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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
NEWS
House queries new number plates, driver’s licence A LMOST three months after its introduction, the House of Representatives yesterday critcised the number plates and driver’s licence by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), saying it is not only economically oppressive but also lacks value to national security. The House directed its Committee on FRSC to investigate the rationale, necessity and circumstances of the planned phasing out of the extant vehicle number plates and present licences. The FRSC has also been advised to put on hold the implementation of the policy on new vehicle plate numbers and licences pending the outcome of the investigation. According to the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, a minimum of N192 billion will be generated from the issuance of the new driver’s licence and number plates in the next one year. Of the amount, N72 billion would be realised from driver’s licences while the remaining N120 billion would come from the sales of vehicle number plates. President Goodluck Jonathan, who launched the new driver’s licence and vehicle number plates on September 2, paid N6,000 for his new driver’s licence. Drivers and vehicle own-
Lagos to begin issuance today
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HE Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) will begin the issuance of the new vehicle number plate today. A statement by the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said the number plates would be issued to only owners of new and unregistered vehicles in the next four weeks. He said renewal and replacement of old number plates would begin later. The staggered exercise, the commissioner said, is to enable the MVAA clear the backlog of registration applications arising from the non-availability of number plates nationwide. Opeifa said the number plates for motorcycles would not be issued for now. He said owners of Standard Motor Vehicles would pay N15,000 for the new plate while existing owners would pay N10,000 to replace old number plates. He said the state-owned Number Plates Production Agency (NPPA) has sufficient stock of the new plates to satisfy the needs of fresh applicants and has put in place a production schedule to meet the needs of prospective renewal applicants to enable them meet the August 31, 2012 deadline. From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja
ers in Nigeria have till August 31, 2012, to comply with the new rule when they will pay for a private driver’s licence and number plate at N6,000 and N15,000. The Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Bussiness, Sam Tsokwa, yesterday brought up the issue under Point of Order
and as a matter of urgent public importance. He noted that the FRSC has veered off its responsibilities of managing road traffic and maintaining safety on Nigerian roads by turning itself into a money-making agency against constitutional provisions. Tsokwa argued that since inception, the FRSC had, at will, phased out, introduced and re-introduced new
number paltes and vehicle licences when it pleased, without considering the feelings of Nigerians. He said: “At every instance that new vehicle number plates and vehicle licences are introduced and implemented, vehicle owners get poorer as they are made, against their wishes and desires, to pay more than before for the same commodity. “It is worrisome that the new introduction would cost Nigerian vehicle owners at least additional 40 per cent of the existing rate to purchase new number plates and licenses.” The lawmaker queried the rationale behind the commission’s disregard for the Constitution, saying rather than concentrate on ensuring safety on Nigerian roads, the agency has made itself a court for prosecuting, judging and convicting traffic offenders. Tsokwa said: “As a creation of a statute, there is nowhere in the law where the Commission is mandated to generate funds for the government. But because it has decided to convert itself into a revenue-generating agency, without consultation, it would just change the number plates and licences, backed with lofty reasons that are mostly debatable at the end of the day.”
•Police vans stationed at the entrance to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Headquarters in Abuja as its workers began strike... yesterday.
Nigeria is safe to visitors, says Jonathan
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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the visit of the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Alain Juppe, to Kano last Saturday, as well as the trip of outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jean-Michel Dumond, to Kebbi and Sokoto states, has proved that Nigeria is safe to visitors. The President spoke in Abuja during a welfare visit by Dumond to the State House. He said: “Your visits to Kebbi and Sokoto states, after the French Foreign Minister visited Kano, all in the North of Nigeria, confirm that the country is safe to visit.” The President recalled that the French Prime Minister visited the Niger Delta in 2009, when other nationals were reluctant to visit the re-
•President warns criminals From Vincent Ikuomola , Abuja
gion. Dr Jonathan praised French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his assistance to Nigeria and Africa have enjoyed from France, especially on the restoration of peace and democracy in Cote d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Guinea and Liberia. The President yesterday warned criminals to either change or prepare to face the wrath of the law. He urged security agencies to go after promoters of terror and other anti-social activities and bring them to justice. Dr Jonathan noted that the nation’s justice system needs
to be reformed. The President said the nation should focus on human rights and address areas of abuse. He spoke at the inauguration of the reconstituted Presidential Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN). The committee is coming three years after the expiration of the former committee, whose tenure expired in 2009. Jonathan said: “Let me seize this opportunity to reassure the nation that I have initiated a very rapid and robust process to enhance the capacity of our security forces to protect life and property. Even as our
nation overcame past security scares, I am confident in the ability of our security agencies to overcome the present ones as well. “We are resolute in our charge to the security agencies to go after all promoters of terror and other anti-social activities in the country and bring them to book. “If you undermine the state, be prepared to face the full wrath of the law. “Our review of processes and institutional reforms are, indeed designed to strengthen and realign all the instruments and agencies of crime prevention, interdiction and punishment. My administration will not rest on its oars until the spirit of the law runs across the land. We promise to deliver swift and certain justice for criminal elements.”
Suswam blames attack on aide on ACN •It’s all lies, says Akume From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has said the attack on his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, was allegedly masterminded by the leadership of the
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state. Addressing reporters after visiting Akwaya at the hospital, the governor alleged that some ACN chieftains in the state had written President Goodluck Jonathan, vowing to make the state ungovernable for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He alleged that the attack on Akwaya was part of a plan to make good the threat. But former Governor George Akume of the ACN debunked Suswam’s claims, saying they were lies. In a statement by his media aide, Becky Orpin, Senator Akume described the allegations as “outright falsehood, ill-motivated and mischievous”. The statement reads: “The attention of Senator Akume has been drawn to spurious allegations contained in major news bulletins on Radio Benue, Makurdi, on Sunday, November 13 and some national newspapers, in particular National Accord of Monday, November 14 and Tuesday, November 15, and The Guardian of November 15, credited to Governor Suswam and his Information Commissioner, Mr Conrad Weghgba, alluding that he (Akume) masterminded an attack on Akwaya, the Media Adviser to Governor Suswam. “This allegation is outright falsehood, ill motivated, mischievous and a calculated attempt by these political novices to tarnish the image of an elder statesman who has devoted a better part of his life to service to the people of Benue State and the nation.
Tribunal nullifies PDP candidate’s election in Bauchi •Declares ACN candidate winner HE State and National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Bauchi, yesterday nullified the election of Idi Shehu Tiyin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The lawmaker is representing the Warji State Constituency in the Assembly and he is the Chairman, House Committee on Security. The tribunal declared Hamza Gawo of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) winner of the April election. Gawo had challenged the election of Tiyin for non-conformity with the Electoral Act 2010, as amended. He alleged massive rigging, illegal thumb-printing, ballot stuffing, ballot-snatching and presentation of fake results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and presented several witnesses to prove his claims. An official of Certificate Evaluation Department of the Federal Ministry of Education testified to Tiyin’s academic qualification. The Standard Certificate of Education from an American school also testified before the tribunal, dissociating itself
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From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi
from Tiyin’s claims. Tribunal Chairman Justice Maria Sanda Zukogi held that the petitioner proved the criminal allegations against the respondent beyond reasonable doubt. He said the tribunal was convinced that as at the time of the election, Tiyin was not qualified to contest the election. He declared Gawo, who polled the second highest majority of lawful votes, winner of the election and ordered INEC to issue him the certificate of return. The tribunal also dismissed the petition by Ishaku Adamu of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). It upheld the election of Bilyaminu Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the member representing Burra Constituency in the House of Assembly. Justice Zukogi held that the criminal allegations on electoral fraud, electoral irregularities and the breach of Electoral Act 2010, as amended, must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Cisco promises to support Fed Govt •Unveils solutions to aid SMEs By Adline Atili
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ECHNOLOGY solutions giant, Cisco Systems, has promised to work with the Federal Government to assist Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) to enable them contribute to the economy. The General Manager, Emerging Markets at Cisco, Carlos Marques, spoke in South Africa when he unveiled the new technology solutions to help organisations and individuals in effective business collaboration. Marques said the company would work with the Federal Governemnt to formulate policies to help SMEs grow and drive Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools in businesses. According to him, the absence of technology deployment hinders the expansion and growth of SMEs, which he described as a key componenent of any emerging economy. He praised the government for establishing the Ministry of Communications Technology, assuring that Cisco would work with the new ministry to assist the SME sub-sector. He said: “The Government of Nigeria has taken a commendable step in establishing the Ministry of Technology, putting ICT on top of the agenda. The challenge, however, is broadband. “As part of our strategy, we’ll work with the government to formulate policies to help Small and Medium Businesses and Telcos in the country. However, because of the sheer size of the country, it may take some time to begin to see results.”