and transmission to the State House of Assembly for passage into Law. The proposed Budget Amendment becomes necessary in view of the need to sharpen the focus of the budget to deliver on its priority projects within the State current resources. Fundamentally, the budget review/amendment exercise was designed to address the following four (4) key issues: o The need to appropriate the 2013 provision of stabilization fund. o The need to provide for the 10% and 5% increase in the allowances of Tertiary Institutions and Health Workers respectively. o The need to provide for projects already started. o The need to formalize certain expenditure incurred out of exigencies and to absorb those undertaken through treasury loan. In this vein, the total size of the proposed budget review/amendment was presented to Council for consideration to the tune of N26,108,374,277.00 to be sourced from the existing budget estimate. Hence, some budgetary provisions from both the recurrent and capital estimates had to be stepped down or mopped to raise sufficient savings to address new priorities. Therefore, the proposed budget review/amendment would be funded from the following three (3) broad sources:

i. Stabilization fund N1,000,000,000.00 ii. Savings from Recurrent Expenditure N4,198,142,000.00 iii. Savings from Capital Projects N20,910,232,277.00 Total N26,108,374,277.00 With this, the expenditure profile was presented to Council as follows: o Personnel Costs N5,517,309,000.00 o Overhead Costs N1,418,025,000.00 o Capital Expenditure N19,173,040,277.00 Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso Total N26,108,374,277.00 As such, the fund to be sourced from the three (3) sources as reviewed/amended and the reviewed expenditure profile equal to the same total of N26,108,374,277.00. In consideration of the proposal, the Ministry of Planning and Budget submitted the following two (2) prayers for approval by Council: i. The list of affected projects and the recurrent items that had to be scaled down as well as those to be accelerated; and ii. Transmission of the 2013 proposed Budget amendments to the State House of Assembly for passage into Law. Council acknowledged the presentation and approved the execution of the two (2) prayers forwarded. 3. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT Only one (1) of the three (3) memoranda submitted on behalf of some MDAs from this Office was approved for execution. Thus: Presentation of Partnership between Kano State Investment and Properties (KSIP) Ltd. and Silverworld Integrated Development Company Ltd.:The contents of this presentation reminded Council of its deliberation on an earlier submitted memorandum on the issue cited during its sitting on 21st November, 2013. The initial presentation was on a request for Council to approve a proposal on a partnership arrangement involving the development of sixteen (16) housing units on a land owned by KSIP situated at Sokoto Road by the Silverworld Integrated Development Company Ltd. The proposal indicated that after the construction of the 16 housing units, the investor, Silverworld Integrated Development Company Ltd will take 12 units while KSIP will have 4 units or 25% on behalf of the State Government. Council directed for a renegotiation, which was carried out. This memorandum is the outcome of the renegotiation between the partners. Council was informed through the contents of the memorandum that the developer has agreed to allot five (5) or 31.25% of the sixteen (16) housing units to KSIP (on behalf of the State Government). Under the new proposal the investor will now have 11 units instead of the 12 units earlier proposed. The project will be completed within 10 - 12 months from the date the agreement was signed and the site handed over to the investor for development. The memorandum requested Council to approve the partnership between KSIP Ltd. and Silverworld Integrated Company Ltd. for the development of sixteen (16) housing units in a plot owned by the KSIP at Sokoto Road under the new arrangement. Approval was granted as requested by Council in accordance with the details presented for consideration. 4. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR/HONORABLE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Five (5) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council from this Office. Three (3) were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds for the Procurement of 100 Units of Carry - Go Tricycles for Meat Haulers under Kwankwasiyya Economic Empowerment Program:This administration came to power with the knowledge of the fact that the State is the most populous state in the federation endowed with young men and women who constitute majority of the populace most of whom are unemployed. Their efforts not withstanding to contribute towards their individual development and that of the State, the youths are pitifully unable to find work or skills to be engaged. Being the force for development and progress of any society, their potentials and talents are shattered due to unemployment and lack of skills to be self-reliant. Conscious of this situation leads to the numerous youths empowerment programs being introduced and implemented by the administration. Numerous innovative programs, such as Lafia Jari, youths training in poultry farming, animal husbandry, hotel and hospitality, etc. are being implemented to provide skills and self-employment to the teeming youths. This explains the basis for the submission of this memorandum. Council recalled that millions were expended on the training of butchers and in the provision of working tools to improve their economic development. Thus, this memorandum is a follow up to this program by looking at the other aspect of the profession; the meat haulers. Council realized that meats are being transported through unhygienic means of transportation from the Abattoir. In order to improve the hygienic side of meat hauling proposal was submitted for the procurement of a better means of transport for the haulers. SIMBA KARRY - GO Tricycles was identified as ideal for the meat haulers. After thorough investigations and discussions with the Butchers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society on the proposition to provide meat haulers with a better means of transporting meat Six (6) resolutions were arrived at as follows: i. Essence of the proposal was to empower "Meat Haulers" in Kano State by improving their ways of carrying and distributing of meat within Kano Metropolis so as to safeguard the health of the citizenry and avert occurrence of avoidable accidents. ii. To sanitize and modernize the distribution system through the procurement of 100 Units of SIMBA KARRY - GO Tricycles (New Improved 2013 Model) with carrying capacity of 450Kg to be allocated to members of the "Meat Haulers" on lease. iii. That the 100 Tricycles to be procured at the cost of N60,480,000.00 at N604,800.00 each to be granted to the beneficiaries at a 50% discount or N302,400.00. iv. That the discounted price of N302,400.00 per Tricycles includes procurement of plate numbers, painting, inscription of logo/Kwankwasiyya Economic Empowerment Program. v. That each beneficiary will be making monthly repayment of N16,800.00 at the daily rate of N560.00 over a period of eighteen (18) months, with a grace period of two (2) weeks from the date of taking

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

possession of the Tricycle. vi. That once the Tricycles begin operations, Government may immediately ban the practice of hauling meat haphazardly on carts, motorcycles, etc. Council acknowledged and approved the execution of the resolutions. b) Presentation of Kano/Jigawa and Kano/Katsina Inter - Boundary Meeting held at Africa House, Kano (Tuesday 5th - Wednesday 6th November, 2013):This memorandum informed Council on the progress made in the effort towards defining the Kano/ Katsina and Kano/Jigawa Inter-State Boundaries under the auspices of the National Boundary Commission. The presentation updated Council of the relative peace being enjoyed due to oneness of the people of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina State. Despite that there is the need to define the limit of each State's administrative jurisdiction. As of now about 95% of the boundary line between Kano/Jigawa States has been addressed while outstanding sectors are expected to be sorted out. The report indicated that the entire boundary between Kano/Jigawa was traced physically and that 7 local Government areas of Jigawa and 8 Local Government areas of Kano lie along the boundary. Despite the length of the boundary between the two States there are only 4 sectors that are designated as grey areas with a distance of between 3.3 km to 6.5km. The grey areas now await a Joint field team revisit for resolution of the differences. Specifically, nine (9) highlights were itemized for consideration by Council. The eighth (8th) item was presented as to contain four (4) issues worthy of special attention. i. That the Federal Government, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States shall respectively provide funds, 4 - Wheel Drive Vehicles and other logistics to their respective representative (s) Technical Staff deployed for the demarcation exercise. ii. That the affected LGCAs and their Traditional Rulers should embark on Public Enlightenment Campaign in the affected areas at least two (2) weeks to the commencement of the field/demarcation exercise. iii. That necessary measures required should be put in place by Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States to ensure the provision of adequate security to the joint field team during the exercise. iv. That statuesque in the areas in question shall be maintained pending the physical demarcation of the boundaries. Much more details were presented which Council acknowledged appreciatively while awaiting presentations on further developments on the issue. c) Presentation of Report on Courtesy Visit to Kano State by the Common Wealth Development Corporation (CDC):The CDC Plc. was introduced to Council, through the contents of this memorandum, as a United Kingdom (UK) based Finance Development Corporation tag - named CDC Group Plc. A delegation of the group was on courtesy call/visit to Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE and his Deputy/Honorable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments. The CDC Group Plc. was established in 1948 by the British Government to undertake activities that would encourage the economic development of countries under the erstwhile British Empire, with a view to setting a long-term benefit for the people of these countries. The Company was first started as a Colonial Development Corporation, and later renamed as Commonwealth Development and then CDC Group plc. but the vision and mission remain the same. The Company was in the State to access information/potentials of the State for possible investment. Through investment jobs will be created, which will bring economic development. Appreciating the presentation, Council directed the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Co - operatives and Tourism to report further developments on the issue. 5. MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION Presentation of Information Memorandum (IM) on the Disciplinary Action taken by the Management at Sa'adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso against Four (4) of its Staff:The Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Higher Education notified Council through the contents of this memorandum of the issue cited. Details of the gross misconduct perpetrated by the four (4) staff in question were presented to Council for consideration as including the following: o Extortion of money from Students. o Issuance of falsified/unauthorized documents. o Absenteeism. o Absconding. o Issuance of fake NCE Certificates. Categorically, two (2) of the Staff were dismissed while the appointments of the other two (2) were terminated in accordance with the Civil Service Rules. The affected officers are: Name

Department

Decision

Saidu Shehu

School of Education

Termination of Appointment

Umar Haruna

College Library

Dismissal

Tijjani Rabiu

Department of Strategic Planning

Termination of Appointment

Tasi'u Muhammed

Administration

Dismissal

Council noted the brief on the disciplinary actions taken by the Management at Sa'adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, against staff found wanting in the discharge of their official assignments and call on all heads of MDAs to sit up for effective running of their organizations. 6. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Reimbursement of 7% Import Duty Surcharged in respect of Contract for the Supply of 4000 Lengths of 600mm Ductile Iron Pipes and Fittings for Joda - Gezawa Water Pipeline Project:The contents of this memorandum reminded Council of its approval granted for the stated Contract via Executive Council Extract No. SSCA/CA/EX/21/I/85 dated 4th February, 2013 at the total cost of N1,240,205,511.97. The approved project had been executed to a stage whereby the Contractor had processed and submitted documents on having paid Import Duty to the tune of N12,531,840.00 (7% of the Contract sum) and requested for reimbursement. The request was favourably considered as Council approved the release of the requested sum of N12,531,840.00 to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable reimbursement of the 7% Import Duty paid for the importation of 4000 Lengths of 600mm Ductile Iron Pipes for the Joda - Gezawa Water Pipeline Project. 7. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT Request for Funds to Enable the Payment for Diesel (AGO) Consumed by Eight (8) Government Agencies in the Month of October, 2013:As Custodian/Supervisor to all issues connected to diesel storage and supply, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport presented details on the diesel consumed by five (5) Government Agencies in the month of October, 2013. The Agencies included the Northwest University, Kano; Corporate Security Institute, Zakirai; Fire Service; Ministry of Science and Technology and Kano Informatics Institute. Details on the quantity of diesel consumed by each of them were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N8,195,000.00 to enable the payment to the supplier. Routine nature of the request prompted approval by Council granted for the release of the requested sum of N8,195,000.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable payment to the supplier of the quantity of diesel consumed by the stated five (5) Kano State Government Agencies in the month of October, 2013. 8. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES The two (2) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources were approved for execution. Thus:

a) Presentation of Situation Report regarding the Training of 100 Youths in the Field of Tractor Operations/Maintenance Free of Charge:The contents of this memorandum responsibly reminded Council that the training cited was approved for execution in collaboration between the State Farm Mechanization Training Institute and Spring Field Agro Nigeria Ltd. Though free of charge to the 100 beneficiaries selected across the 44 LGCAs, the training had nine (9) requirements details of which were presented to Council for consideration along with the financial requirement for the aggregate sum of N6,140,000.00, which was requested for release by Council. Congruence of the training program to the empowerment policy of the present administration in Kano State, under the leadership of the second (2nd) incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE, was considered as Council granted approval for the release of the trimmed down sum of N5,000,000.00 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the provision of the nine (9) items required for the successful conduct of the stated training. b) Request for Clearance and Release of Funds to Host the 8th World Bank/FGN Supervision Mission:The Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources notified Council, through the contents of this memorandum that the Kano State Fadama III Office had been chosen to host the 8thWorld Bank/FGN Supervision Mission slated for (26th - 29th November, 2013). The Mission was scheduled to review the activities of Fadama III project and the "Road Map" on the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda" (ATA). The three (3) cardinal objectives of the mission were presented to Council for consideration as to include: o Review the status of all 650 sub- projects and forty six (46) Rural Infrastructure Projects supported by the Fadama III Project. o Monitor and review all procurement issues across all project components. o Review the readiness of Kano State Fadama III in the implementation of additional support from the World Bank. As such, Council was solicited to approve the release of the sum of N1,500,000.00 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to enable the successful hosting of the Mission's activities. Council noted, considered and approved the release of the trimmed down sum of N1,000,000.00 to the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the stated purpose. UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 125TH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1. SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP FOR THE MANAGEMENT STAFF OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED MICROFINANCE BANKS ACROSS THE STATE Council acknowledged the successful conduct of a sensitization workshop to the newly appointed Management Staff of the State established Micro-finance Banks. Council urged the participants to be honest and prudent in the discharge of their duties. 2. PRESENTATION OF THIRTY(30) KANO STATE INDIGENOUS CANDIDATES SPONSORED FOR TRAINING AT THE NIGERIAN NAVAL FORCE Council witnessed the presentation of thirty (30) Kano State Indigenous Candidates sponsored and trained as officers of the Nigerian Navy to serve the Nation. Accordingly, Council called on them to be dedicated and hardworking in their future endeavours. 3. LAUNCHING / DISTRIBUTION OF BUILDING MATERIALS TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE 44 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL AREAS IN THE STATE Council appreciated the successful launching/distribution of building materials to Community Development Associations across the 44 LGCAs in the state. Council urged them to make good use of the items. 4. 2013 / 34th KANO INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Council expressed appreciation for the wholesome business activities in progress at the 2013 Kano International Trade Fair and call upon national and International investors to participate and showcase their products. Again, Council acknowledged the conduct of ECOWAS workshop in the State to sensitize stakeholders on policies in cross border trading. 5. VISIT OF BISHOPS FROM THE SOUTH - SOUTH POLITICAL ZONE TO KANO STATE Council noted the official working visit to the State by a group of Bishops from the SouthSouth of the Country where they commended the Kano State Government for the execution of developmental projects and programs. The Bishops declared their support to the Government for its unification policy, which is improving ties between different religious and ethnic groups in the State through the establishment of the Offices of the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Special Adviser on Yoruba People, Special Adviser on Igbo people, Special Adviser on South-South and Special Adviser on Minority from the North. 6. PASSING OUT PARADE/ORIENTATION OF NYSC MEMBERS POSTED TO KANO STATE Council acknowledged the successful completion of the NYSC Orientation Camp exercise at Kusalla town in Karaye Local Government and the posting of corps members to relevant MDAs to serve. 7. OFFICIAL WORKING VISIT TO THE STATE BY THE DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS Council acknowledged the official visit by the Deputy Ambassador to the Kingdom of Netherlands during which he met the State Government officials and resolved to ensure co operation between his Country and Kano State especially in the field of Agriculture. 8. SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN KANO STATE GOVERNMENT AND BANK OF AGRICULTURE ON N2 BILLION LOAN GRANT Council witnessed the successful signing of an MoU between the State Government and the Bank of Agriculture on N2,000,000,000.00 loan grant to support youths and women economic empowerment programs across the 44 LGCAs in the State. Relatedly, Council acknowledged the successful graduation ceremony of 825 State sponsored youths and women trained on Poultry keeping, Livestock farming and Tractor operation/simple irrigation. Council urged them to utilize skills acquired appropriately for their respective economic advancement. 9. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI'U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE i. A merit award presented to the Governor by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in recognition of his contribution on healthcare delivery system in the State. ii. A "hero of our time" award to the Governor by the Rural Areas Development Association of Nigeria in appreciation of his support to rural development in Kano State. iii. The Business Times Award as Best Governor of the year 2013 on Housing developmentprojects/programs. iv.The Nigerian Film Association in conjunction with MTN honoured the Governor with an award for the establishment of the State Film Censorship Board and the establishment of Kano State Film Academy, Bagauda. v. The State Councillors' Association Award to the Governor for his support to Islamic teachings in the State.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports andCulture

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE NATION

TRANSPORTATION E-mail:ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

•An accident scene

The rising cases of accidents and the attendant deaths on the roads have, again, raised the question of safety and the need to address the human elements that have made the roads a slaughtering slab, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

T was a chilling accident scene. Though the dust might have settled and life has returned to normal, many may never get over the trauma of the sheer sight of horror. Blood flowed freely from gashing wounds of injured persons and lifeless bodies littered the scene. Victims were being hewn out of crushed metals that were once moving vehicles, several of them, unconscious. An even gorier sight was the crushed foetus, which was disemboweled as its mother was crushed to death with five others. That was the scene at the Mile 2 Bus Stop at Oshodi, Lagos State's mega bus station, on Tuesday, November 19 when a sand-laden tipper truck, with number plate Lagos JJJ 824XD, owned by The Lord's Chosen Church, which suffered a brake failure, lost control as it descended the bridge, rammed into the thickly packed bus stop, running over three vehicles and bystanders who were waiting for buses to their various destinations. Though unconfirmed reports stated that no fewer than 12 people lost their lives in the accident, the police said 11 people were involved. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Ngozi Braide, in a statement had said six yet-to-beidentified women, including the foetus, lost their lives, while five others, who were injured, were rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH). Mrs Braide further confirmed that the driver, Lawrence Nwaodu, 45, who attempted to escape, had been arrested while the truck was impounded. Other vehicles also involved in the accident were towed

How to prevent carnage on the roads to the LASTMA office at Oshodi. Barely 24 hours before that accident, a multiple accident had paralysed traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. A tanker carrying petrol had crashed into other vehicles at Magboro Junction, Ogun State, causing an inferno as the vehicles burst into flames. Though eye witnesses put the casualities at 10, the Ogun State Police claimed that only two lives were lost, while several others sustained injuries. Same day, just before noon, a truck driver on high speed ran into three school children who were crossing the very busy Ajah Road, killing one school girl instantly. Her colleagues who were luckier were immediately rushed to the hospital where they are receiving intensive treatment. An Owo bound truck lost control and ran into a salon car around Sebi area on the Akure-Ilesa Expressway. Last month, a fatal accident had claimed the life of frontline univer-

sity teacher and former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Festus Iyayi. Iyayi who was heading to Kano for the ASUU NEC meeting scheduled to reconsider the ongoing strike was killed when a vehicle in the convoy of the Kogi State Governor Captain Idris Wada, rammed into his car at Banda Village on the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway. Iyayi was ASUU President between 1986 and 1988. Wada himself escaped by the whiskers from a similar accident last year, when the vehicle he was travelling in collided with another car. Though he sustained a broken leg, he lost his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Idris Mohammed, while all the occupants of the other car also perished. Though Wada could be described as one governor with very reckless convoy drivers, he is certainly not the only state chief executive whose convoy had been involved in high profile accidents. On April 19, the

convoy of his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, was involved in a ghastly accident at Orlu, while early last year, the late Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, had killed a young orange seller on a road in Kaduna. Even as the nation was smarting from Iyayi' s death, a truck trying to avoid smashing into another convoy at the U-Turn Bus Stop, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, ran into a community woman Mrs Victoria Adeoye, 63, killing her instantly. The convoy was allegedly that of the wife of Kwara State Governor Mrs Omolewa Ahmed. Though these accidents could be classified as typical of the "expected ember months incidents," their regularity all-year round has underscored the need to address the causes of accidents on the roads. The high rate of accidents has become a major concern to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), whose aggressive campaigns at reducing these carnage,

‘Accident rate in Nigeria, ranked among the highest in the world, with 33.7 per 100,000 inhabitants yearly’

especially as we move towards year end have not yielded the desired results. The crashes have further increased the statistics on road accidents. The FRSC claimed 4,260 deaths were recorded on Nigeria roads, representing an average of 12 deaths per day, while 20, 752 injuries were recorded daily, translating to an average of 57 injuries daily. The agency said accident rate in Nigeria, ranked among the highest in the world, with 33.7 per 100,000 inhabitants yearly. Road fatalities per 100,000 motor vehicles is put at 1.041.9, compared to Zimbabwe with 14.6 and 259.4 or the United Kingdom 2.75 or 5.1, Togo 17.2 and 14,050.0, while Ghana fatality rate is 22.2 and 233. The World Health Organisation in a recent report said road traffic injuries caused an estimated 1.24 million deaths worldwide in the year 2010, down from 1.26 million in 2000. Half of all road traffic deaths are among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and adults aged between 15 and 44 years account for 59 percent of deaths. Three out of four road deaths are among men and the average rate was 18 per 100,000 people (down from 20.8 in 2000). Ninety-two percent occurred in low and middle income countries with South East Asia and Africa having the highest rates. Experts said the nation's high fatality rate is traceable to the over dependence on road as the only means of transportation for passenger and haulage traffic. Coupled with this, is the attitude of drivers and commuters as about •Continued on page 46

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

TRANSPORTATION

Charting new frontiers for integrated transportation Policy makers rose from the 13th National Council on Transport (NCT) meeting with a resolve to place the sector on a higher pedestal, writes YINKA ADERIBIGBE

VER 100 delegates from 24 state ministries of Transportation, allied ministries, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and their federal colleagues, among other stakeholders, met a fortnight ago to chart the way forward for the transportation sector. It was at the 13th National Council on Transport (NCT) meeting held at the City Hall, Igbosere, Lagos Island and the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State. Declaring the conference open on Thursday, Governor Babatunde Fashola, had urged a review of all draconian federal laws, especially concerning rail and waterways. He desscribed these as impediments to moves by states to develop capacity to address their local transportation challenges. He also proposed that the council, which is the highest advisory body on transportation, should come up with a legislation to promote private capital participation in the sector, particularly in the organisation and operation of public transportation, a development he said would be a catalyst to the economic growth. Fashola said: "We must create an environment that enables the private sector to find public transportation attractive as a business in which they can put their resources and invest their time." He said investors should be protected to earn healthy returns on their investments by regulators who must ensure that this does not translate into excessive profiteering.

• Governor Fashola (second right), Senator Umar (second left), Mr. Emodi (left) and Mr. Opeifa (right) at the meeting.

He noted that the council must have the will to sanction illegal operators of transport services, adding that anyone, particularly the paramilitary agencies who want to operate bus transport system, must do so in accordance to laid down rules and regulations. Fashola said the state's success in public transportation was recorded because an agency - Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) was established as the regulator for rail and road transporations, while the Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA) is the regulator for water transportation. Fashola, who observed that education, health and other critical sectors of the economy depend on the transportation sector, wondered how many of the delegates would entrust their children to the public transport sector which they regulate. He urged delegates to develop a public transport system that responds to the public, protects them, creates jobs, promotes economic growth and improves national safety and security.

Declaring the technical session open earlier, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa trod a similar path. Opeifa said "over legislation" has for long been the single most potent impediment to the transformation of the transport system. According to him, while the obsolete NRC Act (1955) gave the exclusive responsibility of developing railways, rail trucks and rail transportation to the Nigeria Railway Corporation, the NIWA Act and the 199 Constitution gave the Federal Government the impression of the sole authority on interstate water and air transport. Opeifa, who described transportation as the management of the processes of the free flow of goods, services, people, products, and investments, said for effectiveness, multimodal transportation must transcend the traditional moulds such as the rail, road, sea (maritime) and air to also include the pipelines systems and the management of the deployment of ICT systems to ease the cause

of transportation. He said the transformation as envisaged in the theme of this year's meeting would continue to be a mirage if all the transportation infrastructure, including pipelines as well as the telecommunications were not properly coordinated by policy makers. Opeifa, who showcased the trail blazing initiatives of the state, urged his colleagues to develop strong institutions and see the people as the nexus for their policy interventions in transportation. He said the need to protect lives and property of Lagos residents informed the initiatives: Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), the Drivers Institute (LASDRI), the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), the LASTMA, the Lagos State Plate Number Producing Agency (LASNPA) and the Lagos State Traffic Law 2012. He said the NCT should set in motion the development of a national strategic transportation masterplan

Fashola to LASTMA: focus on your primary responsibility

AGOS State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola has charged officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to focus on their statutory function of ensuring the free flow of traffic across the metropolis rather than apprehending erring motorists. He gave the charged at the induction of the new Special Traffic Mayors and meeting with LASTMA officers atAgidingbi, Ikeja. He said rather than allowing the enforcement of the law to degenerate to traffic gridlock on the highways, they should allow traffic •Continued from page 45

98 per cent of accidents on the roads are traceable to human errors and not necessarily because the roads were bad or impassable. Expressing worries at the continued rise of accidents on the roads, the Executive Director of Safety Beyond Borders, Mr. Patrick Adenusi, said the government may need to embark on massive enlightenment campaign for drivers, to know that their safety as well as that of other road users is of paramount importance. "If any driver is conscious of the fact that he holds the key to safe arrival of all the occupants of his vehicles to their destination, there is the likelihood that he would drive with care and avoid all those things that might lead to accidents," he said. But, beyond this, Adenusi, who is also the National Coordinator of the Coalition of FRSC Safety Organisations, canvassed strict enforcement of traffic laws by the federal and state governments. He said some of the accidents that had claimed lives and caused needless losses occurred because we do not have adequate signages

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

offenders to go, so as not to defeat the purpose for which the agency was established. "The primary responsibility of LASTMA is to keep the state traffic moving and this is the reason the agency exists. Arresting traffic offenders is secondary. If making an arrest will increase the traffic, let the offenders go. I say this not because I don't want law breakers to be apprehended and brought to justice, but law breakers cannot undermine our main objective. "The longer people stay in traf-

fic, the more money is wasted and fuel is burnt and when people stay more in traffic, this leads to increase in the price of goods in the state. But with a moving traffic, price of goods will be stable," he said. Fashola urged the traffic management personnel to report all bad portions of the roads in their areas of operations, so that they could receive attention. "This government has moved away from only constructing roads to also maintaining them through the Public Works Corporation. You are our primary source of data

and we have spent a lot of time and resources training you,” he said. He commended the motorist, who took the video clip showing a junior LASTMA officer, Mr. Michael Ekundayo, demanding N8,000 bribe, which has gone viral in the social media. He said a man-hunt for the officer has begun. The governor said the erring official has been on the run since the day he committed the offence. He assured Lagosians that efforts would be intensified to bring him to book to serve as a deterrent to other corrupt personnel.

PHOTO: ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

tailored towards socio-economic integration, even as he called for the declaration of a state of emergency on the road and the railway system. In his keynote address, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, restated the commitment of the Federal Government to the implementation of the resolutions of the council. Idris said the Federal Government was irreversibly committed to the realisation of intermodal transportation that would see the rail becoming the backbone of mass transportation. He said no efforts would be spared to reposition the transport sector which is very critical for the soco-economic growth of the nation. Presenting the communiqué the Chairman of the Technical Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr Nebolisa O. Emordi, an engineer, said the groups adopted several resolutions among which was the use of speedlimiting devices on commercial passenger and goods only vehicles, while efforts should be geared towards the enactment of appropriate States and Federal Laws to support the sector. States are urged to intensify the enforcement of the existing laws on road worthiness of vehicles by ensuring that all essential checks are carried out before the issuance of Certificate of Road Worthiness in line with the law. The Council called on the National Planning Commission (NPC) to harmonise efforts being made by the various levels of government on different modes of transportation to enhance a country wide integrated transportation system, while it also called on states to ban the use of commercial motorcycles as means of public transportation.

How to prevent carnage on the roads on our roads. "None of our roads have speed limit signs, so it is practically impossible to arrest any driver for over speeding. If there is a sign that specifies 60 as the speed limit on a road and a driver is doing 70, he could be booked. But where there are none, you encourage him to speed. Also, even if governments are not ready to embark on repairs, they should put a sign at bad spots on the roads. This would give adequate warnings to drivers to slow down and avoid rushing into them. "Drivers should stop using their mobile devises when they drive. Drivers should hang up and concentrate on driving anytime they sit behind the wheels. They should also not drink and drive. Passengers on their own should take their safety serious. People should not sit down and keep quite while the drivers drive them to death," Adenusi said. He advised passengers to desist from using their mobile devises while walking on the road.

"These days people ping on the road. Many almost collide with vehicles before realising where they are. It is wrong to pick or try to make a call while crossing the road. People should give absolute concentration to the road. Also, they should not cross the expressway when they can use the pedestrian bridge. Don't walk backing the traffic, always face the traffic and wear reflective clothes, especially at night, to make you visible to drivers. For truck users, the safety expert said trucks must be road worthy. Most fatal accidents occur at night and because the trucks do not have appropriate break lights or reflective signs on, smaller vehicles often crash into them at night. He said further: "The UN made it mandatory that all trucks must have retro-reflective tapes. If all trucks have this tape, we would have reduced crashes by at least 90 per cent. He picked holes on the FRSC's move to propose a bill to the National Assembly to ban night trav-

elling. He said this would cause more accidents as everyone would be forced to move by day. Adenusi urged vulcanisers and mechanics to be more professional in the discharge of their jobs, knowing that an accident means a loss of potential customer and client. "When motorists drive a car to a vulcaniser, he should deflate the tyre and pump fresh air inside it rather than topping the air inside which is hot with cold air. Topping a hot air with a fresh one is like putting a hot cup inside cold water, the tendency is for the cup to explode. Mechanics should also not loose 12 bolts and put 10 back. Our importers should desist from importing fake and substandard parts. They should not bring fake or substandard products into the country," Adenusi said. Another transportation analyst Mr. Olatunde Olapoju, said accident would continue to occur, because by nature they are unpredictable. "Like we have began to see, the

rate of accidents can be reduced to the barest if we all do what is required, taking very good care of our vehicles and making sure that they are in serviceable condition before heading for the roads." For Samson Olatunji a traffic control volunteer, even the motor parks should be shorn of activities that embolden commercial drivers’ vices. He said: “Virtually all our major parks have been turned into avenues for the sale of alcohol most of which are now sold in sachets and hard drugs. Many drivers would not sit behind the wheels unless they’ve taken some shots of alcohol, others abuse cigarette, cocaine, kolanut and bitterkola and others. “Many drivers drive for long hours all in an attempt to make ends meet, thus stressing themselves resorting to drowsiness. There is need to regulate the number of hours a driver could stay behind the wheel per day,” Olatunji said.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR - CALABAR CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (CES)

CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION 2013/2014 SESSION Applications are invited from qualified candidates for admission into the Educational Consultancy Programmes as listed below. Please apply on-line. Candidates are advised to follow the on-line procedure given in this advertisement. S/NO 1.

PROGRAMME Pre-Degree Programme: Duration: One Academic Session in Science, Agriculture and Education (Science) Location: Faculty of Science Admission Requirements:Credit-level passes at not more than two sittings in (WASC/NECO/GCE O/L) English Language, Mathematics and in the core Science subjects of Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Applicants awaiting results may also apply. Such applications shall only be considered on receipt of the pending results within the period allowed for such consideration. Applicants must have JAMB results for 2012/2013.

DET Is Open To All Secondary School Leavers Who Posses: i) SSCE or Its Equivalent with At Least Four Credits in Relevant teaching Subjects and At Least credit level Pass In English Language and a pass in Mathematics in at most two sittings. ii) Teachers Grade Two Certificates (TC II) with at least three credits or merits and at least passes in English Language and Mathematics in one sitting.

Diploma in Public Administration (DPA): Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-time). Location: Institute of Public Policy & Administration (IPPA). Admission Requirements: For Admission into this programme, candidates must possess a minimum of four (4) credits in GCE O/L, SSCE, NECO, TC II examinations from among the following subjects: Government, Economics or Commerce, C.R.K, Literature, Accounting or Mathematics with at least a pass in English Language in not more than two sittings. Diploma in Local Government (DLG) Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institute of Public Policy & Administration (IPPA) Admission Requirement: For admission into this programme, candidates must possess a minimum of four (4) credit in GCE,O/L, SSCE,NECO,TC 11 examination from among the following subject: Government, Economics or Commerce, C.R.K, literature, Accounting or Mathematics with at least a pass in English Language in not more than two sittings. Diploma in Personnel Management (DPM) Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institute of Public Policy& Administration (IPPA) Admission Requirements: For Admission into these Programmes, candidates must possess a minimum of four (4) credits in GCE O/L, SSCE, NECO, TC II examinations with at least a pass in English Language in not more than two sittings. Diploma in Tourism and Hotel Management Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institute of Public Policy & Administration (IPPA) Admission Requirements: (a) For admission into the above programme, candidates must possess a minimum of four (4) credits in relevant subjects including English Language in GCE O/L, SSCE or NECO in not more than two sittings. Note that French is an advantage. Diploma in Environmental Education (DEE) Duration: Two Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institution of Education Applicants must be holders of: a) SSCE or GCE with four (4) credits in four (4) relevant teaching subjects and at least a credit level pass in English Language in at most two sittings b) TC II Certificate with three (3) credits or merits in three Teaching subjects and at least a merit level pass in English Language one sitting c) TC II Certificate with at least seven (7) years post qualification experience. Diploma In Educational Technology (DET) Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institution Of Education

10.

11.

Diploma in Pre-Primary and Basic Education (DPBE) Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institute of Education Admission Requirements: DPBE is open to all secondary school leavers who posses level i) SSCE Examination or equivalent with at least four credits in relevant subjects and at least pass in English Language and a pass in Mathematics in at most two sittings. ii) Teachers Grade Two Certificate (TC II) with at least four credits or merits and at least passes in English Language and Mathematics in one sitting. iii) Any other qualification acceptable to the University of Calabar for a Diploma Programme admission. Diploma in Library and Information Science (DLIS) Duration: Two Academic Session (Full-Time) Location: Institute of Education Admission Requirements: i) Minimum requirement for admission into Diploma in Library and Information Science Programme is four (4) O/level credits or its equivalent and at least a pass in English Language. Diploma in Education (DE) Duration: Two Academic Sessions (Full-Time) Location: Institute of Education Applicants for the Diploma in Education must be holders of: a) SSCE or GCE with credits in four (4) relevant teaching subjects with at least a credit level pass in English Language in at most two sittings b) TC II Certificate with three (3) credits or merits in three teaching subjects and at least a pass in English Language. c) TC II Certificate with at least seven (7) years post qualification experience. Diploma in Business Administration (DBA) Duration: Two Academic Sessions Location: Institute of Public Policy & Administration (IPPA) Admission Requirements: a) At least five (5) credits passes in relevant subjects in GCE/WASC/ SSCE/NECO at not more than two sittings. b) Subjects to include; English, Economics Mathematics. Note: Mature students who have worked for at least five years and posses at least four credit passes in WASC including English, the Teachersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Grade II General certificate of Education examinations. Such candidates must either be operating their own business or be employed by industry, the Nigerian Armed Forces, or the Government. They will not qualify for direct entry into degree programmes.

12.

DIPLOMA IN LAW Duration: Two Academic Session (Full Time) Location: Institute of Public Policy & Administration (IPPA) Admission requirement: The minimum entry requirement for admission into Diploma in Law programme will be as follows: west African school certificate with credit passes in at least four relevant courses including English Language.GCE. Ordinary level certificate with credit passes in at least four relevant subjects including English language.SSCE Certificate

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR - CALABAR CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (CES)

with credit passes in at least four relevant subjects including English language.Grade II Teachers with credit passes in at least four relevant subjects including English Language. 13

14.

Pre-Degree in French Studies: Duration: One full academic session. Location: Department of Modern Languages and Translation Studies, Faculty of Arts. Admission Requirements: Five Credit-level Passes in WASC/GCE O’LEVEL/NECO at not more than two sittings, including English Language and ONE Arts or Social Science subject. NOTE: A pre-knowledge of French IS NOT a requirement. Diploma in Theatre and Media Studies (DTMS) Duration: Two academic sessions (full-Time) Location: Institute of Education Admission requirement Every candidate for Diploma in Theatre and media studies must possess one of the under listed minimum qualification: (a) At least four (4) credit level passes at the WASC/NECO/GCE ordinary level or equivalent examination in Arts and related social science subjects including English language. (b) One year certificate in Theater, Media, Journalism or other related disciplines from university and recognized institution, provided the candidate had at least three (3) ordinary credit passes including English Language. (c) The Teachers’ Grade II certificate (TC II) in at least four (4) subjects at merit level including English Language. Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Administration and Planning (Faculty of Education) a) FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME Post NCE with credit or merit passes in at least one major subject including credit in English Language and at least a pass in Mathematics in Non-Science options at O/ Level obtained in not more than two sittings.Diploma in Education and other relevant discipline from a recognized tertiary institution with five (5) credits at O/L including English Language (At least a Pass in Mathematics is required options for those that are not science related) obtained in not more than two sittings. b) FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME Five O/Level credit passes to include English Language, Economics and a pass in Mathematics, in not more than two sittings. But students who apply for Mathematics/ Science options are expected to have a credit in Mathematics at the O/Level. Teaching Options: Educational Administrations is offered alongside any of the under-listed options: i) Sciences ii) Computer Science iii) Arts iv) Social Sciences v) Accounting vi) Social Studies

Academic transcripts are required in all cases for the Direct Entry Admission. 19.

20.

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting (Faculty of Management Science) a) FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME (i) Five O/Level GCE/SSCE or NECO, credit passes including English Language, Mathematics and Economics alongside with any other two(2) Social Science subjects at not more than two sittings. (ii) In addition to meeting the basic admission requirements stated above, candidates must also have Upper Credit in Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Accounting. A University of Calabar Diploma in Business Administration (DBA) with CGPA of 3.50 or any other equivalent qualification that may be accepted by the Department. b) FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME Five O/Level GCE, SSCE or NECO credit passes to include English Language, Mathematics and Economics and any other two (2) Social Science subjects obtained at not more than two sittings.

18.

Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance Location: Faculty of Management Science a). FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME (i) Five O/Level GCE/SSCE or NECO, credit passes including English Language, Mathematics and Economics or Commerce at not more

than two sittings. (ii) In addition candidates must possess a University of Calabar Diploma in Managements Sciences, Economics or Computer Science. b) FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME Five O/Level GCE, SSCE or NECO credit passes which must include English Language, Mathematics and Economics or Commerce and any other Social Science subject obtained at not more than two sittings. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (Faculty of Management Science) FIVE (5) YEAR PROGRAMME Candidates for the five (5) Year Evening Programme must obtain five (5) credit passes including English Language, Mathematics, Economics and any other Social Science subject in SSCE or its equivalent obtained at not more than two (2) sittings. FOUR (4) YEAR DIRECT ENTRY PROGRAMME Candidates for the four (4) Year Evening Programme must in addition to meeting the requirements stated above also posses OND Diploma in Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Accounting or Marketing at credit level or higher from a recognized institution. Candidates with Advanced level (GCE) in any three of the following subjects may be accepted: Accounting, Economics, Business Management and Mathematics.

21.

Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Marketing (Faculty of Management Science) FIVE (5) YEAR EVENING PROGRAMME Candidates for the five (5) Year Evening Programme must obtain five (5) credit passes including English Language, Mathematics, Economics or Commerce and any other Social Science subject in SSCE or its equivalent obtained at not more than two sittings. FOUR (4) YEAR DIRECT ENTRY PROGRAMME Candidates for the four (4) Year Evening Programme must in addition to meeting the requirements stated above also posses the University of Calabar Diploma in Business Administration at Merit level and above, National or Ordinary Diploma (ND) or (OND) in the relevant field at Upper Credit level and above from a recognized institution. Candidates with the Higher National Diploma (HND) with Lower Credit in the relevant field, and equally those with University Degree may also apply. Academic Transcripts are required in all cases for the Direct Entry Admission. Bachelor’s Degree in Education Technology (B.Ed. Edu.Technology) Location: Faculty of Education Admission Requirements:Candidates seeking admission for Bachelor’s degree in Education Technology must possess one of the under listed minimum qualification: (a) NCE with an overall pass at MERIT level or above provided the candidate also has at least three O’ level credits or its equivalence with a credit pass in English Language. (b) Diploma in Education or in any related discipline approved by the University of Calabar at a credit level provided the candidate also has at least three credit level passes at O’ level including credit in English and pass in Mathematics ( or its merit level provided the candidates also has at least credits at ordinary level GCE or its equivalence including Credit level pass in English language and a pass in Mathematics (for non science students) (c) Teachers Grade II certificate with a minimum of five passes at merit level including English Language and a pass in Mathematics (for non science candidates ) in not more than two sittings (d) Five O’ level credit passes including English Language and a pass in Mathematics (for non- science candidates) or its equivalence in not more than two sitting. Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Public Administration (BPA) (Faculty of Social Sciences). a) FOUR YEAR PROGRAMME i. Five O/Level credits in (GCE, SSCE or NECO at not more than two (2) sittings. One of these credits must be English Language. ii. At least a Pass in Mathematics; and iii. A higher qualification – IJMB, OND, HND, NCE. iv. Advanced Level GCE Papers etc.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR - CALABAR CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (CES)

b) FIVE YEAR PROGRAMME i. Five O/Level credits in GCE, SSCE, NECO or its equivalent to include English Language, Government and a Pass in Mathematics at not more than two (2) sittings. 22

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Works (BSW) (Faculty of Social Sciences) FOUR YEAR PROGRAMME a). Holders of Diploma in Social Work with credit or Merit pass in addition to five (5) credit passes in GCE O/Level/SSCE or its equivalent in not more than two sittings one of which must be English Language with at least a Pass in Mathematics. b). Practicing professionals with 5 O/Level credits (as in (a) above) and at least a Pass level in Diploma in Social Work or equivalent (e.g. Social Welfare, Social Development, Youth Development, Rural Development, Community Development, Theatre Art, Public Administration, Philosophy, English, Business Administration, Personnel Management); also NCE, IJMB and a Certificate in Nursing with at least five (5) years post qualification experience. FIVE (5) YEAR PROGRAMME Five (5) credits in GCE/WASC/SSCE O/L at not more than two (2) sittings, one of which must be English and at least a pass in Mathematics.

24 (a)

(b)

25 (a)

Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc) in Environmental Protection and Resource Management (EPM) (Faculty of Social Science) FOUR YEAR PROGRAMME i. Holders of the Ordinary Diploma of the Environmental Education of Unical or any other approved equivalent at Merit Level or above, with additional (5) (five credits at not more than two sittings in the GCE, O/L, WASC, NECO, SSCE or NABTECH including English Language and other relevant subjects which must include at least a Pass in Mathematics. ii. Holders of Ordinary Diploma in Environmental Sciences of the Polytechnic or holders of NCE with Geography and any Social/ Natural Sciences as main teaching subject, provided the candidates has the minimum University entry requirements of five credits in not more than two sittings, including English Language and at least a Pass in Mathematics. b) FIVE YEAR PROGRAMME Candidates with minimum University entry requirements of five (5) credits, including English Language and a Pass in Mathematics will be considered. Bachelor Degree In Economics (Faculty Of Social Science) FOUR YEAR PROGRAMME: Credit passes in five subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Economics and a pass in a science subject in SSCE or WAEC/GCE Ordinary Level at not more than two(2) sittings. In addition to the general university entry requirements for candidates, direct entry applicants who seek admission to pursue degree under the three year programme must in addition to meeting the requirements stated in (a) above also posses the University of Calabar diploma in Applied Economics at credit level and above or must have passed the GCE or Higher School Certificate Examination or its equivalent subject at the advanced level. Candidate with higher national diploma (HND) in the relevant field, and those with university degree may also apply. BACHELOR DEGREES IN ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOUR YEAR PROGRAMME i). Holders of NCE with a pass at distinction, credit or merit level from a recognized institution, plus three (3) o/level papers at credit level. ii). Diploma in adult education from the University of Calabar with a pass at distinction, credit or merit level or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. In addition to the above, candidates must also pass additional qualification of at .least 3 credit at GCE/ WASC/SSCE/NECO/TC11 or NABTECH at not more than two sittings. One of the three subjects must be English Language. iii). Candidate with three A/level or GCE or JAMB or equivalent qualification at one sitting plus two (2) O/level credits in two other subjects other than those obtained at the A/level are eligible to apply. iv). Holders of two A/level GCE papers or IJMB or equivalent qualification at one sitting plus THREE subjects other than those obtained at the A/level GCE are eligible to apply.

c). FIVE YEAR PROGRAMME i) Holders of diploma at pass level from the Department of adult and continuing Education or its equivalent from recognized institution are eligible to apply. In addition to the above, candidate must also posses five 5 O/LEVEL credit including English language at not more than two sittings. ii) Holders of GCE/WASC/SSCE/NECO/TCII or NABTECH with five credits at not more than two sittings including English language are eligible to apply d). MATURE PEOPLES’ PORGRAMME Candidates who are deficient in a and b but with cognate experience can apply for admission into the Mature Peoples’ Programme (as approved by the university) such candidate will spend the first session under the MPP programme before proceeding to the main course. NOTE: (1) Candidates seeking direct entry admissions must submit their academic transcripts to the relevant Departments. (2) Aptitude Tests will be conducted for candidates seeking admission into all Degree Programmes. (3) For further details concerning the subject areas to be covered by the Screening Exercise, please consult the recent JAMB Brochure for the Programme of your choice. PROCESS FLOW FOR THE 2013/2014 ON-LINE C.E.S APPLICATION FIRST METHOD: ELECTRONIC PIN Walk into any branch of Enterprise Bank Plc or Zenith Bank Plc. Request to make payment for University of Calabar C.E.S application form 2013/ 2014. Pay the sum of N7,000.00 (Seven thousand naira only) and obtain payment slip containing a unique PIN. Login with the generated pin for the C.E.S application. SECOND METHOD: THE PAPER SCRATCH CARD OPTION C.E.S application scratch card are available for those who reside in Calabar or have difficulties obtaining the e-scratch card receipt: CALABAR ONLY Unical Microfinance Bank Enterprise Bank Limited Ecobank Plc Wema Bank Plc On obtaining the scratch or e-scratch candidates should log on to http:// www.unicalonline.edu.ng and select “CES 2013 Application” from the On-line Forms menu tab on the home page. The next page will require the candidate to enter his/her phone number and escratch card pin or scratch card pin against the fields provided and click login. Follow the on-screen instruction after gaining access to complete the form. STEP 3 Print the form after submission Closing date for all applications is Friday, 7th March, 2014. HELP – DESK Zellence Unical Office Graduate School Building, Unical 07056693127, 07055993549

Signed:

DR. (MRS.) JULIA D. OMANG REGISTRAR

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR - CALABAR CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (CES)

with credit passes in at least four relevant subjects including English language.Grade II Teachers with credit passes in at least four relevant subjects including English Language. 13

14.

Academic transcripts are required in all cases for the Direct Entry Admission. 19.

20.

18.

21.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR - CALABAR CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (CES)

b) FIVE YEAR PROGRAMME i. Five O/Level credits in GCE, SSCE, NECO or its equivalent to include English Language, Government and a Pass in Mathematics at not more than two (2) sittings. 22

24 (a)

(b)

25 (a)

Signed:

DR. (MRS.) JULIA D. OMANG REGISTRAR

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 , 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS ‘Go back to work or get sacked’ Continued from page 4

concessions made to the lecturers, stressing that the teachers have pushed the government to the wall. “Given the fact that government had reached agreement with ASUU to make available N100 billion for the provision of infrastructure on campuses of 61 universities covered in the needs assessment of universities, with a further commitment of another N200 billion over the next two years, and N40 billion of the N90 billion Earned Allowances demanded by the lecturers one would have expected them to reconsider their stand. “This was despite the fact that the ASUU leadership in the meeting with President Jonathan failed curiously to articulate the

basis of the calculation of the demanded N90 billion earned allowance, which has been on the table since 2009. “It becomes crystal clear therefore that the Federal Government has shown good faith and commendable commitment by acceding to most of the demands of ASUU. “This ordinarily ought to be a thing of pride and an outstanding achievement to the ASUU having been able to secure these unprecedented concessions as a direct benefit of the prolonged and painful five month strike. “Given this dangerous and invidious tendency, no right thinking government sworn to protect the welfare of its citizens will fold its arms and watch the situation deteriorate any further. “History has shown that when

ASUU shuns sack threat

Continued from page 4

Aremu said the government refused to implement the 2009 agreement on the excuse that only a permanent secretary signed it. He said members at their various branches insisted that a government official higher in rank should sign the agreement this time to prevent what befell the 2009 agreement. “We can’t understand why that called for an ultimatum. We told the government that we would present its proposal to our members after which we would communicate their decision to the government. That was exactly what we did and that was the condition members gave. The National Executive Council cannot act otherwise. At any rate, there is nothing wrong in having agreement in black and white. It is the normal thing to do in labour agreements, “ Aremu said. ASUU members at the weekend embarked on mass mobilisation of members not to surrender to the December 4 ultimatum. The leadership of the union on Friday before departing from Abuja following the Federal Government’s return-to-work-or-besacked directive, directed all branch chairmen to devise means of mobilising their members not to fall for the threat, which it described as “empty”, pending the next National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union slated for Minna. An official of the union who was at the Abuja meeting told our correspondent that the chairmen were also advised not to hold public congresses to avoid any face-off with security agent deployed in institutions for the implementation of the December 4 deadline for re-opening. The source added that the date for the NEC meeting fixed for the Niger State capital might not be made public but that the council may reconvene at the weekend after chairmen of branches would have assessed the implementation of the deadline. “Chairmen of all branches are

to devise means of mobilising their members not to be intimidated into signing any register or returning back to classroom. We also resolve not to hold any open congress now that our campuses are militarised but we will ensure that our people are adequately informed. “Same goes for the next NEC meeting. We resolved not to make public the date but we want all branches to monitor and ensure non-compliance with the Federal Government’s December 4 deadline before the council meeting slated for Minna, Niger State.” The union’s officials have started using the short message service (sms) and other social media platforms to reach out to members not to succumb to the Federal Government’s threat which the union described as “empty”, insisting that the strike continues. One of the messages reads: “Dear members, FG decision to threaten us with sack confirms our suspicion that FG may not be honest and can not be trusted. Don’t succumb to this empty threat. The strike continues. We shall triumph again. Please, DO NOT SIGN ANY REGISTER. ALUTA CONTINUA- CHAIRPERSON”. Another message reads: “Dear Congress member, I’m appealing we should stay calm and remain resolute. There is nothing wrong in asking govt to do what it says it will do immediately. ASUU is not making any new demands as the minister is propagating. Govt is only repeating a ‘one act play’ scripted by the IBB dictatorship in early 90s. It didn’t work then, and, it won’t work now ALL BRANCHES are intact. We cannot be intimidated!!! UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG!!! ALUTA CONTINUA”. The Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has summoned an emergency congress meeting for today (Monday) at the Bosso Campus of the institution.

APC slams govt over sack threat Continued from page 4

future of our youth and of course our country. No one who knows the value of education will toe the path taken by Wike in issuing his empty threat,’’ the party said. It said ASUU was right in demanding certain benchmarks, including the non-victimisation clause and the need for a senior government official, such as the Attorney-General, to sign the agreement, before calling off its strike, in view of the fact that the government has a history of reneging on its agreements. ‘’Yes, our party is eager for this prolonged strike to end so that our youths who have been marooned at home for five months can resume their academic pursuit. Yes, we believe this strike has gone on for way too long, and that it will impact

negatively on our country’s development in the long run. But we believe the issues at stake must be resolved once and for all, so that we won’t have a repeat of these recurring strikes. ‘’The onus rests on the FG to work with ASUU to resolve this lingering crisis. President Jonathan should get off his high horse, roll up his sleeves as Presidents elsewhere do and tackle squarely what has now become one of the biggest challenges facing his administration. ‘’However, if the Jonathan administration has run out of ideas, as we now fear it has, going by the infantile threats being issued by it, then let it hands off the negotiations and allow other stakeholders to find a way out. We are all stakeholders in the education of our youths,’’ APC said.

governments worldwide are pushed to the wall, they take whatever lawful steps that are necessary to protect the interests of its people and the state over which they govern. “This is why we make bold to state that there is absolutely nothing dictatorial, draconian or undemocratic in the order by the Federal Government for striking lecturers to return to work or face dismissal. “You may wish to recall that on the 5th of August 1981, Ronald Reagan then American President, sacked 11, 345 air traffic controllers after a two-day strike. Reagan took the decision after the striking workers turned down an 11 per cent wage increase he had offered them.” Okupe stated that the demands of the ASUU leadership unwittingly questioned the integrity of the President, adding that the ASUU leaders went into negotiation with the government with a mindset.

Deji of Akure dies at 63 Continued from page 4

passed on in the United States but two days after, he spoke from the US, describing his death rumour as a lie. Former presidential candidate and the Olu of Ilu-Abo, High Chief Olu Falae, was among the early callers at the palace. Chief Reuben Fasonranti, leader of an Afenifere faction and a native of Akure, said the entire kingdom was in a sorrowful mood. “Though the reign of the Oba was short, he was a successful ruler, because Akure and Ondo State generally witnessed a lot of development and progress during his time on the throne of his ancestors,’’ he said. Fasoranti urged the people of Akure to remain calm and peaceful, adding that God would give them the fortitude to bear the loss. President Goodluck Jonathan commiserated with Ondo State

Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the people of Akure and Ondo State on the Deji’s demise. Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, also extended sincere condolences to the family and relatives of the late monarch. The statement reads: “As they mourn Oba Adesida who has sadly passed on just a little over three years after his coronation, the President urges them to take solace in the belief that God’s will is unquestionable and must always prevail. “He assured Governor Mimiko, the late monarch’s family and the people of Akure of his sympathy and solidarity with them as they grieve over Oba Adesida’s demise. “He prays that God Almighty will comfort them all and grant the late Oba’s soul peaceful repose.” House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambu-

wal also sent his condolences to the government and people of Ondo State. According to a statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the paramount ruler as “a man of culture who worked tirelessly for stability, unity and progress of his domain” He said the deceased’s “impact had been felt well beyond the shores of Ondo State”, adding that as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he had benefited immensely from the late Deji’s “wise counsel and deep knowledge of governance and contemporary world issues.” The Olu of Igbejiland in Akure South Local Government, Oba Kolawole Ayininuola, described the late Deji as a great king. He said the Oba would forever be remembered for his wisdom and ability to rule effectively.

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS Suntai loses deputy press secretary

HE Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai, Jibrin Lamido, is dead. Lamido(54) died on Friday at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State after a protracted illness. The former Taraba Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chairman is survived by a wife and five children. The Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, confirmed the death on Saturday in Jalingo. Mijinyawa said the Taraba government received the news of the death with shock, adding that Lamido was billed to be flown to India for treatment. He described the late Lamido as a “loyal subordinate”, who gave attention to his job and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest. Lamido had been buried according to Islamic rites.

‘Aliyu’s stay in PDP okay’

HAIRMEN of the 25 local governments elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State have endorsed the decision of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu to remain in the crisisridden ruling party. Aliyu and his Jigawa State counterpart, Sule Lamido, on Tuesday chose to opt out of the merger entered into by the G7 PDP governors with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Rising from their regular monthly meeting at the weekend in Minna, the chairmen described Aliyu’s action as the best political decision to be taken. Their spokesman, Isa Kanitgi, noted that the battle between Aliyu and the PDP national leadership was not a personal fight but a struggle for the reformation of the party.

Dangote Foundation gives N540m

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

HE Dangote Foundation has given N540 million grants to beneficiaries in Borno State. About 54,000 beneficiaries will go home with N10,000 each, which is a non-interest cash grant from the foundation for vulnerable groups. The Foundation’s Managing Director, Ms. Adhiambo Odaga, explained that it had earmarked N540 million for targeted beneficiaries in the 27 local government areas. She said the non-interest micro-grants were part of a national programme of the Dangote Group to provide cash transfers to1,000 indigent Nigerians in each of the 774 local government areas. Governor Kashim Shettima and his wife Nana praised Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote for the gesture extended to his state. He described Dangote as a patriotic Nigerian for giving special attention to states, such as Borno, that are engulfed with peculiar security, social and economic challenges.

Tambuwal praises Akume

PEAKER of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal has described Senate Minority Leader George Akume as a principled politician, whom the Tiv nation has donated to Nigeria, particularly the North. He spoke at the weekend wedding of Akume’s daughter, Josephine and Sub-Lt. Alexander Edet at Wannune, Tarka Local Government. The Speaker said Akume, whom he referred to as his leader, was a politician who could be trusted with huge responsibilities. He said he was in Benue to honour the former governor and advised the couple to respect each other. At the event were former

We remain committed to APC, says Belgore

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Mohammed Dele Belgore, yesterday said he and his group remain members of the party. A few of his supporters had expressed apprehension on the entry of the Bukola Saraki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into APC. Belgore, who addressed supporters at the Asa Dam Road office of the APC in Ilorin, added that he was irrevocably committed to the cause of liberating the people. Belgore, thereafter, addressed reporters at his GRA home in the metropolis. Said he: “There is a lot of apprehension concerning the entry of the G-7 governors and what it portends for APC members and for the political situation in the state. “My first task was to inform the people that there was no reason for any apprehension. We remain members of APC. “We remain committed and we remain together as a formidable group within that party. And that situation is dynamic; we are reviewing it as we go along. “We are setting up committees to evaluate the situation ward-by-ward and local government-by-local government on what the merger means to the people and how they want to react to every situation. “One important point I want to make about our politics in Kwara is that it is not about Dele Belgore; it is about the community interest and the community interest upon which we entered into this race in 2010 is that we are fighting for change. “In other words, we want to take the politics of Kwara out of the hands of a selfish, domineering select group and broaden the space so that there is opportunity for everyone. That is the message

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

we began with and that is the bond that I have with the people. “That cause is the first thing that connects us and we are not about to give it up. That cause is the essence of our political existence; it can never be negotiated. “My point of view even with the merger is that we are not compromising what we

believe in. If working together means buying into what we believe in, then fine but we are not compromising our ideals for anybody.” He added: “Our supporters feel completely disenchanted with the leadership of our party. They feel that the cause of the struggle in Kwara was not taken into consideration at the time these discussions were held. “My first duty is to explain

to them that there is a main plot from the point of view of the national leadership and then there are various subplots, which now look at the peculiarities of each state. “But as you know, politics is local; you are only concerned with that which affects you. They are now saying if that is the case why are we still here? But we are telling them that we are in APC, that nobody is going to push us out.”

Five die in Kaduna building collapse

•Tambuwal From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Head of State Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President David Mark, represented by Senator Barnabas Gemade. Others were Governors Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

IVE people have been killed when an abandoned church building collapsed in Angwan Dosa, Kaduna. The abandoned building, said to belong to St. Faith Catholic Church, collapsed when some workers hired to demolish it were working on Saturday. Four of them died instantly; the fifth died in a hospital. It was gathered that the building was deserted by worshippers after the 2011

‘Why Plateau HIV cases are higher’

•Belgore (in white) addressing supporters…yesterday.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

EGULAR deployment of security agencies to Plateau State as a result of protracted security challenges is central to the factors leading to the rising rate of HIV/AIDS cases in the state. The Programme Director of the State Action Committee Against Aids (PLACA) Dr Frances Ajang Magaji said at the weekend: “Plateau HIV/AIDS rate stands at 7.7 percent and remains the sixth highest cases among the 36 states.’’ The National Action Committee against Aids (NACA) has listed Plateau as one of the 12 leading states in HIV/AIDS prevalence. The director said: “It is no longer news that any society where security agencies are deployed in peace keeping do record high rate of HIV/AIDS. Plateau is not an exception. “However, President Jonathan has urged the Minister of Defence to look towards ensuring that as the security personnel returns from their peace keeping all over Africa, their status should be confirmed, it is part of the renewed strategies the Federal Government is adopting to fight the spread of the virus, said Dr. Magaji

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

post-election violence, which forced them to relocate to other places. The church was said to have sold the building to Suleiman Danzaria, who contracted Mohammed Idris to assist in the demolition. A source said after the monthly sanitation, about 25 workers were brought in to demolish the building. He said: “The workers arrived at the site around 10am

and began work around 10.45am. “Suddenly, the decking collapsed and 15 of them were trapped. Ten escaped unhurt, four died on the spot and another died at a hospital.” Deputy Governor Nuhu Audu Bajoga visited the scene and sympathised with the families of the deceased. He visited Almadiya Hospital where the victims were treated and instructed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to move

them to the 44 Army Reference Hospital. Bajoga, who was accompanied by the agency’s Executive Secretary, assured that the government would pay the bills of the two injured workers. He asked property developers to use the right machines to demolish buildings to avoid casualties. The deputy governor condemned the attitude of property owners, who employ labourers to use bad equipment.

No interference in our affairs, says Yero

ADUNA State Governor Mukthar Yero has denied any form of interference in the administration of the state. He said the development of the state had continued undisturbed since he assumed office last December. The governor, who spoke on the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), said those who alleged interference missed the point. He said since he assumed office after the death of his predecessor, development had not stopped and no one

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

had interfered with his administration. The governor, who was in London to receive the International Peace and Security Award from the Global Peace Movement, added that Kaduna was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state and no there was no division in the party. Speaking after receiving the award, the governor promised that his administration would bring Kaduna back to its pre-crisis days. He said: “I assure you that this award will spur us to take

more positive steps in ensuring that we midwife genuine reconciliation that would lead to enduring peace and unity in the state. “We shall return the state to its pre-crises era when people lived together as neighbours, irrespective of the languages they spoke or their religious beliefs. “We are not unaware of the obstacles that need to be surmounted, but it is our task and we shall continue to work towards its actualisation.” Yero thanked the organisers for the award, promising to put in more effort in actualising the cardinal objectives

of the administration. The President-General of the Global Peace Movement, Mike Uyi, said the award was in recognition of the positive impact of various peace building initiatives of the administration. Uyi said the honour came after his organisation independently toured the state for a first-hand assessment of the impact of peace initiatives and rural development in July. “We had personal interactions with the people and they expressed happiness with the peace building process initiated by the administration.”

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

NEWS

•Senator Remi Tinubu (right); Chair, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (second left); All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Sharon Ikeazu (second right) and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Councillor Aisha Galadima, during a protest demanding the cancellation of the Anambra State governorship election in Abuja ...last Thursday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Three soldiers die in Bayelsa boat mishap

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

HE Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shied, mourned yesterday as three of its soldiers died in a boat mishap on Nembe waterways in Bayelsa State. It was learnt that the soldiers, who were attached to the Sector 2 Command of the JTF, drowned near Obiaku community when their boat capsized. The soldiers were said to be on “a routine change” when the boat capsized. Explaining a routine change, a top security source said the soldiers were on their way to take over from their colleagues at a security post in Nembe. “It is a normal thing. From time to time, new soldiers are detailed to replace other soldiers in any security post. That was the job the unfortunate soldiers were drafted to do. “The victims left Odioma in Brass Local Government for Nembe. They were close to their duty post when the incident occurred,” the source said.

Cleric urges youth to behave well

HE founder and general overseer, Imole Ayo Cherubim and Seraphim Church Worldwide, Primate Dr. Baba Aladura Omoleye on Saturday urged parents to watch the movement of their children when at home and in school. Omoleye made the plea at the grand finale of the church’s Ark of Covenant anniversary, which began 21 days ago at the church’s auditorium, Adalemo, Sango, Ogun State. He advised them to teach their children the way of the Lord and also give them best home training. He said parents must ensure good education for their children and do proper monitoring of their steps taken, said doing this shall restrict their engagement in any bad and illicit behaviour in the society. “Lack of home training constitutes the major factor of nuisance in the society. Therefore, every children must desist from attitude that could hindered their future success,”the Primate warned.

FCT spends N35b on millennium tower

From Grace Obike, Abuja

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has spent N35billion to build the Nigeria Cultural Centre, Millennium Tower and National Square. The project, which has exceeded the timeline of its completion, will need an additional N31 billion to meet the estimated N69.3billion for completion. FCT Minister Bala Mohammed said this during a special tour of major projects within the FCT undertaken by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), specifically organised for participants of the Capital Market Committee (CMC) retreat of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He said the tower, which is located at the Central Business District (CBD), will include an auditorium and conference rooms with 1,200 seating capacity, a museum and other exhibition spaces, botanical garden, swimming pool and a hotel complex. When completed, the tower will serve as a tourist attraction, generate revenue and create jobs.

eScan releases anti virus for Android

Jeremiah Oke

SECURITY company for Android, eScan has launched an anti virus for Android mobile and tablets to protect the devices. Managing Director of Global Investment and Communication Limited a distribution representative of eScan in Nigeria, Mr. Albert Udoma disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos. He said the anti virus is capable of protecting Android devices from any virus and could as well serve as tracker for Android phones. Udoma said the specialised security solutions are customised in order to ensure complete protection for devises from evolving cyber security threats. He described the product as a benchmark for all other antivirus and will set new standard for protection as well as performance of Android-based devices.

President, Aliyu, Lamido in crisis talks

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan met last night with Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) at the Presidential Villa in continuation of his peace meeting with aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors. With Jonathan at the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim. The meeting took place at the First Lady’s Conference Room. The other five aggrieved PDP governors – Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers)have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Details of the discussions at the meeting were unknown as at press time last night. As the meeting with the G-2 governors was starting, the Vice President and the SGF met

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

for about two hours with 13 PDP governors at House Seven, also at the Presidential Villa. After the meeting with the 13 governors ended around 8.40p.m, Sambo and Anyim rushed to meet up with the President’s meeting with the G2 governors. Chairman of PDP Governors Forum Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) said that the meeting was the Vice President’s. He declined to comment. The 13 PDP governors, who met with Sambo and Anyim at the Villa, had earlier met briefly at the Akwa Ibom State Lodge before proceeding to the Villa. The PDP governors present at the Akwa Ibom Lodge, apart from Akpabio, were: Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Idris Wada (Kogi), Jonah Jang (Plateau)and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina). Others are: Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore

Orji (Abia), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa)and Liyel Imoke (Cross River). Niger and Kaduna deputy governors stood in for their governors. PDP governors who were absent at the Akwa Ibom State lodge meeting included Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ibrahim Dankwambo ( Gombe), Garba Umar (Taraba), Gabriel Suswam ( Benue) and Saidu Dankingari (Kebbi). Later last night, PDP Board of Trustees chair Chief Tony Anenih said the meeting between President Jonathan and the G-2 governors was to restore confidence in the party. Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting by 10:26p.m, he said there would be series of meetings this week. Anenih was surrounded by five governors - Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu (Niger), Wada (Kogi), Imoke (Cross River) and Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

He said: “We have had our meeting presided over by the President with the Vice President in attendance. We had very useful meeting. The summary of it all is that we are happy that we are moving to restore confidence and trust. There will be series of meetings between now and the weekend.” Insisting that he is still a member of the PDP, Aliyu disclosed that the G-2 governors would meet with the President again next Sunday. Aliyu said: “I am a member of PDP and that is why I am here at this meeting and, as I said before, the whole idea was to bring sanity back to our party and that is what we are still discussing. “We are meeting again on Sunday but there will be series of meetings before then.” On whether he is still planning to join the APC, Lamido said: “I stand by my principle, which is one Nigeria which is based on law and order.”

How to end ASUU strike, by Falana

AGOS lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday urged the Federal Government and leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to work out a new agreement to end the sixmonth strike of the union. In a statement yesterday in Lagos, the frontline lawyer said the government’s ultimatum would not work, as it did not under military dictatorship. He said the way forward was in an amicable resolution between both parties, instead of the government’s arm-twisting. The statement reads: “At a meeting of the Bayelsa State caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which held in Yenagoa (the state capital) last Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of subversion. As far as the President is concerned, the ongoing industrial action has nothing to do with trade dispute. During his last media chat, the President accused the ASUU of playing politics with the strike. No doubt, the Federal Government is utterly embarrassed that the strike lasted about six months. But instead of accusing ASUU of subversion, the Federal Government

By Olamilekan Andu

has itself to blame for its inexplicable refusal to honour the 2009 Federal Government/ ASUU Agreement. “It is on record that officials of the Ministries of Education and Finance deliberately frustrated the resolution of the strike. It was on account of such frustration that led the President to take over the negotiations. At the end of the marathon meeting between the President and the ASUU leaders a fortnight ago, substantial progress was made towards the resolution of the crisis. “On its part, the ASUU accepted the offer by the President with some minor adjustments. Regrettably, the President was informed that ASUU had rejected his offer. In view of such misinformation, the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyeson Wike, issued a seven-day ultimatum to sack striking university teachers with effect from December 4, 2013. “He also directed the vice chancellors of all public universities to declare vacant the posts of striking academics in order to replace them! “If Mr. Wike had familiarised

himself with the Federal Government/ASUU face-off in the past two decades, even under the defunct military junta, he would have discovered that ASUU members have never been cowed to submission. “In 1992, the Ibrahim Babangida junta fired all lecturers and threatened to eject them from their official quarters. When the lecturers defied the junta, a decree was promulgated, which made strike by teachers a treasonable felony. ASUU also ignored the obnoxious decree and called the bluff of the military dictators. “The Secretary for Education under the Interim National Government (ING), Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN), described the 1992 Federal Government/ ASUU as “a contract of imperfect obligations”. But at the end of the day, it became clear to the regime that universities could not be run like military barracks. Hence, the junta swallowed its pride, withdrew its empty threats and decided to honour the agreement, which it had rejected. “As no university in Nigeria has the required number of professors, Readers and Senior Lecturers, the threat of a mass sack of academics is a huge joke. However, as the

President’s former boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha rightly observed, the ultimatum, which has been planned to coincide with the burial of Prof Festus Iyayi, will portray the Federal Government as insensitive. “The observation cannot be faulted since Prof Iyayi was killed by a convoy of (Kogi State) Governor Idris Wada on the Abuja-Lokoja road last month while he was travelling to Kano to attend a meeting of ASUU leaders scheduled to review the strike. It is commendable that the President promised to review the provocative ultimatum. “Since the ASUU has accepted the new offer of the Federal Government, the President should personally conclude the negotiations with ASUU leaders without further delay. Instead of allowing Mr Wike to expose the Federal Government to further ridicule, a new agreement should be properly drawn up and signed by the ASUU and top officials of the Federal Agreement. With the commitment of President Jonathan, the six-month-old industrial action of the ASUU can be called off within the next 48 hours.”

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013 PUBLIC NOTICE

NEWS

‘N84b missing from education board’

JUDICIAL Panel of Enquiry set up by the Abia State government to look into the activities of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has alleged that N84 billion was missing from the coffers of the board from 1991 to 2012. It said since the board came into existence, it had received N97 billion and had spent about N13 billion on building, renovation and equipping of primary schools. Presenting its report to Governor Theodore Orji in Umuahia, panel Chairman Justice Ken Wosu said it was regrettable that despite its huge resources, it had little or nothing to show due to the alleged fraud. He said its finances were enough to turn the fortunes of the education sector around. Justice Wosu urged the gov-

Justice Wosu said funding was not the problem but rather ‘’poor management over the years. The chief executives, who have worked in the board since inception, should be held responsible for the mismanagement From Ugochukwu Ugoji-eke, Umuahia

ernor to implement the recommendations of the panel and ensure that those culpable were brought to book. The panel chairman told the governor that of the N97 billion the board had received since 1991, ASUBEB had spent N13 billion to execute capital projects. He said: “We recommend a halt of the projects by the

board.” Justice Wosu said funding was not the problem but rather ‘’poor management over the years. The chief executives, who have worked in the board since inception, should be held responsible for the mismanagement.” He said the fraud increased between 2002 and 2005 when contracts were awarded indiscriminately to friends and cronies of government. On April 15, Governor Orji

inaugurated the Judicial Panel of Enquiry into ASUBEB to look into the activities of the board from 1991 to last December. The panel said most of the board’s funding was generated from the Federal Government, Abia State, UBEC, ETF, UNICEF and other donor agencies. Governor Orji thanked the panel, assuring them that government would act on its report. Orji said the panel was not set up to victimise anyone. He said the public demanded a probe. The governor said: “After years of existence, it is painful that a board, which should have improved the sector, has failed.” He said the burden of building and rebuilding schools, rests on NDDC, ASOPADEC, SURE-P and other donor agencies.

Ekweremadu tackles Chime on projects From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

•Ekweremadu

EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday decried the alleged plot by Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime to

sabotage his efforts to attract projects to the state. A statement by the Special Adviser (Projects) to the Deputy Senate President, Mr. Bethel Onyenyiri, said Ekweremadu’s office had information about an alleged meeting Chime held with some functionaries to initiate a campaign of calumny against the deputy Senate president. Onyenyiri said the alleged plot involved plans to discredit his boss and disrupt the projects he had attracted to the state.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to the plans by Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime to disrupt Federal Government’s projects attracted to the state, particularly in Enugu West, by Ike Ekweremadu. “The governor allegedly met with some government functionaries in the state to initiate a campaign to discredit, sabotage and disrupt projects attracted by the deputy president of the Senate. “We do not care about their pull-him-down campaign; it is left for our constituents to judge if Ikeoha Ndigbo has lived up to his mandate. “We call on our constituents

and the indigenes to guard the projects within your localities. “We urge you to report suspicious movements around such projects to the security agencies. “It must be stressed that the a public officer should build and not destroy. It is a mandate to sow and nurture peace, not acrimony. “It is a mandate to champion development, build an egalitarian society, bring good news to the poor, the brokenhearted and release captives and free those in the prisons of injustice and deprivation. “This is Ikeoha’s crusade of transformation. Rest assured that he is committed to this divine call to service.”

Alleged libel: Ogun PDP chief sues AIT for N20

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has sued the African Independent Television (AIT) for N20billion at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, over alleged libel. The claimant said the station broadcast a scroll message saying that the Court of Appeal in Lagos ordered his extradition to the United States to face narcotics importation charges. He joined Daar Communications Plc and its Chairman High Chief Raymond Dokpesi in the suit, numbered ID/ ADR/936/13. Kashamu said the defendants “made the publication knowing that it was false, twisted or contrived to give the impression that the claim-

By Joseph Jibueze

ant is a criminal, who is on the run from law enforcement agencies in the United States.” In a 23-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the claimant, he said the broadcast was perceived and understood by the general public to mean that I am not a person to be associated with.” “The said judgment delivered on the 8th of November, 2013 related to an application filed by me at the Court of Appeal to vacate its previous judgment given on the 3rd of July, 2013 (in Appeal No. CA/ L/682/2013 between the Attorney General of the Federation V Buruji Kashamu).” The claimant said his appeal was on the ground that the adjudicatory process leading to that previous judgment was illegitimate “as the panel

that heard the appeal was constituted in such a way that did not guarantee its impartiality and there was a resultant likelihood of bias against me.” Kashamu is praying the court to award him N20 billion as general and aggravated damages for the injury to his feelings, reputation and standing in the society as a result of the alleged defamatory broadcast. He is also asking the court to grant “a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, their agents, servants and privies from any further distribution, dissemination or other publication of the false and libellous statements as contained in the AIT broadcast concerning the claimant.” The party chieftain wants the court to award another

N50 million as the cost of action. Kashamu had aid he was being maligned by his political detractors because of his support for the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP. His lawyer Mr Ajibola Oluyede said there was no court order extraditing his client to the United States to face charges relating to drug trafficking. The lawyer said when the United States authorities made a move to arrest Kashamu for an alleged drug crime in London, he got judgments stopping his arrest. Oluyede said: “The matter ended there as far as the U.S authorities were concerned. No appeal against either of the judgments was filed and no attempt has been made by the U.S authorities ever since to have our client extradited for any offence in U.S.”

Abia Central endorses Orji for Senate

HE people of Umunne Ato Ngwa in Abia Central, Abia State, have endorsed Governor Theodore Orji for the 2015 senatorial election, if the governor wishes to contest the poll. They spoke at the weekend in Aba at a civic reception in honour of the governor at Ngwa High School, Aba. Umunne Ato comprises three local governments; Osisioma Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South. The councils are considered strongholds of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, who represents the area. She was absent at the event. Elder Adindu Nwokeukwu, who spoke on behalf of

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Umunne Ato Ngwa, said they preferred the governor because of his achievements. Nwokeukwu said: “In economic empowerment, the Orji administration has impacted on the lives of our people, especially youths. His youth economic empowerment programme, articulated and packaged on the fulcrum of entrepreneurial development for self-determination, has benefited close to a thousand youths. “It is for these reasons that the NDI NGWA in Abia Central, otherwise called Umunne Ato Ngwa, have invited Governor Orji (Ochendo) to give

him more work by adopting him as our candidate for the Abia Central seat in 2015.” He added: “It is therefore our conviction and belief that he will also excel if he is called to serve his people, even at the federal level.” Elder John Nwangborogwu, a one-time commissioner, moved a motion for the adoption of the governor as the candidate and it was seconded by a former Head of Service, Godfrey Kanu, followed by an affirmative voice vote by the people. Governor Orji thanked the people, describing the offer as tempting. Orji said he would consult before making a statement on

•Orji

the offer, stressing that he would focus on solidifying the legacy projects across the state. The governor restated his commitment to hand over power to an Ngwa person in 2015. The people of Umunne Ato Ngwa presented him gifts.

SPACE FOR SALE

UDOH

I formerly known and addressed as UDOH AMANDA now wish to be known and addressed as OMELIME UDOH AMANDA. All former documents remain valid. German Embassy and General public should please take note.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2012

FOREIGN MUSINGS

E start our focus this week with a look at the array of nations in tumult. Some have been ongoing while others just woke up to the very essence of democratic values: mass protestations for social and economic change that will guarantee good governance and prosperity for the greater number of the people. Egypt continues to be problematic. Ever since the overthrow of ex-President Mohammed Morsi and the hauling into detention of ranking members of his Muslim Brotherhood, the country has known no peace. A draft constitution put together by the interim government has just finished its job last Thursday and a referendum for its approval is expected from a 50-member body put together by the government. In the same week, the world saw in consternation, 21 women and teenagers sentenced into an 11-year prison terms for their part in protesting a court ruling on demonstrators. We are learning that the administration is reconsidering the outrageous sentences following worldwide condemnations. In a bizarre defence of government action regarding the new demonstration laws, Interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi says the move: “is not a law that limits the right to demonstrate, but it aims to protect the right of protesters.” To the former Eastern bloc, Ukrainians have been on war path with the government of President Viktor Yanukovich for reneging to sign the European Union agreement, putting Ukraine against other ex-Soviet Union nations which have joined the European body. There has been massive turn out of demonstrators and the opposition is also calling out strikes. The police have been accused of using excessive force to disperse the demonstrators and this has received

Bangladesh and other tumultuous winter of discontent world wide condemnation. Our man in Italy, the clourful politician, 77 year-old former Prime DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor Minister Silvio ‘Teflon’Berlusconi, fisms 08134230367 nally lost one political daborgu@gmail.com battle in his 20-year domination of Italian politics. Last week, the Senate threw him out ment plans parliamentary elections of the hallowed chamber, after his for January five. The opposition alconviction on tax fraud charges. liance led by former Prime Minister Translation: he has now lost his imKhaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Namunity and could be arrested tionalist Party threatens boycott and anytime. In the meantime, he still called out general strikes charging faces sundry other charges includthat any election under the present ing paying a minor for sex. The government could be rigged. enigma who has never been conTo the Pacific Rim, South Korea victed in the past despite a plethora and Japan during the week joined of charges including murder has deUnited States in flying over what fiantly vowed to fight on ‘in the inChina has designated as “air deterest of the people of Italy’. fence identification zone’ From Thailand comes the call for While China is crying foul, Japan the removal of Prime Minister which has been locked in territorial Yingluck Shinawatra, who came to battle with China for decades over power in 2011. They want her to step the uninhabited islands in the zone down; claiming that her governknown in Japan as Senkaku and ment is controlled by her brother, Diaoyu in Chinese, is claiming the the former Prime Minister Thaksin space belongs to what is called overShinawatra, who was ousted in a lapping airspace on which China military coup following has no exclusive right. allegations of corruption in 2006. With Big Brother backing, (the She has survived a vote of no-conU.S. has The Treaty of Mutual Cofidence in parliament. The protests operation signed in 1951), Japan can are now in its 11th day and have afford to flex muscle with his next turned bloody. The prime minister door giant neighbour. has vowed not to crack down on Also during the week, Iran finally the demonstrators rather; she said got a reprieve from the international she is ready for consultation with community in Geneva, after 10 years them. of back and forth, recriminations Bangladesh, the most populous and mistrust over its nuclear proMuslim country in South east Asia gram. at 160million, is still burning with President Barack Obama got on thousands in the street, demanding the podium to acknowledge Iran’s the resignation of Prime Minister right to peaceful use of nuclear enSheikh Hasina because his govern-

Global Focus

ergy with big concessions from the mullahs of the Persia not to weaponise same. Hard biting sanctions, which have nearly paralysed Iranian economy for over a decade, are gradually being lifted initially to the tune of $7bn. As expected, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Nentayahu, was outraged calling it a bad deal for global peace as Iran can not be taken for its word. Ironically, Israel is a nuclear nation which has refused to sign the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. It was also in the news that, Israel is sending out bulldozers pushing out 40,000 Libyans to build more settlements for Israelis. On the African continent, Malian Tuaregs ended their 6 months ceasefire and resumed in their northern trenches ala guerrilla warfare against the government of Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly, accusing him of failing to fulfill his promises. Zambian President Michael Sata during the week displayed some measure of political magnanimity by releasing 54 of detained rebels, making a total of 84 this month from Lozi Tribe. They were agitating for a separate Barotseland out of Zambia. On a sad note, a Mozambican plane carrying 33 passengers crashed at the Namibian border killing all on board. U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice, was in Afghanistan during the week, trying the Afghans to expedite signing the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) which will guide post-U.S military operational arrangement.

President Hamid Karzai wants this delayed till after presidential elections next April. The relationship between the two had been frosty recently as President Kazai wants America to stop its drones bombing homes and civilian targets, would like to accelerate discussions with the Talibans without America’s objection and finally wants U.S to return all Afghan prisoners’s detained in Guatanamo. Also from Yankee Land, last Thursday was Thanksgiving Day and the celebration of turkey which is the main cuisine at the family table dinner. Traditionally, a lucky turkey (not Alamieyeseigha), will be spared the knife via a Presidential Pardon at the White House, only to live for another day. Thanksgiving is an annual tradition which officially dates back to 1863 during the Civil War when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving to our beneficial Father who dwelleth in the Heavens’’ to be celebrated every fourth Thursday in November. Originally, it is a tradition started by 90 Native Americans and Northeastern pilgrims in 1621. The feast was said by historians to have lasted 3 days of eating, drinking and merry making. The tradition has taken a life of its own in modern times even as immigrants have included their native foods from all over the world; but the tradition still endures. Happy Thanksgiving America. That will do it for us this week. Remember, it is our globe, let’s keep it in focus at all times. Plant a tree and save our planet, by keeping it green. See you next week.

FOREIGN NEWS Syrian chemical arms ‘to be destroyed on U.S. ship’

HE body charged with overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons has confirmed some will be “neutralised” aboard a US Navy ship. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said the US was contributing technology and financing. The chemicals will be diluted to safer levels using a process called “hydrolysis”. The OPCW said 35 firms had submitted expressions of interest in destroying Syria’s remaining chemical stockpiles. The OPCW statement confirms an earlier BBC report citing industry sources. The US naval vessel on which neutralisation will take place has not been offi-

cially named but is believed to be the MV Cape Ray. It is undergoing modifications to support the operations. These should be completed by 31 December, the OPCW said. The announcement is another strong sign that the timetable given to destroy all Syria’s chemical weapons

arsenal and capabilities by the middle of next year could be achieved, despite its many apparent difficulties, says the BBC’s Middle E a st ed i t or Sebastian Usher. Many countries have been reluctant to volunteer to dispose of the chemicals.

Thai protest leader meets PM

HE leader of Thailand’s anti-government protests said unexpectedly that he met the prime minister yesterday after daylong clashes between his supporters and police but defiantly told her he would accept nothing less than her resignation and a new government of an appointed council. In a defiant tone that drew

cheers from his supporters, Suthep Thaugsuban said the meeting with was held under the auspices of the military, which says it is neutral in the conflict. Police throughout the day fought off mobs of rockthrowing protesters who tried to battle their way into the government’s heavilyfortified headquarters and other offices.

Uganda troops kill LRA rebels in CAR

SENIOR commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army and 13 of his rebel fighters have been killed in Central African Republic, a Ugandan government official said Sunday. Col. Samuel Kangul, believed to be the fourth in command of the Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, was killed by Ugandan forces Thursday, using intelligence gathered by United States advisers, said Ugandan Army Deputy Spokesman Maj. Robert Ngabirano. About 100 U.S. Special Forces experts are helping African troops to hunt down LRA leader Joseph Kony, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war

crimes and crimes against humanity. Kony’s LRA is accused by the United Nations and human rights groups of killing and mutilating innocent civilians and kidnapping thousands of children, forcing them to be soldiers and sex slaves. “The killing of Kangul is of great significance for us in this operation to end Kony’s atrocities. It also shows that Kony is still in the jungle,” said Ngabirano. Kangul was leading a group of about 30 fighters to join up with another group led by Dominic Ongwen, who is considered to be Kony’s deputy commander, said Ngabirano. The group

was intercepted at a crossing on River Vovodo and a battle ensued, he said. Kangul was in charge the LRA’s operations and logistics and he led armed raids in northern Uganda before the rebels were pushed out of that country in 2005, Ngabirano said. The Ugandan army said it seized satellite phones, 45 SIM cards, Global Positioning Systems, 9 sub-machine guns and 10,028 rounds of ammunition. “Many others drowned in the river and we have no captives. It was an ambush laid by us. No soldier on our side died,” said Ngabirano. “It shows how weak LRA is now. They are in the most vulnerable position ever.”

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013

WHO SAID WHAT

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 8 NO 2,685

‘In other words, we want to take Kwara politics out of the hands of a very selfish, domineering select group and broaden the space so that there is opportunity for everyone. That is the message we began with and that is the bond that I have with the people.’ MOHAMMED DELE BELGORE

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

HE irony of the relationship between beauty and the beast is that power resides in the beauty. The beast is powerful, no doubt. It has all the qualities of the conqueror. The beast is primitive, raw, uncouth, greedy, fierce, unforgiving. On the other hand, the beauty is fragile, vulnerable, built to seduce. On the surface, that is. The Nigerian beauty today is not the winner of Miss Nigeria, but oil. It is not for nothing that crude oil is called black beauty. It is sleek, glistening, and takes on all the dazzling shapes we want of it. It can be willowy, it can be fat, tall, short and long. It is the malleable beauty of the age. It is vulnerable in that it cannot hide for long. We seek it, find it and use it. It flirts and plays hard to get while ensconced in its wells in the same way a damsel eludes the suitor. It is the quintessential target of the lusty. In the end, it falls. But does it? Just as we know that it is not Samson who is more powerful than Delilah and King Kong cringes at the sight of the vixen, we all are at the mercy of the beauty of the age: oil. The intriguing thing about beauty is that it can be humble about its appeal and its superiority. Like a smile that melts muscles, it cows nobility. It fights without effort. Some psychologists have called it passive aggression. We are the beasts, the Nigerians, the raw exploiter. Oil, the beauty, does not propagate its charms. It is just there, loud in its silences, in the well of abundance. We have fought wars over it, just as the beauty Helen of Troy inspired hatred among the Greeks. We have built palaces and skyscrapers in its name just as Taj Mahal was a monument of love for a woman. It can be the hub of corruption as men have defiled their dignities all through history for the love of women. All the graces have issued from it: chivalry, heroism, piety, patriotism. Also the vices: debauchery, murder, theft, parricide, hypocrisy. The tragedy of any great life comes from how it handles its beauty. Nigeria has not done well by her beauty. We have oil, the beauty, in abundance, and it has been faithful from the first time we set our eyes on it in the 1950’s. We have not been faithful. We have fought wars, denied our history, oppressed the poor, corrupted the rich, encouraged laziness and abandoned learning, and above all abandoned God. When we call God, it is because we want him to give us access to the fruits of this beauty, its shapely profits, its giddy joys, its extravagant lifestyles. Other than that, we

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) •NMMA Columnist of the Year

Beauty and the beast

•Mrs. Alison- Madueke

have acted like Samson and forgotten the God who gave us this willowy empress. Recently, we went to war as a nation over this beauty. Some persons, they called them young Turks, abused this beauty by taking advantage of subsidy. They bought private jets, palaces abroad, choice boats, and their families know Nigeria only as leisure visitors. In exploiting this beauty called oil, they kept others in penury. When they spent one million naira, the ordinary folk managed

RIPPLES CLERIC ADVISES DRIVERS AGAINST ALCOHOL–News

...and MARIJUANA too

‘If it will go into private hands, at least the beauty should be allowed to pick who will refine her. Media reports have it that they want to give the refineries, the beauty salons, to fronts, or favoured sons. This will be another abuse of the beauty’ one naira. They abounded in luxury and hauteur. The ordinary folks decided to shut down the country. Who says this beauty is not more powerful. In fact, the poet Y.B. Yeats describes it as “a terrible beauty is born.” Beauty is terrible, but the rest of the ordinary folks wanted to follow another characterisation of beauty by Russian author Dostoyevsky who said beauty will save the world.

HARDBALL

ARDBALL wagers that capitalism is a carnivore and the market is its burial ground. This assertion is informed by the story of Nokia, the world’s number one mobile phones maker. Let’s bet again that if you don’t have a Nokia phone in your hand right now, you probably have it somewhere near you but surely, there must be someone by you who has one handy. Nokia made the best hand sets. Yes, I say ‘made’ deliberately because the Finnish firm may no longer make phones again, ever. A few weeks ago, Nokia shareholders agreed to a $7.4billion deal to sell the company’s mobile phone business to Microsoft. Nokia shares had slumped dangerously in the last two years and for the first time in the 148-year business life of this great company it could not pay shareholders annual dividend because it needed to keep the cash to stay afloat. So what was the problem? Simple, the management had a momentary lapse of memory so to speak and failed to innovate or jump on the bandwagon of new trends thus the market buried it. The smart phones emerged, Nokia did not tune in on time and consumers migrated, Nokia phone sales slumped, and the company began to bleed

The Nokia story profusely and was going to go under calamitously until Microsoft came along with cash. It can, therefore, be said that the smart phone killed Nokia. The company, Nokia, is the greatest export of Finland, the little Scandinavian country that was for many years under the shadow of the Soviet Union. It was the phenomenal success of Nokia that helped to transform Finland to a world class economy. Many Finns were said to have been shocked at the sudden misfortune of a company that was at one point worth 4 per cent of the country’s gross Domestic Products (GDP). In fact, the sale of Nokia’s phone business was almost marred by agitators who saw it as a Finnish national asset. For Nigerians, Nokia phones have stood out as the number one brand since the advent of GSM technology here over a decade ago. It has been found to be durable, user-friendly and even trendy. It was said that if your Nokia phone dropped from your hand, it bounces about and you simply pick it up while most other phones were likely to fall to pieces. Among the first set of Nokia phones shipped to

Well, soldiers were sent to fight against vulnerable men and women who went to the streets to fight for their own share of this great beauty. The leader of the country, Goodluck Jonathan, loved the beauty so much that he would not be part of sharing her glories with the common folk. The leaders of the protest, however, wilted and succumbed because they were offered a little of the beauty’s holy of holies, and they promised us that they would make things better. They would build new refineries so that the beauty, powerful as she is in her crudity, can be refined into sophisticated glory. That is, we shall have new beauty salons known as refineries. But what of the old ones? The person in charge called Diezani AlisonMadueke, a woman in charge of our beauty, promised that the new refineries also known as beauty salons will be upgraded so our beauty cannot only serve us but will be less terrible, will save us. A consensus seemed to have been reached between Yeats and Dostoyevsky, as terrible can also be saviour. We quietly exulted. Beauty is not only a charm, it is a great tease. She teased us and we fell for it. Then just recently she said the refineries will now be sold. The same refineries that would be upgraded and used to make our beauty more profitable for us? Well, it seems we can do nothing about that. Yar’Adua had turned it from private hands when he said the process was dubious but Jonathan said no, and it had to come back to private hands again. All of us know that the beauty called oil has always done well outside the suffocating hands of government. Its sense of romance lies only in exploitation. If it has happened to telecoms and PHCN, why not refineries? If it will go into private hands, at least the beauty should be allowed to pick who will refine her. Media reports have it that they want to give the refineries, the beauty salons, to fronts, or favoured sons. This will be another abuse of the beauty. Let all the suitors be allowed to make their cases before the beauty, and we call that transparency. Obasanjo sold them cheap and Yar’Adua reversed it. We want it transparent, and let the best suitors win. There are four refineries. Let whoever gets it be the person who did the best for the beauty. We have to look at their competence, history, capacity. It is like the wrestling match to determine the best suitor. Everyone, including the loser, cannot dispute the winner, because all are witnesses. We want transparency, not fronts.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Nigeria in 2001 (3310) have proven to be so durable that some people still use them till today. A friend told the story of how he had to ‘steal’ his mother’s in order to replace it for her as she would not hear of changing it. The lesson in the Nokia story is that though technology, like a lady, may be flippant and flighty, business managers of today must keep their eyes on the ball 24 hours daily. It is a trying time to run business. Things change in a flash, new trends emerge in the morning and by evening they have become jaded with yet ‘fresher’ ones replacing them and of course, some companies vanishing with the old fad. We are in a faddish world of electronicity and apps. When Apple came up with Iphones then Ipads and all the other such products only acclaimed tecchies knew that it would mark a paradigm shift for the hand phone business. Samsung jumped into the fray, lawsuits and all. It is reaping bountifully now. Nokia still was the best, the top of the range phone makers till about two years ago. It sat pretty thinking nothing could move its nearly 150-year domination of the business. But nothing is cast in stone and no business is too big or too solid to fail, that is the ultimate lesson of the Nokia story.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO