June 18, 2015 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Governors to Fed Govt: pay your debt NEWS

Page 4

•States helmsmen to meet Buhari

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3249 THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

Boko Haram IEDs kill 63 in Borno NEWS

Page 4

•Military relocates command •www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: BPE, BPP BICKER OVER PHCN CONTRACTS P2 ROBBERS RAID LAGOS HOTEL P9

Anxiety at NNPC ahead of Buhari’s massive shake-up Secretary quits ED ‘on medical trip’ All is well, says official

HERE seems to be some disquiet in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ahead of the imminent shake-up by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Legal Services and Company Secretary Ikechukwu Oguine has resigned, The

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Nation learnt yesterday. Deputy Group Managing Director/ Group Executive Director (Finance and Account) Bernard Otti’s fate remained unclear last night, following his sudden trip abroad immediately after the inauguration of the President.

A source said he was away for medical reasons. It was learnt that more officers may retire or voluntarily withdraw their services from NNPC to beat the imminent purge. But an official said there was no cause for panic in the corporation. Fears of a massive purge

have gripped top managers of the NNPC, the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) over the controversial crude oil swap. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some top management staff of NNPC and its subsidiaries have opted to

leave the system ahead of the likely reorganisation of the corporation by the President. “Some of those affected include a few in high-profile offices, who were engaged by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, against the provisions of the Continued on page 4

Tax revenues to rise by N460b

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and McKinsey are working towards increasing tax revenues and adding N460million to Federal Government revenues in the next three years, President, Chartered Institute of Taxation... Business Page 55

Sam Omatseye is NAL Fellow

INFLUENTIAL columnist and Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Mr. Sam Omatseye has been admitted as Honorary Fellow of the prestigious Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL). In a letter signed by... News Page 5

Oshoala: why we lost to US

•HER BR OTHER’S KEEPER: Ogun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga sympathising with a truck driver involved in an accident on the BRO Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu Expressway after he was rescued from his vehicle...yesterday.

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

Buhari fit as a fiddle, say Presidency, APC President ‘better with age’ PDP disowns group

STORY ON PAGE 4

HE Super Falcons of Nigeria gave a decent performance in their last group match against the USA Women’s team at the 2015 FIFA World Cup but lost by a lone goal. After making a dramatic 3-3 comeback in their first match against Sweden, the Nigerian girls lost by 2-0 to the Australians and it was... Sport Page 41

Editor jailed in Turkey

N Ankara court Tuesday handed down a 21-month suspended jail sentence to an editor of an Englishlanguage Turkish daily newspaper after convicting him of “insulting”... Foreign Page 61

•SENATOR’S WARDROBE ALLOWANCE IS N506,000 YEARLY, SAYS RMAFC P2

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

BPP, BPE bicker o

•Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom (middle); Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Etekamba Umoren (left); Regional Director, Southsouth II, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Emem Udosen (second left); the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo (second right) and Executive Director, Southsouth/Retail Banking, Mrs Ibiye Ekong after the bank's management's visited the governor in Uyo...yesterday.

The dust raised by the controversial disbursement of N1.45 billion as consultancy fees for the liquidation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc. will take more time to settle. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) - the two federal agencies involved in the unbundling process - are locked in a blame-trading game. Writes Managing Editor YUSUF ALLI.

ESPITE denial by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), that it followed due process before disbursing N1.45 billion, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) rejected the award of N929 million contracts to a legal adviser for the winding up of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Also, the payment of N500 million to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) as consultancy service fee was not routed through the BPP. These clarifications were contained in some documents made available to The Nation against the backdrop of the N1.45 billion fraud which is causing disquiet in the BPE. In a statement, the BPE had on Tuesday admitted payment of the curious sums and claimed that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in a September 17, 2014 letter titled: (HAGF/BP/2014/Vol.1, withdrew its objection to the award •Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc. Chairman Mohammed Imam (right) , Managing Director Detlev Lubasch (left) and Company of the legal advisory services for the Secretary, Cecilia Madueke at JBN’s 45th Annual General Meeting in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE winding up of PHCN. The BPE also said it obtained a “No Objection” letter from the BPP. However, a highly-placed source in the presidency said: “Based on the facts available to the government, the BPP did not issue a Certificate of No Objection to BPE for the award of the N929, 613,188.94 for legal service for the winding up of PHCN. “Under the Public Procurement Act, no contract can be awarded by any MDA (Ministry, Department and Agency) without a Certificate of No Objection from BPP. The BPE has lied. When was the certificate issued and when was the contract awarded and executed before the payment was made? “In fact, the former vice president in his memo of February 23, 2015 to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan only recommended the award of contract of N517, 694, 100.00 to an Asset Adviser (Ora Egbunike Associates). •Vice Chancellor, Elizade University, Ilaramokin, Ondo State, Prof Valentine Aletor (second left); Registrar, Prof. Omololu “On his part, ex-President Jonathan Adegbenro (left); Managing Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu and Executive on April 4, 2015, approved the award Director of the company, Abu Ejoor at the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Vigeo Power Academy of contract to only the Asset Adviser. and Elizade University in Benin. There is no memo on the legal services and the N500 million consultancy fees.” Also, fresh documents obtained by The Nation showed that the BPP on September 22, 2014, and December 24, 2014, rejected the award of the legal service contract. The September 22, 2014 memo reads in part: “This is to refer to your letter dated April 4th, 2014. Please find herewith a revised Due Process Review Report No. BPP/DPR/SP/ REPROT/2014/012C dated September, 2014 on the above mentioned project. “The Director-General’s attention is further drawn to Section 12.30 of the revised Review Report for consideration and necessary action. “In view of the above, Due Process Certificate of ‘No Objection’ cannot be granted to the Bureau of Public Enterprise for the Appointment of Messrs J. K Gadzama & Partners LPP with N929,613,188.94 for legal services and Ora Egbunike & Associates with N517,694,100.00 for asset evaluation. •From left: Prof Osi S. Akpoghomeh; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), “However, Due Process Certificate Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi; Prof Chinedu Ezirim and Maritime Guard Commander, Captain M.M. Kabiru at of ‘No Objection’ can be granted to the Akpobolokemi’s convocation as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Bureau of Public Enterprises only for

the Appointment of Messrs Ora Egbunike & Associates with N517,694,100.00. “The Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN is no longer required based on the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice vides letter reference no. HAGF/BPP/2014/VOL.1 dated 11th September, 2014.” In another letter on December 24, 2014, the BPP advised the BPE against going ahead with the procurement of the legal service for the winding up of PHCN. The BPP, in the letter signed by its Director-General, Mr. Emeka M. Ezeh, said no instruction was received from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive. He said the BPP was “therefore constrained by the directive of the HAGF, hence cannot reverse the earlier verdict.” The letter said: “The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) having examined the request wishes to draw the attention of the BPE to Paragraph 14 of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF)’s letter to the BPP referenced that; item 1,3,5,6 and 8 of the scope of work for the Legal Advisor unnecessary for the liquidation of the PHCN. “Similarly, any of the remaining items 2,4,7 and 9 which are not contemplated by the procedure described in Sections 457 -468 (and there is hardly any contemplated) would equally be unnecessary to accomplish the liquidation”. “It can be deduced from the above citation that the HAGF’s position on this procurement clearly indicates that legal advisory service is not needed as all constituent items (1-9) under unnecessary as listed by the HAGF constitute all items under the legal advisory service, as such; no item is left for BPP’s consideration for a further review. “Moreover, I am to reiterate my earlier opinion that the proposed engagement of consultants for provision of legal advisory services for the liquidation of PHCN and valuation of PHCN’s non-core headquarters assets is inconsistent with the provisions and spirit of the EPSR Act and the proposed agreement to this effect should not be executed by the parties”. This is the conclusion of the HAGF letter, contrary to BPE’s agitation for a revised scope of work. “The BPP wishes to further draw the attention of the BPE to Paragraph 2(v) (i) of the minutes of meeting between the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) on engagement of advisers for the winding up of PHCN, procurement for selection of consultants for training and counselling of old employees of PHCN and extension of CPSC Transcom International Ltd (BPE’S adviser for the privatisation of PHCN successor companies) held on Thursday, September 11, 2014, at the BPP Conference Room, wherein, a conclusion was reached that; the BPP will consider reversing its decision on the procurement under reference only when further instruction from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive is received. “The conclusion reached at the

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

over N1.45b PHCN’s liquidation contracts

‘

We write to draw your kind attention to Paragraph 5 of your letter under reference where it was stated that the legal advisory services for the winding up of PHCN is no longer required based on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice • Adoke

•BPE chief Benjamin Dikki

meeting was consented to by both parties (BPP and BPE), and was in line with the AGF’s letter to the Bureau. Copy of the minutes of the meeting attached herewith please. “The BPP wishes to state at the moment, no instruction is received from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive. The BPP is therefore constrained by the directive of the HAGF, hence cannot reverse the earlier verdict. “In view of the foregoing, “No Objection” cannot be granted to the BPE to carry out renegotiation with Messrs. J-K Gadzama for Legal Advisory Services for the Winding up of PHCN.” The BPE’s unreferenced letter, dated December 11, 2014, but which was received at the Bureau on the December 19, 2014, requested the BPP to grant “No Objection” to carry out renegotiation with Messrs. J-K Gadzama in line with the new scope of work as advised by the HAGF. The BPE’s stated: “We write to draw your kind attention to Paragraph 5 of your letter under reference where it was stated that the legal advisory services for the winding up of PHCN is no longer required based on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. “Please refer to the Paragraph 4 of the letter from the office of Attorney General dated 11th September, 2014 where it was mentioned that; “This is however subject to the fees of the consultant for legal advisory services being reviewed to a realistic sum to reflect the actual services to be rendered mindful of the fact that the liquidation of PHCN is merely notional and will not involve most of the services outlined in the Consultant’s Scope of Work”. The Bureau observes that the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation means proposed a winding up option (voluntary winding up) under

S/N Firm

Services

Amount (N)

5% VAT

Total (N)

‘

Duration

J. K Gadzama & Partners LPP

Legal Adviser

885,345,894.23

44,267,294.71

929,613,188.94

6 months

Ora Egbunike & Associates

Asset Adviser

493,042,000.00

24,652,100.00

517,694,100.00

6 months

•BPP head Ezeh

Total Amount

•

The BPE payment.

S/N Firm 1

1,447,307,288.94

Services

•

The BPP approval

Amount (N)

J. K Gadzama & Partners LPP

Legal Adviser

Ora Egbunike & Associates

Asset Adviser

Nil

493,042,000.00

5% VAT

Total (N)

Duration

Nil

24,652,100.00

Total Amount

517,694,100.00 6 months 517,694,100.00

•BPP denies approving firm for legal services •No record of Jonathan’s approval for payment sections 457 – 468 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 (CAMA). This was also stated in paragraph 12.3.3 of your letter under reference. “In compliance with the directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation, a revised scope of work for the Consultant based on his advice has been prepared by the Bureau preparatory to renegotiation with the legal advisory consultant. Accordingly, we request you to grant the “No Objection” to carry out the renegotiation with Messrs. J-K

Gadzama in line with the new scope of work as advised by the Attorney General of Federation.”

BPE’s defence The BPE however explained its position on the N1.45 billion row in a statement by its Head, Public Communications, Mr. Alex E. Okoh. The statement reads: “The BPE therefore wishes to clarify certain misconceptions on some of its transactions as follows: •That the contract sum of N929,

613,188.94 - legal fees for the winding up of PHCN. •That the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) at its meeting held on Thursday, May 9, 2013, considered and approved the award of a contract to Messrs J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN Plc in the sum of Nine hundred and twenty nine million, six hundred and thirteen thousand, one hundred and eighty –eight naira, ninety-nine kobo (N929,613,188.94) only for a period of

six (6) months after obtaining a BPP ‘No Objection’. •That the Office of Attorney-General had earlier objected to the necessity of the procurement, but later withdrew its objection and endorsed the engagement of Messrs Gadzama & Partners for the legal advisory services vide a letter presented to the NCP ref: HAGF/BPP/2014/Vol.1, dated 17th, September 2014. •That consequently, the Council at its meeting held on April 16, 2015, finally approved that BPE should immediately proceed to execute the contract with Messrs J’K’ Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN Plc in the sum of N929,613,188.94 based on the “No Objection” earlier granted by BPP. ·•That the legal consultancy is to notate the over 500 court cases pending against PHCN to NELMCO and also provide routes of title to purchasers of PHCN non-core assets as well as wind down PHCN among other terms of reference. •That payment of N500million to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation as consultancy. · That the OAGF via memos with reference numbers: OAGF/ SD/ABJ/247/1V/984 dated October 18, 2013 and OAGF/SD/247/V/ 1032 dated December 5, 2013, had written to the Office of the Vice President to be reimbursed N500 million as expenses the office incurred for the handling of the payment of the labour liabilities of the workers of the PHCN.” The liabilities according to the statement included: payment for the engagement of an Information Technology (IT) consultant, who had been conducting integrity and quality checks on data for payment submitted by the BPE; payment to a consultant, who undertook an IT-based reconciliation between its (OAGF)’s record of payment and reports received from the paying banks and purchase of consumable items like toner, papers, compact disk, flash drive among others stationeries. Others were: cost of adverts on the payment exercise in several national newspapers and payment of allowances to staff of the OAGF, who worked overtime including on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure the payments were effected without delay. “The OAGF had argued in the memos that the approval of the amount was necessary because of the meagre overhead allocations in their 2013 and 2014 budgets and the exercise had exerted on financial position of the office. Based on this, the NCP gave approval for the disbursement of the sums. Note that government does not pay consultancy fees to its agencies; it only covers the cost of getting the job done.”

Senator earns N506, 600 as wardrobe allowance, says RMAFC chief

HE annual wardrobe allowance for a senator is N506, 600, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Elias Mbam, clarified yesterday. According to him, the amount represents 25 per cent of a senator’s basic salary. Mbam said the clarification became necessary following erroneous reports that National Assembly members will earn a whopping N8.64 billion as dressing allowance. The RMAFC chief, who spoke when he visited Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the National Assembly in Abuja, explained that wardrobe allowance was designed to assist public officers to dress properly. He also confirmed that his commission has initiated the downward review of lawmakers’ allowances in line with the poor state of the economy. His words: “It (wardrobe allowance) is 25 per cent of the basic salary for senators and if you apply that, every senator will receive N506, 600 per annum

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

“House of Representatives is less, but I don’t have the figure. It is less than that. Certainly there are other allowances. “There is utility allowance, there is housing, there is entertainment allowance and at the end of the service, there is severance allowance. “We will do a downward review of the allowances of lawmakers due to parameters like the state of the economy, the inflation, the capacity to pay, the reality of the day. “So, we will use all these to determine what is fair within the context of the present situation. The parameters will form the new Remuneration Act” Mbam told his host that the RMAFC is one of the fourteen executive bodies provided for in the 1999 Constitution and added that the commission has a constitutional responsibility to monitor accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account. He listed other mandate as: regular review

of the revenue allocation formula to reflect changing realities; determine appropriate remuneration for political and public office holders and advise the federal and state governments on fiscal efficiencies and ways of raising their revenue base. Seeking for the partnership, support, collaboration and cooperation of the National Assembly with the commission to effectively discharge its duties, Mbam said: “We have always received the support of the National Assembly and we strongly believe that your leadership will further strengthen this relationship in the interest of the Nigerian public.” Still on the wardrobe allowance, he asked for the permission of the Senate President “to use this opportunity to clarify some issues that have been in public domain and severally reported by some media. “Particularly yesterday, I read in one of the dailies that the wardrobe allowance which will be due next week for the members of the National Assembly is N8.64 billion.

“For the purpose of clarity, what is provided for wardrobe allowance is 25 per cent of the basic salary and if you work that out, what every senator will get is N506, 600 per annum and I wonder the relationship between that amount and the N8.64 billion that was quoted. “Furthermore, sometime last week, there was a publication that we have reviewed the 2008 Remuneration Act and went further to outline the entitlements of each public officer, please that is not from the commission. “The commission is currently reviewing the 2008 remuneration Act and hopefully we expect it will be ready by the end of the third quota and once we are ready, we will make public and of course present it to the National Assembly. “So, I will advise that those who may be misleading the public should come down to our office to clarify and get the proper information or go to our website because all the issues relating to remuneration are very well stated in our website.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS Governors to Fed Govt: pay your debt

OVERNORS have told the Federal Government to pay up its debt to states to boost liquidity. This decision was taken yesterday at the meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja. It was the first meeting of the forum in this post-May 29 dispensation when many new governors were elected. Yesterday’s meeting reviewed the cash crunch in the states - as a result of which many have been unable to pay salaries for many months. The governors may have jettisoned the proposal by All

•Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (right)with (from left) Executive Secretary, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Hajia Zainab Ahmed; Chairman of NEITI Board, Mr Ledun Mitee; Chairman of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Clare Short during a visit to the vice president at the Defence House in Abuja…yesterday

Buhari’s age makes him better to rule, says Presidency

HE Presidency and his party, the All progressives Congress (APC), rose yesterday in defence of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose comment on his age in South Africa has received a negative interpretation. Buhari, 72, said while addressing Nigerians in South Africa after attending the African Union (AU) Summit, that he wished he were younger. Among other reactions was that of the group, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Media Watchdog, which asked Buhari to resign. The APC described the statement as “jejune”, saying the President has, within only three weeks in office, taken Nigeria to the front burner of international politics and taken a giant stride in the battle

APC: Buhari is performing

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday described as “a product of poor thinking and deliberate mischief”, the statement credited to the “so-called” PDP Media Watchdog asking President Muhammadu Buhari to resign because of his comments over his age. In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said if the authors of the statement had understood simple English, taken the pains to engage in deep thinking and contextualised the comments, they would not have rushed to the press to ask the President to resign. ‘’What President Buhari was saying, which was lost on those who issued that jejune statement, is From Jide Babalola and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

against Boko Haram by getting the support of the international community. The President has, in addition, been putting together “behind the kleiglights, a first class team to implement his change

that only his love and passion for the country could have made him, at his age, to come out of retirement to seek the office of President, over 30 years after he presided over the affairs of the country. ‘’For 16 years, Nigerians gave the PDP the benefit of the doubt to move the country forward, but instead, the party put Nigeria in reverse gear at a high speed, spinning it towards a doomsday that was only averted when Nigerians showed the PDP the red card. This is what necessitated President Buhari to continuously seek the country’s highest political office, so he can help put the country on a forward march

mantra”. But PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh last night disowned the PDP Media Watchdog, saying “the group is absolutely unknown to the PDP and has no connection whatsoever with our party at any level”. Special Adviser to the Presi-

Continued on page 61

dent on Media and Publicity Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement reiterated that the President is fit to govern with tweets on his handle @FemAdesina. The statement said: ”The President, who had served as Continued on page 61

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Progressives Congress (APC) Governors after their meeting on Tuesday night that they expected a bailout from the Federal Government. The governors will meet with the President next week, it emerged at the meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari told reporters that they resolved that the Federal Government should pay for the various federal projects executed by the states. “Instead of asking for a bailContinued on page 61

PDP disowns group

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disowned the group that asked President Muhammadu Buhari to rsign. A statement by its National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, said: “The attention of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press statement by a group parading as PDP Media Watchdog and purporting to be working within and in the interest of our great party. “This group is absolutely unknown to the PDP and has no connection whatsoever with our party at any level, neither is the content of their statement a reflection of the position or stance of the party. “For the avoidance of doubt, our great party has not authorized this group to use its name, acronym or logo to issue statements or make public pronouncements on any matter and we caution those behind them to henceforth desist from such immediately.

“The PDP therefore distances itself from the embarrassing statement by this group wherein it called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign and went ahead to use offensive and denigrating language on the person and office of the President of our great country. “This is completely unacceptable and against the posture of the PDP to engage only on robust and credible opposition while constructively offering alternatives to the programmes and policies of the APC-led government, preparatory to our return to power in the next four years. “We note with dismay that the attitude of this group is a direct consequence of the approach adopted by the APC in denigrating and insulting our immediate-past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Though we know that former President Jonathan suffered such fate in the hands of the APC, we shall not repay them in the same coin as such is not part of our tradition and value as a party.”

Anxiety at NNPC ahead of Buhari’s massive shake-up Continued from page 1

NNPC Act.” The source, who pleaded not to be named because of “the sensitivity” of the matter, did not name such “backdoor” employees. He went on: “There are some professionals who also do not want their career rubbished by the looming shake-up of the sector by Buhari. “The NNPC company secretary has resigned and he even paid three months salaries in lieu of notice. He said he wants to go back to his consultancy firm if he does not find the environment challenging. “Actually, he gave himself a year target to take stock of things in NNPC and having

been appointed on April 7, 2014, he decided to leave on personal grounds.” Otti, according to some NNPC sources, took a sick leave; others merely said he had not been seen in office since Buhari was inaugurated as President. Before the inauguration, there had been arguments on the legality of Otti’s appointment. Another source said: “There had been unease in NNPC over Otti’s office. The appointment of a Deputy Group Managing Director is unknown to NNPC statute; it is illegal and whatever document or contract the man had signed as a holder of this office is untenable in law. “The management staff have

been having a sort of cold war because it is an aberration to combine the post of Group Executive Director, Finance and Account and the office of Deputy GMD.” A source close to Otti said: “He went for medical check-up; he should be back on Thursday. But his job does not suffer because someone is acting for him.” Some members of the management staff, who are believed to have been brought into the system through the backdoor, may leave before the proposed purge. An official said: “More staff may go to beat Buhari to the game. They have also realised that they cannot fit into the sys-

tem because they don’t have the technical capability. “A few others who are linked to the crude oil swap in PPMC and NPDC may leave. In fact, some of them in NPDC have not been coming regularly to office. “We operate in fear because we do not know the type of reforms the President may initiate.” Another NNPC source said Oguine was on a year contract that elapsed last month. “Oguine has a consulting firm he ran in the United Kingdom before his appointment. On the expiration of the contract, he chose to go back to UK to join his family and face his private consultancy firm wholly. The board of NNPC even offered to

renew his appointment but he preferred to go back to his private business. There was no problem,” the source added. Otti, according to the source, went to the United States to treat his eyes and will be back to office this week. The source also noted that there was no panic in the corporation as the board just sat yesterday and there was no information about officials who intend to resign before new appointments are made by the new government. There is also no information on any planned major shake-up in the corporation by the Federal Government, the source added. President Buhari has on many occasions vowed to probe the NNPC.

Home-made Boko Haram explosives kill 63 in Borno

MASS of home-made explosives, found at a deserted Boko Haram post has exploded, killing 63 people in Monguno, Borno State. Eyewitnesses and security sources said a member of the Civilian JTF took an abandoned bag filled with improvised bombs at one of the deserted camp of Boko Haram near Monguno. Recounting the Tuesday blast which occurred around 5pm, a source said: “members of the gallant Civilian JTF and Boko Haram fighters had a clash and the youth subdued them at the outskirts of the town. “It was when the Boko Haram fighters were running that they abandoned an ammunition bag inside which

Military command to function in 21 days, says Army

HE Army said yesterday the Command and Control Centre in Maiduguri (Borno State) and Yola (Adamawa State) will become operational in 21 days after the installation of hi-tech equipment. A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said posting of additional operations staff had also commenced followFrom Duku Joel, Maiduguri

were the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which turned out to be a booby trap “One of the CJTF Members, suspected to be working for the terrorists, took the explosive device and came along with it to the town’s populated market against several warnings from his col-

ing the deployment of a reconnaissance and an advance team for the centre last week. The statement reads: “The installations of hi-tech equipment, infrastructural development of the Centre and posting of additional operations staff have also commenced. “These are to be completed within 21 days when the MCCC would be fully

leagues, who never suspected that a booby trap had been laid on them. That was when it exploded in the market with hundreds of traders around.” The explosion also left many persons injured. Another source from the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Idrisa Bukar,said on

operational. The centre will also give the needed impetus that would ensure prosecution and successful conclusion of the war against terrorism.” The military said the centre would also provide the required interface between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Multi-National Joint Task Force to be deployed at the Lake Chad Basin area at the end of July, 2015.

telephone that a group of Civilian-JTF men went on routine patrol along MongunoMarte route when they saw the bag at a deserted Boko Haram camp. “When they found the bag containing what later turned out to be improvised explosives, they brought it to Monguno where people gathered

to take a look at it. As they were busy fiddling with the content of the bag, the bombs went off with a massive blast that killed about 63 persons and injured dozen others. “It was really a very sad incident that affected many families. Most of those affected are young men and few women”, Idrissa said.

During the campaigns, he promised to probe the $20 billion alleged to be missing from the coffers of the oil giant by Emir of Kano Muhammed Sanusi, a claim he made when he was the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. Former President Goodluck Jonathan sacked him from the CBN for the claim which he considered untrue aand embarrassing to his government. Speaking in Yola as Presidentelect, Buhari said: “I heard that some people have started refunding money, but I will not believe until I see it. “His royal highness, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was removed from the Central bank because he said that about $20 billion was missing, instead of the government to investigate the matter, they refused, instead they sacked him. “He has already written a detail report on it, the incoming government will not ignore it, even though we have promised to draw a line, but $20 billion is too big to ignore. This is Nigerian money and it must be investigated,” Buhari said. Last week during the African Union Summit in South Africa, Buhari also gave another evidence of the rot in the NNPC when he described as “improper” the holding of many accounts by the NNPC. Former British Prime Minster Tony Blair also advised the president to overhaul the NNNPC if he must succeed.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

Senior officers to Buhari: tackle civil service rot

GROUP of senior civil servants has appealed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention to prevent the Federal Civil Service from ‘total collapse’. The civil servants said rules on career progression have been manipulated and jettisoned by successive chief executives of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). The group said the rot in the service was deeper than what ordinary Nigerians could comprehend. The senior officers backed their claims with evidence of disregard for rules appointment and promotion of officers, regretting that the “current unimpressive input of civil service to national development is the direct consequence of the rot in the system”. For instance, it was gathered that contrary to the rules book, the result for 2014 promotion examination for Directorate level conducted for Deputy Directors was released without scores attached. They said it was the first time such would occur. Though the scores were not released, of the 138 that took the examination, the authorities’ list for those promoted contained 23 names. Again, in violation of extant rules, another batch of 10 names was released after the first list became a subject of agitation. According to the aggrieved senior officers, corruption is responsible for the piecemeal release of the result, which has never occurred since the introduction of promotion examination for civil servants. A source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “I make bold to say that I gathered that it was because there was no vacancy that is why the situation was like that. “Yes, 60 per cent was the cut off mark and it was believed more than 98 per cent of them must have scored above that, but the question is how can it be ascertained whether they

From Yomi Odunuga, Deputy Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

passed or not if the scores were not displayed? “Another intriguing angle to the issue is that after it dawned on the authorities that the aggrieved officers were not going to stop their protest, another batch of 10 names was released. “It has never happened before. It was even learnt that another batch of 35 names that included those that did not partake in the examination was about to be released, but they couldn’t go ahead with that. “Meanwhile, the implication for those whose names weren’t on the two lists was that they failed the examination. Now, they were being asked to take another examination this year. Though it was to hold in early this month, but the situation could not allow them to go on with it. “That is the major concern. They cannot take an examination that they passed twice and that was a precedence to back their action. “If the reason for the list they released was due to lack of vacancy, then they should wait till there is space, but they should not be made to take it again against the rules”. The source said the reason behind the action of the Chairman of FCSC and the HCSF was basically corruption “I believe that it was to fix their own candidates into the available vacancies, including those that did not take part in the examination that led to this situation. “There are evidences to prove many of these manipulations and I think it will do the civil service and the future of this country a lot of good to expose these absurdities.” A document obtained by The Nation showed how the FCSC and the OHCSF allegedly destroyed the civil service in the last six years. The document reads in part: “In utter violation of extant Public Service rules, in 2013, several unqualified officers were brought into the

service from unscheduled private sector organization, including MTN, and placed on the post of Director (Administration) and Director (Accounts) above serving officers. “Some hundreds of new entrants were recruited in the guise of ‘regularisation’ into the service as Directorate cadre officers on Grade level 17 among the hordes of aides of political appointees of President Goodluck Jonathan”. The role played by the FCSC and the OHCSF in the rot was also pronounced in the abuse of Presidential waiver. It was also stated in the document that “the Presidential waiver was wantonly utilised by the FCSC and the OHCSF as a licence for wholesome and arbitrariness. “While President Jonathan approved waiver of five Directors for two South-South states and two Directors for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) because they were disadvantaged, FCSC Chairman, on her own, added two more states, just to be able to bring in her cronies. “Even at that, due process was not followed as internal advertisement was not published that would have enabled qualified Deputy Directors to apply. “In the last six years, the two bodies have used corrupt means to fast track career advancement of their cronies, using all manner of means, including ‘regularisation’, ‘proper placement’, ‘advancement’, ‘conversion’, and ‘upgrading’ to place their favoured candidates on abnormal levels in violation of all known rules. “For instance, one Joseph Erim was moved from Grade level 09 to Grade level 16 before being moved to Grade level 17 three months after. “Promotion in the service today has become a case of just anybody with the right connection or a big purse can be promoted or transferred to the post of Director”. It said: “Currently, there is a Director in the National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) that has never worked as a civil

servant before. “These are facts that can be verified by intelligence agencies. So, what value do we expect officers like these to add to the system?” The rot in the service was also linked to the unprofessional ways appointments of Heads of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) were handled in the recent times. The incumbent HCSF and four of his predecessors were either not core civil servants or recruited without due process, it was revealed. Against extant rules that only administrative officer can become the Head of Service, the incumbent HCSF, Danladi Kifasi, is a Chartered Accountant. None of the last four HCSF was recruited at entry point of Grade level 08. “Even as we speak, a Radiographer is a Permanent Secretary in the OHCSF. “To drive home the point on how deep the rot in the

Federal Civil Service is, adherence to entry point rules was jettisoned long time ago. “Entry points in the civil service are Grade level 08 to 12, not beyond 12. Today, officers are being recruited even at Directorate level. “As a matter of fact, Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye was never a civil servant, he was recruited into the service as a director and he even became the HCSF. “This could be one of the reasons why a 2004 Presidential directive similar to our case was conveniently ignored. “The directive, dated September 7, 2004 and signed by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, stated that those that have taken the promotion examination should not be made to take a fresh examination on the basis of lack of vacancy. “President Obasanjo inter-

•Buhari

vened because the matter was also subjected to litigation. Obasanjo’s intervention saved the situation and the needful was done. But in this case, there was no such intervention and that is why I think they are going ahead with the court option,” the source added.

‘NDIC’s mandate is to protect depositors’

HAT is the major mandate of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)? It is to protect bank customers’ funds in the event of failure, NDIC’s Deputy Director of Research, Mr. Kingsley Nwaigwe, has said. Nwaigwe, who spoke at a sensitisation workshop for corps members in Keffi, the Nasarawa State capital yesterday, said it was “more reasonable to protect the vulnerable savers than protecting a few”. He added that the protection became necessary to engender confidence in the financial system and cushion the effect of any failure on ordinary Nigerians, as against shareholders, who usually own banks and earn returns on their investment. “We are here to inform and educate our enterprising youths on the need to imbibe banking culture. To tell you that even with the stipend your parents give you and what you are getting from your employer now, which is the Federal Government, you can still make savings. “The NDIC has a mandate

•From left: Vice Chairman, Presidential Initiative for Northeast (PINE) Dr. Tukur Ingawa; its chairman, Prof. Soji Adelaja; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Lafarge Africa Plc Mr. Guillaume Roux and Country General Counsel/ Head, Public Affairs, Lafarge Africa Plc Mrs. Edith Onwuchekw, during a meeting between Lafarge Africa Plc and PINE in Abuja … yesterday.

as a deposit insurer and liquidator of failed banks wherein we give between maximum of N500,000 to each depositor of commercial banks and N200,000 to each depositor of micro-finance and primary mortgage banks in the event of their bank’s failure. It is pertinent to say that this coverage limit currently covers over 95 per cent of bank depositors in the country,” Nwaigwe said. He added that depositors who have in excess of deposit insurance cover would be paid their balance in form of liquidation dividends upon the realisation of a closed bank assets. All the depositors of 15 banks, which failed in the past, have been paid their full deposit, the deputy director said. He listed slow judicial process, bureaucracy and ignorance of deposit insurance among the populace and on the part of some bankers as

some of the challenges of maximizing the benefits deposit insurance system in Nigeria. Nwaigwe, who spoke after a presentation of a play by corps members showing the dangers of keeping money under the pillows, also warned against the “patronage of wonder banks which promises more and deliver nothing”. “When a financial house masquerading as banks ask you to save money and get for instance, 17 per cent, you should be weary and refuse to fall prey to fraudsters,” he warned. He added that the reviewed Decree 22 of 1988, which established the agency, empowered it to protect depositors who patronise commercial banks, micro-finance banks, primary mortgage banks, merchant banks and the non-interest banks, licensed by the CBN as against illegal fund managers.

Oil barons didn’t bankroll Saraki’s emergence, says Melaye

ENATORS of Like Minds, a group of senators who spearheaded the emergence of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President, yesterday said the country’s oil barons had no hand in the emergence of Saraki. The senators also said that Saraki’s antecedent was enough testimony to show that he would support the anti-corruption mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari. This was contained in a statement by the spokesman of the group, Senator Dino Melaye, in Abuja. Melaye said it was obvious that Saraki is determined and focused to achieve the Senate’s legislative agenda as well as committed to support Buhari to deliver on his promises to Nigerians. The Kogi West senator added that his statement was informed by a report that “the election of Saraki as the Senate President of the 8th Senate was facilitated by Nigerians associated with dubious claims in the infamous oil subsidy.” He also said that it was not correct to say that the emergence

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

of Saraki was aimed at sabotaging the anti-corruption posture of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. He noted that it was equally wrong to link what happened on the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly on June 9 to some unnamed ex-ministers of the immediate past administration. The statement reads in part: “We make bold to state that in the 7th Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki was Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee, which exposed the fraud and mismanagement in the oil sector. “Until Saraki’s motion on the floor of the Senate, no one was in the picture of the rot in the sector. “Therefore, surely, Senator Saraki will be the last person the oil baron will want to see as Senate President. “In that position, Saraki did not only lead his colleagues in exposing the rot in the scheme, but made very strong recommendations on how the system could be reformed and made corrupt- free.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

Report queries AGF’s, others’ roles in $3.2b verdicts against Fed Govt A REPORT submitted to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has raised doubt over the legitimacy of award of $3,188,079,505.96 in two judgments against the Federal Government by a Federal High Court in Abuja in favour of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), some firms and two lawyers. Also listed as beneficiaries of the judgments are Linas International Limited, Phil-Tech Nigeria Limited, Riok Nigeria Limited, XI Nigeria Limited, Snecou Group of Companies Limited, Wells Procurement Services Limited, Systematic Engineering Limited, Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu and Bello Olaitan Busayo. The report, sighted by The Nation yesterday, is from an investigation commissioned by the NGF last year, into proceedings leading to the judgments, given in 2013, and upon which four garnishee orders were issued between February and April this year against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). A garnishee order is an order for collecting a monetary judgment on behalf of a plaintiff from a defendant. The money can come directly from the defendant (the garnishee) or at a court’s discretion - from

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

a third party. The report has raised doubts about the conduct of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation, who were defendants in the case. It revealed how the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation allegedly failed to defend both suits, which sought to deprive the country huge sums of money, raising questions about the actual motive behind the suits. The report also captured the presiding judge’s comment about the attitude of the AGF and others in conducting the cases. Justice Adeniyi Ademola noted, in one of the judgments, that the 3rd and 4th defendants (Finance Minister and Accountant General) “did not file any process in opposition to the plaintiffs’ case,” while the 1st and 2nd defendants (FGN and AGF) filed a counter affidavit. The judge further noted that

“apart from dumping the counter-affidavit with written address on the court, the 1st and 2nd defendants did not participate any further in the court’s proceedings in this matter”. The investigation was conducted by an Abuja-based security expert and Chief Executive Officer of a private security firm, Panic Alert Security System (PASS), George Uboh. Uboh urged the NGF and the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the process leading to the judgments, the refusal of the AGF and the other defendants to appeal the judgments and subsequent garnishee orders made by the court. He wondered why the court, without evidence of completion, ordered the payment of the money to the plaintiff in relation to some health services contracts, allegedly awarded to them by ALGON. He urged them to urgently intervene in the on-going garnishee proceedings before Justice Ademola, which may lead to the freezing of all Federal Government’s accounts with the CBN, including the “Crude

Oil Sales Account, Foreign and Local Loan Payment Account and Excess Crude Oil Account,” in respect of which garnishee order was made on February 20, this year. ALGON and Linas had, in the suit challenged the alleged Federal Government’s unilateral withdrawal of funds from the Federation Account to fund the London Club debt buyback of 1992 and London Club debt exit payment of 2006. They had argued that the Federal Government’s deployment of the funds for the payment of foreign debt without the consent of the other tiers of government contravened the provision of Section 162(1), (3), and (5) of the Constitution. The plaintiffs urged the court to order the refund of $3,188,079,505.96 to them; order the defendants to pay 20 per cent of the money to Linas through its lawyers as consultancy fees; and that the court should order the defendants to pay 15 per cent of all amount due to the Local Governments “for utilisation on security and health care delivery all over the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Linas also filed a separate suit against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Finance and Accountant General of the Federation, ALGON and 180 local governments (who were part of the plaintiffs in the initial case). The company claimed it was entitled to N1million per local government and another 20 per cent of the $3,188,079,505.96 being claimed by the plaintiffs in the case over the foreign debt deduction, as its consultancy fees. Since the defendants did not defend the case, the court granted the plaintiffs’ prayers in both cases in the judgments given on December 3, 2013. The defendants also failed to appeal, prompting the plaintiffs to begin garnishee proceedings against the Federal Government. So far, the court has granted four garnishee orders against the government. The first two were granted on February 20, 2015 in relation to the judgment in a suit, in which the court directed the “CBN to attach all monies ac-

cruing to the Federal Government or any of its agencies in its custody to satisfy the judgment debt of $3,188,078,505.96 and another $637,615,901.19” estimated as constituting Linas’ consultancy fees. On March 27, 2015, the court granted a similar order, directing the CBN to attach funds meant for the Federal Government or any of its agencies, in its custody, to satisfy a judgment debt of $637,615,901.19. It ordered the CBN to show cause why the order should not be made absolute. The fourth one was granted on April 1, this year, when upon an application by Linas and 235 others, Justice Ademola ordered the CBN to attach all monies accruing and belonging to the Federal Government or any of its agencies for the “purpose of satisfying the judgment debt of $3,188,078,505.96”. He ordered the CBN to show cause why the garnishee nisi should not be made absolute. The garnishee proceedings being prosecuted by Linas’ lawyer Joe Agi (SAN) are yet to be concluded. Further hearing has been adjourned till June 22.

Dogara to PDP: APC has come to stay From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

•From left: Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof. Obinna Chukwu, Eze Ndi Igbo Lagos State, Eze Hyacinth Nwabueze Ohazulike; Guy Chibuzoh Ilogwu and Chidi Ilogu (SAN) during the university’s Inaugural Lecture Series 2015 in Lagos ... yesterday. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Disquiet in prisons service over promotions

T is promotion time in the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) and emotion is running high among many officers. There is particularly growing disquiet within the top echelon of the leadership of the service over promotions of both top and lower grade officers in the service. The promotion crisis was triggered by the compulsory retirement of its immediate past Acting Comptroller General (CG), Mr. Aminu Sule, whose retirement paved the way for the current CG, Mr. Peter Ekpendu. Aminu was sent on compulsory retirement while awaiting his confirmation as substantive CG. He was sent on compulsory retirement by the Board of Management before he attained the retirement age of 60 years. He hailed from the Northeast. The NPS has six directorates

headed by Deputy Comptrollers of Prisons (DCGs). With application of the federal character policy of the Federal Government, the directorates are headed by officers who hail from the six get-political zones. They are Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth. After Aminu’s departure, the Service appointed an Assistant Comptroller General (ACG), Mr. Salihi Ali Bala, as Acting Deputy Comptroller to fill the vacancy of the Northeast created by Aminu’s retirement. But he has since sued the NPS to court to challenge the rationale behind his retirement, claiming that his replacement is older than him. The case is being heard by the National Industrial Court, Abuja. But while moving up the senior ACGs to act as six DCGs pending their official promotion to the higher cadre, the

Southwest region is not represented among the current six acting DCGs. Some people believe that it was an omission. Others believe that it was deliberate as the new Acting DCGs have spent seven months coordinating the directorates. But some concerned sources insisted that the practice flouted the policy in the commission. The directorates are Administration, Operations, Inmates Training and Productivity, Budget and Finance, Works and Logistics as well as Health and Welfare Services. The Service has only one substantive DCG, Mr. Dagaci Abubakar, who is heading the Budget and Finance Directorate. Others are in acting capacity. He is from Niger State (Northcentral). The Administration Directorate is headed by Mr. Ja’afau Ahmed, who hails from Kebbi State in Northwest. Opera-

tions Directorate is headed by Mr. Saraki Umaru, who also hails from the same Kebbi State in the Northwest. Inmates Training and Productivity Directorate is headed by Mr. Salihi Ali Baba from Yobe in Northeast and Works and Logistics headed by Mr. Raymond Afujue, who is from Anambra State (Southeast). The last directorate, Health and Welfare Services, is headed by Mr. Udom Ekpedeme, who hails from Akwa Ibom State (Southsouth Zone). The appointment of two officers from the same Northwest region, some argued, robbed the Southwest of being represented in the top leadership structure of the Service. Currently, promotion lists are being released and withdrawn, with some arguing that “many promotions are done in favour of cronies and those who are able to work their way to higher levels through other official means”.

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against deluding itself about dislodging the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in 2019, as a result of the controversies generated by the emergence of Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President of the Eighth Assembly. He said the perceived crisis associated with the emergence of the leadership of the two chambers was not enough to destabilise APC. The Speaker spoke following the comments made by some PDP chieftains that Ekweremadu’s emergence was a pointer to PDP reclaiming power in 2019. Dogara, while receiving a delegation of the 2014 Presidential Primaries Committee of the APC in his office yesterday, said APC was in government to deliver change. According to him, it was not strange or out of place that the contest generated conflict of ideas among various interests involved in the process of selecting presiding officers for the National Assembly. He said: “We are here to work and we don’t have any reason to fail. We can’t fail. That’s why I pick holes in the ambition of those who have their eyes fixed on 2019. “We didn’t get here because of 2019. If we do the right things and the people see results, 2019 will take care of itself. We can’t fail because we are here to bring change.” The Speaker also assured that the process that produced the National Assembly leadership should not be a subject of insurmountable conflict to politicians in the two major political parties. The committee secretary, Dr. Alex Ideye, urged the Speaker to reciprocate the good gesture of his opponent, Femi Gbajabiamila, by running an all-inclusive administration.

‘Lafarge Plc lost N2.5b to insurgency’ •PINE, firm to partner for Northeast’s rebuilding

EMENT giant Lafarge Plc lost N2.5 billion to the insurgency in the Northeast between November 2014 and April 2015, according to its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Africa, Mr. Guillaume Roux. Roux, who visited the office of the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast, added that the company was investing N100 billion in expansion of its business in the region. The cement chief said the company had decided to partner with the Federal Government in rebuilding the ravaged region. He said: “We have had some difficulties in the last few months and we estimate we have lost about N2.5 billion during that period. “We are committed to development of the region. We have a programme of N100 billion to invest. This is why this partnership is very key.” Roux said that Ashaka Cement, owned by Lafarge, had been in the Northeast for over 40 years. The company, he said, will be partnering the government in six key areas of entrepreneurship, health, skills acquisition, coal to power solution, education and technology. The Chairman of PINE, Prof. Soji Adelaja, described the partnership as a welcome development, saying that the company has shown the way forward in community service relation. He said: “We all know Lafarge is the largest employer of labour in the region. It is important that Lafarge plays leadership role in rebuilding the region and set example for other companies in CSR.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

Ikere royal families: no to imposition

OYAL families in Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State have warned that the community could go to “war”, if a non-royal candidate is imposed as the monarch. The placard-carrying royals, who are also known as Omo Owas, marched on the streets yesterday. They called on Governor Ayo Fayose not to impose Jimi Adu as the monarch, insisting that he is not a member of any of the royal families. They maintained that the purported selection of Adu by some kingmakers was unacceptable. They urged Fayose to order a fresh selection process using the Ifa oracle. Some of the placards read: “We want Fayose to call for fresh nomination”; “Adu is

My freedom was divine, says Ondo Regent

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

not a prince in Ikere”; “Ikere needs peace”; “No to Jimi Alagbado”; “No to imposition of Ogoga”, among others. The Omo Owas, who are princes and princesses from Ogbenuote and Agabaola royal families, claimed that Adu hails from Okekere Quarters, which, according to them, had never produced a king. The Ogoga royal stool became vacant on August 22 last year, following the demise of Oba Samuel Adegoke Adegboye, who reigned for 43 years. Addressing reporters, Prince Francis Aladejebi said it was unheard of for somebody who is not from a royal family to be installed as king. “Such would set a bad precedent not only in IkereEkiti but also in Yoruba land.

‘How can a person who is not a member of any of the royal families be imposed on us as the Ogoga?’ “Adu is from Okekere, he cannot claim to be from any of the royal families. “All the princes and princess in Ikere Kingdom know themselves and we will not allow any outsider to ‘gatecrash’. “How can a person who is not a member of any of the royal families be imposed on us as the Ogoga? “ Jimi Adu is not a mem-

ber of any royal family, hence he is not eligible for selection and installation as the Ogoga. “Adu is not a biological member of the Ogbenuote or Agabaola ruling houses. His purported selection was a flagrant debasement of tradition and the royal stool of Ogoga.” Aladejebi advised the government “to do the needful” by commencing the process of selecting the Ogoga afresh to bring down the tension that had gripped the town. The Olori Omo Owa (head of princes and princesses), Prince Adegboye Akapinsa, said it was wrong for Adu to claim he is from Ogbenuote and Alagbado ruling houses while also filing his intent to vie for the stool through the Agirilala dynasty. He said: “We are begging Governor Fayose to prevent calamity in Ikere-Ekiti.

“There won’t be peace in a situation where a non-royal, somebody without royal blood, is installed as Ogoga. “In his emergence, Ifa was not consulted apart from the fact that he does not belong to royalty. “We challenge Adu to come out and point to his royal family in Ikere-Ekiti. “We witnessed peaceful reign under the late Oba Adegboye, who was from Akaiyejo ruling house because the town wanted him. “We all supported his nomination. Anything short of transparent selection is unacceptable to us. “We want our governor to warn those fanning the embers of discord, those bent on imposing their preferred candidate not minding to beware. “We don’t want war in Ikere because this desperate attempt will cause war in this town.”

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE Regent of Akungba-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Princess Toyin Omosowon, who was rescued from her abductors on Tuesday, has attributed her freedom to divinity. Omosowon, who spoke in her palace while addressing residents and other well wishers yesterday, said she thanked God for keeping her safe. Her words: “I went through hell. I was tortured but in all, God rescued me. The plan of my abductors was to kill me but God saved me.” Princess Omosowon, who arrived at her domain at 1.30pm, thanked the people for their prayers. The crowd which followed her to the palace was unprecedented. Security agents had a hectic time controlling the well wishers. It was gathered that the regent later returned to Akure after meeting with some community leaders.

PDP’s suit against APC stalled By Adebisi Onanuga

HE National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Ikeja failed to hear yesterday the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Lagos West, Segun Adewale. Adewale is challenging the declaration of Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 28 National Assembly election. APC’s counsel Bayo Badmus told the court that the respondent was yet to file his reply on the point of law as ordered by the tribunal. Badmus, therefore, asked the tribunal, presided by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, for more time to file the reply. PDP’s counsel Yemi Oke did not oppose the application. Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till Monday for hearing and reiterated his order for parties to file all applications before then.

Osun APC: Omisore a liar

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has described the allegations by Iyiola Omisore against Governor Rauf Aregbesola as “a worthless vituperation”. The party said: “The only path of honour left for the failed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate is to produce proof to authenticate his allegations; otherwise there will be credible reason to doubt Omisore’s stability.” Its Publicity Director, Kunle Oyatomi, yesterday told the media that “only someone with psychological disorder would make the kind of claims Omisore made without a shred of evidence. “We are, therefore, challenging this PDP megaphone of falsehood to produce, within seven days, proof for every allegation made with corresponding evidence from the source or sources of his silly information. “Those who have public interest at heart are invited to Osogbo to crosscheck Omisore’s figures against the facts.”

Tribunal adjourns ruling From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

•GOVERNORS ALL: From left Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) at the Nigeria Governor's Forum (NGF) meeting in Abuja...yesterday.

Ekiti owes only May salary, says govt

HE Ekiti State government has said it owes workers only May salary. Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media Lere Olayinka said: “As at today, the only salary yet to be paid by the Fayose administration is that of May. “The administration has cleared the August 2014 salary left unpaid by the previous administration, leaving that of September that will

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

be paid as soon as there is improvement in the state’s finances.” On the May salary, the governor’s aide said: “May allocation that was received was not enough to pay salary, leaving the government with the option of waiting for June allocation that is expected to be released next week and the moment that is done, workers will get

their May salary.” Olayinka added:“It is also important to point out that apart from the shortfall in the state’s allocation, the mismanagement of the state’s finances is responsible for the present parlous state of its finances. “As at the time we assumed office, unpaid bank loan was N15, 831,613,425.62 while outstanding payment from the N25billion bond was N26, 749,796,784.75,

making N42.6billion debt from bank loans and bond alone. N21, 286,126,749 was outstanding payment to road contractors while N5,137,888,224.37 was outstanding emoluments to public servants. “The state was able to meet up with payment of salary because of the six months moratorium gotten from financial institutions from which the previous administration obtained loans.”

Investigate Mimiko’s administration, APC urges EFCC

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to access how resources accrued to the state under Governor Olusegun Mimiko are being managed. This followed the revelation by former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy Mrs. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala that Ondo received N81.7 billion from the excess crude account between 2011 and 2014. The party lamented that residents cannot establish a link between this huge

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

amount and the level of development in the state. A statement by the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government has no reason to drag the state into the present state of debt. The party said: “With no meaningful capital project in place, especially since his assumption of office for a second term, Mimiko has bankrupted the state and ground it to a halt. “It is regrettable that as an oil producing state, the Mim-

iko-led PDP government received such whooping amount with no meaningful justification.” The APC called on the EFCC to investigate how funds received and generated by the state are being spent by the government. The statement added: “While we acknowledge the challenges posed by the dwindling and bad economy situation in the nation, occasioned by economic mismanagement of PDP Federal Government. “We are also sad that unlike other states, Ondo cannot justify the huge amount

borrowed and generated with any developmental project. “On several occasions, we have urged Mimiko to come up with the state’s financial statement. “We are determined, more than ever resolute, to know how tax payers’ money is being spent. “We are also poised to know if the PDP government is not feeding fat on public fund. “Even though some states owe salaries, some of them have impacted the lives of the people through developmental projects and other interventions.”

HE Oyo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ibadan has adjourned till Monday the ruling in a petition seeking to upturn the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and Senator representing Oyo Central, Monsurat Sunmonu. The Accord (AP) and its candidate, Bisi Ilaka, are challenging Sunmonu’s victory. Sunmonu, through her lawyer, Tola Oshuobi, said the APC had filed a motion to dismiss the petition on the ground that it did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act on the method and the timing for initiating the pre-trial conference. Oshuobi said: “We are at the pre-trial conference stage. We have challenged the pretrial conference and we have said that the petitioner did not comply with the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, which prescribes the manner of applying and the timing for applying.” “So, we came to court to urge the tribunal to dismiss the Accord petition because application has been heard. “ “It has been adjourned till Monday. We have confidence in the tribunal and we believe it will do what the law says, because the judges are very intelligent. “They are very involved in the law too. We are sure the judges will dispense justice.” But lawyer to Accord and Ilaka Richard Ogunwole (SAN) filed a counteraffidavit. He said: “The pre-hearing notice they brought is premature for the pre-trial and it was heard yesterday. “The chairman of the tribunal has decided that by Monday, they would give their ruling. And if it is in our favour, then they will go ahead with the trial properly. But if it is against us, that will be the end of the petition.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

Remains of missing student found in shrine

HE decomposing remains of a 21-year-old student hitherto declared missing, Morenikeji Owolabi, were found yesterday in a shrine at Eposo village, Ishara, Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Owolabi, a student of Science Laboratory Technology Department of the Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, who hailed from Ekiti State, went missing some few days ago. Her dismembered and decomposing remains were found at a shrine by policemen. She was allegedly lured to the shrine by an herbalist, Femi Awise. Awise, a native of Isara,

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

is said to be on the run. But five persons suspected to be working for him, including a motorcyclist, who conveyed Owolabi to the shrine, and Awise’s apprentice have been arrested. The suspects are Adeyemi Ademolu (cyclist), Omolaso Taiwo(Awise’s apprentice), Lateef Ali, Akinyemi Dare and Sokoya Wasiu. According to Ademolu, the victim spoke with Awise twice seeking directions to the shrine on their way there. Commissioner of Police Valentine Ntomchukwu led some reporters to the shrine tucked inside a forest. He said investigation had

•Five arrested started to show how the victim was killed. The victim’s decaying legs were exhumed from a shallow grave, a few metres from the shrine. Her head, breasts and private part are yet to be discovered. The cubicle- size shrine, made of corrugated iron sheets, was strewn with scary fetish objects, bottles of palm oil, knives, plates and a pot filled with smelly boiled human flesh. Ntomchukwu said: “What we want to tell the public is that they should monitor the movement of their wards and children, especially

when they are left in school and other public institutions. “They should always keep watch over their children, call them regularly and when they don’t see them, they should quickly report to the police. “If we had received this report on time, we would have been able to trace this lady. “By the time we got the report, we now started scouting for information, only to arrest the motorcyclist who brought her to the shrine. “It was from the motorcyclist that we were able to gather that she was taken to this area and by discreet investigation, we were able to discover this shrine.

“We don’t know how long this shrine has been in existence but we assure you that this particular nefarious activity would be put to an end.” The Local Government chairman, Femi Soyemi, said he never believed such savagery could exist in his domain. Soyemi said: “I am shocked because I never expected that this kind of horrible and brutal thing exists here.” Also, a 40-year-old suspected kidnapper , Emeka Obi, was arrested by the police for the kidnapping of 97-year-old Iposiola Samaiye. Obi, a member of a kidnapping ring in Ijebuland, confessed that his accomplice,

Prince, escaped when the police closed in on them. Ntomchukwu told reporters that Obi and members of his gang kidnapped Pa Samaiye from his home in IjebuIsire last Thursday, and demanded a ransom for his release but the police trailed them to the forest where the victim was held. He said: “They held the 97year-old man inside the bush without food for four days. “ “But our men were tracking them and between 3am and 5am yesterday morning we were able to arrest them and free the old man.” According to him, Pa Samaiye is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ijebu Ode.

Woman commits suicide in Ondo

HE body of a 40-yearold woman, identified as Seyi Adewumi, was yesterday found hanging in an uncompleted building beside her house in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Residents said the cause of the death of the mother of two was unknown. The widower, Gbenga, said he found his wife’s body when he returned from a vigil. He said: “I left her in the house hale and hearty, but to

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

my surprise, I got back home this morning and saw some of our neighbours gathering in front of our house. They broke the news to me and took me to where she hung. “The incident is still a mystery to him as I am yet to understand what could have led her to commit suicide.” Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said he had not been contacted.

Alumni give to alma mater By Raymond Mordi

•From left: Wife of the Secretary to the Ogun State Government Mrs. Folasade Adeoluwa; wife of the governor Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun; wife of the House of Assembly Speaker Mrs. Oluwaseun Adekumbi; Chief Executive Officer, Edumark, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde and President of Association of Private Educators Dr. Femi Ogunsanya at the opening of the seventh edition of the Total School Support Seminar/Exhibition in Lagos. PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID

Army to install military equipment in Maiduguri

I-TECH military equipment, which will be used to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, have arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, waiting for installation by the Army. A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the equipment, including new communication facilities, would take at least 21 days to become fully operational.

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

The statement reads: “You will recall that a reconnaissance and an advance team for the establishment of Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) were in Maiduguri and Yola last week. “Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff were at the MCCC to begin operations on June 9. “The installations of hi-tech equipment, infrastructural de-

velopment of the centre and posting of additional operations officers have also begun. “These are to be completed within 21 days when the MCCC will become fully operational. “With the establishment of the centre, strategic and operational decisions on the fight against terrorism and insurgency will emanate from the MCCC. “This will ensure faster response time, improve sit-

uational awareness and better coordination of stakeholders. “The centre will also give the needed impetus that will ensure prosecution and successful conclusion of the war against terrorism. “It will provide the required interface between the Armed Forces and Multi-National Joint Task Force to be deployed in the Lake Chad Basin area at the end of next month.”

Buhari needs prayers to succeed, says cleric

CLERIC, Ven. Ephraim Ogundipe, has said President Muhammadu Buhari needs prayers to succeed. The retired Anglican priest said the President has inherited many problems. “As I speak, I have four graduates eating under my roof. I am a priest. I know many professors, permanent secretaries, politicians and top government officials. But, they will always tell you that they are on top of the situation. At the end, nothing happens.

By Emmanuel Oladesu

There are many jobless people on the streets. More will graduate from universities. Where are the jobs? Muhammadu Buhari needs our prayers to solve these problems. We should pray for him.” Ogundipe spoke at the funeral service for the former Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Chief Allan Osunrinde, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Idagba, Efon-Alaaye. Extolling the virtues of the

foremost educationist, Ven. Ogundipe said he led a honourable life as a principal, church treasurer, party chieftain and community leader. Governor Ayodele Fayose described Osunrinde’s death as the eclipse of a political and intellectual figure, who gave his life to the service of mankind. He said the deceased made a mark as an astute teacher and grassroots politician. Fayose added: “His contribution to the teaching profession in which he rose to the position of a secondary school

‘Lagos heads of agencies not sacked’

HE Lagos State government yesterday said heads and chief executives of government- owned agencies and parastatals are not affected by the dissolution of boards of parastatals and agencies. In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, the government said the House of Assembly Commission was also affected.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

On Monday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dissolved all boards of parastatals and agencies with the exemption of the State Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission. The clarification Bello said became necessary because of wrong interpretations being given to the dissolution.

principal, his developmental roles as the Vice Chairman of Efon Local Government and his stabilising roles as the Ekiti State PDP Deputy Chairman are legendary.” Urging his widow, Kehinde, and children-Debodun Fagbeyiro, Akin, Goke, Oluwatoyin and Motunrayo to take heart, the governor said they should take solace in the realisation that Pa Osunrinde lived a fulfilled life. At the event were the Anglican Bishop of Ekiti West Diocese, Rev. S.O. Oke, former Information Commissioner Odunayo Ategbero, former member of the House of Assembly Bisi Kolawole, Chief Joseph Alake, Chief Bode Olayinka, Efon PDP Chairman Olufemi Oluwatayo, Peter Daramola, Prince Adeyemi Aderemi, the Aro of Obalu Quarters, Efon-Alaaye, Chief Osoyemi Oladesu, Pastor Rufus Ajayi, Pastor S.F. Obisesan and Dr. Johnson Fakorede.

HE Ibadan Grammar School Old Boys’ Association, 1965 to 1969/1971 set, has donated 20 solid magic boards to their alma mater. A statement by an executive of the association, Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan, said the donation was made when members returned to celebrate their 50th anniversary of entering the school. The statement said the Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther Memorial University, Oyo, Prof. Kola Jaiyeoba, a member of the set, reassured the school authorities that the association will not let the school down. The Vicar of the school, who was represented by Canon O. Oyewusi, thanked the alumni for always remembering their alma mater. He prayed for God to give them the strength and long life to continue to be relevant to the school and humanity at large.

‘Establish healthcare agency’

HE Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) in Oyo State has called on the Oyo and Osun state governments to establish a primary healthcare development agency. The Secretary, Seun Onifade, made the call at a seminar for reporters in Ibadan, the state capital. “It means that states that have the primary healthcare development agencies can have improved health system. But presently Oyo and

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Osun do not have the agency,” he said Onifade said the health is not included in the constitution and nobody can hold the government to ransom on the issue. According to him, the seminar was organised to engage the media to understand the Health Acts and “it will help us to push government to create a primary healthcare development agency”.

UNIOSUN Governing Council chair From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

SUN State University (UNIOSUN) Visitor Governor Rauf Aregbesola has approved the appointment of Prof. Obafemi Ajibola as the institution’s Governing Council Chairman. A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, said the appointment followed the resignation of the former Chairman, Prof. Gabriel Olawoyin. Aregbesola dissolved the management led by Prof. Bashiru Okesina and the Olawoyin-led Council, following the release of the White Paper of the Visitation Panel on the institution’s crisis. The termination of the management took immediate effect. The Visitation Panel recommended that the Governing Council be allowed to complete the process of the appointment of a new vice chancellor before its dissolution in December.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS 19 ex-commissioners make Emmanuel’s list

KWA Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has submitted a list of commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly for screening. Most of the nominees, it was learnt, served under former Governor Godswill Akpabio. Of the nominees, 19 are former Commissioners Aniekan Umanah, Emmanuel Enoidem, Godwin NtukUdeh, Gloria Edet, Akan Okon, Etido Inyang and Monday Uko. Emmanuel Ibiok, Uwe-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

medimo Nwoko, Enobong Uwah and some former commissioners also made the list. The new names on the list are: Ephraim Inyang, Ekong Sampson, Elizabeth Obot, Martins Ephraim, Enyinaya Ekpenyong and Anietie Etuk, who are Special Advisers-designate. House of Assembly Speaker Aniekan Uko submitted the list to the Committee on Judiciary, Ethics and Public Petitions for screening.

Okowa appoints Aguariavwodo, others as aides

ELTA State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday named a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, as a Special Adviser. In a special announcement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Festus Ovie-Agas, a former the Peoples Democratic Par-

ty (PDP) State Chairman Emmanuel Ogidi and former House of Assembly Speaker Martins Okonta were among the six governor’s aides. Others include a former member of the House of Representatives, Pascal Adigwe; former Special Adviser to former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Labour Matters, Mike Okeme and Mr. Mola Emiko.

PDP Governors kick against relocation of election tribunals from Rivers, Taraba, Akwa Ibom •Mimiko is chairman

OVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have kicked against the relocation of election tribunals from Rivers, Taraba and Akwa Ibom to Abuja. The governors, who met in Abuja Tuesday night up till the wee hours yesterday said, “We condemn in very strong terms the relocation of election tribunals in Rivers, Taraba state and Akwa Ibom states to Abuja. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu also announced the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as the new chairman of the Forum. He replaced former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who served out his term on May 29. “The PDP governors’ forum unanimously elected Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as chairman of the forum”, Ikpeazu stated. The Forum congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his election as the President and also commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of peaceful disposition in the 2015 general elections, which

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

the governors said had stabilised the political landscape. “We equally congratulate Senator Bukola Saraki, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Suleiman Lasun on their election as the Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. We specially congratulate our own Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on his emergence as Deputy Senate President”, Ikpeazu added. Also speaking after the meeting, Mimiko said the governors would do everything in their powers to engage the presidency and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in very constructive manner. “We have also agreed to create formal and informal mechanisms of pair review, all for the development of our nation”, Mimiko said. Governors at the meeting were attendance: Mimiko, Capt. Idris Wada (Kogi); Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba). Bayelsa State Deputy Governor John Jonah represented Governor Seriake Dickson at the meeting.

Rivers plans boarding schools

IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has pledged to reintroduce boarding schools with modern facilities to improve the standard of education. The governor spoke yesterday at the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Rumuokuta, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, during an unscheduled visit to the school. He said his administration would select pilot schools to upgrade as mod-

el schools. Wike decried the condition of the girls’ school, where he said the laboratories and other facilities had deteriorated. The governor ordered the immediate construction of a fence around the school and the demolition of illegal structures on the premises. He also directed the construction of internal roads in the school, which he said would serve as a pilot institution in the new boarding school policy.

•From left: Celestine Enwerem, Sani Zaharadeen and Hamisu Yunusa, some of Nigerians evacuated by the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) from Yemen, on their arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...yesterday

Navy destroys 21,000 litres of refined PMS in Akwa Ibom O

FFICERS and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday said they had destroyed 21,000 litres of products suspected to be refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol. The products were destroyed an oil thieves’ hideout at Ubenikang in Ibeno Local Government Area during the Navy’s anti-theft operation. NNS Jubilee’s commander Commodore David Adeniran said the Navy discovered four standard pumping machines and two submersible pumps at the scene during the raid on the oil thieves’ hideout. Commodore Adeniran said the Navy’s action was in line with its war against

JTF smashes 32 illegal refineries in Warri From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

HE Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, said yesterday it had destroyed 32 illegal refineries in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State as part of its war against oil theft. The JTF’s Sector I in Warri said it would continue the operation until oil thieves and their sponsors are rooted out. The Coordinator of Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt.-Col. Isa Ado, addressed reporters yesterday at the 3 Infantry Battalion of the Nigerian Army at Effurun Barracks, Warri, Delta State. He said 86 drums, 27 pits and 25 surface tanks, all containing substances suspected to be stolen crude oil, were discovered during the operation. Ado, who represented JTF’s Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Jebe Atewe, said 29 local ovens and 10 water pumping machines were also found at the various illegal refining sites. From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

oil thieves. He warned oil thieves and other criminals in Ibeno to relocate, adding

that they would not escape the government’s trap, if they continued their illicit business. Commodore Adeniran

said the Navy was ready to tackle the challenges in the maritime environment. He said: “The measure to be taken in curbing the activities of illegal bunkering operators and other related criminalities is not for the Navy alone. We are going to work, as usual, in conjunction with other security agencies and the communities where we operate. We will continue to work together to ensure that their activities are checked. “We have warned the perpetrators on several occasions to desist from illegal bunkering and related crimes and go into productive businesses.” Commodore Adeniran added that oil thieves caused environmental hazard and economic sabotage.

Robbers in dawn raid of Lagos hotel •Lodgers forced to transfer N2.5m through internet banking

HERE was panic yesterday at a popular hotel in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos following an early morning invasion by armed robbers. The gang, numbering about 20, it was learnt, gained access to the ‘tight security’ street not far from Divine Estate, and forced lodgers in the suites to transfer money through token and other Internet banking methods. They were said to have stormed the premises around 12:30am and moved from one room to another demanding ATM cards, pin numbers from the owners at gunpoint, which they passed to other members of the gang to use at a bank located on the other side of the road. A source who does not want to be named said the robbers ordered their victims to remove their simcards from their phones to prevent them from seeking help. “I am still in shock.A friend of mine came into town and so, I went there to be with him. I was there and I just thank God that I don’t have neither ATM no token. “We were already in bed

By Precious Igbonwelundu

when it happened. It was around 12:30am. I don’t know how they opened the door but immediately they came in, they told us to submit our phones. “We did not argue with them. They said they were not interested in taking any of our gadgets because we would use the gadgets to make more money that we should remove our sim cards from our phones. “About five men came inside the room and they all had guns. I was already panicking. So, my friend complied with them. The next thing, they said we should bring out our ATM cards and write down the pin that if we like our lives, we would not try to give a wrong pin. “Fortunately, I don’t have an ATM card because mine has expired and I have not gone for a new one. My friend gave them his ATM and wrote down his pin for them and before us, they handed it to one of the members who went out with it. “Later on, we were taken down and to my surprise, I saw many other people who from

the looks on their faces, have had similar experience. “That was where we all waited at gun point until the about seven men wearing caps and dark shades, who had gone to use the ATM cards returned and dropped them for the owners to sort out. “It was when they left that one of the customers disclosed that he was forced to use his token to transfer N2.5 million to the robbers’ account. He said when they told him to bring his ATM card, his token fell and they asked him to return his sim card into his phone and do mobile banking. “He told us that they checked his account balance and put a gun to his head to transfer the money to the account number that was dictated to him. “Everyone was in shock and we could not go back to sleep. I am still very shocked because I thought things like that can only happen in films. I know that the street has very tight security. There are Bakassi boys even engaged as vigilantes boys. Asked if the matter was reported at the police, the source answered in the affirmative,

adding that most of the victims followed the hotel management to Amuwo Odofin police station. But while the state command’s spokesman, DSP Ken Nwosu denied knowledge of the incident, the Area E Commander, ACP Dan Okoro abruptly ended this reporter’s call at the mention of the incident, claiming he was not around. Nwosu said: “I have contacted most of the police divisions in Area E and they said no such report was made. If armed robbers attacked a hotel for close to four hours and the management did not deem it fit to inform the police, then, something is wrong. That hotel should be held responsible,” said Nwosu. At the time The Nation visited the hotel premises, people were seen in clusters discussing, as they turn curious gazes to anyone entering the hotel. The reporter could not speak with the hotel management for official confirmation as he was said to have closed for the day.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM

•A Bahraini boy searches for the crescent moon in Karzakan

Ramadan 1, 1436AH

•A Bahraini man using binoculars to search the sky

•Some Arabians join in the search

Ambode seeks adherence to Islamic injunctions

Nigeria joins world Muslims to begin Ramadan N IGERIA joins 13 Arab countries and other African nations to begin the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Islamic authorities in Tunisia, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Palestine and Lebanon announced Wednesday as the last day of the month of Shaaban and that today marks the beginning of Ramadan. In Africa, Islamic authorities in Nigeria, Uganda, Chad, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo and Ethiopia also announced that Ramadan starts

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

today. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. It is a time of self-examination and increased religious devotion. Throughout the fasting month, Muslims are urged to perform extra prayers, recite the Quran, give to the poor and refrain from indecent behaviour. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, said yesterday was the final day of the lunar month of Sha’aban.

The beginning and end of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the new moon. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) last night announced the sighting of the new moon heralding the month of Ramadan 1436AH. Alhaji Abubakar said various reports for the sighting of the new moon were received from Muslim leaders and organisations across the country, which were duly verified and

AGOS State Governor Mr Akinwunmi Am-

•Alhaji Abubakar

authenticated by the National moon sighting committee. The Sultan implored the Muslim Ummah to devote themselves to worship and offer fervent prayers for the new leadership in Nigeria to succeed in steering the affairs of the country.

Promote love, peace, Buhari urges Muslims

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has called

on Nigerians to pray for the return of peace, love and

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

prosperity throughout the country as Muslims start the 2015 Ramadan fast.

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

Welcome Ramadan

HIS is Ramadan, the ‘Dean’ of all lunar months. It comes into the world once in a year. Its arrival is always with fanfare. Its splendour is shrouded in the divine paraphernalia that heralds its coming. Unlike all other months of the year, Ramadan keeps humanity in suspense even as it sends a harbinger ahead. That harbinger is the crescent of hope, which millions of Muslims await before commencing the annual obligatory fast. From its name alone, Ramadan can be called the key with which to open the door to paradise. It is the solid ground upon which the formidable edifice of Islam is built. It is the month in which Islam was born. Without the revelation of the Qur’an which started in the month of Ramadan, perhaps the world would not be talking of the five pillars of Islam today. It is from the Qur’anic revelations that we came to know of Iman (faith); Salat (worship); Zakah (alms giving); Sawm (fasting) and Hajj. Ramadan is the great light from the heavens which wakes up the snoring humanity from their deep sleep and illuminates the dark world of man. For those who know it, Ramadan is the incomparable yardstick of discipline in the life of man. To wake in the night and observe Nawafil (spiritual genuflexions); to take an early breakfast at dawn and abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse as well as throughout the day can only be imposed by Ramadan as an act of discipline. With Ramadan, the hardest heart is softened and the wildest animal instinct in man is tamed. No other pillar of Islam preaches patience, sympathy and social welfare as effectively as Ramadan does. Ramadan is the month that levels the ground under the feet of the rich and the poor alike. Ramadan is the only month that comes into the world with heavy pregnancy. Inside that pregnancy is the mystery called the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) which turns every true believer into a new, innocent person. If only for the sake of the ‘Night of Power’ (Laylatul Qadr), Ramadan is worth the divine splendour that characterizes it. Welcome on board of this cruising spiritual ship sailing confidently towards the ‘Cape of Good Hope’.

In a congratulatory message released by his Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, President Buhari implored Muslims to seek maximum benefits from the Ramadan period “by being helpful to all manner of people, learning and following the true message of the religion as taught by the Holy Prophet.” He also appealed to the perpetrators of violence and destruction in the name of Islam all over the world to desist from tarnishing the name of the religion. He said: “As we make col-

lective efforts to bring to a permanent end the menace of the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin countries, let me use this auspicious occasion to appeal to our misguided brothers to drop their arms, embrace peace and seek a better understanding of Islam during this Holy period and beyond.” The President prayed to Allah to bring peace and harmony to all parts of the country and the world at large. “I wish all our citizens a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem Mubarak,” he said.

Saraki urges Muslims to pray for peace

ENATE President Bukola Saraki, yesterday, urged Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to pray to Allah for divine intervention in the fight against insurgency. Saraki, in a Ramadan message to Muslim faithful in Abuja, enjoined them to be of good conduct during the holy month. “Holiness is the key to maximise the spiritual and physical benefits in Ramadan,” he said. He noted that Ramadan, being one of the pillars of Islam, be used to seek Allah’s face in the fight against insecurity in the nation. He urged Islamic scholars and preachers to be guarded in their teachings during the fasting period, urging them to concentrate on the true teachings of Islam, rather than engaging in mutual recrimination. Saraki said: “Muslim schol-

Muslim scholars should educate their audience of what is expected of Muslims during and after the holy month of Ramadan to earn Allah’s blessings. From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ars should educate their audience of what is expected of Muslims during and after the holy month of Ramadan to earn Allah’s blessings. “As we begin this year’s Ramadan fast, we must be firm in the pursuit of good deeds, we must pray for peace and the unity of our dear country.” He reminded Muslims to be of good courage and help the needy during the Ramadan fast in line with the commandments of Allah.

bode has called for strict adherence to the dictates of Islam. According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Habib Aruna, Ambode said the Holy Month signifies piety and total abstinence from food and all vices. While saying that the period of abstinence should also accentuate orderly behaviour and obedience to constituted authority, the governor said with the fear of God, people would obey all laws. He said Muslims must ensure that abstinence from all vices, embraced during the Ramadan period, should become an everyday affair. In doing so, he said, everybody would be at peace with him or herself.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

The governor, who used the occasion to canvass peaceful co-existence among residents, added that only through peaceful atmosphere that government policies and programmes could be actualised. “At this critical period of nation building, the lessons of the Holy month of Ramadan must permeate all actions and deeds of the people in such a way that each person serve as his brother’s keeper always”, the governor said. He said it should also be a period of rededication to the ideals of nation building by the citizenry. “At this period when majority of Nigerians have expressed their choice at the polls for a change, which must be total and all encompassing,” he said.

Tambuwal reconstitutes feeding committee

OKOTO State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has reconstituted the state’s 23-member Ramadan Feeding

Committee. According to the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, former Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru, the Galadiman Gari, and secretary, Garba Bello, Director, Social Welfare in the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, retained their positions. The new reconstituted committee has its membership drawn from the civil service, clergy, elder statesmen and politicians. It further said the appointment is with immediate effect.

Pray for peace, unity, says Lagos speaker By Oziegbe Okoeki

PEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa has urged Nigerians, particularly the

Muslim faithful, to use the Ramadan fasting period to pray for peace and unity in the country. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, Obasa described the fasting period as a time of sober reflection, which affords Muslims the opportunity to move closer to Allah and seek His favours. “It is not Muslims alone who should make positive use of this spiritual period but also all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious belief,” the Speaker said. Obasa said with the present situation of things in the country, there is a need for Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the fasting to pray for Nigeria’s unity and for peace to reign in the country. He stated further that one major feature of the period is sharing of love, hence the need for Muslims to share love not only among themselves but also among adherents of other religions to engender brotherliness among Nigerians. “Islam means peace, thus this is the period Muslims can display the peaceful nature of the religion to people, especially adherents of other religions,” Obasa said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Dogara urges Fed Govt to revive Ajaokuta From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

HE Federal Government has been urged to show commitment in reactivating the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State as a means of mitigating unemployment in the country. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara who spoke yesterday while addressing members of the Kogi State caucus in the House who paid him a solidarity visit, described the steel project as a platform for the industrialisation of the country. He assured the lawmakers that the House leadership will hasten the process of liaising with the executive to solve the perennial problem afflicting the complex. The Speaker who waxed spiritual on the issue, enjoined Nigerians to pray for the steel project as demons may be at work there as every attempt at revamping it has turned out negative. He said: “I don’t know if there are demons besetting that place that is making things difficult to work out there. Apart from hoping that things will change in that place, I also feel we should employ prayers for the complex to be restored. “We all know what Ajaokuta stands for, and we are putting it to paper and to debate it. By that, I mean the sectoral debate that we have proposed in our legislative agenda. “We have to engage on issues that affect the people more, like these that you have raised about Ajaokuta. “Itemising the economic benefit of the place is the kind of things that I would like to see members canvass for on the floor of the House. We must not joke with this as it affects all of us. “We must open a legislative debate on Ajaokuta within the first and second week of our resumption to be sponsored by one or all of you so that we can resolve and send our resolution to the executive for implementation.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$58/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

$163/lb RATES

Inflation

Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending

15.87%

Savings rate

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR

13%

Foreign Reserve

$34.5b

‘We must explore the off-grid system. Power generated mustn’t go to Osogbo before it gets distributed. We lose 37% of generated power anytime we do this. Why don’t we remove Egbin and Afam power plants from the national grid and let them serve Lagos or Southwest and Southeast respectively? If this is done, there will be great improvement’ - MD/CEO, Mayok Engineering Works Limited, Chief Abayomi Awodipe

Nigeria owes Julius Berger N90b •Firm records N8.2b profit after tax T

HE debt which both the public and private sec tors of the economy owe Julius Berger Nigeria has risen to N90 billion, its Financial Director, Mr. Wolfgang Kollermann has said. He spoke yesterday at the 45th annual general meeting (AGM) press conference in Abuja, stressing that the debt was mostly owed by the public sector which constitute three quarter of its clients. He said: “Looking into our financial statement, you will see of course high amount about N90 billion altogether. And we can say that it is more or less three quarters of pub-

From John Ofikhenua and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

lic clients and one quarter of private client.” The company, according to its financial report for the year ended December 31, last year, recorded an increase in profit after tax of N8.2 billion in the financial year that ended December 31 last year. The directors recommended to members at the meeting a final dividend of N3.56 billion representing N2.70 per 50kobo share, held

in the equity of the company which shall be subject to withholding tax at the appropriate rate at the time of payment. But the shareholders told the directors that they deserved more than the dividends they were offered. Commenting on the company’s profit and dividend, Kollermann said last year the dividend was N2.7k but the total payout this year was N3.2 billion. He said: “Last year it was also N2.7 naira. Like this year

the total payout was N3.2 billion. This year it is N2.7. The same dividend and the payout is 3.56 due to the fact that we have made meanwhile a bonus share. That means the basis for the dividend increase by 10 per cent so this is the reason why it is now from 3.2. The payout is 3.56.” The director noted that the company has paid 43 per cent of the pay ratio as dividends this year into the shareholders coffers. According to the financial statement, the firm recorded a fall in turnover from N212.7 billion to N196.8 billion in the period under review.

Lufthansa names Lagos hqtrs for sub-Saharan Africa By Ajose Sehindemi

UFTHANSA Group has designated Lagos, Ni geria as headquarters of airline’s sub-Saharan sales, station, marketing and administration across the African continent. The aviation group said the belief of the company in the possibility of growth and development in Nigeria and to further provide jobs is the core for moving all its African business into Nigeria. Its Vice President, Sales and Services, Southeast Europe, Africa and Middle East, Mr Tamur Goudarzi-Pour, who made this known at the airline’s headquarters in Lagos yesterday, said “Nigeria has always played a key role in Lufthansa’s intercontinental network and now we are creating a new organisation that will benefit from the country’s economical size and business prospects as a leading regional business hub”. Expatiating further on why Nigeria is chosen, he said “Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa,also with the highest Gross Domestic Products and geographically located withing six hours from all other Lufthansa sub-Sahara markets, hence it was the natural choice for a regional head office in Africa”.

Ughelli power increases generation to 610Mw •From left: Managing Director, Awake Interlink Nigeria Limited Oloyede Ojo; Managing Director, TIG Communications Limited Jude Ukachukwu; Managing Director, Bimplus Telecoms Limited Adebimpe Salawu and Vice-President, Consumer Sales & Service, Etisalat Nigeria Ken Ogujiofor, during the Hero’s loyalty trip to Amsterdam sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria.

NPA set to recover over N20b debts from terminal operators T HE management of the Nigerian Ports Author ity (NPA) is set to recover over N20billion it is being owed by the terminal operators. NPA’s management, it was gathered, in its bid to recover the huge debt, had summoned all the concerned terminal operators to an emergency meeting in Lagos, today. Sources closed to the agency said the NPA is taking the proactive measures to boost government revenue and meet some of its core obligations as entrenched in the concession agreement before the concessionaires took over the ports. Speaking during the familiarisation tour of major terminals in Apapa, yesterday, it’s new General Manager, Wester Port, Chief Michael Ajayi said he had the mandate of the management of the authority to recover all its debts from the terminal operators, reposition the ports for greater efficiency

By Oluwakemi Dauda

and partner the terminal operators for effective service delivery. Although Ajayi refused to disclose the amount the terminal operators is owing the agency, he said there was need for some of the terminal operators to reconcile their account with the NPA. On their side, the terminal operators bemoaned the traffic situation on the ports access roads saying it had affected port operations and urged the management of NPA and the Federal Government to address the perennial gridlock on Apapa road to boost operation and reduce the cost of doing business. The Managing Director, Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited, (operator of Terminal A & B) Capt. Muhammed Bashir said the port access roads had to be repaired. “The road immediately af-

ter the port should be repaired to forestall containers from falling off trucks daily and it is important we get your assistance,” he said. Also expressing his anger over the state of the road, the Assistant General Manager, ENL Consortium, Modupe Markus said the state of the port access road has affected everybody operating at the port. “The first primary thing is the access road to the port and we know the essence of business is to generate money and also for the economy of the country. We know what we are experiencing on this road for the past few years if you have a say please expedite action and rescue our business. “The roads had been built for a long time when the cargo traffic was not as huge as this so, there is need for the government to expand. There is need for expansion because the gridlock is caus-

ing a lot of Havoc,” he lamented. Also, the MD of Greenview Development Limited (GDNL), Ibrahim Bukar, said the traffic problem had to be addressed. He said the ports cannot do without trucks and so provisions for parking must be provided. He said: “No port can exist without trucks. We need to create a truck transit pack either inside or outside port for the trucks to park and leave the roads. “Fully loaded trucks are seen parking on the roads, NPA should do something. Tincan is overtaken by trucks and we can all see that the roads are bad that trucks are falling on a daily basis.” In his remarks, Ajayi agreed that the traffic situation had affected the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and assured the terminal operators that the NPA and the Federal Government will address the problem.

RANSCORP Ughelli Power Limited (TUPL), the power generation and investment subsidiary of Nigerian conglomerate Transcorp Plc, said last year, it increased generation capacity from 342megawatts (Mw) at December 2013, to 610MW at the end of 2014 — a 78 per cent increase yearover-year and a 300 per cent increase from takeover. It added that this year, financial advisory firm Renaissance Capital (RenCap) predicted that Transcorp Plc would more than quintuple its profitability by 2017 in part because of the outlook for TUPL. RenCap said: “We believe the government’s determination to make centralised electricity supply a reliable source of power for the economy, at half the price of the currently widely used diesel generators, is sufficient reason to see a bright future for the asset. Transcorp Plc Group President/CEO Emmanuel N. Nnorom was pleased with TUPL financial results, saying, “Our team is excited and united. Ade has done a fantastic job of assessing existing generating assets at Ughelli and determining a course of action for total recovery and as a result, we are on track to achieve 850MW per day by year-end 2015, which represents a major contribution to the country’s total energy output.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

‘No insurance cover for civil servants’ C

IVIL servants in the country do not have insurance cover owing to the failure of the Frdrral Government to pay insurance premium on their Group Life Insurance policy. Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Fola Daniel made this known while speaking on the compliance level of the ‘No pre-

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

mium, No cover policy of the Commission.. The group life cover is compulsory under the Insurance Act 2004 while the No premium, No cover policy came into effect in 2013. Section 50 (1) of the law states that the receipt of an insurance premium shall be a condition precedent to a

valid contract of insurance and there shall be no cover in respect of an insurance risk unless the premium is paid in advance” and must therefore be complied with. Based on this, any civil servant that died or suffered any permanent injury in 2014 will not get compensation. Daniel however said that the Federal Government is compliant with the No pre-

mium, No cover policy noting that since it is unable to pay premium, it is aware that there is no cover for its workers. He said: “The group life for federal government staff last year was not paid for.so there is no cover for the workers. The level of compliance by federal government is 100 per cent because if it was not paid for, then there is no

cover. He disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the only company under government that pays premium on renewal date. He stressed that the government not paying the group life premium is good for the operators because it will enable them concentrate on medium scale companies

who have not bought the policy for their staff. “I think that the fact that government is unable to pay is a plus for the industry. There is huge market for group life out there but insurance companies spend too much energy chasing Abuja accounts. There are plenty small scale companies that haven’t taken this policy,” he said.

Govt assures of Erunmu Dry Port take-off From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

•From left: Head, Consumer Liability Products, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Shamsideen Fashola; winner of the FCMB Millionaire Promo, Mr. Olawale Olaitan; the Alara of Ilara Mokin in Ondo State, Oba A.A. Ademehinti; Retail Coordinator, Lagos & Southwest of the bank, Funmilola Paseda; Zonal Head, Southwest, Mr. Adelaja Adeleye and Retail Head, Ondo/Osun/Ekiti states, Mr. Victor Adejimola, during the Lagos & Southwest Regional draws of the promo held in Akure, Ondo State.

Workers alert Buhari to aviation cabal

HREE unions in the aviation industry, the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard moves by a cabal to instigate the merger of the aviation industry with the transport industry. The unions in an open letter to the president, warned of plans by ‘selfish group’ in the aviation industry to manipulate its ideas into the presidency in a bid to entrench its agenda. In the open letter signed by general secretaries of the unions, Comrades Captain Tarnongu, Olayinka Abioye and Aba Ocheme respectively, the workers advised the president to steer clear of

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

this ‘nefarious cabal.’ The letter in part read,”The cabal has strong interest in, and is the unseen force behind the re-emergent distractive debate about the merger or de-merger of the aviation industry with, or from, the Transport Ministry. Being unable to influence Mr. President’s choice of Aviation Minister and being thoroughly afraid of President Buhari’s Mr. Integrity wind.” The unions recalled that under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, the industry and the Transport sector were merged twice due to ill advise from the same cabal under different pseudonyms and was reversed the minute it was discovered that the move was by far retrogressive. “How efficient can aviation

run under a Ministry of Transport, which may end up with a minister who has to go again through tutelage on aviation itself perhaps under the cabal, as they usually find their way round an innocent non professional minister who must seek professional advice, then getting the advice that has a selfish agenda? “For us, as representatives of the most critical element in the productivity chain (the workers), we have no particular interest in the merger or de-merger argument, and we wish not to be involved with the politics of it. Our only concern is the profiteering that adversaries of orderly aviation growth seek to make from it.” According to the unions’ letter, this group seeks an weak leadership in the subsector that would bend to their manipulation and let them run riot as usual and

one way to do that is to put aviation under the transport Ministry where the minister of aviation will once again start learning the ropes. The group further stated that the problem of the aviation industry was one of corruption and government not putting the right professional in the right place also stating that any industry that is self sustaining does not need to be merged as it can contribute to the national treasury. They expressed their total commitment to stand behind the president on the matter of appointing a minister for aviation but stated that their desire remained the same as the president should appoint a professional. “We wish to state very clearly that we will stand with Mr. President’s final decision on this matter. However, we hasten to equally state that our posi-

tion and advice to Mr. President remains the same, an aviation Ministry with a seasoned professional who has sound managerial experience, who has integrity and not blemished, with business orientation as an added advantage, will surely take the industry to greater heights.” “Having decided to pick technocrats and professionals as Ministers, we have no doubts in our minds that there are suitably qualified Nigerian professionals and technocrats who will meet and even surpass Mr. President’s expectation.” According to the open letter, the present underdeveloped state of the industry reeks of meddling from these unseen hands that have over the years perfected plans to corner every new administration and manipulate it into its bidding under the guise of national interest.

NDIC warns customers against ‘wonder banks’

HE Nigeria Deposit In surance Corporation (NDIC) yesterday warned the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to Akwa Ibom State not to take the risk of saving their monies in banks not insured by the corporation. The Port-Harcourt Zonal Coordinator of the NDIC, Chibuzor Onwumere gave the warning at a sensitization workshop organized by the NDIC for the corps members in their camp at Nsit Atai Local Government Area of the state.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Onwumere said the warning became imperative as customers who have deposits in uninsured financial institutions would not be indemnified and reimbursed should financial institutions become insolvent. Rather, the NDIC stressed the need for the NYSC members to build savings relationships with insured banking institutions to enable them to secure loans and other financial assistance necessary for them to build

their future. He said: “When you keep money in the bank, your money is safe from theft, loss and fire, you can get money quickly and easily and you can use the bank to transfer fund from one location to another instead of carrying cash around. “Using a bank to transact business is cheaper than using other forms of doing same and building a relationship with a bank can help you save money, plan investment for future and may be necessary to access a loan

as well as get paid interest on your savings. “One other important thing to know is that in case of a bank failure, your money is safe since your money is insured by the NDIC. The NDIC guarantees payment of deposits up to a maximum amount if a bank fails.” According to him, the NDIC is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that failing and failed insured institutions are resolved in timely manner through the provision of financial and technical assistance, take-

over of control and organization of bridge banks. Also, he said the NDIC would ensure the orderly and efficient closure of any bank found to be unhealthy while depositors will receive for commercial banks the sum of 500,000 naira while those affected in the micro finance banks will take home 200,000 naira. The workshop witnessed drama by theater arts students of University of Uyo to portray the dangers inherent in keeping large sums of money at home.

HE Federal Govern ment has reiterated it’s assurance to kick-off operations at the Erunmu Dry Port, Ibadan, Oyo State capital immediately the legal framework is completed. The Deputy Director, Maritime Service, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Patrick Odeh who spoke yesterday during a courtesy visit to office of the Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, said the government is desirous of making the project work. Odeh, who was received on behalf of the governor by Deputy Governor, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo said the delegation was in the state to inspect the state of facilities at the port. “On January 25, 2015, when you visited the Ministry of Transport in respect of a letter from a Erunmu Dry Port project, we had a fruitful deliberation and arrived at a position to visit the site and see the development that has taken place, but we could not do that due to exigency of campaigns and reschedule again till after campaigns, but we are here now for an on-spot,“ Odeh said. According to him, we have brought all stakeholder in the maritime sector here to check all the facilities in place and for us to know where we can take-off from. He blamed the slow takeoff of the project on the change from one government to another in the country, adding that the present administration is interested in the take-off of the port. In his welcome address, Otunba Adeyemo said the take-off of the port is a vital economic development that the present administration of Governor Ajimobi hold in high esteem. “We will ensure the success of this project. Oyo is part of the five states that is meant to enjoy this project and Oyo State is the most active. This project started in 2005, and the laying of sod was done in 2008. “This project is taking too long and there is need to hasten up on its commencement. It is high time Nigeria government looked inwards to generate income for itself. This project will generate revenue for the three tiers of government and it will be economical viable for all the Southwest states, including Kwara and Kogi states. It will also create more jobs and Apapa port will be decongested.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

To boost intra-African trade by at least 25-30 per cent and enhance the continent’s competitiveness, the African Union (AU), in 2012, set 2017 for the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). Two years to the deadline, lack of political will, harsh visa policies and dependence on narrow range of primary products, among others, have continued to stall the realisation of the set goal, reports Assist. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

More hurdles before Africa’s competitiveness I

T’S a clear and depressing verdict: Africa is not trading within itself, despite its potential in terms of population and rich agricultural and mineral endowments. Trade among African countries accounts for a meagre 10 per cent of their total external trade, the lowest of any continental grouping, according to the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The continent’s share in world trade is also not impressive, standing at less than three per cent. This was why in a bid to stimulate intra-African trade by at least 25-30 per cent and, ultimately increase the continent’s share in global trade and competitiveness, African leaders came up in January 2012 with the idea of establishing a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). Essentially, their hope was that CFTA would lead to a significant growth of intra-Africa trade and also assist Africa use trade more effectively as an engine of growth and sustainable development. It was expected to help Africa participate in global trade as an effective and respected partner. The AU Commission noted, for instance, that between 2000 and 2010, the creation of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) FTA worked magic, leading to a six-fold increase in intra-COMESA trade. So, the AU leaders, after their 2012 weeklong meeting in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, set 2017 as target for CFTA. However, two years to the deadline, the strategy appears unrealisable, The Nation has learnt. Top on the list of issues posing serious hurdles for the realisation of the target, it was gathered, is inconsistent visa policies. There are also issues around Africa’s lack of right regulatory framework and political will to halt the multiplicity of national borders that have continued to pose barriers to trade, as well as African economies’ dependence on narrow range of primary products, among others. The mono-product nature of most economies in Africa, high cost of production due to dearth of critical infrastructure are said to have also combined to frustrate efforts at achieving the target. The situation has left sour taste in the mouths of business operators, particularly manufacturers whose activities are supposed to help increase the level of trade within Africa. For instance, Nigeria’s foremost industrialist and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote recently echoed the frustrations of African businessmen and manufacturers when he lamented that issues around issuance of visa by most African countries remain a hard nut to crack by investors seeking to expand the frontiers of investment in Africa. Speaking during the inauguration of the new 2.5 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) Dangote Cement plant in Mugher District in Ethiopia, he said only 14 out of the 54 African countries, offer visa-free, or visa-on-arrival to citizens of all African countries, a situation that constitutes serious barrier to intra-African trade. Dangote listed the 14 countries to include Seychelles, Mali, Uganda, Cape Verde, Togo, Guinea Bissau,

• Buhari

Mozambique, and Mauritania. Others are Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Madagascar, Somalia and Senegal. He noted that on the other hand, American citizens visiting most African countries get visa at the point of entry. While describing this development as unhealthy for business, he argued that Africa must therefore, relax its visa policies to achieve true economic integration. He urged other African countries to borrow a leaf from Senegal, which he said has started the issuance of visas on arrival to all nationalities. That is not all. Dangote, who is President, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), also said apart from the need for African countries to relax their visa policies, deliberate efforts must be made to encourage Africans, not just foreigners, to invest in the continent to stimulate intra-African trade and business. “Dangote Cement is currently investing in 16 African countries, with plans to invest in many more over the next few years. There are a number of other successful panAfrican brands today, such as MTN, Shoprite and Ecobank. “We need to encourage this trend to see more investments in Africa by Africans,” he said. The pan-African investor is not done. He spoke of the need to encourage the private sector to collaborate with governments across Africa to address infrastructure deficit, which has plagued the continent for decades. Apart from the need to ensure political stability on the continent, he also

•Dangote

said economic integration in Africa would become a reality only when barriers among countries are broken to allow for free flow of goods and services. Dangote was right. Africa remains the most fragmented continent in the world, with 54 countries and numerous border crossings, which impede trade. For instance, for traders and businessmen who ply the Lagos (Nigeria)-Accra (Ghana) route, the journey through Togo and Benin can take a full day, punctuated by arduous border checks, harassment and solicitations allegedly from customs officials. This is despite the fact that only a few hundred kilometres separate Lagos from Accra. Such barriers violate the principle of free movement of people and goods within the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is also due to the slow implementation of regional integration agreements aimed at eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers in the region. This situation partly explains why Africa is not trading within itself. The level of intra-African trade, according to experts, compares unfavorably with other regions of the world. While only 12 per cent of total trade on the continent is among African countries, intra-trade among the European Union (EU) is around 70 per cent, 52 per cent for Asian countries, 50 per cent for North American countries and 26 per cent for South American countries. Curiously, no less than 14 regional

trade blocs are said to have been launched over the past decades for the purpose of stimulating intra-African trade. But this has not yielded much result, as the share of intra-African trade remained unimpressive. More curious is the fact that Africa boasts tremendous agricultural and mineral resources. Apart from holding 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, it is also rich in oil & gas. With relatively cheap labour, young and highly entrepreneurial population, a growing middle class with spending power, large consumer market, and an increasingly stable polity, Africa’s economic future should be looking brighter. But unfortunately, agriculture is the sector in which Africa has surprisingly poor trade figures. Despite being the backbone of many economies in the region, it accounts for just a small fraction of official trans-border trade. Between 2007 and 2011, for instance, Africa imported only 15 per cent of its food items from the rest of Africa, according to data gleaned from the Economic Development in Africa 2013 report by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report noted that African countries export a very narrow range of agricultural products to the continent, adding that there is need to broaden the range of agricultural goods produced and traded within Africa. The report aligns with the position being canvassed by President/Chairman of Council, Institute of Business Development (IBD), Mr. Ifeanyi

‘By utilising their resource capabilities, companies in Africa can improve the lives of people in our continent through increased investment, creating jobs, increasing skills, and developing and providing goods, technologies and innovations’

Obibuzor. He said for African countries to capture more trade opportunities they need to diversify their products. While noting that the current challenge of falling oil prices, which affect some oil-producing countries in Africa particularly Nigeria, should indeed, be seen as an opportunity to galvanise activities to diversify their economies, he said: “The oil price crash is a good starting point. It is going to make us think out of the box. No country survives as a monoeconomy. Across the world, economies are driven by micro-enterprises.” Indeed, one of the challenges facing African countries is how to deal with the Micro, Small, and Medium, Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, which is acknowledged as being responsible for a significant portion of production, trade and services. While the informal sector where the MSMEs play remains the driving force of most economies in Africa, experts says that the sector is largely unregulated, has little access to finance, and is often not taxed and its contribution to the economy is largely unrecorded. What this means is that if the continent must pursue more trade opportunities, there is need to focus on the MSMEs with a view to addressing some of the issues that hold them down particularly infrastructure. The consensus is that there is need to increase investment in trade-related infrastructure and other trade facilitation measures to reduce red tape, transaction costs and expedite the movement of goods, services and people across borders. Although, spending on infrastructure has been on the increase in the last two decades, it has been observed that actual spending does not match identified needs. According to the African Development Bank, African countries need to spend around $93 billion a year to upgrade their infrastructure, but only spend about half of this. Beyond the need to step up the tempo of investment in infrastructure particularly power, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, IBD, Mr. Paul Ikele, says that the leadership must demonstrate enough political will to harness the abundant resources in Africa. According to him, Africa’s economic future looks bright. Hear him: “Africa is highly endowed; Nigeria is endowed; Ghana is endowed, but let’s look at those opportunities. By utilising their resource capabilities, companies in Africa can improve the lives of people in our continent through increased investment, creating jobs, increasing skills, and developing and providing goods, technologies and innovations.” Will Africa demonstrate the required strong and lasting political resolve to remove the identified barriers to intra-African trade? Will they put the right regulatory framework in place to address the high cost of doing business on the African continent, which has seen foreign investors either holding back or preferring other investment destinations despite Africa’s potential for high returns on investment? These are some of the issues agitating the minds of operators and stakeholders as the continent has only two years left before the launch of CFTA that would boost intra-African trade.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

INDUSTRY

World Bank engages 4,000 Delta youths

BOUT 4,000 youths in Delta State have been engaged from 2013 till date under the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project of the World Bank, the Delta Coordinator of the project, Mr Benson Ojoko, has said. Ojoko said this at a-one-day empowerment training workshop organised by SEEFOR for beneficiaries of the programme in the state on Tuesday in Asaba, the Dekta Statde capital. According to him, about 4,000 youths have been employed under the SEEFOR programme in the state to create value for the society since the introduction of the programme in 2013. “The 4,000 youths were engaged to maintain roads and refuse collection in the six local government areas where the SEEFOR project is currently implemented. The six cities where the programme is being implemented in the state are Asaba, Ughelli, Warri, Uvwie, Sapele and Udu,’’ he explained. Ojoko said beneficiaries would be trained on money management, entrepreneurship skills and mentorship. He explained that the

workshop would help to empower the beneficiaries for entrepreneurship skills, adding that most of the beneficiaries were from poor background with little or no education. He said at the end of the training workshop, those who are interested in acquiring vocational and technical skills will be enrolled for further training. Ojoko said the programme, which was for a period of 12 months for each batch of beneficiaries, was geared towards poverty reduction as well as creating employment for the teeming youths in the state. Also speaking at the occasion, a former state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kingsley Emu commended SEEFOR for sustaining the programme in the state. Emu also commended the beneficiaries for being part of the programme, adding that the state government was ready to support them in acquiring technical and vocational skills. “The state government has a total of eight vocational centres and it is ready to support you in acquiring more skills that will help you to be self-reliant in future,’’ he said.

‘Deregulation the way forward’

EMBERS of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) are insisting that deregulating the oil and gas sector is the best way to go in view of present economic realities in the country. They also lamenting the negative effect of incessant fuel scarcity and poor electricity on businesses, insisting that the new administration should prioritise its policy and deal with the twin problem of electricity and inadequate fuel supply. Speaking to The Nation in Lagos, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, cautioned against half-measures and “fire brigade” approach at arriving at solutions, noting that for the first time telecommunication companies threatened to shut down their services if the fuel scarcity continued. He berated the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for speaking against calls for deregulation, ac-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

cusing them of not being in tandem with current economic realities. He reiterated his earlier position that subsidy payment is for the rich and not for the poor as erroneously believed. Yusuf advised that the huge subsidy cost, which reportedly runs into trillions of naira, should be used in the provision of infrastructure such as good roads, water, electricity, hospitals and schools that will directly impact on the poor who are in the majority. He said Labour should have a re-think except they are not fighting for majority of their members and the poor in the society. On the reforms in the power sector, the LCCI boss regretted that the much touted reforms have not made the much needed impact in the economy, asking that the perimeters be studied and possibly redesigned. LCCI Vice President, Chief

Micheal Olawale-Cole, said he does not see the fuel scarcity and other related problems easing very soon until the refineries are fixed and subsidy payment regime discontinued. He said the current administration may not fight corruption effectively without sorting out the issue of fuel subsidy, as the process is riddled with corruption. His words: “The current administration should revitalize our refineries; look at the short, medium and long term solutions. The medium term solution must be the discontinuation of importation especially by fuel marketers. “If any person must import fuel it has to be the government doing it themselves unlike the fraud currently dubbed fuel subsidy. I have always believed that the way out is by encouraging the establishment of modular refineries, which will eventually aggregate to what we need as a country in terms of fuel production.”

African leaders praise NEPAD

FRICAN leaders have praised the role of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in keeping the dreams and potential of the African continent alive. South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, gave the commendation during the African leaders 33rd NEPAD, Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) meeting in Johannesburg shortly before the start of the African Union (AU) Summit. Zuma said the continent was now reaping the benefits of responsible macro-economic management and deepening integration into the world economy. He noted that an investment in infrastructure programmes, regional integration and intra-African trade was Africa’s solution for sustainable growth and development. AU Chairperson and Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe applauded NEPAD’s breakthroughs in project conceptualisation and implementation on the continent. He said NEPAD had provided critical synergies between and among African institutions, thereby enhancing the muchneeded continental integration. Mugabe urged NEPAD to play a leading role in capacitating Regional Economic Communities to fast-track Africa’s quest for industrialisation and value addition of its vast mineral resources.

By Chikodi Okereocha with agency report

He said: “Surely, the African people cannot continue to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, while others delight in their resources, in our resources.’’ Macky Sall, the Chair of the NEPAD HSGOC and President of Senegal, also underscored the achievements made by NEPAD in advancing regional integration through infrastructure and capacity development projects. He stressed the need to tackle illicit financial flows from Africa and to enhance the capacities of African member countries to negotiate mining and oil contracts for the social benefit of African people. Sall also commended the NEPAD Spanish Fund for African Women’s Empowerment, in line with the 2015 summit theme. The NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, reported back on concrete results made for the period January to June 2015. He said the agency had achieved greater results and each had quantifiable impacts that were geared toward the industrialisation of the continent. Mayaki highlighted some of the key achievements to include the establishment of an Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance aimed at reaching out to 25 million farmers by 2025.

‘Farmers lose 50% of harvest’

ARMERS in Sub-sahara Africa, lose between 30 per cent-to-50 per cent of fruits and vegetables due to inadequate storage, HARVEST Protection Network (HPN), has said. To address the challenge, HPN has promised to introduce a program to reduce crop spoilage losses in the sub-region. It said its business model will test the premise that revenues from the sale of crops previously lost to spoilage will pay for the buildings. “While many programs focus on how to increase food production, HPN will focus on protecting what we already grow. In addition to providing waterproof and pest proof storage, these buildings can serve as a distribution center and/or an indoor market. This program also contemplates outright ownership of these buildings by smallholder farmers,” says HPN’s founder and owner, Ian Bennett.

Bennett, a Wharton MBA graduate who has been involved in the business of agriculture in Africa for over 40 years, was quick to point out that this is not a “handout” program. He said while participating African countries are not being asked to provide any of the funds to deliver and assemble these buildings, they are being asked to remove any import duty and the participating farmers are being asked to provide the land on which these buildings will be erected. Preliminary talks with foundations have been characterized by surprise that HPN is not interested in grant funding. “Our immediate challenge is to confirm that these buildings are self-funding,” he said, adding that if this pilot program is successful, HPN will seek a renewable credit facility to make it possible to continue delivering these buildings to Africa’s farming communities.

From left: Chief Bassey Edem, National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Dr. Nike Akande, former Minister of Industry/Honourary Life Vice President, NACCIMA; Alhaji Remi Bello, National Treasurer, NACCIMA/President, Lagos Chamber and Barr. Emmanuel Cobham, Director General, NACCIMA at the 9th World Chambers Congress held in Torino, Italy over the weekend.

Govt gets wake-up call on N11.6b LNG cash

HE Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the Federal Government to recover all revenues due to Nigeria and expedite action on the implementation of recommendations made by the independent Auditors in the Annual Reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in the past 10 years. In a letter signed by the non-governmental organisation’s (NGO’s) Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, the centre noted the reminder credited to the NEITI Secretariat which alleged that about $11.6 billion (N2.32 trillion), outstanding total dividends arising from loans and interest repayments from Federal Government’s investment in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), among others, is yet to be remitted into the nation’s coffers. It said the revenue is, therefore, unavailable to finance development. Musa said: “CISLAC observes that this figure, if verified, is more than 50 per cent of the total expenditure in the 2015 annual budget. It will also be about 10 per cent more than the allocation for recurrent expenditure, 75 per cent of the provision for capital allocation and about 65 per cent of the fiscal deficit in the

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

annual national budget for the 2015 fiscal year. “We reiterate that this state of affairs has resulted because of lack of political will by previous administrations to implement remedial action emanating from recommendations from previous NEITI audit reports, which had been reinforced by the reports of several probe panels and committees. We recall that one of the President’s promises during the campaigns was to implement the recommendations from the NEITI reports and believe that the time to start is now. We are aware that lack of political will is what has long hindered the ability of the Inter-ministerial Task Team (IMTT) and the Board of the NEITI to implement these recommendations, block leakages and recover unremitted funds,” he said. Musa called on the Federal Government to empower and strengthen the IMTT to effectively carry out its mandate. He added that it might also be necessary to review the NETI Act 2007 to strengthen sanction mechanisms, which are presently weak and probably em-

power the NEITI Board or some other independent body to enforce more stringent sanctions on erring stakeholders outside of the usually politicized and sluggish Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. “CISLAC is aware of the ability and willingness of the NEITI to provide necessary information to assist the Federal Government in recovering these funds and therefore, there will be no need to invest precious time and resources in setting up of any more superfluous Panels to conduct any fresh probes and investigations, he said. He urged the government to expedite action on the recovery of all the monies due to the coffers of the Nigerian people and channel them into people oriented development as a way of ushering in the change that citizens voted for and in fulfilment of campaign promises to the teeming population of highly expectant Nigerians. He also urged government to demonstrate the commitment to address the cancer of corruption that has undermined Nigerians’ collective desire for development and good life.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

THE NATION

e-Business e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

lukajanaku02@gmail.com

Whenever you pick your mobile phone and try to make calls or insert your modem in your laptop or personal computers (PCs) to connect to the internet and you are not getting the desired result, you may place the blame at the doorsteps of your mobile network operator (MNO). Many of these problems are, however, not entirely that of the MNOs as the government and its agencies too are responsible for most of the hiccups, LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

How government is frustrating subscribers’ telecoms experience M

ADAM Tito has had a very busy day in the office. As a banker with one of the first generation banks in the country with office located on the island, she had been so busy attending to customers that thronged the bank to collect their monthly salary. A mother of three, she got a call from her husband at about 4.30 pm who wanted to know if she had heard from the kids. He had obviously tried fruitlessly to speak with them. According to him, each time he called their phone number, he would be told that the number is not assigned to a customer. So, he called their mother if she would be lucky. “After my husband ended the call, I started what became my greatest ordeal. I called my son’s phone number and was politely told: ‘The number you have dialed is incorrect, please check the number and dialed again’. After several attempts, I called my neighbour. Luckily, her phone number went through and was able to speak with the kids who told me the phone was never switched off. It was the network devil,” she said. A spare parts dealer at Iyana Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, who identified himself simply as Chibike, recalled how ‘network devil’ nearly destroyed his marriage. He had called his wife only for him to have heard a male voice. Exasperated, he snapped the call. When they got home, he asked his wife where she has been and who the hell was the man that picked her call. The woman was completely shocked and denied any wrongdoing. It took the intervention of family friends who had experienced similar embarrassing situation to calm frayed nerves. The situation is no different when it comes to data services. Customers subscribe to data bundle plans for which they hardly get the value. The MNOs so often hoodwink their subscribers to sign onto data plans which they say ride on 3G technology, while they offer lesser technologies. Many subscribers blame their MNOs for dropped calls, poor reception, cross-talking and slow internet speeds, but unknown to them, the government is partly responsible for many of these evils. Mobile telephone users have grown phenomenally over the past one decade after the liberalisation of the telecoms sector. With this growth has come affordable smartphones for mobile internet. This, along with dwindling revenue from voice calls have made data a new frontier to be explored to shore up revenue. Faced by these realities, operators have no choice but to expand their capacities. Expanding capacity could only happen in one or two ways. One is to make spectrum available. The other is an increase in the number of base transmission stations (BTS) across the country. In providing any of these two, the government has a huge role to play. For some time now, the MNOs have stressed the need for the government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) to make spectrum available to boost their operation. MTN Customer Service Executive, Akinwale Goodluck said spectrum is the oxygen of the telecoms industry, adding that its availability will boost service delivery and decrease the noise about low service quality. The NCC which auctioned the 2.3gigahertz (GHz) spectrum early last year, has continued to procrastinate over the auctioning of 2.6GHz spectrum which it said would allow licensees to offer retail broadband services

• BTS

to complement the 2.3GHz wholesale services. The 2.3GHz spectrum was won by Bitflux, an indigenous firm. Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr, Eugene Juwah first blamed the delay in the auctioning of the spectrum on the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the

country. After the virus had been contained, new timeline was set only for it to be postponed again. This, sector analyst say portends grave dangers to the realisation of the ambitious targets of the National Broadband Plan unveiled by the Federal Government.

‘The processes to hand out spectrum are tied up in bureaucracy and government’s incompetence, which is costing Nigerian consumers and the country dearly. With the lack of additional spectrum, mobile operators are forced to use the more costly option of rolling out additional BTS. Even then, the government is keeping progress back through failure to grant approval to MNOs’

Juwah said: “(The) 2.6GHz auction had to be suspended because we wanted to make sure that we will be able to deliver the licence (and) actually the frequency slot to their winners. We were not sure we will be able to do that at the time of transition. Now we have done that and we are sure that going forward, we will be able to deliver the slot. So very soon, very soon, you will see a new advert for the 2.6GHz auction.” The processes to hand out spectrum are tied up in bureaucracy and government’s incompetence, which is costing Nigerian consumers and the country dearly. With the lack of additional spectrum, mobile operators are forced to use the more costly option of rolling out additional BTS. Even then, the government is keeping progress back through failure to grant approval to MNOs. According to sources, there are about 25,000 BTS across the country which is said to be a far cry from what is needed in a country with over 170 million population. Then the elusive 700megahertz (MHz) digital dividend spectrum which would have come to the telecom sector had the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the agency charged with leading the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in line with the directive of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the government of former President Jonathan Goodluck done the needful. Nigeria has missed June 17 timeline already. NBC Director-General, Emeka Mba who had assured Nigerians that the date remained ‘sacrosanct,’ has pushed for an extension of the timeline. On the sideline of a stakeholders’ forum at Eko Hotel, Mba had dismissed fears about the adverse effects of failing to transit in line with ITU’s timeline, saying “the heavens will not fall if we fail to meet the deadline.” NCC blames states, local governments The NCC has blamed states and local governments in the country for hindering the development of telecoms infrastructures thereby compounding poor service quality issues in the country. It lamented that only Lagos State has, over the years, developed and implemented policies that accelerated the growth and the development of the telecoms sector. NCC said the state has slashed the cost of right of way (RoW) and the cost of setting up base stations by telecoms service providers, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has refused to grant approvals to the service providers. Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr Okechukwu Itanyi spoke during a meeting with Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) organised by the regulator in Abuja. He said poor quality of services (QoS) could be linked to developments such as erratic power supply, vandalism, multiple taxation, access to RoW and stealing of generators at BTS. He lamented that it takes an average of six months to get approvals for the establishment of base stations while approvals do not come at all in some states on the excuse that it distorts the master plans of the cities. Itanyi however said the NCC is working round the clock with other critical stakeholders in the industry to address the issue, stressing that once they are taken care of, the telecoms industry would assume its rightful position in the development of the economy. It is hoped that this blame game will stop soon so that Nigerians can have superior cellular experience.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

e-Business recertifies for NIS Ex-ISPON chief urges Buhari Cyberspace ISO 9000: 2008 on ICT Council, others I

ORMER President, Institution of Software Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Dr Chris Uwaje has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prioritise the information communication technology (ICT) sector, set up a Presidential ICT Council and appoint a Chief Information Technology Officer of the Federation just as there is the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation. Speaking in Lagos, Uwaje said: “ICT should be our national priority and government compass. President Buhari needs to set up a Presidential ICT Council and indeed the office of the Chief Information Technology Officer of the Federation. “In simplified analogy, competing with other nations of the world that are custodians of Information Technology for e-Government abilities and capabilities for national development, creation of wealth and sustainable security is a monumental challenge which is nonetheless attainable. Governing Nigeria without a dynamic IT at the centre of leadership and governance translates to running a government like a university without a library, professional librarians and competent information administrators.” He advised the president to design a professional framework for the information technology sector, arguing that if that is not done, any pursuit of development will con-

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

tinue to end up a mirage. He said: “Leading and piloting the national agenda of the current government of Nigeria without a professional Information Technology Framework (Executive Bills & Acts) will on the long run multiply our challenges and make our goals a mirage. “Our intellectual property to strategically build and safeguard the future will be permanently lost if Nigerian IT professionals are not allowed to make their mistakes now and learn from their experiences at the digital knowledge laboratory. “Indeed the possibility of effective and productive governance of organising and managing the dreams, needs and aspirations of 170million Nigerians and over 1 billion Africans in this 21st “Century knowledge economy and information society is not only practically unattainable but complexly impossible.” According to Uwaje, these developments underscore the fundamental reason and assurances for the new leadership to engaging governance challenges with a professionally crafted IT Master plan. He warned that failure to do this translates into creating a ‘serious weak-link for digital-capitalism to devour its prey’ adding that by extension, it will amount to sailing in the torrential and turbulent ocean infested by greedy whale-like

globalisation without a compass. He said IT, having played a pivotal role ensuring a smooth democratic transition in the country and saving the nation the threat of disintegration or going into crisis, should be brought at the centre of decision making in the country. “Given the writings on the wall and with all benefits of doubts, I am convinced that President Buhari will deliver its electoral pledges. The other side of the coin remains how to effectively deliver without IT. “Today, IT remains a strategic veritable tool and centre of gravity for restoring patriotism and human dignity, tackling corruption by sealing the leaking national resources and revenue baskets, accelerating creative knowledge production and innovation, strengthening the rule of law, justice, equity, institutionalisation of merit culture, wealth creation, national security, peace and prosperity and above all, building sustainable trust and global respect for Nigeria in the comity of nations,” Uwaje said. According to him, the new frontier informs that globalisation has taken over and “we now live in a world better described as a dense and fearful ocean of informationweb, where every data under the universe is clustered - and currently undergoing an intensive final digitisation process.”

• From left: Director, Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Sunil Kumar; Vice President, Nigerian Society of Engineering/Samsung Partner, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala and Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim at Samsung AC Technical Forum with partners at Eko Hotel and Suites.

Diamond Bank chief urges technology adoption for competitiveness T

HE Managing Director/ CEO of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, has called for technology collaboration between business and the academia as a costeffective way of enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness. Speaking at the Future Ready University Conference and launch of a mobile learning Experience Centre, financed by the bank at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, he said the time has come for the two to collaborate to push operating cost that is always on the increase. Other partners in the project are Softcom, Samsung Business and MTN Business. Delivering a keynote on “Why Financial Institutions Need to Play a Role in Digitising the Educational System,” Dozie said Future Ready is about being competitive to meet global needs, arguing that this could only be achieved only through the deployment of technology. He said: “From our experiences as a leading retail bank driving the integration of innovative solutions to meet modern lifestyle demands

of our wide and diverse customer base, we know that technology offers better economy of scale as well as less expensive, more effective solutions. This is the model we are trying to replicate in education in Nigeria.” He added that the Future Ready University initiative is a homegrown initiative designed to bring education in Nigeria into the 21st Century. ‘‘Many Nigerian parents send their children to schools abroad because the system is supported by technology that helps them keep track of their progress. With effective monitoring, stakeholders can pro-actively plan the education system to train manpower for the future of industry which ultimately leads to cost reduction in the long term,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Prof. Charles Ayo, also noted that the future of employment in a globalised world is not based on quota but on the possession of the requisite skills. “Rec-

ognising that the 21st century student wants knowledge on the go and also wants to be an active partner in the learning process, Covenant University has adopted a problem-based learning approach that encourages students to seek out queries on their own for collective problem sharing and solution formulation. The result is that our students are more motivated to learn, collaborate in knowledge sharing and solution-centered. “The Future Ready University programme plans to expand this vision to every Nigerian student so they are not limited by physical spaces in the quest for knowledge; and that they have the best tools and skills to succeed.” Explaining the motivation behind the Future Ready University, Managing Partner, Softcom, Yomi Adedeji, said today’s students are largely spontaneous, interactive and heavily distracted. For educators to reach them, learning must provide engagement, exposure and evolving content.

N consonance with its quest for continuous quality improvements and operational efficiencies, Cyberspace Limited was recently recertified for Quality Management System with NIS ISO 9001: 2008 By achieving compliance to international standards, Cyberspace is poised to deliver responsive customer service, quality service delivery and unwavering support base. Its Chief Marketing Officer, Olusola Bankole, in a statement, made available to journalists, said Cyberspace invested so much time and resources to achieving the recertification in order to remain competitive and align its business processes to global standards. He said: “Cyberspace is an indigenous company operating international standards and global best practices. Our operational

efficiencies have been enhanced thereby engendering business growth and agility. “International standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help companies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. They ensure that business operations are as efficient as possible, increase productivity and help companies’ access new markets.” He disclosed that Cyberspace within its first 20 years of existence made a number of landmarks to its credits. This is in consonance with the mission of the Company, which is investing in people and technology in delivering exceptional customer service. According to him, the company’s software group has developed business solutions, which have gained industry acceptance having satisfied all industry standards for various organisations.

Airtel unveils smartTALK, N1m daily promo

IRTEL Nigeria, has launched smartTALK, a voice based product that offers Nigerians 11 kobo per second call rate to all networks in the country all day and all night. It said it is in line with its vision of enriching and adding value to the lives of customers through the provision of exceptional experience. The telco also unveiled a new promo it said is targeted at changing the levels of its customers across the country. Chief Executive Officer of the telco, Segun Ogunsanya who spoke in Lagos during the launch said effective from now, all a subscriber needed to do was to buy airtime, load it and make calls, adding that the person may be the winner of N1million that has been put on the table for the next sixty days. Ogunsanya said the telco earmarked the N60million daily start prize along side other cash and gift items to reward the loyal customers of the firm. He recalled that the man who won the Land Rover was just a truck driver who never believed when he was called to come and pick the car, adding that the firm will con-

tinue to explore ways of rewarding c4st60ers. Unveiling the smartTALK product, Airtel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Maurice Newa, explained that the new package reiterates the telco’s commitment to continually provide customers with a variety of products aimed at helping them stay connected to their families and friends at affordable rates. He said: “We are aware of the role communication plays in our world and we realize the need for people to constantly communicate with others within their circles, this is the reason we have created this product to keep our customers connected at an affordable price”. Newa noted that smartTALK will not only help deepen friendship and family ties but will also help foster better relationships amongst Nigerians. “At just 11k per second, customers can talk to anyone in Nigeria for as long as they wish,” he said. He also stated that Airtel will continually try to not only meet but exceed the expectations of its teeming customers by providing them with value for money products and services.

ASUS wins 14 awards at Computex 2015

LOBAL leading PC maker, ASUS, has cleared the medals’ table at this year’s Computex awards, coasting home a total of 14 awards. According to the firm, its ROG GR6 desktop won the Best Design Award, and ZenBook UX305, ASUS ZenWatch, ASUS Smart Home System, and ASUS AiProtection were winners of the Best Choice Award at Computex 2015. ZenBook UX305 and an additional seven products were winners of the Computex d&i (design and innovation) Award. ASUS was the biggest award winner overall at Computex with a total of 14 awards. The Best Choice Awards were hosted by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and award winners were selected by marketability and uniqueness. The Computex d&i Awards were hosted by TAITRA and iF Design, a top international authority on industrial design. ASUS was recognized for notable achievements in all award categories and for developing creative products that positively impact people’s lives. The firm said the ROG GR6 is an ultra-portable, console-inspired PC that redefines gaming. ROG GR6 goes beyond traditional gaming consoles, giving gamers the perfect combination of portability, desktop PC performance and upgradability, and the accessibility of a gaming console.

With a matte-black finish, Mayan-inspired detailing, a pulsing ROG logo, and plenty of gaming-oriented features, the GR6 is a mean gaming machine that fits equally well in the bedroom or living room. It’s compact, 2.5liter design even makes it easy bring to LAN parties. “The ASUS ZenBook UX305 is an allaluminum ultraportable that is the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch QHD+(3200x1800) laptop, measuring just 12.3mm thin. Its subtle and refined shape incorporates the DNA of the classic ZenBook, featuring an elegantlytapered wedge design that has smooth and comfortable edges with diamondcut metallic highlights,” the firm added. Continuing the long-established ZenBook tradition of combining performance with luxury, this gorgeous ultraportable — which weighs only 1.2kg — is powered by an IntelCore™ M processor for seamless multitasking, and features a lightning-fast solid-state drive (SSD) with up to 512GB capacity. ASUS ZenWatch is an exquisitelycrafted watch that seamlessly pairs with an Android Smartphone to extend its functionality and provide relevant, useful information when it is needed most. ASUS ZenWatch is also a personal wellness manager that tracks a variety of wellness stats, such as heart rate, step counts, and relaxation levels to help users keep their lives in balance and achieve personal fitness goals.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

That NASS ‘red card’

Not excusable

•That 191 House of Reps members had nary a bill in four years is troubling

ORE than 50 percent of the members of the 7th House of Representatives could not muster even one bill in the course of four years. This troubling revelation is the result of an official report tagged: “Status of Bills, Petitions and Other Legislative Measures,” said to have been released on the authority of the former Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. According to the report which was compiled by the Rules and Business Committee of the last House, while 191 members initiated no bills at all, 169 members sponsored a total of 679 bills. Seventy bills came from the executive arm while the Senate sent in six. Therefore, a total of 755 bills were introduced and read in the 7th House from 2011 to 2015. Though only 123 were eventually passed into laws, it is quite a commendable number of bills that have been brought to the purview of the lawmakers over this period. We hold up for special commendation, Ali Ahmad (APC Kwara) for rolling out a total of 36 bills; Uzoma Abonta (PDP Abia) who had 32 and Femi Gbajabiamila who came up with 20 over this period. Though lawmaking is not the only function of legislators, it is their first call and indeed their preeminent duty to their constituencies, the society and indeed the country. It would be rather otiose to highlight the essence and paramountcy of law in the society. Suffice it to note that it is mainly in cognisance of the grand import of law that the gigantic infrastructure and huge bureaucracy of the National Assem-

bly was set up. It is particularly important for a fledgling democracy like Nigeria’s where the firmaments of law and conventions for fashioning a modern state are still at their rudimentary levels. It can be argued therefore, that Nigeria needs all the laws that can be enacted by her lawmakers. To think that democracies that are over 200 years old still have laws churned out from their parliaments. It is on this score that we admonish the 191 (except the Speaker who is not to personally present bills) of the House members who could not pull out nary one bill in four years. Yes, we are aware that most of them may have been active in the various committees of the House; we also concede that they may have participated in the oversight and constituency functions of the House; the bill is the core duty and instrument of measure. Not to have any bill in such a long time seems to be a pointer that the legislator is bereft of ideas or is lacking in the deeper understanding of his presence in the hallowed chambers of the legislature. But indeed, the law-making function of government is in every clime, a higher and patriotic calling and rare privilege to drive the lofty objectives of any nation. It is in the rarefied chambers of parliament that great thinkers, leaders and statesmen are wrought across the ages. It is not a place for revellers and jobbers as we have seen in Nigeria in recent years. For instance, it was in the rustic Congress of 13 United States of America that the liberating words of the Ameri-

can Revolution and subsequent independence were forged. We dare note that the content and quality of legislative process in the country in the last 16 years have been mediocre and uninspiring, to say it decently. The best minds from constituencies no longer get the opportunity to rise to this national call; instead, it has become jobs for hangers-on and dog handlers to godfathers who have neither the faculty nor facility for what in truth, ought to be an epochal assignment. It is apposite to state that the dire state of the country today is in a large part a reflection of the very poor quality of the legislature. We can only urge the members of the 8th House to rise to the high occasion; to go beyond the humdrum, to take up campaign, advocacy and nationalistic fervours, the very essence of lawmaking required in an infant democracy like Nigeria’s.

‘We also concede that they may have participated in the oversight and constituency functions of the House; the bill is the core duty and instrument of measure. Not to have any bill in such a long time seems to be a pointer that the legislator is bereft of ideas or is lacking in the deeper understanding of his presence in the hallowed chambers of the legislature’

Menace of child labour •Governments at all levels in the country must rise to stem the tide

OTHING demonstrates how poignantly the world impoverishes itself and endangers her future than the recent revelation by the United Nations (UN) International Labour Organisation (ILO) that there are an estimated 168 million child labourers worldwide. In a statement to commemorate the ‘2015 World Day Against Child Labour’, the ILO explained that these children are aged between five and 14 globally and work in hazardous, low-paying and undignified conditions inimical to their health. Although there is a seeming ray of optimism in the ILO’s claim that the number of child labourers decreased by approximately one-third since 2000, the organisation implies that the situation remains desperate and cannot be handled with complacency. According to the ILO, Asia and the pacific region still have the largest total number of child

‘It is for these reasons that the change, which Nigerians emphatically voted for in the last general elections are quickly made to begin to bear fruit. This is particularly for the future of our much abused children. They must be provided with functional, affordable and qualitative education, efficient and effective health care and liveable, decent communities’

labourers numbering about 78 million, sub-Saharan Africa continues to record the highest number of child labourers relative to population with a figure of 59 million i.e. 21 per cent of this disadvantaged population. In the words of the ILO, “As things stand the aspirations of many parents for their children, and of children themselves, for a decent education, will remain unfulfilled dreams. Many girls and boys have no chance to attend school. Some try to combine school and work, but all too often must drop out of school even before the age of employment and become child labourers”. This unsavoury situation effectively jeopardises the future productivity, usefulness, self-esteem and prosperity of such children. It is the world that becomes the ultimate victim for this, bearing such consequences as destructive social vices on the part of the disoriented youth, including premature pregnancies, high abortion levels, and incidences of Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or dysfunctional acts of violence. It is noteworthy that the United States (US) Department of Labour in its 2010 report claimed that Nigeria was then witnessing one of the worst forms of child labour. The agency pointed out that the situation was worse in agriculture and rural areas where children worked for long hours and for a meagre pay with their families. There is no doubt that the conditions in Nigeria have worsened considerably since then. The quality of governance has deteriorated badly. Corruption in particular has grown to unprecedented levels with corresponding decline in the diverse spheres including education, health care and job opportu-

nities. Indeed, Nigeria is reputed to have one of the highest rates of school age dropouts in West Africa. It is not surprising that in most of our major cities, thousands of under-aged children who should be in school engage in street trading or serve as domestic servants while others are barely literate apprentices to mechanics, vulcanisers, carpenters, panel beaters and other menial workers. This dismal situation in Nigeria has unquestionably been alarmingly compounded by the Boko Haram insurgency which for the last five years disrupted security of lives and property in large swathes of Northern Nigeria. A thorough study is certainly needed to accurately assess the implication of the brutal campaign against western education in the region by the insurgents for youth education and child labour. It is for these reasons that the change, which Nigerians emphatically voted for in the last general elections are quickly made to begin to bear fruit. This is particularly for the future of our much abused children. They must be provided with functional, affordable and qualitative education, efficient and effective health care and liveable, decent communities. Their parents must be provided jobs that can enable them meet their obligations to their wards. These call for urgent, creative and purposeful actions in diverse directions by the new administrations at various levels. It is only when these conditions are met and more clement socio-economic conditions created that the country’s extant laws against child labour can be more realistically enforced.

IR: Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for President Muhammadu Buhari largely because of his anti-corruption stance and credentials as a strict disciplinarian. His emergence as the president was meant to signal an end to impunity. In fact, many Nigerians believed that the president will take decisive steps in restoring the dignity and credibility of all arms of government as well as institutions of state. More so, one expected a president who prioritize ‘the fight against corruption’ to be interested in everything concerning the new Nigeria project without reservations. It is against this backdrop that many expected the president to be interested in politics of the National Assembly. However, to the consternation of those in the school of thought, the president announced that he was not interested in the leadership of the National Assembly. He said; “I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects. It doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from”. Lest we forget, the National Assembly is key to the success of any administration as many policies of the government must filter through it. Therefore, the leadership of the National Assembly is a key determinant factor of government’s pace and the kind of government policies that will see the light the day. The credentials of those to lead the National Assembly ought to have been a great concern of the president, especially if the fight against corruption must succeed. The loophole created for the administration by the president himself, through the said declaration was capitalized upon by vultures and hawks within and outside the president’s party. This resulted in the controversial emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives respectively against the wish of their party (APC). The presidency has since announced the president’s readiness to work with the new leadership of the National Assembly. Whether this declaration is grudgingly made is another issue. But news filtering from the presidency has it that, the president is deeply worried by the development in the National Assembly. If this information is anything to go by, why is the president worried? He said he was ready to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects. Today, ‘any leaders’ have emerged; Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. Why is the president afraid? Or is it that the duo did not fit into his description of ‘any leaders’? My take is that the refusal by the president to be interested in the politics of the leadership of the National Assembly is costly mistake that has left him (President) with a red face. This opinion is expressed not oblivious of the fact that the constitution provides for separation of powers. But that does not stop the president from ensuring that the leadership of the National Assembly is comprised of people with clean credentials. I believe the President must have learnt new lessons from this. But for standing aloof and masquerading as Pontius Pilate, the president deserves a red card. •Hundu Saaku Anthony Makurdi.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Nigeria will never cease to be a puzzle. Among tempestuous and impunity-prone African countries, Nigeria stands out. Take for instance the concept of First Lady. Born in the United States, nurtured in Western Europe, adopted wholesale by African countries, it became fetish and worshiped in Nigeria. It is a phenomenon that defies any rationalization especially as it is practiced in Nigeria. The Nigeria institution of First Lady did not come into prominence until the manipulative and repressive rule of Badamasi Babangida. Prior to IBB’s unstable and unreliable regime, the First Ladyship was heard more in whispers than in outward show of pageantry and power. This is understandable because almost all rulers before IBB were modest, even self-effacing in some cases. As a military dictator, IBB brought his wife, a very elegant and slightly shy woman into the limelight. She appeared in the public space, performing those functions probably not selected by her, but directed by her power consuming husband. On the whole she left the legacy of a beautiful, well-behaved spouse of the nation’s President. We have since had a succession of Presidents, Military Heads of State and in one case a usurper known as Interim President. Throughout this intervening period, Nigerians were not assailed with any self asserting spouse of our national leaders. We did not even know who Mrs. Shehu Shagari was! Then came Olusegun Obasanjo whose lovely spouse and modest woman passed on mid-day. During her short life, Stella Obasanjo adorned her position as wife of the President. Naturally as President Obasanjo is well known, the First Lady could not have crossed the line not only because the husband is autocratic and assertive, but because by orientation, education and mentoring, the First Lady knew her bounds. Then came the very private but

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Changing faces of first ladies effective Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua. The woman as a First Lady will best be remembered for her protective capability, her ability to ward off any intrusion into her husband’s ‘private life’ but which many people would call public life. Leading a band that was mischievously called the Cabal at Aso Rock, she gave protection to her beloved husband until the latter breathed his last. Then came Dr. Goodluck Jonathan with his record-breaking spouse. She summoned and addressed conferences domestic, regional and continental. At one time her activities overshadowed those of Nigeria’s Foreign Minister who

many did not know anyway. Robust in manners, carriage and exposition, she enlivened the environment like the moon at its peak. Did we as a country benefit from her escapades? Yes, we did. First, the world knew that we had a knowledgeable, educated First Lady in Nigeria. These attributes stood us in good stead in the international community. Secondly, she was able to relieve our own President Jonathan of the burden of running a problematic and cynical country of many nationalities. On this, some people would uncharitably aver that she indeed complicated things for her husband. Thirdly and

perhaps most significantly, Dame was able to achieve for Nigerian women fold a level of participation in both elective and selective posts hitherto unknown in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. Nigeria women will forever remain grateful to Mrs. Jonathan. Our newest First Lady, Mrs. Buhari, well educated, somewhat shy but prominent at public events is a new dimension completely in the history of our First Ladyship. A professional with high career prospect, she’s not likely to go beyond the line dictated by her husband. No embarrassment in language or presumed power is likely to occur

during her tenure, not as First Lady but as Mrs. Buhari, a term which she prefers. The import of the preceding analysis is that it is high time we operate the constitution properly. This involves all political operatives from the village Councillor to the tenant at the Villa. We should stop creating our own little heaven when we occupy government position. For example, it is ridiculous to call the wife of council chairman, chairperson and create an office for her. We should operate only fully and in totality within the constitutional framework in Nigeria. Our politicians should avoid personalizing political office which is transient. The visibility of Presidential spouse may be counterproductive to the image of the President and also the nation. • Deji Fasuan, MON, JP, Senior Citizen Ekiti State.

Al Bashir: No immunity for genocide

IR: AUSWISHEN is the horrific German term for Genocide. Whatever is the actual meaning of Genocide, Article 11 of the 1949 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide provide the standard definition of Genocide; Acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethical, racial or religious group, such as: Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Significantly, on February 1, 2005, a United Nations Commission is-

sued a 176 pages report detailing the endless stream of misery and killings in Western Sudan. These atrocities were authorized by the Sudanese government and carried out by the Janjaweed militia. The atrocities according to the UN report include “indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages. At the last Africa Union Summit in South Africa, President Al Bashir the Butcher of Darfur, landed town to take over the headlines. We were surprised that South Africa which had refused him an invitation to the inauguration of President Zuma in 2009, on his genocide indictment would in 2015 consent to his putrid presence. In her first media interview granted to New Africa Magazine, September 2012, following her ap-

pointment as the Chief Prosecutor ICC, Gambian former Solicitor General, Fatou Bensouda asserted that the ICC decision to promote international rule of law is not just a matter of principle. It is a matter of realism. These regions have suffered from massive crimes and have eventually learned that a nation acting alone cannot protect its citizens from these crimes…. Africa suffered the Rwanda genocide which resulted in the death of almost one million and outflow of refugees into Tanzania and Congo. This exodus was the root of the Congo wars which killed four million and even today sexual violence in DRC has reached unspeakable levels. Avoiding a repetition of these experiences is a strategic priority. International Justice gives power of leadership to small and medium countries, to principled states, those who are determined to

use power of the law, not the power of arms to protect their citizens and their territories….” South Africa since the exit of Mandela has been involved in a number of droopy suspense dramas. Genocide is a heinous crime against humanity. Genocide has no immunity and the law finds defendants and sympathizers to perpetrators equally liable to the crime. The new leaders of the former apartheid nation after the Bashir AU epilogue would have to decide whether to enlist into the rogue band of the world’s criminal states or be counted amongst the principled states of the like of Zambia, Botswana and Senegal, the first country to ratify the Rome Statute in 2002. • Emma Okocha, Lagos

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

COMMENTS

Terrorism: A historical perspective – 2

HE anarchists did not intend to build states neither did they establish political parties to espouse their plans but they rather engaged in blind campaigns of terror, killing innocent people and destroying institutions. They can be said to be the first terrorists in modern times. This blind fury of undirected violence seemed to have gone to sleep for several decades after the Second World War but suddenly resurfaced in Europe, South America and in Asia in modern times. In Columbia, as a result of disillusionment with political liberal reforms, a guerrilla army known as FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) founded around 1948 by Pedro Antonio Marino took on the army of Columbia and has been fighting since that time. Its modus operandi is kidnapping for ransom and shooting down military and sometimes civilian planes flying across the vast territories it controls in the Columbian jungle. It is a large terrorist organisation constituting a threat not only to Columbia but to the whole world because of its export of cocaine to raise needed funds for its activities. It is involved in a protracted negotiation with the legitimate government of Columbia and there seems to be no end to the protracted negotiation whiles its terrorist campaign continues. In the same vein and sharing the same ideology is the Sindero Luminoso (Shining Path) which was the original communist party of Peru founded around 1980 by Abimael Guzman Renoso. Its emphasis was the instigation of a peasant revolt and when it did not succeed, it embarked on kidnapping and other acts of terrorism in the state between 1980 and 1992. But earlier on in Germany, the so-called Baader Meinhof group or Red Army faction led by Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Horst Mahler and Ulrike Meinhof had embarked on the campaign of terror in Western Germany between 1970 and 1998 leading to tens of deaths and 296 bomb attacks and arsons. It was not until the German unification in 1994 that many of them were caught and before an end was put to their murderous terrorist campaign. The oldest terrorist group in Europe, although it has now

‘Terrorism in modern times is a worldwide phenomenon and the Japanese have had their own experience when a doomsday cult called Aum Shirinko founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984 killed hundreds of people in Tokyo subway by releasing sarin gas on them in 2006’

EFORE it came to power, the All Progressives Congress (APC) always put the right foot forward. It knew what to do, how to do it and when to do it. It also knew what to say, how to say it and when to say it. It was a thorn in the flesh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was in power for 16 years, between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2015. APC was a dynamite in opposition; ask PDP, the party will tell you what it went through in APC’s hand. But being in opposition is a different ball game from being in power. In the few days it has so far spent in power, APC will no doubt be in a position to talk authoritatively on that now. The APC entered a different world when it took over the reins of government on May 29. Occupying the Executive Office for the party was not a problem as we already knew the President and Vice President before they were sworn in last month. The litmus test for the party was choosing the leadership of the National Assembly. Should the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, House Speaker and Deputy Speaker be zoned or not? The party resolved not to zone the offices, thereby making it an all-comer event. For instance, its choices for Senate President and House Speaker were Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila. They were to pair with George Akume and

430 DAYS AFTER

STILL WAITING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS’ RESCUE

ceased fire, in their fight with Great Britain was the Irish Republican Army (IRA). It evolved from the Irish volunteers of 1913 and those involved in the 1916 Easter rising against British domination and for Irish independence. In spite of the concession through the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 which created the Irish-free state, while Ulster that is Northern Ireland, remained part of the United Kingdom. Their dissatisfaction with this treaty led to their continued existence and years of terrorism against the British in Northern Ireland and on the British mainland culminating in the attempt to kill by bombing, the British Prime minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, while succeeding in killing Lord Mountbatten, a member of the British royal family. Happily, the Irish Republican Army is now involved in decommissioning of its weapons while the political arm of the organisation is now part of the Northern Irish administration. It is not only the West that is confronted by terrorism, Russia faces its own unique kind of terrorism especially in Russia’s soft under belly in the Caucasus where Chechen and other Islamic groups had been waging hit and run campaign against Russia and Russian interest since 2009. This group is led by a certain Doku Khamatovich Umarov. Terrorism in modern times is a worldwide phenomenon and the Japanese have had their own experience when a doomsday cult called Aum Shirinko founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984 killed hundreds of people in Tokyo subway by releasing sarin gas on them in 2006. The Chinese too have witnessed terrorist eruptions in Xinjiang province by Muslim Uyghur, a largely Muslim ethnic groups protesting against Han Chinese settlers. These have been going on with repeated occurrence since the 1980s till now. These Uyghurs appear to be mounting a secessionist movement which Beijing will hardly be expected to tolerate. It will become clear that most of the modern day terrorists are Muslim groups who because of the domination and occupation of their land by more powerful groups have had to resort to some form of Islamic fundamentalism as a useful strategy of resistance. Perhaps the reason why Islamic groups are disproportionately represented in global terrorism is because Islam makes no distinction between secular and spiritual authority. Consequently, many of the so-called Islamic movement are political groups hiding under the mask of religion. Even a small island like Sri-Lanka has suffered serious acts of terrorism. For years between 1976 and 2009 the Tamil Tigers of SriLanka were involved in a campaign of secession and terrorism against the majority Sinhalese Government of Sri-Lanka leading to the loss of millions over the years and the retaliatory killings of Tamil civilians by the Army. It is to be noted that there was a religious/ ethnic dimension to the problem. The Sinhalese were largely Buddhist while the

Tamils were Hindus. The impression must not be given that terrorism is unique to the Islamic world; there are extremists also in Christendom. For example, the Lord’s Resistance Army led by Joseph Kony started fighting the Ugandan Government in 1987. This group in Ugandan and Southern Sudan was Jide originally known as Osuntokun the United Holy Salvation Army or Ugandan Christian Army. Its war aim was the ruling of Uganda according to the Ten Commandments. It has engaged in terrorism across the Ugandan borders to South Sudan, some parts of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR). There is an international hunt and prize on his head and he is yet to be caught. Kony is not the only Christian to be involved in terrorism. Sometimes in the 1970s and 1980s, a group of Catholic priests in South America preached what they called Liberation Theology and led their peasant followers with the Bible in the left hand and the Kalashnikov Rifle in their right hand. There seems to be a link between terrorism and the inequality in western industrial societies leading to frustration and determination to change things by force. Sometimes young people take to violence without counting the cost properly. I personally witnessed between 1968 and 1969, Europe wide students’ socialist activism against constituted authorities in Germany and France in particular. Most of the grievances of these students were against American involvement in Vietnam. They were echoing the revolt of young Americans particularly students against the Vietnamese war. Students’ rebellion in Europe first against the shortcomings of their universities and later against constituted authorities was a movement without borders. That was why a German student, Daniel Marc Cohn-Bendit was not only a leader of the revolt in Paris eventually leading to the fall of General Charles De Gaulle; he also led the students’ movement fighting against the government in Germany as well. They were not called terrorists but the security police regarded them as such. They were young people looking for some adventure away from their boring and prosperous lives. This was a foretaste of what was to come in the future when affluent young people in the Middle-east would take to acts of terror.

Where did rain start beating APC? Mohammed Monguno. Though President Muhammadu Buhari said he had no preferred candidates, those that should know say he covertly endorsed Lawan and Gbajabiamila for the plum jobs. It then became the party leadership’s lot to ensure the emergence of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as Senate President and House Speaker in the face of stiff challenge by Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara. Lawan and Gbajabiamila emerged the party’s candidates at a straw poll at the expense of Saraki and Dogara, who did not hide their displeasure over the issue. The party could not get them to change their minds before the June 9 inauguration of the National Assembly. What the party did not want to happen, eventually happened Saraki and Dogara became Senate President and House Speaker. To emerge Senate President, Saraki allied with the opposition PDP. That unholy alliance produced PDP’s Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy. As bad as things were with PDP while in power, it never sold its right to hold the majority position in the National Assembly for the 16 years that it ruled. So, why is APC throwing away its birthright? What can APC do to reclaim its rightful position without overheating the polity? Last week, Odigie-Oyegun said the party was still considering the matter, but added that since Saraki was duly elected by his colleagues that is ‘’end of story”. Has the story really ended? No, the story may just be beginning because the issue is deeper than what those of us who are not insiders think. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who with Saraki and others defected to APC from PDP last year, is against the alliance,

which gave the former Kwara State governor the Senate Presidency. Blaming their party for the development, Kwankwaso said he saw danger in the Saraki-PDP romance for Buhari becuause it showed that members are not loyal to the party. On Tuesday, the Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee condemned Saraki’s emergence as Senate President. It wondered why ‘’a routine process turned into an ugly, selfish dogfight. This is unacceptable to Nigerians. It neither dignifies the Senate nor does it honour what Nigerians voted for’’, the eminent body said. What spoilt the Saraki deal is the accommodation of PDP in the Senate leadership. A member of the minority party as a presiding officer! Saraki may have had his way in emerging Senate President, but the chink in his armour is the Deputy Senate President’s seat, which is

being occupied by the minority PDP. As Kwankwaso noted in Abuja on Monday : ‘’It (Deputy Senate President) does not belong to them...they took it shamelessly and I am sure our party will look at it and take what belongs to our party back’’. Yes, APC should now concentrate on how to get back the Deputy Senate President’s seat. It is not going to be easy but it must be ready to fight for it. It cannot afford to keep quiet and watch PDP deprive it of its right, no matter the pact it may have with Saraki. Is it electoral victory that made APC lose its bite? It is unlike the party to go to sleep during a fight. This is not the APC Nigerians have come to know. The APC, we know, does not suffer fools gladly. It attacks its opponents even before they are ready for a fight. But what happened in this instance? Was it the hang over of the euphoria of

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success? This is why PDP is crowing today over what it calls APC’s ‘’naivety, inexperience and unpreparedness for governance’’. APC was prepared for governance; what it apparently was not prepared for was being outwitted by its own members.

Buhari’s homily

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been busy in the past few weeks, attending to urgent business outside the country. Few days after returning from the G7 Summit in Germany, he left for the African Union Summit in South Africa. As he concluded his visit to South Africa on Tuesday, the President spoke again on his determination to turn things round back home. He vowed to kill corruption because ‘’some articulate writers have said if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. This APC administration intends to kill corruption in Nigeria. We will do our best, I assure you’’. He spoke from the heart. He touched on the

touchy allegation of jailing people arbitrarily when he was military Head of State between 1983 and 1985. He had shied away from speaking on the issue during his campaign. In South Africa, he dumped politics to address the matter frontally. ‘’As Head of State, I went straight to detention for three-and-a-half years; so those who accused me of locking them up, I too have been

locked up, so what?’’ Knowing that governance is serious business, Buhari said: ‘’How I wished I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do. But what brought me... I think mainly is because I love this country...’’ How I wish the President will speak more from the heart. It is by so doing that the real Buhari that we know will remain true to himself and the country.

‘Has the story of Saraki’s emergence as Senate President ended? No, the story may just be beginning because the issue is deeper than what those of us who are not insiders think’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

COMMENTS

AST week, June 9 like June 12, 1993 and May 29, 1999, was another date Nigerians who fought for change were shortchanged in Abuja by those who see everything including fuel subsidy scam, abuse of import waivers, importation of fake drugs and substandard goods that kill our people and our industries, sharing of our common patrimony among privileged groups and outright stealing of government funds which by their definition is not corruption, just as business. It was a day morality took flight at the sight of political expediency. Driven by his ambition and sense of self-worth within APC, Bukola Saraki developed an indispensability complex. He was contemptuous of his party chairman, vice president and president. While 51 of his colleagues were honouring the President’s invitation, Saraki who had already struck a deal with the opposition was adopted Senate President by eight APC and 49 PDP senators who for their pains, got the senate deputy president position which by convention is an exclusive preserve of the ruling party. Elated, PDP has since described grabbing power immorally as ‘victory for democracy’. For Senator Ita Giwa, the sordid act of electing Ike Ekweremadu by their block vote of 32 (total votes was 54), the South-south and South-east that never voted for “change’ will ensure Buhari runs ‘an inclusive government’. Well, reaping where you did not sow is not uncommon among Nigeria’s fraudsters and miracle seekers. But Itse Sagay, a refined legal mind and a respected intellectual did not see such bizarre act by shameless politicians as a ‘victory for democracy but as a victory for impunity, a victory for fraud and a victory for political desperation and indiscipline’. But first who is Bukola Saraki. He is a scion of the illustrious Oloye Olusola Saraki. Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdulrazak, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, who claims to know his antecedents, insists he was sired by Alhaji Muttahiru Saraki an Egba man from Abeokuta. What is not in

Custodians of ‘Change’ dispute however is that the elder Saraki was a very resourceful trader who rode on the back of the Fulani and the Yoruba to build his political and financial empire starting with securing the juicy retainership of Nigerian Ports Authority and the military establishment under the then Ministry of Defence, barely after qualifying as a medical doctor, as a defeated candidate for House of Representatives in 1964; a senator and senate leader 1984, the owner of defunct Societe General Bank and other businesses which thrived in Lagos. Bukola, merely continued what his father did in Kwara for half a century. He effortlessly imposed his own candidate as governor of Kwara. Like his father, his strength is in cutting deals by playing the Fulani, Yoruba ethnic and religious cards. For him, all is fair in business, politics as in war. And that was exactly what played out in Abuja last week which threw APC and Nigerians that had laboured tireless for change into a national mourning. But to be fair to Bukola, he has never pretended to be a democrat or a progressive. It was the PDP politics of ‘dog eat dog’ which is often over sharing of the stolen resources that

‘Thirty-one years ago, Buhari rejected the IMF loan. We produced our own grains. We refined our own fuel; he was at the verge of stabilizing our economy. Then out of indiscretion, he thought he could manage society by just being righteous without playing politics. That led to the institutionalization of corruption during Babangida and Abacha 13 years of rule by their ‘army of anything is possible’ and 16 years of PDP nightmare’

N 2013, the Jonathan-led government gave the deadline of a 2015 rice ban. The year has come and there is a new

government on seat. During his elections, President Muhammadu Buhari mentioned that his administration would focus on agriculture, mining, and infrastructure. These are all essential in the creation of an industrial state which would also improve the nation’s economy. During his campaign, the president was quoted to have said, “How can Nigeria be importing virtually everything? How can we be importing even tomatoes? If I am elected, basic items like rice and tomatoes, which we have the capacity to produce will be banned from being imported.” Looking at the situation of things on ground, the President would need a proper review of the situation at hand. Indeed, there is a general agreement that Nigeria needs to achieve the rice self-sufficiency plan urgently. At the moment, Nigeria grows only 65% of the rice it consumes. The remaining 35% is imported. Certain analysts believe that a rice ban would bring sanity into the market, and drive the country towards self-sufficiency even faster. This is not true. It is also a simplistic analysis that has not considered the implication on the nation’s economy. The truth is that a rice ban and high import tariffs have only always helped increase the activities of smugglers. The debate has returned to whether there should be a rice ban, or not? This article joins those voices against the implementation of a rice ban, as there is no indication, based on the realities on ground, that a rice ban is what the country needs to solve the current problems of the rice market. Rather, there should be a pertinent move to structure the present rice import quota allocation into a fair and transparent structure that encourages investors in the rice value chain. The government should also call stakeholders together for an action plan that reviews the present situation of things, based on a mutually agreed deadline. The current situation is that the wrong people are taking advantage of the national rice gap, which is widened by quota policies and regulations that do not encourage a radical market expansion for local and foreign investors. The wrong people are taking advantage of the rice market’s porosity, and sabotaging the market. Just as high tariffs are meant to dissuade importation, rice ban would be sabotaged by these people who have come to wear the title of ‘the cabal’. They are believed to be friends of the government, who always find ways to evade tariffs. In the case of a ban, the cabal would smuggle in rice and put in place a network that would

drove him to the embrace of APC. Acting as the whistle-blower for what finally became the fuel subsidy scandal, he had during his motion of September 13, 2011, said ‘This chamber owes it to Nigerians to unravel and explain how in one accounting year, we are expending N1.2 trillion on petroleum subsidy, which is 14 times the value of capital budget for the power sector in 2011’. He told his colleagues: ‘The motion is not targeted at an individual but about the level of wastage, corruption, and lack of transparency’. Infuriated PDP stalwarts and their siblings later implicated in the theft of about N1.7 trillion by the fuel subsidy probe, immediately resolved to prove Bukola is not holier than other PDP members. They first accused him of running down his father’s bank through mismanagement of depositor’s funds even when Bukola’s father had not solicited for their help. They then linked him with unserviceable N21b bank loan from the defunct Intercontinental Bank. Then on April 26, 2012, the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to press charges against him for conspiracy, forgery and stealing following a petition by Joy Petroleum, over the use of fronts to withdraw N6b in the company account domiciled then in Intercontinental Bank. Saraki later got some relief when the then Attorney General advised against taking any action against Saraki and his aides over the bank issue, since from the records available to his office, Bukola Saraki had not committed any offence to warrant such trial. As an astute politician and trader like his father, Bukola had a formidable team of PDP dealers and wheelers representing the Nigeria ethnic and religious spectrum for his last week epic battle. There were Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, Tiv, Edo and Ijaw at his service. There

were Muslims and Christians. Leading the pack was the former Governor of Zamfara state, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani Yarima, of ‘political sharia’. He nominated him. There was also the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, now a senator. He will be remembered as the leader of the 16 ‘PDP governors without character’ that claimed 16 were greater than 19 in order to steal the victory of Amaechi after a Governors’ Forum election. There was also ‘water has no enemy’ Segun Mimiko of Ondo State who was also ex-President Jonathan’s point man for stomach infrastructure in the South-west. Also, there to be counted was an embarrassment called Ayo Fayose of Ekiti. The duo were in Abuja to cut their nose in order to spite their face by playing ‘Afonja’ through anti-Tinubu sentiments to prevent the emergence of those regarded as Tinubu and by extension Yoruba candidates as National Assembly officers. It was also said that these two characters also warned their former PDP members now in APC that voting for Tinubu candidates would pose a threat to the president. Tony Anenih aka Mr. ‘Fixer’ was also on hand to advice on the straw voting is taken by PDP senators on the eve of the inauguration to ensure cohesion of the party. Of course the plan to continue business as usual in spite of verdict of Nigerians on March 28 was planned, supervised and executed right inside David Mark’s house, the man who presided over the most expensive National Assembly in the world for eight years during which virtually everything including our values collapsed under the weight of massive corruption and impunity. Buhari is owned by APC party oligarchy, Nigerian voters who have faith in him and of course a segment of the media often maliciously described as those on “Tinubu’s pay roll’ or ‘sell out to Fulani oligarchy’. By interpreting government actions to the voters, they de-legitimised Jonathan and PDP dealers and wheelers to whom President Buhari has now out of indiscretion of “I can work with any leader chosen by the National Assembly’ rendered ineffective the clear majority given to his party. Thirty-one years ago, Buhari rejected the IMF loan. We produced our own grains. We refined our own fuel; he was at the verge of stabilizing our economy. Then out of indiscretion, he thought he could manage society by just being righteous without playing politics. That led to the institutionalization of corruption during Babangida and Abacha 13 years of rule by their ‘army of anything is possible’ and 16 years of PDP nightmare. Buhari cannot rely on those who have no faith in him.

Rice ban is not the solution By Nicholas Ladega circumvent the law. The result is that government gets nothing while the masses will not be able to afford rice; meanwhile the government loses credibility and is seen as vile. The argument usually put forward is that other food staples would take the place of rice while the ‘revolution’ occurs. It is good to know that, this could present a food security issue. Over the years, rice has established itself as a major staple in Nigeria. Rice consumption in some homes is on the menu of their three-square meal. There is a Yoruba proverb which says that, “When a food problem is solved, poverty lessens its relevance.” Rice has come to take a parallel position as an essential staple food, which must be made available. Going back to 2012, rice duty was 30 percent. By the time it shot up to a 110 percent, most of the rice merchants abandoned Nigerian ports and moved to neighbouring states to import. These rice were then smuggled into the country. Also, in 1985, when the Babangida-regime banned rice, stating the same reason given by the Jonathan-led government. The rice ban was meant to alleviate and increase local production and fill the rice demand gap. The ban was lifted in 1995, because even after 10 years, the local production did not meet demand. The result was an unrestrained importation despite the 100% tariff placed on it. The 10-year period encouraged an influx of smugglers that denied government of revenue. This would again be the situation of things if there is a rice ban. The arguments offered by those clamoring for a rice ban has been that it would speed up the self-sufficiency plan. In a newspaper report, even former minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Ugwuh called for a five-year ban. He was reported to have expressed that the ban would allow the nation to focus on building local production and save the over $2.6 billion spent on rice imports. This can only take us back to a time of smuggling and lost revenues; which would not help an already abridged revenue with depleting oil reserves. There is no point for ban agitators stunning public and lawmaker’s senses with statistical potentials that do not meet the actual realities on ground. It would be vital to deal with

issues of Nepotism, policy instability, high tariffs, banning and unbanning, levies, all of which have made rice investment a high risk business. Time have revealed that increasing import duty and levy have never really dissuaded rice smugglers. It is not only government that is involved in the rice selfsufficiency goal. There are too many stakeholders—even consumers. The first step now is to create a viable business environment for investors. The few committed investors who are building mills, buying hectares for paddies, training local farmers should not again be faced with tackling an unfavourable quota allocation that does not parallel their investment in the rice business, in the face of a dilapidated social structure. Government policies should be inclusive of a fair ground for our local businesses and foreign partners. It is imperative that the President and the National Assembly Committee on Rice Imports Quota and Duty Payments ignore the demands for a rice ban, but instead focus its attention on bringing stakeholders together to put the quota imbalance between merchants and investors right, and securing a mutually beneficial plan for self-sufficiency. Government cannot do it alone, so it needs investors who can or have adopted local farmers into the local production target. • Ladega writes from Lagos.

‘There are too many stakeholders—even consumers. The first step now is to create a viable business environment for investors. The few committed investors who are building mills, buying hectares for paddies, training local farmers should not again be faced with tackling an unfavourable quota allocation that does not parallel their investment in the rice business, in the face of a dilapidated social structure. Government policies should be inclusive of a fair ground for our local businesses and foreign partners’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

COMMENTS

HE strange happenings in the new National Assembly in Abuja, especially the weird manoeuvrings accompanying the election of the President of Senate, have left many Yoruba people wondering. Yoruba people voted massively for the Buhari promise of change. Do these crooked deeds in the Nigerian Senate signify the end of the change? Yesterday, Oodua Foundation spoke out on these fears. They are my people and they have asked me to feature their statement in my column today. Here it goes. We Oodua Foundation, a Yoruba think-tank organization with members in countries across the globe, and with headquarters in the United States, have been closely observing and analyzing the developments in the Nigerian Federal Government since the swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari. Our conclusions compel us now to speak up clearly for the Yoruba nation of the Nigerian Southwest. We do not speak for any political party; we do not belong to, support or oppose any. We respect the voices of all Yoruba groups and individuals. Our organization exists only to promote and protect the interests of the Yoruba nation. We the Yoruba people of the Southwest, by political tradition and culture, cherish truth, liberty, equity, justice and fair-play as fundamental basis of governance. These are the agelong cardinal principles that have defined our Yoruba nation’s political tradition for centuries, and we Yoruba people remain committed to them as pillars of order, peace and stability in society. As one of the largest nationalities in Nigeria, we have dutifully demonstrated our commitment to these principles, and to Nigeria’s success and prosperity, in all our contributions to the making of Nigeria. In that light, we have consistently and persistently proposed since the late 1940s that, because Nigeria is a country of many different nationalities, the only way to structure Nigeria for stability and success is to show careful respect to Nigeria’s various nationalities large and small and, therefore, to structure Nigeria as a proper federation in which each of the constituent units shall enjoy the right level of autonomy to manage its own unique concerns, competently promote its own development, and strongly make its own kind of contribution to the progress and prosperity of Nigeria. Since the culture of elective representative

N “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe’s epic novel published in 1958, which has been translated into 52 languages and which is being taught in almost all secondary schools and universities across the world, it is observed that “ a chick which will grow into a cock, would be spotted before ever it hatches”. To all intents and purposes, the saying that “the morning shows the day”, cannot be more apt than in the enormous political sagacity and astute leadership being displayed by the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Benedict Ayade. On his first working day in office, Monday June 1, Senator Ayade was reported to have locked out workers who thought that it was still business as usual and thus could wake up from their homes at any time of the day and still walk into their offices, even at mid-day and get their full monthly salary. As a governor who resumes work before 8am daily, Ayade has demonstrated leadership by example and has changed workers’ orientation and rekindled in them the zeal to be more productive knowing full well that productivity remains the basis for economic growth in any given society. At a time of popular discontent in the state with the conduct of the party’s primaries which resulted in his emergence as its flag bearer in the 2015 governorship election, Ayade is set to enunciate a new governing philosophy and a new set of ideas that can make a reinvented public sector once again into a catalyst for the greatness of the state. Just under two weeks after his inauguration as governor, Ayade has shown that he was prepared for the job and that he had studied and appreciated all the challenges the state is faced with before stepping in. He has lined up programmes that, if implemented to the letter, would move the largely agrarian Niger Delta state to its pride of place among successful states in Nigeria even without oil. At a time when the Calabar/Ikom Road has become a death trap, when transiting from any other part of the state to its capital or vice versa has become a nightmare with several man-hours being lost to embarrassing craters and potholes, the governor has okayed plans to commence the construction of another road, this time a 240 kilometre dual carriage super highway with complete internet facility, from

Oodua Foundation speaks for the Yoruba government was begun in Nigeria, we the people of the South-west and our leaders have sought partnership with the leaderships of other ethnic nationalities based on mutual respect, justice and the greatest good of Nigeria and Nigerians. In that light, many eminent political leaders of ours patriotically served in the leadership of political parties led by leaders of other nationalities. We also demonstrated this commitment to Nigeria’s success with open-mindedness when, in the final preparations for Nigerian independence in 1959-60, our foremost political leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, offered the position of Prime Minster in the Nigerian Federal Government to another leader from another nationality, while he himself was willing to accept for himself a lower position of Minister of Economic Development in the Federal Government. It was also in the same spirit of preserving and advancing Nigeria that our leaders worked with other nationalities to create the All Progressives Grand Alliance (UPGA) in the midst of the great crisis rocking Nigeria during the first years after independence. In terms of socio-economic development, we Yoruba of the Nigerian South-west have always loyally demonstrated great ambition for Nigeria’s progress, prosperity and power in the world. We have always regarded our well known ambition for socio-economic progress as our kind of service to Nigeria, our kind of contribution to the progress and greatness of Nigeria. We never desire or attempt to exclude other Nigerian nationals from our successes. Since we instituted Free Primary Education in our region, countless thousands of children from other parts of Nigeria have come to benefit from our free schools. Our tradition of hospitality towards non- Yoruba nationals, our culture of religious tolerance and freedom, and the economic and business opportunities liberally provided by our many urban centres, all have made our South-west the destination for millions of Nigerians migrating from their own homelands.

However, for all our nation’s contributions to Nigeria, what we the people of the Southwest have relentlessly been rewarded with is hostility, resulting in betrayal, as well as efforts to pull us down. Soon after independence, the powers of the Federal Government were maliciously employed to disrupt our Southwest, generate conflict in our region, and eventually imprison our topmost political leader on totally trumped-up charges of treasonable felony. Even our other leader, Chief Ladoke Akintola, who took the step of forming an alliance with the group controlling the Federal Government, never enjoyed the full loyalty or respectful confidence of his apparent allies; and eventually, he ended up being violently killed. Still, in spite of this sordid record of Yoruba experiences in Nigeria, when civilian elective politics was revived in Nigeria again by 1979, Chief Awolowo embarked on a massive effort again for Nigeria’s progress and prosperity. He worked with forward-looking Nigerians from all parts of Nigeria, and created a political party with an enormously ambitious agenda for Nigeria’s greatness. And when, as presidential candidate, he needed to choose a running mate, he persuaded his party to let him choose a promising professional from among the Igbo nationality which had been the most viciously hurt nationality in Nigeria – his reasoning being that such a step was necessary for healing a major part of the wound which the Igbo nation and Nigeria had suffered. But what did Chief Awolowo and all who worked with him get for their great ambition for Nigeria and their titanic efforts? By employing a patently crooked formula, the Federal Government of the day robbed his party of victory. About 15 years later, in 1990-2, Chief M.K.O Abiola invested his resources mightily in yet another effort to bring Nigeria together and heal the scars of yesteryears, scars that had been wantonly inflicted on the citizens and peoples of Nigeria through years of military repression. His reward for his great efforts and sacri-

Nigerian thoughts fices was that his body was brought b a c k h o m e f r o m Abuja. Still, y e a r s l a t e r , when it seemed as if a citizen from the Banji Akintoye minority Ijaw nation, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was on the verge of being robbed of his constitutionally legitimate right of succeeding to his late President, the people of the South-west and their leaders supported him powerfully through street demonstrations and global campaigns. Unfortunately, throughout President Jonathan’s sixyear presidency, the people of the South-west were treated with hate and spite. We in Oodua Foundation, and informed people all over the world, have watched in the past three years as a section of the Yoruba political leadership has worked and sacrificed to knit together the current alliance with the core North, again out of the Yoruba ambition for a stable, strong and just Nigerian society. Those efforts have now produced a solid possibility of a Nigerian Federal Government dedicated to the welfare of all Nigerians, dependably set against the cultures of corruption, ethnic chauvinism, and process manipulations, a Federal Government capable of leading Nigerians out of poverty into a new era of prosperity and national dignity and greatness. We Oodua Foundation and the entire Yoruba nation therefore hopefully expect positive outcomes this time around – even in spite of some disturbing happenings in the new government in the past two weeks. And we urge both sides in this alliance to stay fully loyal to their dedication to change, especially to obviously needed change in the structure of the Nigerian federation.

As Ayade hits the ground running By Dan Amor Calabar to Obudu. According to the ebullient governor, this road, which will reduce the journey from Calabar to Obudu, currently five hours, to just about two hours and reduce incessant carnage on the existing road would be flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari very soon and construction work will start immediately. Again, it would be recalled that Calabar the capital of Cross River State was the first political capital of Nigeria. This became possible because the early European missionaries who came into the interior coast of West Africa discovered our territories through water. Yet it is very unfortunate that almost 200 years since the exploration and more than 50 years after their departure, the Calabar port is as shallow and as dry as a swimming pool in a living home. This is attributable to the failure of the Federal Government to dredge the Calabar River to the Atlantic Ocean. Over the years, internal wrangling between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Federal Inland Water Ways has resulted in failure of government to develop the water ways and a lull in economic activities along the coastal axis especially in the Niger Delta. The non-functionality of the Tinapa International Business Resort in Calabar is also as a result of this politics and the lopsided federal structure. Ayade, aware of what the state stands to gain if the Calabar Port functions optimally, has announced that his government will flag off the construction of the Calabar Deep Seaport come October. This would encourage and promote export trade from the state and bring about expansion of business and economic activities across the state. Given the proximity of the state to other states in Nigeria such as Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Benue and even Taraba, a functional seaport in Calabar will open up Cross River State to a lot of businesses especially now that it is no longer an oil producing state due to the ceding of its 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State by the Revenue Mobilisation

Allocation and Fiscal Commission RAMFC since 2008. Lagos remains the richest state in Nigeria today not because of oil but because of its deep seaports. Another landmark action taken by Ayade since his assumption of office as governor is his investment in the psychology of workers in the state. Before he came into the saddle, workers were owed a month salary arrears; and each time it is paid, another would still be hanging. This situation which was brought about by the dwindling revenue of the state government almost caused a friction between the government of Senator Liyel Imoke and organized Labour. Upon assumption of office, Ayade introduced a fresh initiative to tackle the problem. He invited all stakeholders including banks operating in the state to a brainstorming session to proffer solution to the problem and came up with the resolution that henceforth, workers would get their salaries on the 25th of every month. He has paid the salary for the month of May to pave way for the new order and has thus motivated workers in the state to put in their best and support his new vision for the state. While working on the morale of workers as the factor of production that creates wealth in any given economy, Ayade has begun the rehabilitation of the dangerous street boys who are threatening the peace and comfort of the tourismdriven state. Over 20 of these boys have been given out to willing parents for adoption. The dynamism and intellectual reasoning that Ayade has brought to bear on government business just within two weeks of his ascension to the exalted throne is legendary. For those who had been to Cross River State from the administration of Donald Duke to the last months of the Imoke years, it was indisputable that Calabar was the cleanest state capital in Nigeria. The story is told of how a United States-based Nigerian from Enugu State visited Calabar during the 2013 annual Calabar Carnival and Christmas Festival. Within just two weeks of his stay in Cross River State, having been treated to the traditional hospitality of the people, the palatable

cuisines and, above all, the environment, topography and landscaping, the young man went back to California to pick his wife and two kids to Calabar where they have now made their permanent place of abode. But, ironically, in the dying days of the Imoke administration, due to an altercation between some government officials and contractors handling the environmental sanitation of the Calabar metropolis, the metropolitan city became an eyesore a few months to the 2015 general elections. Heaps of refuse became familiar sight all over Calabar. All this is now history. Calabar has gone back to its clean status as Ayade personally supervises the evacuation of refuse. Everywhere, the governor is seen giving instructions or directives to people to carry out one assignment or the other while he implements some himself. Senator Ayade, a renowned professor of Microbiology could not have manifested such populist ethos from the blues. At the Seventh Senate where he represented Cross River North Senatorial District, until recently when he stepped aside to contest the governorship primaries of his state, Ayade was one of the most active voices. As a parliamentarian who was at home with the condition of his people, his contributions to debates and sponsorship of bills were always proofs of his undying love for the poor and downtrodden in Nigeria. Whatever action he undertook in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly was always a direct reflection of his compassion and feelings for the man in the street. Before he left the Senate in which he was inaugurated on June 6, 2011 as a greenhorn, Ayade’s prodigious output of bills was overwhelming. He took over from Senator Gregory Ngaji as a first timer but his doggedness and resilience coupled with hard work and a consuming love for his people saw him sponsoring bills even more than several old hands known as experienced dark horses. • Amor, a journalist and public policy analyst, lives in Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

SHOWBIZ Senator Bruce renews pledge

Jaystorm drops new single

By Joe Agbro Jr.

By Alvin afadama

ANCEHALL artiste, Julius Anthony Edeawe, popularly known as Jaystorm has released a new single, Leave Me for Waist. The song was produced by Unique Sound. Jaystorm who is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, ventured into music last year, with singles like, Wonberi, Sweet Love and Follow my lead, which has been enjoying massive airplay on radio stations across the country. According to him, he was inspired to record Leave Me for Waist going by his personal experience with a girl whose desire posed a problem for him. He noted that he had always wanted to do a song that was different and unique in lyrics, sound and rhythm. His said: “I was inspired to record this song

• Jaystorm

because of my personal experience with a lady who has been all over me. She wouldn’t let me be even when I told her I wasn’t interested.” He added that he recorded the song mainly because of his male fans who have been complaining of girls who are problematic and are always demanding in their relationship.

Yvonne Nelson visits victims of Ghana flood

• Yvonne Nelson

OPULAR Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, on Monday, took time out to visit the victims of the Ghana flood at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. She went along with the cast of the new movie, If Tomorrow Never Comes. They all went round to see the victims of the flood and petrol explosion which occurred two weeks ago. She displayed her generosity by donating relief materials to the victims. She is set to premiere the movie this month. If Tomorrow Never Comes stars actors like Deyemi Okalawon, Becca, Ayettery Powers and Bismark Nii Odio among others. The movie is a true life story of a boy who is suffering from cerebral palsy, and passed on barely two weeks into the shooting. The actress said that the movie is dedicated to the boy and other less-privileged children.

Fayrouz L’Original 2: Semi finals holds in Obudu

HE quiet town of Obudu, located in the colourful city of Calabar, Cross River State, will come alive this weekend, as it plays host to the semi final of the Fayrouz L’Original 2 competition. The event will have Team SCOG, Team Hai, Ombre, Team Paisley, Meddle Lane and FIB; the six teams that qualified from the nationwide auditions, prove their creative prowess again, to secure a space in the finale of the competition. “According to the organisers, the competition will witness a line-up of exciting activities starting with the arrival of the participants and judges on Friday, June 19, followed by a photograph session under the directives of ace photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi on Saturday, June 20. The runway, catwalk and show proper will hold on Sunday, June 21 and then a makeup and mentorship session to round it up on Monday, June 22, 2015.” Like the audition stage, the Semi Final will be over seen by the Fayrouz L’Original 2 jury, comprising celebrated photographer,

• Team Meddlelane

OLLOWING cries generated by the proposed disbursement of N8.64 billion wardrobe allowance to members of the National Assembly by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) from Nigerians on Monday, Entertainment guru and Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, Ben Murray-Bruce, yesterday, renewed his commitment to be pro-people. Bruce, who took to Twitter to crave ‘patience and understanding’ from the populace, said the allowance was not discussed at the Upper legislative house. ‘This fight can only be effective if I build coalitions with my colleagues,’ Bruce tweeted on Monday as the news broke, saying he only read it in the newspapers. ‘This fight will be dead on arrival if I alienate them.’ The senator said that the payments were ‘those independently decided upon by RMAFC.’ Reiterating his commitment to his constituency and Nigerians in general yesterday, Bruce, founder of the Silverbird Group, with has interests in cinemas, television, radio, as well as entertainment promotion, tweeted; ‘I can only control

Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Make-up expert, Rhema Akabuogu and the duo of creative fashion designers, Mai Atafo and Kunbi Oyelese, who will mentor, task and judge the semifinalists. Speaking about her expectations from the Semi Final, Nnenna Hemeson-Ifebigh, the Fayrouz Senior Brand manager said, ‘The Fayrouz brand is free of conventions and enjoys exploring. Our goal with the L’Original competition isn’t only to promote fashion but also tourism and the beauty of the Nigerian environment which explains why we chose Obudu as the location for the semifinale. The town is popular for its breathtaking ranches and its serenity, the type that can inspire the much needed creativity for the semifinalists of the competition.’ The show is sponsored by natural premium drink, Fayrouz, and aims at rewarding young talents with emphasis on creativity and originality, as expressed in the art of fashion designing, make-up artistry, photography and modeling.

• Bruce

myself. I assure the public like I said yesterday (Monday), I will never act against their interests. But we must get the facts!’ He also urged activists to channel any grievance through appropriate quarters by using the Freedom of Information (FOI) to ‘compel full disclosure from RMAFC.’ Since Bruce expressed interest publicly in becoming a lawmaker, he has through his views on social media, particularly Twitter, endeared many Nigerians who see his involvement as a lawmaker as a positive light for the country.

PMAN rebounds with biometric launch and anti-piracy walk

OLLOWING a court judgment in favour of the establishment of an interim care-taker executive committee led by the President, Mr Pretty Okafor, plans have been building to reestablish the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) into the mainstream of Nigeria’s entertainment industry. The launch which holds on June 21 at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos is in conjunction with telecommunication giant Airtel and four banks – Union Bank, Skye Bank, Heritage Bank and Unity Bank. Other corporate organisations supporting the launch are Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Capital 3 (corporate finance advisers). Earlier in March PMAN had unveiled the Biometrics Card Scheme at Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. ‘The biometric card project is designed to be the starting-point of a broader scheme that will ensure significant levels of protection for Nigerian musicians’ commercial rights,’ said a release from PMAN which was signed by Pretty Okafor. As a precursor to this initiative, an AntiPiracy Walk involving a coalition of Nigerian entertainers is scheduled to hold on June 19. ‘Nigerian musicians and their colleagues in other entertainment endeavors have been earning far below the commercial value of the works they produce due to a variety of factors that border around absent infrastructure, poor institutional and policy environment. The Pretty Okafor-led PMAN leadership, on the strength of the court judgment awarded in its favour last year, has done a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s entertainment business landscape, the outcome of which informed the introduction of a multi-purpose identity card to Nigeria’s music industry. The bio-card will function as an ATM card, apart from making it possible for PMAN to develop a sound data-base of persons involved in Nigeria’s music business sector. It will also avail users a CUG (Close User Group) platform that will enable them call their music business associates for a monthly flat rate of just N1,000! The viability of this initiative is evident in the participation of four banks whose commitment to the project has been very encouraging.’ Prior to this time, PMAN had operated at below optimal capacity. According to the release, Tee Mac, a former PMAN president only recently returned original documents of an expanse of land owned by PMAN in Abuja. ‘This development basically constitutes part of the transition to building a worldclass secretariat for PMAN,’ said the release. PMAN also contends that this development have spawned ‘adverse reactions by some members of the

• Pretty Okafor By Joe Agbro Jr.

Association.’ But PMAN agrees that it is also time for change. ‘Time has come for a new generation of Nigerian musicians to manage PMAN,’ it said. ‘Some members of the older generation have aligned with this generational shift imperative, while others have been insisting on having the Association in their grip for ‘business as usual’. According to the release, some of young and active PMAN members include Rugged Man, Sunny Neji, Asha Gangali, Ochonma, Zaaki Adze and Baba Dee. Others are Tolu Obey, Tuface Idibia and Felix Duke. The release also lists supportive elders of PMAN’s revival under a young and innovative leadership as Charly Boy, Chief Tony Okoroji, Admiral Dele Abiodun, KOne De Ultimate. Others are Gentleman Emma Ogosi, Daniel Wilson, Prof. (Sir) Victor Uwaifor, King Sunny Ade and Evang. (Dr) Ebenezer Obey. While PMAN noted that the Nigerian music industry is worth multi-billions of naira, it says; ‘Primordial and protracted crises over the years before now within the PMAN fold have effectively robbed Nigerian musicians of colossal chunks of what they deserve as income from their creative investments.’ PMAN’s current executive committee, however, urges ‘senior generation’ Nigerian musicians to align with the current young leadership of the Association to emphasize the greater interest of PMAN. ‘It is time for Nigerian entertainers to enter the era of being respected as big, informed and organised contributors to the development of the Nigerian economy. There is every reason for us to drop the begging-bowl as a new dawn beckons for our collective socio-economic prosperity.’

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

It lacks facilities of a good school, Oguola Junior and Senior Secondary School in Benin, the Edo State capital, is a school only in name. Its staffroom is under a tree; while 1,260 pupils are crammed into six classrooms, reports OSAGIE OTABOR.

• A crowded classroom in the junior school.

A school only in name

T was in the news for the wrong reasons few weeks ago. Fourteen of its pupils were arrested for alleged involvement in cultism. The nation was shocked - junior secondary school pupils in cultism! Their release after police investigation has doused tension that Oguola Junior and Senior Secondary School in Benin City, the Edo State capital, is not a breeding ground for cultists. The police said the pupils unknowingly bought emblems and paraphernalia of some cult groups. A visit to the school revealed why the pupils may find it difficult to sit and learn in the classrooms. The school, in Ihinmwin quarters of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government

Area of the state, is the only government-owned secondary school in the locality. There are no signposts to identify the school though it has a fence. However, the gate is broken, and there are no security men. The Junior school arm is a block of six classrooms serving 1,260 pupils. The other two dilapidated blocks

‘

serve as the senior secondary school and it has about 1,000 pupils. For a facility that serves 525 per cent above the UNESCO-recommended class size of 40, it is is no surprise that many of the pupils stand outside the junior school’s classrooms to learn. It means that for every pupil in class, about five others are outside by the window frame learning.

We don't have a staff room. The little room we have cannot contain us. Those teachers who stay under the fan cannot be compared to us here under the tree. Our books are being stolen by hoodlums

’

INSIDE

ABUAD wins Microsoft Imagine Cup -Page 27

ASUU urges members to ignore audit

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members to ignore a letter from the Budget Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance asking members of the union to present themselves to an audit panel. -Page 37

•Staffroom under the tree

•Continued on page 26

CAMPUS LIFE

When handbag becomes a threat -Page 29

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

EDUCATION

ASUU protests chair’s suspension over fraud

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] Owerri zone has protested the suspension order given to Dr Uzochukwu Onyebinama, chairman of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike [MOUAU] chapter of the union over alleged fraud and examination malpractices. The union called on the university authority to immediately revoke the suspension, which it described as callous. However, the MOUAU Vice Chancellor, Prof Hilary Edeoga, said that Onyebinama's suspension was prescribed by the rules of service of the university concerning fraud and misconduct, and not because of his role as ASUU Chairman. But the union resolved after its congress at the university last week to commence action against the management until it reversed the suspension.

•Varsity: he breached the rules From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

The resolution which was announced by the Owerri zonal coordinator of ASUU, Prof Ike Odumegwu, said that the measure to suspend the chairperson, place him on half salary and ban him from entering the campus because he sought redress in the court against the university over cases of injustice, were unacceptable. Defending the management's decision, Edeoga explained that

Onyebinama did not wait for the outcome of the investigation before running to the court which he said was against the university's rule. The VC said: "The rules of the university are very clear on certain matters: you don't take the university to court. The rule says that if you are suspended you go on half salary". Edeoga said that Onyebinama was also guilty of examination fraud by awarding suspicious marks to students, which the Senate found abnormal - in addition to allegations of incompetence and mismanage-

‘The rules of the university are very clear on certain matters: you don't take the university to court. The rule says that if you are suspended you go on half salary’

ment against him as the Director of Continuing Education Center [CEC]. He disclosed that the problem started after Onyebinama was removed as the Director of CEC. "They started writing all sorts of petitions even against the new Director but I stood my ground that the right thing must be done," he said. Edeoga said that the panel of investigation into a case of misconduct against Onyebinama and that of the staff disciplinary committee found him guilty of the allegations of dereliction of duty, abuse of office and deliberate breach of senate guidelines. He said that the committee also found him "guilty of insubordination, total disregard for constituted authority, inefficiency, negligence and dishonesty in the discharge of his official functions," and recom-

• Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) protesting plans to remove staff schools from Federal Government Treasury at the University of Lagos. P HOTO: OLUWATOYIN ADELEYE

If it were to meet the standard, the junior school would need about 31 classrooms to comfortably accommodate the pupils. The junior school has no toilets. A small plantain farm serves as toilet for the pupils and their teachers. The teachers also do not have a staffroom. What serves as office for the 21 teachers and others doing their industrial attachment is a tree in front of the school building. It is the only tree in the compound. Whenever it rains, the teachers relocate to the verandah of the building. A little cubicle between two classrooms is the principal's rather bare office. It boasts of a table, two old chairs and a small shelf. Curtains and fans are luxuries the school cannot afford. Like the classrooms, part of the ceiling is bad. One of the reasons the office is bare is because of the thieves. The principal, Mr Ufumwen Bello Ozemwogie, said books supplied by the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board as well as registers and other documents were stolen, forcing him to relocate the remaining to his own home pending when the security improves. He also said he had reported the sad situation of the school to the concerned authority but no result had been achieved. He said the workers were demoralized but tried to put in their best for the students. He said: "We don't have a staff room. This is the only way to make ourselves comfortable. The little room we have cannot contain us. Those teachers who stay under the

mended his suspension. The report of the six-member staff disciplinary committee recommended his dismissal from service after its investigation, but the management decided to suspend him instead.

Reduce taxes for private schools, owners urge

•Continued from page 25

•Edeogab

RIVATE schools under the umbrella of the Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED) have urged the Federal Government to enact lowcost mass education model policies to be able to sustain low cost educational services. These policies, they said, should incorporate the establishment of an education bank with low interest or non-interest rates, grants, loans for the services providers, training and capacity building and reduction in tax. Its National President, Mrs Ifejola Dada, said this at a briefing to mark the one-week Eighth National Congress of AFED. The congress, which holds tomorrow, has as theme: "The AFED low-cost mass education model sustainability measure in the era of global economic recession." She said: "We are faced with double taxation from the government. We should be tax-free because we are low-cost services providers. The government should not allow

A school only in name fan cannot be compared to us here under the tree. "Our books are being stolen by hoodlums. They would break the ceiling so I have to take some books to my house. "Since I came here, officials of the state government came twice and I showed them available land for more buildings. If you come here during dry season it is horrible because everywhere is dusty. We don't have toilets and you can see the whole place. "The students are eager to learn. They still struggle to perform very well. All we need is support and assistance by erecting more buildings for us." Despite its poor state, Ozemwogie said the school is still oversubscribed because it is the only one in the locality. “Last year, all the primary schools around here posted 720 pupils into JSS 1; and there was no way I could reject them. I had to manage to admit 420," he said. A teacher who pleaded anonymity blamed the Ihinmwin community

elders for the poor state of the school. The teacher said when the principal and other top officials visited the community head, they were allegedly driven away when the elders discovered that they were not there to discuss about land. He said: "The community is not showing concern. They are supposed to cry out because their children are in this school. We went to the Palace of the Enogie but we were not allowed in because we did not go there to discuss about land development," he said. The situation at the Oguola Senior Secondary School seems to be more pathetic. The two buildings in use are dilapidated. One has four classrooms, while the other has two. It was learnt that four different classes are forced to learn in one classroom. The senior school pupilpopulation is 416.6 per cent above the UNESCO recommendation. Unlike the junior school, its 15 teachers work in an unkempt and tight staff room. It was a classroom that was converted to a staff room but it cannot accommodate all 15

teachers. The floor is uneven, and the ceiling boards are broken. There are no curtains. Two cubicles serve as the office of the Principal and the Vice Principal. The principal's office has also been bugled several times through the ceiling or window. A room which serves as laboratory for all science subjects is practically empty; and there is no library. A teacher who pleaded anonymity said the administration of late Prof Ambrose Alli in the 80s had started to erect an additional building for the school but it was abandoned at the foundation stage. The senior school at least has toilets - three pit latrines for pupils and teachers. There are no windows in all the classes, including the principal's office and the staff room. Teachers in the school refused to comment but a senior member of staff described their situation as difficult and unbearable. The teacher said: "In modern school, we talk about water system but we use pit toilet here which is

‘The authorities know about our situation here. We have complained before but nothing was done. There has been no government attention in this place since the administration of late Ambrose Alli. We have only one laboratory for Agriculture, Chemistry and other science subjects. There is no good laboratory here’

By Jane Chijioke

their agencies to encroach into our schools. "They will say we should pay for water, dustbin waste, gutter waste and so many other taxes and they will tell you right away that you must have many toilets or else they will close down your school and will still collect money from you. Which purse is that money going to? We really need the government to come to our aid because we ae assisting them to provide quality education for all. "We charge as low as N5, 000 for school fees; in Epe, N3, 000. Money for approval has increased and that means we have to increase school fees thereby sending the children back to the streets. If the government can pay N39,000 per child in government schools they can as well assist us. “We discover that there are many children hawking on the street. We want the local government to ensure that they don't allow children to hawk.” not acceptable to UNESCO. The students are learning under a difficult atmosphere. Most things are not in place. When it is raining, the students cannot stay in the classes. "We have shortage of manpower. The teachers are not enough. There are almost 1,000 students in this school" But for the intervention of the Parents Teachers Association in providing furniture for one of the classrooms, the teacher said the situation would have been worse. The source lamented that teachers spend personal resources to keep the school going and has been ignored by the government. "It is a porous situation we are in. We made arrangement with the local vigilante to provide security and we pay them with our money just to keep the system going. Things are really difficult here. "The authorities know about our situation here. We have complained before but nothing was done. There has been no government attention in this place since the administration of late Ambrose Alli. We have only one laboratory for Agriculture, Chemistry and other science subjects. There is no good laboratory here," he said. Some pupils who spoke with The Nation urged government to renovate their school and give them additional buildings. When our reporter visited the palace of the community head, he was not in. However, his aides promised to call our reporter when he returned. This promise was not fulfilled before this report was completed.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

EDUCATION

ABUAD wins Microsoft Imagine Cup •Varsity to represent Africa in U.S.

ITH their Asthmavisor, a device for managing asthma effectively particularly in children, four students of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) have won Africa's ticket to the Imagine Cup competition organised by Microsoft Incorporation. The quartet that placed the five year-old institution on the global map, Adeyemo Oluwaseun, Raymond Obinaju, Sobola Timilehin, and Kevin Ahwin, are studying Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering. They defeated contingents from across other African countries including Burkina Faso, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt, Angola, Algeria and Morocco as well as Tunisia to qualify for the grand finale which comes up at the Microsoft Headquarters in Seattle, United States next month. The team christened, Team Lifewatch, identified a major health problem and proffered a novel solution using available technology.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

AsthmaVisor Solution consists of a mobile application operating with a wearable device, which monitors asthmatic patients' health status, ensuring that they stay safe and well informed of their environment. The team designed the device to be a cost-effective and efficient way of supervising asthmatic patients, especially children. It helps patients to be more conscious of their environment while also serving as a reminder of their physicians' recommendations. The software also provides an automatic alert, which is triggered by changes in environmental condition as detected by the sensors in the device. AsthmaVisor further helps the patient alert a selected list of emergency contacts in the event of crisis. This achievement is coming nine months after Mr Emmanuel Adegbite, a 300-Level student in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences of ABUAD, wrote a research paper on the deadly Ebola Virus Dis-

• Asthmavisor App.

ease (EVD) that ravaged Nigeria and parts of West Africa last year. Adegbite's paper titled: "Therapeutic measures against the current virulent endemicity of Ebola Virus", was published in the October edition of the

Journal of Medicine and Clinical Trials, a Nigerian-based International Science Journal. Imagine Cup is a global student technology programme and competition that provides opportunities for

Kano seeks collaboration on Northwest varsity

Six pupils chase ICT title in Dallas

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

HERE were upsets at this year’s national finals of the Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Competition with new schools challenging the dominance of longstanding champion, Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko, Kwara State. The Certiport MOS World Championship is organised to encourage students to be proficient in the use of Microsoft office suite, namely Word, Excel and PowerPoint (2010 and 2013 versions), which are used by most business concerns worldwide. They earn certificates that can be used for work. This year, Adewumi International College, which has claimed the most titles since ReadManna Ventures Limited started organising the competition in Nigeria in 2009, as well as earliest rival, Regent International School, Abuja, were surprised by new comers such as Aduvie International School, Abuja, British International School, Lagos, Bellina College, Akoka, and Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos. Both schools did not win the top slot in any of the six categories, which would have qualified their representatives for the world championship holding in Dallas, United States in August. Those that will represent Nigeria on the world stage include: Elizabeth Ochanya, Aduvie International School (PowerPoint 2013; 985/1000); Bendre Sidhant, British International School (PowerPoint 2010; 979/1000); and Clever Nabai, Aduvie International School (Word 2013; 963/1000). Others are: Adebusola Babington,

ABA College of Technology (YABATECH) Rector Dr Margaret Ladipo has been cleared of corruption allegations by the police The Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) and YABATECH Governing Council also dismissed the allegation, saying the claims were baseless. The police, HOSF and Governing Council said the allegations were the handiwork of suspended YABATECH bursar Olugbenga Ibirogba Dismissing allegations, Governing Council Chairman Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said the rector was transparent in her dealings. He said: "Every contract awarded

students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications, games and integrates solutions that can change the way people live, work and play.

• Osaigbovo (middle) and his pupils celebrating the school clinching two slots in the final. By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Holy Child College (Word 2010; 954/ 1000); Oluwatinuke Griffin, Bellina College, Akoka (Excel 2013, 868/ 1000); and Abure Atafo, The Childville School, Ogudu, Lagos (Excel 2010; 925/1000). Their flights, and those of two accompanying teachers, would be sponsored by the Delta Airlines. Mrs Edna Agusto, CEO, Readmanna said the stakes have become higher as more schools join in the race. She gave credit to ICT teachers who were committed to innovative learning of the subject as well as principals and school owners who provided resources to support them. “One thing I have to say about this competition is that it depends on the commitment of the computer teachers. They are the ones actually push-

ing it,” she said. Mrs Agusto also said she was particularly happy that no school dominated the top spot for each of the categories and urged participating schools to work harder for the next edition. To excel in Dallas, like happened last year when Olubunmi Agusto of Day Waterman College, Abeokuta, came second in Microsoft PowerPoint (2007 version) in California, Mrs Agusto, said the six pupils would be groomed before departure. “We have entered a partnership with Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi. They would host us for some days so we can put together the team. It will allow us to prepare them appropriately and get experts to touch them up,” she said. The pupils will be accompanied by two teachers, Mr Timothy Osaigbovo of Aduvie International School,

Abuja, which recorded the highest score in the competition, and Mrs Cynthia Ebelebe of Holy Child College, whose school had the highest number of pupil participation. Mrs Ebelebe, who was ecstatic about the trip, said she was inspired by the quest to make her pupils better. “The first thing is the quest to see how I can improve my students. Then Readmanna also came to our school to advertise for the 2015 championship. The girls worked hard. That I can say. Because I have somebody in JSS3, who is doing the BECE; and I have somebody in SS3. They are also here. So they combined this particular training with reading their books,” she said. The top three winners in each of the six categories would be rewarded with Microsoft XBOX One games at a national awards ceremony to hold later this year.

YABATECH Rector cleared of graft allegations By Jane Chijioke

under the Rector's watch went through due process, and no member of the Governing Council was in any way rewarded for facilitating her second term. She got it purely on the basis of merit, on the basis of her exceptional achievements in her first tenure in office. "Dr. Ladipo, with the unwavering support of the Governing Council, and amid paucity of funds, has been able to consolidate on these amazing achievements of which both staff and students are exceedingly proud."

Babatope said the council approved the Rector's N5 million security vote, because of the college's security challenges. A statement by the institution's Public Relations Officer, Mr Charles Oni, said Ibirogba's petitions were sent to the Federal Ministry of Education, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Staff to the President, HOSF and the Governing Council. It said the council, at the HOSF's in-

stance, set up a five-man Committee led by Hon. Shehu Ibrahim Kagara to investigate the allegations. The panel, in a report dated September 13, 2013 held that the rector was not guilty. In a letter to the Rector dated September 27, 2013, the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Biekoroma Amakapabo, noted: "The Council is satisfied with the findings of the Committee that the allegations were spurious and baseless; and a mischief intended to malign the character of the Rector." On December 30, 2013, the Ministry of Education, through Mrs. H.U.

ANO State government is looking into the possibility of engaging the six states in the Northwest zone to run the stateowned Northwest University, with a view to making it a mega university. Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje expressed this hope while receiving a top delegation from the university led by the Pro Chancellor, Malam Sule Yahaya Hamma, in his office on Monday. He said the vision is to put in place a highly-homogeneous institution that will make the region the largest supplier of trained manpower to Nigeria. "This university is very important to us. We started big and we shall continue to measure up. We must maintain the tempo at which the university is progressing. We want to make the university a pride of the Northwest," the governor said. He however, appealed for more assistance for the university and its sister institution, the Kano Sate University of Science and Technology, from TETFund to enable both institutions render academic and other services more efficiently. The governor also promised that his administration would do its best to solve the major problems of the Northwest University, urging its management to sustain their commitment to move the institution to greater heights. In his remarks, Malam Hamma told the governor that the university is scheduled for accreditation soon and requires government's support to complete some ongoing projects to enable it meet the Nigerian Universities Commission's (NUC) accreditation guidelines. Abdullahi, Director Tertiary Education, also cleared the Rector, saying she is "exonerated of all the allegations as they were baseless and spurious." In January, last year, Ibirogba rehashed the allegations in fresh petitions. A report dated August 27, last year, and signed by Arungwa Nwazue, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Admin) on behalf of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja, described the allegations as "trivial, frivolous, false and lacking in credibility". It recommended that Ibirogba "be arraigned in court for giving false information to the police."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

EDUCATION

No technical intent in polytechnic education, ASUP laments

HE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused successive governments in Nigeria of formulating policies that are antithetical to polytechnic education. ASUP added that there is no technical intent in the delivery of polytechnic education in the country. National President of the union, Chibuzo Asomugha, said this during the 81st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union hosted by the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEPOFFA), Kwara State. He, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review, on a stakeholders’ platform, the present state of Nigerian polytechnics. He said that Buhari should allow the practitioners and all stakeholders to evolve a model that can fit into contemporary times, especially in meeting up with global standards. He said: “There is no understanding of what we really want polytechnic education to be. We have deviated from the original vision. There is no focus. There is hardly any technical intent in the delivery of polytechnic education and we must return to the basics. This dovetails into what happens in the wider economy, in the industries and workplace. “There is no contact between the industries and the schools, because of that hiatus it is not coordinating. It is like we are just producing polytechnic graduates without actually being able to exactly know where they will fit in.” On the discrimination between university and polytechnic graduates, Asomugha urged the President to fulfil his campaign promise to

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

“look at the issue of discrimination against HND graduates.” He said: “Thousands of Nigerians are seeking tertiary education in this sector and the system is structured in such a way that already by making that choice they are placed as not meeting up to the standard of another sub-sector. It is better government looks at these issues completely. “Paucity in funding eventually derives from the perception of polytechnic education in the minds of policy makers. When you don’t consider that a system is serious enough then you don’t give it serious consideration in fund. Even in Tertiary Education Fund (TEDFUND) you find out that there is lopsidedness among the three sub-sectors that participate. “The polytechnics are clearly disadvantaged. We tasked the past government to monitor its funding of the sector. Don’t just throw money in a system and then go and write in the papers that you are funding such system. With all the money that government is parading that it has thrown into the system, government has not gotten better result because of lack of proper monitoring.” Chairman, ASUP, FEDPOFFA, Dr Shola Ojeniyi said the poor regard for polytechnic education was caused by the ineptitude of success governments. “By this meeting I am envisaging that we will come out with a statement that would remind the new government of the need to direct its focus of polytechnic education in Nigeria and at least try to tap from the potentials we have to technological advancement of the country,” he said.

‘There is no understanding of what we really want polytechnic education to be. We have deviated from the original vision. There is no focus’

HE Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, has overcome an impediment that stood in the way of providing quality education. It has Vodacom Nigeria to thank for gifting a 220KVA generator to supply the much needed energy to power machines in its 13 workshops, laboratories, and other facilities. The generator came with a supply of 3,000 litres of fuel. Vodacom also donated 6/6MBPS of internet access and an electric signage positioned close to the school's main entrance. Before the donation, power was an issue. In an interview at the launch of the endowment, the FSTC principal, Rev Chris Ugorji, said the power situation limited what teachers were able to do in the classrooms and workshops. He described the intervention as coming at the right time. "Human development is key to driving any aspect of education forward. We also realise the fact that without the necessary and requisite infrastructure we can barely do what we are supposed to do to realise our vision. "Now Vodacom, being a multinational organization, realising the fact that FSTC Yaba, is one of those institutions that has the passion to drive technical education forward in this country, came in at the appropriate

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

time," he said. He added that the internet access would also enrich teaching and learning in the school. Indeed, the Head/Coordinating Inspector, Federal Inspectorate Services, Lagos Office, Mrs Adaku Ibrahim-Alfa, said the lack of power was about the only impediment she noticed when she visited the college earlier in the year on quality assurance duty. With the problem of power solved, she is optimistic that the school will do even better. "A few months ago we were here for evaluation of the quality of education. We saw that though the staff strength is competent and ready to work, they lacked the capacity to do what they know to do best. The equipments were there…but because of power, they were not put to use. "What happened today, you could sum it up. It has brought life back into those equipment; and by extension the learning, the output of learning would be enormous. "What I now expect when I come back will be a flying organisation; a school where the students that were ready to learn would have had something to practicalise what they are being taught in class and you can't put price to it," she said. Managing Director, Vodacom Ni-

geria, Mr Guy Clarke, is hoping that the endowment would enhance the training of highly-skilled technical manpower, which he said is lacking in Nigeria. He said: "We've got far too few skilled artisans in the country. And that's where we need to focus and develop an education. "I am expecting the school to utilize the technology, and the internet connectivity we've given and the power to effectively ensure that they can power their equipment in the workshops that we visited - and there are 13 of those workshops. They (should) ensure that skills-knowledge transfer is built; use the technology to build knowledge, the skills and to expose them to how it is applied elsewhere," he said. While the school is grateful for the intervention, the Principal appealed to the Lagos State government to connect the school with its Independent Power Project (IPP) because of the high cost of fueling its generator. "The power supply from public utility is epileptic. We use 10 drums of diesel per week to be able to sustain this college. We are talking with the PHCN people but we cannot depend on them to sufficiently drive the programmes we have here. So if you can help us talk to the Lagos State government to connect us to the IPP project, we will be very glad," he said.

ADI trains children

Vodacom alleviates college's power crisis

2nd edition of occupational health text out •Asomugha

CHOOL pupils in Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos, spent time learning about character and leadership during a a one-day leadership development training organised by African Development Initiative (ADI), a non-governmental organisation. The programme, organised in collaboration with Viju Mil, was to commemorate the Children's Day. The programme, held under the auspices of African Values Education Children Club (AVEC). Director of ADI, Mr A.B.C Obiukwu explained that the organisation was established to help transform and empower children and individual, as well as promote socio-economic and human capacity development. "We are committed to young people's education, transformation, training, development and empowerment for healthy and wealthy

• Rev Ugorji (second right), Clarke (fourth left) and another guest with pupils of the school.

community," he said. He also said that the organisation conducts innovative research, documentation, advocacy, mentorship and training that is meant to provide solutions for African underdevelopment. "And the initiative has began to produce opportunities to access knowledge, skills and attitude needed to build strong value system, transform and empower lives and also provide business and leadership opportunity for self reliance among others." Secretary to the organization, Mr. Ben Morah, described the organisation as a blueprint for rebuilding the foundations of the Nigerian society. "Children are great heritage and it is very important to inculcate moral values in them now that they are young," he stated.

HE second edition of the book, "Fundamentals of occupational health and wellness" is set to hit the stands this month. The book, edited by Dr Omololu Odukunle, a consultant in occupational health and safety, was first published in 2007. It contains contributions from various scholars on topics such as: occupational health and safety laws in Nigeria, practical guidelines and recommendations in health and safety, and occupational health and safety in the informal sector. Reviewing the book, professor of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Olumuyiwa Odusanya, said it was a good source of reference for teachers, students and stakeholders in the health and security fields. "This book is a must read by occupational health practitioners, doctors including general and private medical practitioners, nurses, environmental health officers, occupational hygienists, safety officers, students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as top management staff and policy makers in both governments and industries", he said.

• The book.

Prof Odusanya also said the new chapters in the book would be invaluable in exposing employers of labour to adverse effects of workplace hazards. "The inclusion of a chapter on the occupational health and safety in the Informal Sector is strength in the book, as many operators are not only ignorant of the adverse effects to health workplace hazards they are exposed to but they are likely to be

more exposed to these same hazards when compared with the organized private sector workers (OPS). "Reading the book would provide useful information on how to improve productivity of workers, reduce workplace accidents and thus produce healthy workers," he said. He recommended the book be placed in libraries of academic and non-academic institutions, like the workplace.

The sporting life of women

A Corps member’s large heart Page 36

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Designer handbags are accessories to complement women’s dressing. But, at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the bag has become a threat to security. This has prompted a ban by the school management. Women are complaining, saying the ban is revealing their world of secrets, writes NGOZI CHRISTOPHER (300-Level Mass Communication).

When handbag becomes a threat H

ANDBAGS are fashion accessories, without which many women will feel incomplete. Most women carry handbags, which usually contain their makeups and other handy personal effects. Handbags come in different sizes and usually, they are made from non-transparent materials. This, it is believed, is to protect the content of the bag. But, elegant ladies who cannot do without their handbags should consider the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State capital a no-go area. Reason: the school management has introduced a regulation that bars female students from coming into the campus with opaque handbags. All students, the school said, must carry their personal effects in transparent bags if they must come to the campus. The university introduced the rule because of the security situation in the state. Borno State has been the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency. The ban on handbag has made the school unattractive for dressto-kill ladies, who like to come to the class with expensive colourful handbags. The authorities said the decision was reached to tighten security measure on the campus in the face of growing incidence of suicide bombing by women, who place explosives in impervious materials to wreak havoc in the city. But, the ban seems not to go well with most female students, who said they feel incomplete without their handbags. Carrying their handbags, they said, gives them a

lady-like and classy outlook, saying they cannot continue to swing their arms like guys. For most ladies, handbags represent their world of secret. In addition to being an accessory of fashion, ladies’ handbag can contain survival kits, such as mobile phones, tampons, make-up, money hair strengtheners, laptops, keys and clothes. As the school now wants students to carry transparent bags and wallets, the ladies said their male counterparts would use the opportunity to invade their privacy. A student, who did not want her name mentioned, said her designer handbags make her to look elegant. “I don’t know how I will cope, as a lady with high sense of fashion, not carrying my expensive designer handbags,” she said. Some ladies, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said they prefer to go out with big handbags because they can carry along most of the things they need for a whole day. A 300-Level Pharmacy student, who simply call her name Sarah, said: “Women love big handbags because it enables them carry electronic gadgets, such as phones and laptops in one place. It is not good if the bags are transparent because they will attract attention to the content.” Since the school management announced the ban, Sarah said she has lost many of her personal effect, such as money and books. A Mass Communication student, who identified herself as Rachael, said: “I love to carry hand bag because I can keep make-up essentials, body splashes and hand •Continued on page 30

•A student posing with her transparent handbag

•Corps members donate blood to save lives•Students win prizes at Dawah Camping-P32

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

The tuition fee issue Pushing Out I

N the run-up to the 2015 British election, Carl Lygo, Vice-Chancellor of BPP University, a private university based in London dedicated to the study of business and the professions published an essay titled “Why does university cost so much?” In the essay, he wrote that funds generated through the rise in tuition fees have not been used to enhance the student experience. As expected, his comments provoked controversy among public-funded institutions with Universities UK writing an open letter in the Times newspaper warning that lowering tuition fees to £6,000, as proposed by Labour, would “damage the economy, affect the quality of students’ education, and set back work on widening access to higher education.” As we all know, Labour lost that election. Like it is in the UK and elsewhere, so it is in Nigeria. Nothing is as controversial and often followed by heated reactions in tertiary institutions like the introduction of tuition fees. It didn’t start today and it will not end today, until perhaps if it is finally introduced. It is akin to the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy where emotions often run wild. While briefing newsmen on activities lined up to mark the 30th convocation ceremony, and the 40th anniversary of the University of Port Harcourt, its Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka, warned that except public universities are allowed to increase school fees, they may soon collapse due to poor funding. According to him, the present scenario where the university system continues to strain under the weight of underfunding from statutory sources, and indifference from society at large no longer makes sense. He asserted that universities in Nigeria today were bogged down by a combination of factors that place additional operational burden on their operators, especially the vice chancellors, who are on the frontline. Critically needed funding, he pointed out, was dwindling by the day, in the face of failing oil prices, while the average cost of running each university is correspondingly escalating by the day. He envisaged a situation in which public universities are likely to col-

lapse on account of inadequate funding, while some Nigerians parents are willing to pay outrageous schools fees with for their children in universities abroad. The vice chancellor said it remains 08116759750 inexplicable that some Nigerians were prepared to pay huge sums to sustain (SMS only) quality education in other countries, •aagboa@gmail.com and yet treat the ones here with utter contempt. These Nigerians would be the first to kick against the introduction of some Econometrics and Demography, to lament that: form of charges at the tertiary level of educa“In the past, Nigeria’s educational system was tion in Nigeria. “The truth is that statutory federal allocations the toast of all in the continent of Africa as it alone can no longer be relied upon to run the boasted one of the oldest, biggest and most universities as little or nothing is left to em- comprehensive University Education System. In the 1970s, people of different nationalities bark on meaningful research and infrastructural development after payment of salaries. As I moved en masse to acquire qualitative education in Nigeria. But after many years, the story have always maintained, the plain truth is that we can no longer shy away from giving seri- became different as Nigerian public universious consideration to the issue of introducing ties later became breeding grounds for cultists even as incessant strike actions and all other some form of school fees (or charges) in the Nigerian university system, if we hope to dig vices took over the schools.” The situation is far worse than when the it out of the deep morass into which years of eminent prof made the remark more than five unrealistic tuition-free education has placed it.” Before him, other VCs and the Committee of years ago. We feel it most in the area of acaPro-Chancellors of Federal Universities had demic staff as the elite professors and lecturers also called for the introduction of tuition fees of the 1960s to the 1990s passed on or found better teaching environments overseas, they in federal universities to support funding of the universities. They decried the resistance to were, and are being replaced with ill-educated, ill-trained and ill-exposed lecturers, some of introduce tuition in some universities by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who had no business imparting knowledge to others. and Students’ Union Government. With the plethora of problems confronting Beyond the tuition issue, I strongly believe it is high time we take a long hard look at the our varsities, increasing tuition fees alone will not solve them. There are structural problems state of our public varsities. Have you visited one lately? You’ll be shocked. Lecture halls are that run deeper than poor funding which need often filled far beyond installed capacity with to be addressed even with lean funds. Take the students’ literally hanging on windows to take issue of commitment for instance; how many of our lecturers are committed to their profeslectures in the 21st century! sion? I met with a group of student leaders Over the years, Nigerian universities have not been spared the degradation that other seg- recently and they practically passed a vote of no confidence on ASUU members – and their ments of the society have suffered. From Ivory Towers and institutions of higher learning, lecturers - saying they have no iota of respect they had turned into decrepit cesspits that churn for some of them. If you ask the lecturers they’d make the same remarks about the stuout graduates that cannot compete with their contemporaries in Africa, much less others dents. My humble opinion in the face of dwindling outside the continent. resources is for our varsities to be creative. This was what compelled Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, Emeritus professor of Aside the quality of its academic faculty, the

Agbo Agbo

new trend among universities that are forward looking is to appoint provosts or presidents with the right skill set to look at alternative sources of funding. But because of the way our varsities are structured, it may be difficult to go this route, but they can find a creative way to have such a figure. It is becoming quite apparent now that running a university is not a tea party; it requires marketing, financial, fund-raising and administrative skills, far beyond the needed academic skills. A good mix of managerial skills backed with the right qualifications is what is required in difficult periods like this, not just an academic without the foggiest clue of how to manage people and resources. I can bet my last naira that you can give some VCs all the money in the world and they will still fail in the area of prudent management. Why are our VCs sitting still and begging the government when Nigeria auspiciously boasts several retired captains of industry who have run blue chip corporations and possess the right academic credentials, exposure and managerial skill set to turn around public and private universities if given the opportunity to do so. Let’s take the banking sector for example. Because of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rules, most bank CEOs retire at an early age, yet they still possess the intellect, energy, business acumen and other attributes needed to transform academic institutions. The Tony Elumelu’s, Jim Ovia’s, Aig Imokuede’s of this clime would be challenged if they’re called upon to assist in transforming our collapsing public universities into world-class institutions. You can see this through private ventures they’ve been engaged in since they left their respective banks. I’m aware most of our VCs face enormous challenges with different undertones, including politics, when it comes to taking some critical decisions, but if they surround themselves with senates that are visionary they would be able to have the best that can start the process of elevating their schools to global standards despite the current challenges. Appointing the right persons to run their universities is one of the primary reasons American institutions thrive and dominate most university league tables, oftentimes accounting for more than 50 per cent of the top 100 universities in the world.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADUATES The Nation, Nigeria, in collaboration with African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) and Network for a Free Society (NFS), is calling for entries into the 2015 essay competition. Details are as follows: Topic: Government regulations and controls are the biggest threat to jobs in Africa today. Discuss using practical examples Participants must discuss the topic using contemporary examples. Qualification: Participant must be a student in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in all African countries. The format of the text should be in Microsoft Word and not more than 1,500 words. Interested student can visit: www.networkforafreesociety.org for useful background materials on the theme of this contest. Be informed that no participant is allowed to lift materials directly from works of any author and claim to be his/her own. Plagiarism automatically disqualifies any entry, which contains work of another author. If any text or sentence is copied from another author’s work, it must be shown in quotation marks and writer must credit the original author at the bottom of the paper. On the first page of the completed essay, participant must write his/her full names, department, and year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and functional mobile phone number. All entries should be sent to: adedayo.thomas@gmail.com

•Some female atheletes

•Some students showing contents of their bags

When handbag becomes a threat •Continued from page 29

sanitisers close for use. Now, I can only go out with my books. With handbag, one only needs to walk in to any restroom to freshen up. With transparent bags they want us to use, there is no way we can carry our sanitary materials to ease ourselves.” Joshua Abraham, a medical student, said it has been hard for him to cope since the ban on the use of

bags. “I can no longer go out with my laptop and my voluminous textbooks; it has been difficult for me to cope,” he said. The management is not planning to rescind the decision anytime soon, except the insurgency is brought under the control. This means that the content of the bags students are required to carry must been seen by everyone.

Entries will be received between March 26 and June 26, 2015. Late entries will not be accepted. Winners will be announced on July 29, 2015. PRIZES 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 2nd-Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 3rd-Franklin Cudjoe (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to23, 2015 4th- The Nation CAMPUSLIFE (Media Bronze Prize): $300 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 We also have eight consolation prize of $50 each.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE How do female students see sports? Some of them have excelled in sports; many others do not participate in games at all. These students claim that there is lack of facilities to support women interested in sports. UCHECHUKWU AMANZE and CHISOMEBI OBI-EKWE (100-Level Medicine and Surgery, Abia State University) write.

•Some female atheletes

•Some female students playing handball with their male colleagues

IGHER institutions are said to be breeding grounds for national sportsmen and women. But, government and sports administrators seem not to be looking in that direction. Some female students displayed exceptional talents at the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA), Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA) and All Africa Universities Games. There are women in higher institutions, who have excelled in football, tennis, volleyball and racing. Over the years, tertiary institutions have produced talented female athletes, who could be compared with the likes of Chioma Ajunwa and Blessing Okagbare. But, their talents hardly go beyond the campus because they are not opportune to take their skills to the world stage. Many argue that these women were sidelined from major sport competitions and died with their skills. In some schools, there is low women participation in sports; female students who are willing to participate in sports do not have access to facilities and kits. To the Director of Health of the Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu, Franklyn Osuchukwu, the cost of installing the facilities is a challenge. He said: “It is not that female stu-

The sporting life of women dents are deliberately sidelined from participating in sports, but the cost of installing and maintaining some of facilities that will make sports attractive to them is the reason why many schools do not encourage female participation in sports.” Osachukwu went on: “It is also noteworthy that many female undergraduates do not generally like football the way they like gymnastics, swimming and racing. To provide a swimming pool and racing track cost more than providing facilities for soccer, which do not need extraordinary budget. Boys can convert a fallow land to soccer ground, but this is not the case with gymnastics or swimming.” But, schools which should lead the way for improving the participation of female students in sports, are doing nothing to make sports attractive to them. With no facilities and orientation, women participation may continue to be low. The fate of the few, who participate, may hang in the balance because of lack of encouragement.

But, why do some female students shy away from sports? Ngozi Okwu, a student of ABSU, said women do not participate in sports because they have been marginalised. She said: “It is unfortunate that the marginalisation of women in sports is a phenomenon that is not peculiar to one school alone. It is a general trend that is making sports unattractive to women. This is my third year on the campus and it is sad to note that my department has never held a sport event for female students. This situation should be looked into.” Cynthia Mbonu, a student of ABSU and basketball player, argued that dearth of facilities cannot be the reason for loss of interest in sports by female students. According to her, women do not have chances to participate in tournaments, such as the Vice Chancellor’s Cup. This, she said, makes many of them to stay away from sports. Tochi Azubuike, a student of ABSU and an athlete, blamed the Students’ Union Government (SUG) for the problem. “How

many students’ unions have had women as Director of Sports?” he asked. Female students, he said, must be supported to be elected as Director of Sports to maximise the potential of their colleagues in sports. For Ogechi Nwankwo, a student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, management should not be blamed for the non-participation of female students in sports. Rather, he said women keep out of sports. Her words: “It is not always the fault of the management that female students do not participate in sports. Granted that most universities do not have adequate facilities for sports, but female students deliberately keep themselves off sports even when there are adequate facilities. “For instance, in my school, we have different facilities for both male and female to do sports, but women would still not participate. This is because most women believe sports is for the male alone, which is not true.”

On the way forward, Ogechi said all that is needed is re-orientate the female students onto the benefits of participation in sports. Maryann Okonkwo, a student of Redeemer’s University, said women must participate in sports to stay healthy. She said:“It is sad most female students believe that sports are the exclusive preserve of the other gender and those who wish to be professional sportsmen. This notion is wrong, because we all need body exercise to stay fit and healthy, even if we may not want to pursue a career in sports. Regular involvement in sports would reduce diseases, such as obesity and hypertension, which are prevalent in the country.” Another student of Imo State University (IMSU), Amarachi Okoro, said the academic workload is also a factor preventing women from participating in sports. She said: “Most women find it hard to combine academics and sports. Lectures stop at 5pm when everyone would be tired to even cook. Should we go out to participate in sports? If the school calendars can be adjusted to accommodate sports, no female student would not be willing to participate in sports.”

Union leader under fire Does the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Adekunle Ajasin University in AkungbaAkoko (AAUA), Ondo State support the management’s decision to fine students for late registration? The union president is under fire for his alleged role in the controversial decision. RICHARD ADURA-ILESANMI (400-Level Mass Communication) reports.

RESIDENT of the Students’ Union Government of the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Olukayode Ogunade has come under severe attack by students for consenting to the fines imposed by the management on late registration.

Last week, Olukayode was alleged to have graciously signed a document to support the management to introduce N3,000 penalty on late payment of fee and N2,000 on late course registration. Rather than oppose the move, students alleged that their union president stood on the side of the management.

•The Students’ Union leaders during their inauguration

Apart from economic situation, which many students claimed prevented them from paying their fees on time, there was also a complaint about the shutdown of the registration portal by the institution’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some students paid the fee after resumption but they could not access the

portal to continue the registration. Those who gained access to the portal had their courses and departments changed; this development hindered many of them from proceeding with registration. For instance, a 400-Level Mass Communication student, who did not mention his name, said the computer changed his department to History Education on the portal.

Despite these challenges, the management gave May 9 deadline to students to complete their registration on the portal. But the problem persisted, leaving many students unable to register before the closing date. But, the union president is, allegedly, in support of the late registration penalty imposed by the school. •Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE Group demands probe of ESUT VC selection

GROUP, Enugu Regional Association (ERA), has condemned what it called irregularity and injustice that characterised the appointment of Prof Luke Anike as the Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). ERA comprises serving and former senior staff from old Enugu region working at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Speaking to reporters after its emergency meeting on Monday, the ERA president, Prof Aloysius Okolie, urged Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the process of VC selection. Okolie said the panel should look into the circumstances that led to the retraction of appointment of Prof Ben-Chris Onah, who was ratified by the immediate past governor, Mr Sullivan Chime. He said: “After an interview considered to be transparent and in accordance with due process, Prof Ben-Chris Onah’s name was submitted to the visitor and his appointment was ratified. It was announced in media for five days as duly-appointed Vice-Chancellor of

•A Corps member donating blood at the event

Corps members donate blood to save lives

S part of their Community Development Service (CDS), the outgoing Batch “B” Corps members in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have organised a blood donation exercise. The exercise, which took place at the federal secretariat last Tuesday and Wednesday, witnessed a large turnout of Corps members and residents. On the reason for the exercise, Suleiman Mubarak, Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), said the donor chose to give out their blood because of the need to help the sick in the state. “We choose blood donation because of its life-saving role it plays in the society. The number of people who need blood is much;

From Kemi Busari

KADUNA so we feel the need to assist in this regard,” he stated Mubarak said he the turnout was impressed, praising the Corps members who donated blood despite the short notice. Mrs Patience Oladele, representative of National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), hailed the Corps members for the gesture, which she said would enhance availability of blood in hospitals in the state. She said: “Blood donation is for people between the ages of 18 and 65 who are healthy and willing to do so. The blood collected is used to save the lives of different shades of people, including pregnant women, accident victims and sickle cell patients.”

She advised youths on voluntary blood donation, saying it was one of the best ways to serve humanity because they would save the lives of people they don’t know in doing so. She warned members of the public to desist from carrying out the exercise without the presence of medical personnel. One of the donors, Sule Abdulrasheed, said he was satisfied saving lives without spending money. He urged Corps members and students to endeavour to donate blood to be healthy. He said: “There is a notion about blood donation held by many people. Some think it is for some particular people. I want people to discard this view and stand up to help their fellow human being in need of their effort.”

VC: our aim is to make UNIZIK great

HE Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, has said his vision was to make the institution the best in the country. The dream, he said, is achievable if the staff and students share and support his vision. The VC spoke during a breakfast session with reporters in his office to mark his first anniversary. Ahaneku, a professor of Chemical Pathology, said his administration had recorded tremendous progress in the last one year. He said his administration’s effort to solve the problem of impersonation and examination malpractices was yielding results, noting that the upgrading of admission processes to a digital method had proven to be reliable. In the last post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exams, he said over 440 candidates abandoned the test and ran away after seeing the thoroughness of the screening process. About 80 imper-

ESUT Enugu State University of Science and Technology. “Surprisingly, when he was invited to collect his letter of appointment, there was a twist. He was told the appointment letter had been given to another contender, Prof Luke Anike.” Okolie said the group had no interest in who was chosen as school VC but he said the ERA’s interest was to ensure fairness in the selection of administrators for higher institutions. He added: “We remain stakeholders in advancing qualitative education and good governance in the state. ERA is demanding that a panel of inquiry be set up to investigate what led to the retraction of appointment of Prof Onah after being ratified by ex-Governor Sullivan Chime. As workers in higher institution, we need no further education on the process of selecting Vice-Chancellors.” Okolie said the panel became necessary to enable the public know why a particular candidate was appointed as VC after another candidate had been selected.

Don’t scrap Need funds, union leader urges Buhari

NIVERSITY of Lagos (UNILAG) Students’ Union Government (SUG) President Abiodun Martins has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to stop the N1.3 trillion Needs Assessment funds to public universites. Abiodun made the plea at a press conference organised by the union at its Parliament Building in UNILAG, last week. He said there was need for the Buhari administration to consolidate on the gains recorded in higher education by Goodluck Jonathan administration and entrenched the successes for revitalisation of education through the implementation of the Need Assessment funding. He urged the government to release the fund to insulate higher institutions from the effect of economy decline. A strict adhere to the 26 per cent of national budget, he said, will be good to save education from collapse. Martins said this was the only way universities could become stable and contribute positively to the economic

By Adeola Ogunlade recovery of the nation. He reminded the president of his campaign promises to the youth, urging him to fulfil them. He said: “President Buhari promised increment in the allowance of Corps members and monthly stipend for unemployed graduates. We want to use this occasion to remind him of the promises.” The union leader stressed that, the fight against corruption must be carried out effectively to guide against wasteful spending of resources by a few privileged individuals. He added: “The president must always be prepared to clean the Augean Stable. We believe he is fully aware of the need to rescue the nation from the brink. The Buhari administration should ensure that people with corruption charges dangling on their necks are not appointed under any guise, because this would be rejected by students. We believe appointing such people would dent the image of our dear country, especially in this era of change.”

Students win prizes at Dawah Camp

From Emeka Chukwuemeka

UNIZIK sonators, he said, were arrested and are being prosecuted. He said: “Through biometric registration, we have the data of all our students. Since I assumed leadership, I can tell you that many lecturers have buckled up. We insisted on doing the right thing and any forms of extortion by lecturers have been stopped. Today, students graduate on recorded time. If anything delays students’ results, the head of such department is punished, just as we recently sanctioned a lecturer.” The VC said the introduction of research exhibition by his administration has made departments to step up researches and come up with outcome and inventions that could be presented on the world stage. The result, he said, include the breakthrough of the institution’s engineering students, who produced a fast racing car, which was displayed recently at science exhibition in Abuja.

From Oladele Oge

•Prof Ahaneku

“That car was produced with 60 per cent local materials. As I speak to you, other products made with 80 per cent local materials are in the pipeline. That is the way we want to go. We want our students to be selfreliant and we believe that is where the future of Nigeria lies,” he said. He said improvement in the university rating was the reason the school is second most-preferred university in the country. He said he was satisfied with his achievements in the last one year, promising to pursue his programmes aggressively to make his administration attainment its goals.

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has concluded its 48th Dawah Camping. The six-day event, with the theme: The melting ice, featured Islamic lectures, seminars and contests, such as Quranic Recitation, Arabic Language Speaking and an essay, on Austerity and fear of Allah, a recipe for a change in Nigeria. Winners were presented prizes, which the organisers said would encourage them to improve their writing skills and knowledge of Islam. MSSN Editor Yusuf Ayodele said the essay was organised to engage students in intellectual research and help them develop their writing skills. Dawud Abdulsalaam of the Physiotherapy Department, got the first prize; Ibrahim Anifowose of the Faculty of Law came second and Ibrahim Olalere, a student of Biochemistry, third. Aisha Akinola beat Ghufranah Abdulwahab and Asmau Adebari

From Miftaudeen Raji

UNILAG to win the Quranic contest. Sadiq Onituju won the Arabic Language Speaking contest; Sulayman Ahmad and Abdullateef Muhammad came second and third. About 400 students attended the event. The MSSN president, Abdulrasheed Adeoye, said the event was a yearly reminder to make students understand Islam in its undistorted perspective and to uphold its tenets as a complete way of life. He said the theme was coined to improve the understanding of participants about the religion, using the process of melting of the ice. He said: “The similitude of an ice is the love for materialism while diamond depicts our spiritualism, morality and intellectual inclination, which will surely give us eternal life and salvation. We have put this camp exercise in place to instill the sense of confidence in the life of Muslim youths and to pursue essence of creating an upright society.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE Club urges students on research

•Freshers at the event

Hard work is secret of success, freshers told

HE Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State chapter of National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) has welcomed freshers to the department. The department’s Relaxation Centre was filled to the brim last Wednesday for the orientation. The three-day event was organised to expose and make the freshers adapt to the academic culture of the department. Head of Department (HOD), Dr Babatunde Oyinade, led other members of staff to the event, which had ex-CAMPUSLIFE man, Shola Ilesanmi, as guest speaker. Ilesanmi, who is now a reporter, shared his experience in campus journalism with the students, telling them how he worked hard and rose to become one of most celebrated journalists in Ondo State. He advised the students to pursue their potentials with passion for them to succeed in the profession. He said: “Journalism has changed from the conventional

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi

AAUA news gathering and writing. The profession now requires interpretative and analytical skills of reporter to inform the people in the best way.” He urged the freshers to read extensively and pay attention to details to keep themselves abreast of happenings around them. This, he said, is the secret to become successful journalist. Dr Oyinade advised the students to work hard and be committed to their studies, saying the department frowns at laziness. NAMACOS president, Idowu Owoseni, urged them to obey the school rules to avoid expulsion. She promised that the association would always attend to issues bordering on their welfare. The students were taught how to calculate their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). On the second day, there was a

friendly match between the freshers and their senior colleagues. The match ended in tie, leading to a penalty shootout. On the third day, there was beauty pageant, where Mr and Miss NAMACOS were picked. Some of the freshers, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described the events as memorable. Paul Olatunji said the orientation was an inspiration for him to achieve his dreams. He said: “From the first day to the last, I found the event as inspiration. I enjoyed the seminar and a session where we were taught how to calculate our CGPA. I have learnt how to be a good student and how to achieve my aims.” For Damilare Faseun, the event was spectacular because he learnt life-changing tips on from the guest speaker. Another fresher, Oluwadamilola Adeniji, said she was captivated by Ilesanmi’s story. “My takeaway from the event is that, the end of hard work is success. I also want to have a good story to share at the end of my programme,” she said.

‘We are coming to serve students’

HE newly-inaugurated Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has rekindled the hope of the students living in the school hostels, assuring them that the union would improve the conditions of the Halls of Residence when the school resumes second semester. The assurance was given during the visit by campus journalists to the president of the union, Raymond Omorogbe. The visit was to assess the level of progress in the union. Answering questions from the writers, Raymond said the union was making efforts to provide water in the hostels to make the facilities neater and comfortable to live. His words: “I know what it means to stay in a dirty and unkempt environment. The dirtiness of our hostels is because of shortage of water in all the blocks. Some don’t even have water. But this administration has mapped out plans to address the water problems. It would be a thing of the past when students resume for second semester.” The president showed the campus reporters documents that indicated that the union has had the approval of the management to start the wa-

•Raymond (left) with the campus reporter, Ezekiel Efeobhokhan (middle), and Divine From Ezekiel Efeobhokhan

UNIBEN ter project in all the hostels. Speaking on security situation on the campus, the union Public Relations Officer (PRO), Divine Oguche, said the SUG was to the task of solving the challenges. He said the union was in discussion with the school security office on how to improve security in the school. He said there was a plan to end campus robbery and other crimes. The president thanked students for electing him as their leader, promising to always pursue programmes that would address

their welfare. “The students are tired of people toasting them with long speeches. All they want is a better environment for learning, better accommodation and a responsive union. This is what we want to give them,” Raymond said. Other members of the union include Aisha Kanabe, Vice President, Emmanuel Ndueche, General Secretary, Great Oju, Director of Welfare, John Ogegegbe, Director of Sport, Andrey Anavhe, Director of Social, Davies Ignonosa, Assistant General Secretary and Osayuki Agbonghae, Attorney-General.

ESEARCH is key to the survival as a nation because it benefits the generality of the people and proffer solutions to developmental problems. These were the words of Greg Emokpai, chairman of Pharmaceutical Research Club (PRC) during the club’s maiden research seminar held at the Lecture Theatre III of Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The event was to enlighten students and lecturers on the benefits they could get from carrying out productive researches. Participants were also told how to carry out thorough research, using some set principles and standards. Speaking on Survival of women folks in contemporary times, Dr. E. Bafor of the Department of Pharmacology urged female students to embark on research that would save feminine gender from societal problems. She explained how she made efforts to carry out some researches that earned her a doctoral degree in pharmacology. Her words: “Women need to get involved in research. There are so many interesting parts about the feminine gender, which men may not want to delve into due to religion, morality or other personal reasons. But as ladies, you may not find those reasons tenable because

From Ezekiel Efeobhokhan

UNIBEN you are familiar with them. During my PhD studies, only a handful of researchers had done studies on the uterus. This made me encounter many difficulties but I never gave up. I was able to isolate some 16 compounds that had effect on the uterus and six of them were new to the humans.” She urged the students not to relent, saying they could go conduct their researches during long holidays. She added: “Research is good but it is not being fully utilised in Nigeria. When you go to other countries, whatever you discover becomes their property and the credit is given to them.” She revealed her plans to float a research platform called ‘My Summer Research Programme’. She said the scheme would enable students to carry out researches during holidays. Prof Ray Ozolua encouraged the student not to give up, saying some researches may be expensive but students could carry out findings without spending much. The chairman of the club, Greg Emopkai, said the club was set to create platform that would enable students express their curiosity, as well as put up a better translation to their discoveries, which were ignored. He said the club was poised to set the pace in research, noting that students were about to carry out a research on the cases of ulcer on the campus. “Ulcer is a common problem on the campus; we are set to carry out a research on its cause and the solutions. It is high time we let the school community feel the presence of pharmacy students around,” he said.

Adesina’s appointment excites OAU students • ‘Make Dabiri-Erewa minister’

HERE was excitement at the Department of English and Literary Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, following the appointment of Mr Femi Adesina by President Muhammadu Buhari as his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs. Adesina, former Chairman of Nigeria Guild of Editors and Managing Director of The Sun, graduated from the department. Students, under the aegis of National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), have hailed the appointment, describing it as round peg in a hole. The association’s president, Sodiq Oyeleke, and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Adebimpe Omolaso, described the appointment as a good omen for the department. Sodiq said Adesina had proven his prowess in the media, noting that it gave credence to the department’s culture of excellence. He said: “The appointment gives credence to the effort of the department and the university to inculcate knowledge, discipline and culture of excellence in students. Mr Adeshina, an intelligent and strategic thinker with

From Afees Lasisi

OAU rare acumen, is one of the numerous successful graduates of the Department of English and Literary Studies. “Judging by his colossal experience in the field pf communication, Adesina stands out as one of the best journalists the country has produced. We believe he will bring capable his experience to bear in assisting the president to propagate the message of change.” Adebimpe said: “All NASELS members heartily felicitate with Adesina on his appointment, which is a manifestation of his relentless effort in sustaining the growth of objective journalism in Nigeria. The appointment is a morale booster for students of the department.” The students urged President Buhari to raise the bar of appointment, saying he should select competent people to work with him. They also pushed for the appointment of another alumnus of the department, Hon. Abike DabiriErewa. Dabiri-Erewa, the students said, has proven to be outstanding among her contemporaries. Sodiq said: “Hon. Dabiri deserves to be appointed as a minister. We do not think that there is a better way to reward exceptional people than to give them higher tasks.”

‘The appointment gives credence to the effort of the department and the university to inculcate knowledge, discipline and culture of excellence in students’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

A Corps member’s large heart A Corps member in Enugu State, Chinagorom Chigozirim, has donated free drugs and eyeglasses to residents of Ogu-Obiagui, his host-community. EMMANUEL AHANONU (NYSC ENUGU) reports.

HE Ogu-Obiagui Community in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State was a beehive last week when Dr Chinagorom Chigozirim, a Corps member, organised a medical seminar for residents. The event, held at St. Bartholomew Anglican Church School Hall in Ogui, exposed the dire need of the people for healthcare delivery. Many of the residents do not go for regular medical check despite living in unhygienic community. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that many did not also know what

•Chinagorom

•Villagers being counseled during the seminar

blood pressure is and its cause. But, to create awareness, the Corps member went to churches, mosques, markets and hospitals across the community to publicise the seminar. The event, tagged: A total care for a healthy living, was solely organised by Chinagorom to sensitise the residents on the need to promote healthy living. He said the community was living in ignorance of its environment, adding that with many of the beneficiaries do not their health status. Assisted by his colleagues, Chinagorom divided the seminar into five sessions in which he lectured and counseled the participants of the causes of various ailments peculiar to the community. After the seminar, he conducted medical tests on the participants to know the sickness they were battling. When the test results came out, the Corps member offered free treatment to the people who needed medical at-

tention. Other services rendered by the Corps member included free test for blood pressure, malaria parasite, blood sugar level and eye test. Speaking during the seminar, Chinagorom said most of the death in the community could be attributed to carelessness and self-medication. Besides, financial problems, he said, made people not to visit the community hospital when they fall ill. He said he held the free medical mission to help people constrained by finance to get medical attention. Speaking on the good vision, Chinagorom said eyes are the most delicate part of our body, which must be properly protected. He said many of the community members suffered cataracts because they did not know it is curable. Glaucoma, he said, can only be managed and not treatable. He advised beneficiaries to immediately seek medical attention whenever they suspect any change in their

sights. He also advised the people on how they could prevent malaria and other common ailments. He gave out free eyeglasses and insecticide-treated mosquito nets to residents of Asata, Obiagu and Ogui communities. More than 100 residents benefited from the gesture. The seminar got to its emotional point when a 34-year-old man explained how glaucoma had ravaged his family. Every member of the family, the man said, is affected by the eye ailment. After offering a free counselling, Chinagorom gave the man a referral to an eye clinic in Enugu and promised to monitor his condition. There was also a touch of drama to the event when a vision-challenged man disrupted the programmes to get a free eye glass. The man shouted: “I heard everything here has been paid for by the government and I must get my own.” After persuasion, the man stood in the queue to be tested.

Some of the beneficiaries shared their thought with CAMPUSLIFE. Ogochukwu Ugwu, who got free eyeglasses and mosquito net, hailed the Corps member for the gesture. His words: “This is wonderful event that must be commended, especially by those of us who don’t have access and opportunity to go for this kind of checkup. This kind of programme should be sustained and I urge other Corps members to emulate this gesture.” Dr Fortune Okolo, who joined Chinagorom to conduct the medical test, described the event as impressive, saying the beneficiaries would never forget the Corps member. He advised members to emulate Chinagorom’s gesture, which he said is impacting lives in his host community. Other beneficiaries prayed for Chinagorom, promising to practice the health tips they learnt during the seminar.

How the nation can use education to develop human capital was the crux of discussion at a conference organised by the International Association for Promoting Professional Excellence in Research and Education (INTAPPERE) at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State. EMEKA CHUKWUEMEKA reports.

OW can the nation use education to develop human capital resources and solve developmental challenges? This is the puzzle professionals, educators and students gathered to solve at a conference held at the ultra-modern auditorium of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State, last week. For hours, participants brainstormed and suggested ways of developing and maintaining human resources capital to complement the government efforts for economic growth and human development. The conference was organised by the International Association for Promoting Professional Excellence in Research and Education (INTAPPERE). In his paper titled: Education and human capital development: Changing global dynamics and skill-set, Prof Ben Osisioma of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, noted that human development should not be seen in the realm of personal affluence, but economic growth. He said quality education remained the pivot of national transformation and development, noting that a dysfunctional educational system would only deepen poverty and promote underdevelopment. With his resources, he said Nigeria remained in the backwater of human development because of the state of its education. Through education, he said, a society is equipped with knowledge, values and skills to develop its human capital and promote

•Participants at the conference

‘Education is catalyst for human growth’ sustainable human development. Osisioma said: “We must raise a generation of men and women that think critically, solve complex multi-disciplinary and openended problems, create and innovate, and communicate and collaborate. This is the best way out of the present conundrum.” Speaking on Development of human capital through education: Prospects and challenges in developing countries, Reverend Father Felix Uchechukwu, a lecturer at St. John’s University in New York, United States, argued that developing countries needed to de-

velop their human capital to achieve physical growth. He said this could only be done through education. He said: “Developmental theories and evidence-based studies substantiate the conviction that the attainment of this laudable objective is feasible. Therefore, there are prospects of development by developing nations. The challenges are also there, but they are surmountable. Japan, which has fewer resources, accomplished it. Nigeria and other African countries can do better. “Quality education is very ex-

pensive. Adequate funding of institutions remains the challenge facing most developing nations. Apart from funding, there are problems of understaffing, poor remuneration and dearth of grant for researches, and inadequate infrastructure and modern facilities to aid learning. It is incredible to hear that there are colleges in this country without internet services for staff and students. These challenges can be properly addressed by due commitment by the governments and wealthy individuals. “The readiness of Nigerians to

bear the cost of qualitative education for their children underscores the fact that, they value education and will cooperate in that regard with their wealth. The number of unemployed graduates points to the fact that, something is wrong with the education system. The turning out of graduates by universities should be a relief to the graduates themselves, their loved ones and the society. But this is not the case.” To solve the problem, Uchechukwu said funding of education should be increased to provide amenities that will make learning easy for students. Earlier, the Provost, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, said human development is a major foundation for building of progressive nation. He was represented by Prof Ezimma Nnabuife. For any nation to develop, Ogbuagu said human beings must live above board. He said education is the engine that propels the economy through human resources. Ogbuagu observed that without human resources, no society would move forward. He said: “Developing requisite human capital means developing people with the right skill, knowledge, competences, frame of mind and attitude that will facilitate the creation of personal, social and economic wellbeing.” He urged affluent people to invest in education to complement’s government efforts to provide facilities that will promote quality education. Sounds education, he said, is the most important tool for human capital development.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

Nigeria and the wind of change

By Tolulope Olaleye

S a youth and a good citizen of this country, I say a hearty congratulation to President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of his inauguration. I wish him unquantifiable vigour and limitless energy as he embarks on the task of changing the country for good. It is good he knows that the political history of this country is replete with eras of maladministration and corruption perpetrated by a few. Over the years, the country has been on constant motion without moving forward. Although there had been efforts by people to bring about change in the country but the change they desired seemed impossible under the political environment in which the nation found itself. Of course, it is needless to observe that Nigeria is being torn apart by tribal-

T is a known fact that President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in at a time our economy had been hopelessly mismanaged by the outgone Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. In the last days of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the nation’s debt profile increased and despite our huge resources, we saw the country on its tow, struggling to meet up with its daily expenditure. The situation has left many people in penury and prices of food have skyrocketed to a level people cannot afford. Healthcare is shambles as our hospitals have been reduced to mere consulting clinics because of lack of drugs and necessary equipment to keep them running. Is the present state of our education is what we want? Rather than being a catalyst to solve joblessness among the abled bodies, the system has only compounded the unemployment in the country, which is increasing to embarrassing level. In some states, salaries have not been paid in the last 10 months; workers have been going through harrowing experience in catering for their families. Yet some of our leaders revel in affluence. The Buhari government came at a time the nation wanted change in the way its affairs were being run. Having being rejected at the polls three times, President Buhari appears to the messiah the people have been expect-

EFORE the coming of colonial masters, communities that were merged to form what is called Nigeria today were known for their rich culture and traditions. However, with the advent of colonialism, some of the cherished values and agelong traditions of these communities were traded away. People abandone their mode of dressing for the English wears. Since then, the sense of fashion of the colonial masters has become prominent. Today, many Nigerians cannot do without foreign dressing style. One thing that must be noted is that, many of these European modes of dressing have relegated our cultures to the background and given prominence to alien culture. The idea that a lady should put on trousers and mini skirt, and that a man should sag his trouser are what we have copied from foreign climes. All these are alien to our culture. Mini skirt is a

ism, religious bigotry, nepotism, and ethnic chauvinism. The change people crave for is one that will not only end its political woes, but also one that will bring about mutual respect among the citizens. The outcome of the recent general elections showed change is always possible if people are determined to achieve it. A new government has been sworn in and the hope for a new Nigeria is renewed; people have started to dream of a country where they can live freely without strife. With so much expectation from the government, Mr President should know that people do not want a leadership that will derive its strength from tribal sentiment. We want leadership that will not place one ethnic group above the other. Given the level of social relationship among all ethnic nationalities, there is need for the president to mend all the fault lines dividing the people. It should be known that mutual suspicion among ethnic nationalities is one of the problems threatening the unity of the country. This problem came to the fore during the election; the voting pattern was done on the basis of ethnicity and religion. There is no way we can build a nation with such mindset. We need a leadership that will pragmatically address this ill and keep the people united. Nigerians should be assured that, regardless of their belief system or backgrounds, all citizens are

equal before the law. The other task that should be done with fervour is the reform of education. The years of bad governance have taken our education back to the Stone Age. Now, the sector is in dire need of reconstructing, which must start from the Acts setting up our schools to management and values. There is no gainsaying the fact that the rot in our education is the cause of the nation’s underdevelopment. If the foundation is not strong enough, there is no way a structure to be place on it will endure. We have been described as tomorrow’s leaders, but with our schools churning out half-baked graduates and people who cannot defend their certificates, what hope for Nigeria when the future comes? An American child read is taught how to read and write before the age of four, but in Nigeria, a five-yearold is still struggling to read. In many developed societies, students are made to sit for college examinations at the age of 16 and above, which gives opportunity to showcase their brilliance and expand their knowledge base. Let there be an end to a belief that until when anyone has a certificate or becomes a graduate of a higher institution before he can be employed in any form. This belief is hindering national growth. Youths who do not have the privilege to be under the proverbial four corners of

university but have skills to add values to their lives should be given the opportunity to showcase their talent. Engaging them in productive ventures will keep their minds away from crimes and their thinking, every day, would be preoccupied with how they can provide solutions to the challenges facing the nation. In sane climes, youths are allowed to work, especially during summer, to improve their skills in whatever fields they have chosen. This keeps their minds and souls busy. Government should make vocational training compulsory for all youths, especially during the long vacation to enable them bring out their hidden talent. After the discovery of oil, agriculture lost position as a major revenue generator for the country. Nigeria is blessed with arable land and human resources. As a youth, I do not see it as a waste of time after graduation to become a farmer. In fact, there are many job opportunities for the youth in agro-allied industries, but how many youths want to be farmer? The country sees farmers as illiterates but they provide the food we all eat. Let it be known that Nigeria has untapped resources in its arable farmland and the government harness the human resources to develop our agriculture. Mr President should give incentives and training for people willing to work on the farm. It is most

Advice for Mr. President By Afees Lasisi ing to clear the mess of the PDP misrule. The president must make the people the focus of his administration. He must know that the same people voted for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, voted him out in 2015. The people are what political scientists called leviathan. They are the majority. They are the reason for government. The government, at all times, must know what they want and how to deliver them. Any administration that fails in this respect will be booted out. A careful analysis of the immediate past Jonathan administration would how that the former president surrounded himself with those feeding fat on our collective patrimony. The the overfed advisers and overpaid ministers who served President Jonathan became albatross on the administration; their greediness and excessiveness may have been responsible for his electoral misfortune. President Buhari must avoid toeing the same line in his interest. As president, Buhari must promote peace among the six geopolitical zones and see every zone as part and parcel of his presidency. The mutual

suspicion among Nigerians, which was created by the political class during and after elections, must be cleared. This horrible lexicon of politics “he is our son” should be removed from our political parlance to bring out the best in people. Ethnic politics is a politics for the weak and mediocre. It is a politics that preaches violence and engenders underdevelopment. The president must heal the country of ethnic strife and we must join hand with him to make Nigeria an indivisible nation. “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” has been a quotable sentence in the president’s inaugural speech. He must show example by seeing every Nigerian as equal under the law of the land. Buhari inherited a country that is corrupt and badly mismanaged. Corruption has become a Frankenstein Monster in public offices and institutions. It is everywhere. If this scourge must be fought to a standstill, the president needs strong political will to bring powerful politicians to book. He must do this by not witch-hunting the opponents as his predecessors did. Insecurity is another major setback we have faced in the last five years. While it is good that the president is

deploying his military tactics to solve the challenge, he must know that, as Aristotle observed, poverty is the parent of both revolution and crime. Before spending money on ammunition, President Buhari should also consider investing on human development, which I believe would reduce poverty and make people to stay away from crime. Insecurity scares away investors because no one is ready to invest their resources in a society where large scale violence is the order of the day. And without industries, development is unachievable. But, if the nation must be secured, investment is human capital development must be given priority. On Education, the president must know that the currency of this century is knowledge. It is this knowledge that will give birth to innovation and invention. By investing in education, the present administration would be making a progressive society. The state of our education brings tears to the eyes and renders society in incapacitated. Public education has been in bad state because of funds and bad policies. This must change and our education must take its departure from its current state.

certain that Nigeria cannot continue to depend on imported goods; it would be a shame if by 2020 we still import local product, such as matches, toothpick and fruits. With the coming of President Buhari, Nigerians expect a quick resolution of electricity challenge, which has affected the economy negatively. Nigerians have been groaning under epileptic electricity supply and in the recent past, the situation assumed a very embarrassing dimension; economic activities have been brought to their lowest ebb. Factories are shutting down, artisans are closing shop, and companies are incurring huge costs to remain in business. All offices, including government establishments, rely on generators to power their operations. Lack of stable electricity is depleting the economy and arresting the nation’s development. The availability of power will automatically make a lot of difference in the economy if the present government can fix it. The wind of “change” blowing across the nation has not only influenced the mind of both the enlightened and dependent citizens, but it has also affected the thinking of the people. Therefore, Mr President must do everything possible to bring the desire of the people to reality. Tolulope, International Relations, LANDMARK UNIVERSITY Since Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), we do hope that our court won’t open only for the wealthy people. The poor have been priced out of courts because of high legal fee by lawyers. The Buhari administration will do well if it reforms our justice system and make the poor have access to justice. Electricity is another major challenge that has arrested the nation’s development. It is a shame that a country with over 140 million people is battling to generate 4,000 megawatts, which is far from what it needs to power the homes and industries. We have resources, such as water, gas, coal and biomass to generate power from, but the country remains in darkness because of lack of foresight. This is a daunting task that requires urgent attention. It is disheartening that President Buhari came back decades after he ruled the country to face challenges, which he battled. We have had successive civilian governments since 1985, but the problems of the country persist. Now that the president wants change, he should know that people expect him to rise above board and place the country on solid footing. Like a saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected. President Buhari must be the change we have been expecting. •Afees, 300-Level Political Science, OAU Ile-Ife

The menace of indecent dressing By Fisayo Ajayi short that reveals the sensory parts of a lady. Sagging, on its own, portrays rascality and abnormal behaviour in the society. In a traditional African society, wearing of mini skirt and sagging of trousers is abominable and embarrassing. We imbibe odd culture to erode our values in the name of civilisation. In Africa, mode of dressing commands respect. Good dressing is good business. It will elicit respect in all ramifications; and most importantly, it will save women the trauma of being raped. Indecent dressing is a social malady that cuts across many countries of the world. It is the deliberate exposure of one's body to the public. This habit is

embraced by all ages in the society but it is prevalent among the youth, especially girls. Dresses that are meant as stage costumes for musicians and actresses are worn by our some youths as everyday attires. A teenager must be cautious of the kind of clothes he puts on. Indecent dressing, no matter how we link it to civilisation, has no place in African culture. Our culture places so much prestige on dignity and humanity. Whether in the West or African society, indecent dressing is the major cause of the various despicable vices and harassment. Alas, this menace is gradually becoming a norm and the etiquette in African communities. Our culture is being eroded by impolite mode of dressing.

Culturally, a country will remain a progressive nation if its citizens promote its culture through observance. But, a reverse is the case in today's African society. Among ladies of today, horrible dresses, such as mini skirt, bumper short, armless and show back popularly known as spaghetti tops are the order of the day. One needs more than a gift of discernment to differentiate a prostitute among ladies who dress in provocative wears. Men are also culpable in this social malady. There is no reason for a child who hails from good home to keep dreadlocks on his head or pierce his ears in the name of fashion. The question is: who do we blame for this malaise? Parents? Society? Or peer group?

I leave this to reader's imagination. To curb the menace of indecent dressing, parents should play good role models to instill morality in their children. They must give their children attention and regulate the type of movies they watch at homes. The mass media must promote good moral values, while religious organisations must preach against it. Introduction of dress codes in colleges or universities will also help to stem these obscene dresses. All these are necessary if decency must be achieved. Let us revive our culture; let us imbibe the fashion that suits our society. •Fisayo is of the International Institute of Journalism, Ado-Ekiti

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE Corps members’ mosquito nets for host communities

ESIDENTS of communities under Atiba Local

Government Area of Oyo State could not hide their joy on Friday when Corps members in the council moved round to donate treated mosquito nets to them. The residents came out en mass to receive the materials. About 500 pieces of the nets were donated to pregnant women and nursing mothers in maternity centres in each community. Some of the places visited included Agoare, Tede, Sabe, Ofiki, Irawo Owode, Irawo Ile, and Owotoro. The Corps members also sensitised the women on the cause, symptoms and prevention

ORPS members in Ushongo town, Benue State have extended their Community Development Service (CDS) to pupils of Manor Day Secondary School in the community. They were in the school to sensitise the pupils on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), road safety and emergency. Babatunde Johnson took the pupils in session on the purpose of the MDGs, which he said was to ensure all rural dwellers have access to universal basic education before 2020. He said: “MDGs aim at eradicating extreme

•Corps members with some of the beneficiaries From Samuel Afolabi

NYSC IBADAN of malaria. The exercise, the Corps member said, was in line with the cardinal

objective of the Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which mandated members to contribute positively to

the development of their host communities in the period of service. Hailing the exercise, the NYSC Local Government Inspector, Mr

Muyiwa Akinbode, described the exercise as a good development, urging Corps members to keep up the work and continue to make positive impacts on their host communities.

CDS groups sensitise pupils on disaster prevention From Fatima Abdul,

NYSC IBADAN poverty and promote gender equality especially among women.” Another Corps member, Ekene Akputa, told the pupils that, the goals also sought to improve the lots of women through education and empowerment. He said: “MDGs seek empowerment women, especially wid-

ows, by giving them grants to start up business to cater for their families. The goals encompass all areas of human endeavour, including education, agriculture, economy and social wellbeing.” Corps members in National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) CDS group informed the pupils of the group’s mission, describing it as lifesaving. Ayobami Osho made references to some natural disasters that

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

occurred changed the destiny of some societies, saying there was need to learn tips on how the pupils could avert disasters, such as fire, flooding and accident. Peer Educator training (PET) CDS group showed the pupils some effects of teenage pregnancy and the need to abstain from intercourse. Samuel Uzoechina, a Corps member, said: “Don’t be pushed by your peers to do what is not right. Abstinence is the best prevention for underage pregnancy and prevention of HIV/AIDS.” Dayo Ogedengbe of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) CDS group spoke on precautions to avoid road

accidents. In his words, road accidents kill more than HIV/AIDS and malaria. He said all roads accidents could be prevented, adding that people’s attitude to road use could prevent accident even if the roads are bad. Mr Terhemba Terdoo, who represented the school principal, praised the Corps members for the gesture. He said the sensitisation would help keep the pupils abreast of ways to make their community safe. The senior prefect, Solomon Terzungwe, said: “We appreciate the Corps members for the knowledge they imparted on us. We will make good use of it.”

Union leader under fire •Continued from page 31

This is generating a widespread condemnation from students and other students’ leaders, who see OIukayode’s action as going against the interest of all students. A former SUS presidential aspirant, Tosin Okunbo, said the action was against the oath sworn by the Olukayode to protect the interest of students. He said: “If the story is true, I totally condemn it because it is a breach of oath the union president took to always protect students’ interest. Life is more than the four walls of the university. Some of these students will be the people to testify about our conduct when we graduate from the school.” A member of Student Representatives’ Council (SRC) representing Arts Education, Samson Ayodele, chided the union president for “conspiracy against students”. He said: “I am not surprised. I had thought the last administration would be worst SUG we would ever have; I did not know the worst would come. Olukayode was said to be candidate of the management and today, if he has been acting true to type.” The union’s ex-General Secretary, Olasunkanmi Castro, described president’s action as a betrayal of trust. “I will say everyone in the union has betrayed the students’ trust. It is not about today, but tomorrow. You can make the entire world as gain but you can never rest,” he said. The union president denied backing the penalty, saying he never signed any document to justify the management’s action.

His Media and Publicity Director, Yomi Ayeleso, said: “It is irritating that some students, who are supposed to be agents of truth and honesty have resorted to peddle despicable rumours that Olukayode met with Deputy Vice-Chancellor to sign an agreement with the management on late registration fines. I want to confirm that, on no time or period that the Students’ Union President signed any agreement with the management on the said issue.” CAMPUSLIFE gathered that there may have been division in the union, with Olukayode leading a faction, while another faction is being led by the Vice President. The union president dismissed the speculation of disunity among members, saying the executive had been united. The state co-ordinator of the Educational Rights Campaign (ERC), Timileyin Ogundare, said it was meaningless whether the union president supported the penalty or not. “The most important thing is that the late penalty fee imposed by the management stood. And that is what should concern all of us. In this trying moment, it is instructive the union has maintained silence and it could be that they are fighting against the policy on students’ behalf.” He advised the union president to call a congress if he deems that the issue is beyond his power to handle. He added: “The union leadership should have followed the SUG constitution by calling the congress to table the matter before students to take position. They should have followed it by applying Section 78 of the constitution, where procedures for agitation are listed.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE UNILORIN FILE

ASUU urges members to ignore audit

Training by Hollywood crew

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members to ignore a letter from the Budget Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance asking members of the union to present themselves to an audit panel. In a letter from the union's national secretariat signed by its President, Dr Nasir Fagge, and addressed to all chairpersons, the union described the action as illegal and against the principle of university autonomy. The letter titled: "Re: Staff Audit Federal Ministry of Finance", reads: "The attention of the Union has been drawn to a letter dated 26th May, 2015 from the Budget Office in the Federal Ministry of Finance directing members of our union at the University of Abuja to appear before a Staff Audit Committee of the Ministry. "The directive is a breach of the ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreement and an attempt to compromise the universally accepted AUTONOMY of the university system. "Our members are, therefore, directed not to appear before any such committee panel on Staff Audit in all the universities. It is the Governing Councils of universities that can, without prompting from the government, take and implement decisions on staff audit or budgeting issues in universities."

â&#x20AC;˘ Jewel and her parents, Mr and Mrs Nkwocha with a member of staff of the university.

Nigerian girl bags first class in U.S.

21-year-old Nigerian, Miss Jewel Olachi Nkwocha, has made her country proud by earning a First Class Honours (Summa Cum Laude) in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, United States. Miss Nkwocha, who hails from Imo State, also bagged a medal from the University's Honours College as well as two awards from the School of Engineering and the Department of Biomedical Engineering; all of which were presented to her during the university's graduation held recently in Richmond. During her four-year programme, Jewel won the Mark Sternheimer honours scholarship twice as a reward for academic excellence. In her third year, she was given a Tutor

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

appointment which she described as "tasking but very rewarding intellectually", while in her final year, she was among 12 undergraduates who won the University's Dean's research grant for specialised project with a doctoral candidate. But it was not all about academics for Jewel. In her second year, she was elected a representative in the Students Union Association (SUA), while in her third year, she won a Senate seat in the SUA. She combined these responsibilities with being a UNICEF volunteer and one of the leaders of the African Students Union. Jewel and her parents, Dr Jossy and Lady Joy Nkwocha, were very happy and full of gratitude to God for such

an academic feat in far-away US, especially for a girl who did her secondary school in Nigeria (Federal Government College, Owerri), and travelled to US only four years ago. How does she feel making such a great result? "I just feel good, normal. I am happy that my result has elevated the image of my country Nigeria. I give thanks to my parents who gave me the opportunity of studying here in America. I also appreciate my guardians here in U.S., Mr and Mrs Sam Chijioke, who have done so much for me. I give all the glory to God Almighty who has made it all possible," she said. Her father, a former General Editor of Newswatch magazine, praised Jewel for making them proud, but also gave God the glory.

Chancellor pledges to support ATBU

Pensioners elect new leaders THE UNILORIN Branch of the Federal Universities Pensioners' Association (FUPA) has elected new officers to pilot its affairs for the next four years. Mr. M. A. Oyenpemi is chairman, while Alhaji A. A. Lawal, vice chairman. Other officers include: Mr F. S. Kugbayi, Secretary; Mr Adebayo Ogunsola, Assistant Secretary; Mr Sunday Oyeniran, Treasurer; Mr T. O. Famuyiwa, Financial Secretary; Mr Kehinde Olufolaju, Internal Auditor; and Mr. Gbemisoye Alade, Public Relations Officer. Elected Ex-Officio members are Mr E. I. Saliu and Alhaja S. A. Elelu.

Coop awards scholarship

HE Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, has declared his readiness to contribute to the development of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi in his capacity as chancellor of the institution. Oba Adejugbe made the pledge when he received the management team of ATBU in his palace in Ado Ekiti at the weekend. The ATBU management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, visited the monarch to present him with his letter of appointment as Chancellor. Oba Adejugbe had earlier served as Chancellor at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) for 13 years before his appointment. While thanking the Federal Government for the opportunity to serve as the ceremonial head in ATBU, the monarch promised to use the position to work with the management to make the university a model in Nigeria. He said: "I thank the Federal Government for this opportunity to serve again at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi as the Chancellor. "I was your neighbour in UNIJOS for 13 years. I thought I would spend four years but I ended up serving for 13 years. Wherever I find myself, I will continue to serve humanity and I hope peace will reign in the university throughout my tenure. "As the ceremonial head of the institution, I will continue to work with the management and I, by the grace of God, will do everything within my power to make the university fulfil its dream," she said. The ATBU VC expressed confidence that the royal father, the fourth

HOLLYWOOD actor, producer and director, Mr. Bayo Akinfemi, has announced plans to provide a film crew from Hollywood to train students of Performing Arts of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). He also spoke of plans to shoot a film on the campus when he visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali. Akinfemi, an alumnus of the varsity, was the President of the Performing Arts Students Association when he was a student. He said it had become necessary for him to return home and give back to the institution that gave him so much. He explained that the proposed film would enable the students of Performing Arts to understand how to translate theory to practice. Akinfemi said Nigeria is capable of producing Oscar Awardwinning films if the enabling environment is put in place. The Vice Chancellor, who was delighted about Akinfemi's visit, said the alumnus had been able to translate the education he received at the university to the outside world.

â&#x20AC;˘ From left: Oba Adejugbe; Vice Chancellor of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim and Registrar when they visited the monarch to present to him his letter of appointment as Chancellor of the university. From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

to be chancellor of the university, would succeed in his assignment having garnered experience at UNIJOS. Speaking on the challenges facing the university, the VC identified infrastructure and funding as the major headaches. The VC said: "We came to see His Royal Majesty, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, in order to bring his letter of appointment as the Chancellor of our university. "He is somebody who has been

recognised as one with a lot of experience. In fact, he was with a university in our neighbourhood, that is the University of Jos for the last 13 years and he contributed a lot to that university. When it was announced that he was the one who is going to be our new Chancellor, we were quite excited about it because we have been exchanging some communication with that university and we know how he had been treating them. "Like he said himself, he doesn't interfere unnecessarily like others do and that makes us to be quite optimistic that we are going to have

Wherever I find myself, I will continue to serve humanity and I hope peace will reign in the university throughout my tenure

a very successful tenure". On the challenges facing the institution, he said funding was not so adequate. "Of course, there are interventions from TETFund but ordinarily, the funding from government is a little problematic. "Take for example, last year the capital grant for the whole of our university was N280million and the worst thing is that we were not even able to access all of it, we were only able to access about N100million, even then in bits, not as a whole. "This year, the whole capital budget is just N53million. Without TETFund, it would probably have been very difficult for us to run the university. So, we are actually very grateful to TETFund and indeed the Federal Government for the support they have been giving recently in order to alleviate the problems that we have been having in the university," he added.

THE UNILORIN Scientific Multipurpose Cooperative Society has awarded scholarships to 19 undergraduates, who are children of its members. The beneficiaries received N15,000. Of the 19 beneficiaries, 18 were from UNILORIN and one from the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who was represented by the Deputy ViceChancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, congratulated the students, enjoining them to see the scholarship as a challenge, which should prompt them to live up to expectation. "This scholarship is a challenge that you cannot afford to let your parents and the society down, by continually improving on your performance. We look up to you ... that one day, you will come back and give back to the system where you have taken something from," he said. The President of the society, Dr Olatunji Kolawole of the Department of Microbiology, said the scholarship is the society's way of enhancing the academic excellence of students. He disclosed that 13 students benefited from the first scholarship in 2012. This year, he said the best 19 students, were selected after being screened by a committee chaired by Mr. J. F. Olafare.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE AAUA FILE AAUA is ‘SW most subscribed varsity’ THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has listed Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, as the 'Most subscribed university’ in Southwest and the 20th most-sought-after university in Nigeria. According to JAMB's statistics of choice institutions for the year, 22,832 candidates chose AAUA as first choice, while 165, 22, and two candidates picked the university as second, third and fourth choice. Thirteen federal and seven state universities made the top 20 list.' The University of Ilorin topped the list while the University of Benin and Nnamdi Azikiwe University emerged first and second runners-up.

Pro-Chancellor’s essay on anti-corruption AAUA Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, has instituted a N1million anticorruption essay contest for workers and students of the institution as part of measures to engender transparency and due process in the nation. He spoke during a three-day workshop, titled: 'Building university culture in Adekunle Ajasin University' held on the campus. He said: "I am proposing a competitive academic exercise on campus in form of an essay that would be open to all students and staff, or a thesis, or a dissertation. The exercise could take off in July and end in September this year, so that necessary awards could be given to the winner and two runners-up in October. ‘’ He asked the management to set up a three-member committee to establish the necessary rules and standards for the competition.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE Scholarship application deadline is Sept 30 FOR non-South African applicants is July 31. The closing date for South African applicants is September 30. Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded for Masters Public Health, Community Eye Health program. Course Level: Scholarships are available to pursue master's degree programme at the University of Cape Town.

Scholarship Provider: University of Cape Town, South Africa, Scholarship can be taken at: South Africa Scholarship Open for international students, including Nigeria. Scholarship Description: To support the training of eye health professionals with strong public health skills, the Consortium offers scholarships for candidates from lowand middle-income African Commonwealth countries that have been accepted to study for a Masters Public Health, Community Eye Health at the University of Cape

Neo-colonialism frustrates Western Saharawi independence

O you believe that neo-colonialism in Africa also accounts for why agitations for the independence of the Western Saharawi people dragged for years? Well, if African countries were united and they decided they are going to build up an army in Western Saharawi, do an economic boycott of Morocco and were ready to go force in force, it would change the situation. But the truth about neocolonialism is that some of the African countries, especially the ones colonised by French cannot pursue this cause vigorously against France. If you remove Morocco, France to me, is the biggest enemy of the Saharawi people. You know the nature of our fellow French African

countries; amazingly, France even brings troops to settle their political squabbles and sometimes france will almost directly remove and install a new government. That is how neo colonialism is horned. Does Nigeria being one of the strongest African countries have much role in this? Nigeria for example has no reservation at all about Western Saharawi. But then there are some African countries that are ready to accord formal recognition to Saharawi, but they don’t have the strength to make contributions. For instance, if you say let’s have the military, they don’t have the personnel. If you talk to some French African countries, most of which get foreign aids from France, France will

Ikpeazu seeks more varsities in Abia

How to Apply: •Inform the University of your Interest in applying for a scholarship using the Registration of interest form •Apply for a place on the course at the University of Cape Town. •Once you have received an offer from University of Cape Town they will contact you about your application for the scholarship. Scholarship Application Deadline: The closing date for non-South African applicants is July 31. The closing date for South African applicants is September 30.

Following a two-day international conference in Abuja by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to draw the world’s attention to the continued colonial domination of the people of Western Saharawi, Africa’s last colony, by Morocco and its Western allies, former ASUU National President and convener of the conference Dr Dipo Fashina, agrees that neo colonialism has been a major factor dragging back the independence of the Western Saharawi. Fashina spoke with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

• Governor Ikpeazu receiving a souvenir from Prof Okoroafor.

BIA State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has said his administration is disposed to the establishment of more universities in the state to boost the education sector. He spoke while receiving the management of Gregory University, Uturu in Government House, Umuahia. Ikpeazu had appealed to those interested in investing in education to think of Abia first, adding that the government was willing to support them. He regretted that private institutions are sited more outside Abia and the Southeast. The governor said tertiary education is one area of need for the state, noting that the government would

Town, South Africa. The Masters Public Health, Community Eye Health, aims to provide students with the practical skills to develop and manage eye care programmes with an emphasis on meeting eye care needs in Africa. It also enables participants to undertake appropriate clinical and operational research to inform the practical planning and management for Vision 2020: The Right to Sight. What does it cover? Scholarships will cover course fees, travel costs, and accommodation costs.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-eke, Umuahia

not hesitate to encourage more private institutions, such as Gregory University. Ikpeazu described Gregory University as a flagship among the citadel of learning in Nigeria, saying he is thrilled by their concept of entrepreneurial education. The university's Registrar Dr Austin Orisakwe said the school has secured approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to run a medical college in addition to 37 other programmes across seven colleges. He said Ikpeazu's predecessor approved Amachara Specialist Hospi-

tal and Diagnostic Centre for the university to use, a gesture that engendered, he added, facilitated NUC's approval of the medical college. Orisakwe assured the governor of the support and partnership of the university and conveyed a letter of intent to the governor to receive the title of Visitor of the institution. He said Gregory University is partnering lots of foreign institutions and agencies in the development of education and skills that would facilitate students exchange programmes. Orisakwe said the university has received a proposal by an American Aeronautic Engineering company to produce aircraft and other automotives projects.

simply say: ‘we can’t fund you to go and fight against our interest. The Americans are also there. Unfortunately South Africa does not seem to be in Africa’s hands now, but with big multinational companies some of which have interest in the resources of Western Saharawi. But do you suspect US and Europe complicity in this too? American and Europe are not playing the frontline role that they ought to play despite the fact that in Europe they say every nation has a right to self determination up to independence. In Morocco, this is compromised as usual in the interest of minerals and fish. The area Morocco has seized is the riches in fish and phosphate. How deep is the predicament of the Western Saharawi people? Right now, the Saharawi people are living in refugee camps. When you get across from Algeria about 30 kilometres, you get into a desert and from Tindouf to Elayun, somewhere there they have liberated the country. But the rest of the country is occupied by Morocco. You have a wall called the ‘Wall off shame’. Morocco has fenced the Western Sahari people out of their wealth. That wall separates the Saharawi people into people in the liberated area and people still under colonial rule. All the wealth of Western Sahara is behind those walls. During the colonialsm era, America stayed aloof. Now that America is interested in Western Saharawi, whom does Africa take her case to considering that Europe and America have the same interest in same place? Our revolutionary predecessors say no coloniser willingly gives up. You have to go through persuasions either though the barrels, or through other means. The American position on Western Saharawi is ambivalent. But you have the European Union and the American establishment which collaborate. However, the strong pull in Europe also affects the movement in America. Some of the strong organisations supporting the Saharawi independence are also in the United States. Don’t you see either of these forces giving in soon? The US, it seems, will give in when the world pressure comes, but the point is that the French and Spanish are the protagonists of Moroccan colonialism; and of course the biggest interest in the world are the owners of fisheries and mines; you know how they influence government. There has to be a struggle against the whole of Africa. There has to be a campaign from those companies that are holding their interest in fish-

•Dr Fashina

eries and mines in Western Saharawi which is the richest in phosphate and fish. Interestingly, the Western Saharawi people especially the youth are spoiling for a fight. There is a movement agitating to return to the warfront. But I think the leadership of the Saharawi people are simply saying no. what we need is a referendum, and let’s get the United Nations to organise this referendum. These leaders are convinced that the people will vote to have their own country. However, I think these youths are under a lot of pressure to return to the field. We must also remember that imperialism is a network, but when it comes to strong pressure at decisive point, it will rather compromise than lose. So, where do we go from here? Our task will be two: One, if the Western Sahara people decided to go back to the(battle) field, whichever African country that is capable should support them. But the important thing now is this decision by the UN, and the big question is thisthey should conduct a referendum, and that is the role African countries can be mobilised to do. With a referendum, I believe this matter will be resolved. But France, Spain, and US are frustrating that. So African countries should ensure the Saharawi support group has to be built to do this campaign that will pave way for a referendum by the UN. However, it is the fear that the people will choose independence that is causing all this delay. Do you foresee a scenario where, for example, Nigeria put in so much into South Africa during apartheid only to be rewarded with xenophobic attacks on its citizens? For me, it is not correct to say if this people (Western Saharawi) get independence, won’t they do what other people are doing? If you support people’s independence in principle, then you support them in principle for independence. That is why countries like Nigeria and Cuba are respected and other African nationalists like Nkruma for what he did in Ghana. The principle of self determination for all people is not something that you honour or do not honourt because it will pay off for you or not; it is a principle of universal human right.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

EDUCATION

ANAGING Director and Chief Executive Officer of Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc, Mr Emmanuel Ekunno, has called on leaders to lead by example for students and younger generation to learn. He made this known on Thursday last week, when delivering a lecture on 'good leadership' during a visit of contestants of the governors’ competition on leadership skills organised by Civic Enlightenment Association (CEA), at the Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc premises, Ikeja, Lagos. Nine secondary schools from Lagos and Ogun states participated. Emmanuel said leadership is caught and not taught but can be learned, adding that leaders in the country should try to touch the heart of citizens positively. "Leadership looks simple but it is complicated; everything begins and ends with leadership. Leadership is caught and can be learnt. You can't teach people because they might not want to listen but leaning is the developing area. If we begin to learn from past mistakes and begin to change our ways, we can become better leaders. Leaders implode before explosion and make use of their initiative when necessary, must be kind and merciful" He stressed that leadership is a choice, and leaders must be prepared with lot of exposures, high emotional energy, and must be bold and fair with inner conviction.

Lead by example, pupils told By Ibrahim Adam

"To be a leader, you must choose because when I started as a sales representative of this company, I decided to choose a career and started doing things that helped build my career. I chose loyalty to my boss and loyalty to the company with sacrifice. I be-

ernor of Lagos state and designed to produce desirable platform for contestants and younger generations to learn techniques for solving leadership problems. Aroyehun blamed most of the socio-political and economic crises often experienced in the country on

• Methodist Girls' High School Old Girls Association MGHS-OGA ('79 Set), in partnership with Arise Mobile Clinic (AMC), held a Health Day at the school premises in Yaba, Lagos. Picture from left are: Mrs. Tosin Sutherland, Dr Biodun Abraham, Mrs. Doyin Adegbayi, Mrs. Shola Adegbomire, Ms. Lola Ogunbambi, Mrs. Doyin Olushina, Mrs. Funto Igun, Mrs. Bunmi Aina, Mrs. Bola Ayedun, Ms. Yosola Akinbi, Mrs. Shola Amosu, Founder AMC Pastor Siju Iluyomade, Mrs Nike Denis, Mrs. Remi Akinterinwa, Mrs. Bola Fagboyegun, President MGHS-OGA '79 Set Ms. Anne Rinu, Magistrate Folake Adewunmi, Mrs. Fife Dawodu, Mrs. Nene Ogunlesi, and Ms. Sola Alamutu.

Colourful carpets for ‘Special Children’ ITH many children of the Heart of Gold Hospice, Surulere, Lagos suffering severe disabilities, life outdoors, going to school or elsewhere is not a regular occurrence. However, Mr Jitesh Pamnani, General Manager, Lucky Fibres, makers of Nobel Carpets, hopes that the firm's colourful children's carpets would brighten their lives and even help them get foundational education. He was at the hospice to donate colourful carpets designed to captivate young children and inscribed with the letters of the alphabets and numbers. "When I got to know about this orphanage and that people here can't really move out of this place, we thought about how we can beautify their lives. We have kids range of products that have A,B,C on the carpet; we have numbers 1,2,3 on the carpets. It is a colourful carpet. It is a combination of colours, which can beautify their lives. Because as they are not going out, not looking around the city, at least we can bring at their

lieve we will have governors, presidents, and pharmacist managing director from you people one day. In his address, Coordinator of Civic Enlightenment Association, Dr. Femi Aroyehun, said the competition on leadership skills is an initiative named in honour of the sitting gov-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

doorstep, under their roof, those kinds of carpets which will enhance and beautify their lives. In a way, they can also educate themselves. If anybody around can tell them 'this is A'; 'this is B'; these letters can be in their minds," he said. Pamnani was conducted round by the founder of the hospice, Mrs Adedoyin Laja, who said all the children in their care were abandoned. Many suffer congenital health problems that require surgery and special care - health, education and otherwise. She told Pamnanai that the hospice cares for children aged 0-5, and shared the touching stories of many of them - including a three-week old HIV Positive baby, and an 11-month old boy whose brain grew abnormally behind his head, had a cleft palate, and was blind. But to her, these children deserve to be loved. "What you see, I don't see. The disability that you see and you turn your heads away, I don't see it. I see beyond that," she said.

• From left: Mr Pamnani; Mrs. Laja; Head, Business Development, BD Consult, Ms Tayo Azeez with children of the Hearts of Gold Children Hospice during the visit. PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

She thanked Nobel Carpets for remembering them and sustaining a good relationship with the home. "Like Yoruba people would say: 'Ona ofun l'ona orun', (meaning if you don't have food to put in your mouth, you are on your way to death'. Once there is food to put in your mouth,

then you are okay. So it is not just about food. It is also about other products that enhance the lifestyle of my children. You have mat on the floor with alphabets, colourful colours, it helps children to learn," she said. Mrs Laja appealed to parents with children like her hospice cares for not

FGGC Shagamu opens wardens’ hostel

HE Parent-Teacher Association of the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) in Shagamu, Ogun State has built an apartment for its hostel’s wardens to enable the staff live in the school premises and effectively check the pupils. The was made known at school's PTA meeting attended by parents, guardians and representatives of other Unity Schools in the state. The PTA Chairman Mr. I. A. Okunuga said members lamented that some of the pupils indulge in frivolities and needed better supervision , adding that was why the PTA decided to erect the five apartments. Said Okunuga: "The girls need proper monitoring and supervision because the house mistress stays here till 10 pm; and you can be sure that when she leaves the girls would be up to all kinds of mischief from evening till dawn.

leadership deficiency. Speaking with The Nation, a teacher from Seylek City College, Ebute Meta, Lagos, Mrs Uju Adindu said: "It is a good program to trigger the leadership qualities in the students so as to catch them young and help them become a good leader." A student of Straitgate College, Ishara Remo, Ogun State also had this to say: "The lecture was a good enlightenment to prepare us for the future."

• The principal, Mrs Owolabi (left) with PTA executives and parents at the event. By Sampson Unamka

He continued: "A lot was already going on and some of the girls were already going into cultism. Some would scale the fence doing all kinds

of things. Some SS3 girls were also caught cooking in the hostel. This new initiative we strongly believe, will yield positively because the wardens are on the ground 24 hours a day. The

PTA will also be bankrolling wardens' salary." He recalled how in the course of constructing the facility another challenge cropped up.

to abandon them. She said the home could provide support to parents to care for special needs children. "Don't throw them away. If the abandonment dries up, there are other areas that one can work. Even if the children are at home, we can work with families," she said. "The soak away collapsed completely last year and the principal called on us for assistance. We got to work on it and it was during the torrential rainfall. When we were to bring the bricklayers to do the slabs, another rain fell and we had to start all over again," he added. Conducting parents and guests around the facility, Okunuga listed some of the PTA's achievements. He added: "The facilities we have helped to complete during our tenure include a block of six classrooms. When we took over the principal handed it over to us at the block level. She appealed to us to make it available for use by September. "The project has been ready and it has been accommodating our JSS students until recently when some of them were moved to another place". On his part, Mr Rufus Famuwagun, PTA zonal coordinator for Southwest, who cut the tape to open the structure, recounted that during the Ebola outbreak last year, the PTA looked for ways to improve the hygiene in the school. "One of the things that we did then was to paint seven blocks of the schools hostel. This came after we got an appeal from the formal principal

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

EDUCATION EDUTALK

The fate of the average learner

• Mrs Joshua, Chief Operating Officer, Dufil Prima Foods, Adhi Narto, and Fan Club Head, Indomie, Sony Dorai admiring an art work.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Indomie engages mothers in art contest

NDOMIE'S bid to strengthen the bond between mother and child through a creative art exhibition contest titled: 'Team up with mum' received a boost as the firm received 37,000 entries from six states. Members of Indomie Fan Club in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Akure, Ogun and Benin, were required to team up with their mothers to use Indomie noodles wrappers and cartons to creative art works. The one-month preparation for the art works ended on June 5 and the submitted entries were exhibited at the headquarters of Dufil Prima Foods (makers of indomie),

By Jane Chijioke

Surulere last Saturday. However, the Coordinator of the Indomie Fan Club, Mrs. Faith Joshua, said entries for the finished art works were still being accepted. Entries received so far include canoes, shopping basket, laptops, electric cooker, shoes, Indomie Plaza, side tables, Indomie uniforms among others were displayed. Mrs Joshua said the top three winners will receive N100,000, N75, 000 and N60, 000 as prizes.

She said the intent of the contest was to help children bond with their mothers. "We realise that sometimes there is no bond between the kid and the mum that is why we titled this competition 'team up with mum'. We want to create a relationship where there is no relationship between the mother and child. And where there is an existing relationship, we try to strengthen the bond and in essence the creativity in the child will be exposed," she said. She noted that the mothers embraced the initiative and thanked the management of Indomie for their support.

Career awareness project nears target

HE 20th Vision 2020 career counselling, industry awareness and Youth Empowerment programme of the Lonadek Oil and Gas consultants held recently at the MUSON Centre, was a milestone its Coordinator, Dr Ibilola Amao, said was worth celebrating. Since 2006, the firm has been preaching the gospel of abundant career opportunities in the oil and gas as well as areas that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which can only be filled by professionals with the right attitude and morals. Dr Amao said so far, the Youth Empowerment and Restorative Initiative has encouraged thousands of secondary school pupils in Lagos and Abuja to prepare themselves for fruitful careers in the country's productive sectors through the workshops held in Lagos and Abuja and summer camps held in Lagos. With five more years left before the project deadline, Dr Amao is optimistic that the firm would meet its target of reaching 1,000 youths to be empowered to take their places in Nigeria's economy and reduce the country's dependence on expatriate skills. She said: "This is a very special edition because this is the 20th. It has been a lot of hard work to come

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

this far; a lot of self motivation. Because it has been really tough getting people to understand the purpose of identifying young talents and encouraging them through career counseling to pursue careers in Science ,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We thank God that we have been consistent; we have been able to run with a minimum of two events in a year. "This is our 10th year, and we hope that in the next five years before the project comes to an end we will be able to hit our target to touch lives significantly. The target is to touch the lives of 100,000 youths by the year 2020 and to have tangible evidence for meritocratic system for getting the brightest brains and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM and make positive impact on national development. We are beginning to see them because we have success stories from participants from 2006." One of the students so impacted about nine years ago, Longinus Maduka, addressed participants at the event. Maduka, an Electrical/Electronics Engineering (Telecommunications option) graduate of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), told The Nation that participating in the first summer camp in

2007 helped him to take purposeful steps towards earning his engineering degree in the tertiary institution. The former pupil of Gracewell Academy, Coker, said: "My journey with Vision 2020 has actually been very beneficial. If not for them, I would not have known much. It influenced me because I was able to complete my tertiary education by taking advantage of various scholarships by the oil companies". During the 20th Vision 2020 workshop, the participants were counselled by various speakers, including Mr Soji Oyawoye, who urged them to achieve their dreams irrespective of their backgrounds. "Your background does not matter. What matters is for you to have the right attitude to life," he said. Highlight of the event was the presentation of the Vision 2020 20th edition awards to supporters of the programme, which went to Addax Petroluem Development Nigeria Limited, pioneer sponsors; Chevron Nigeria Ltd; and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO). Others were: Dr Layi Fatona, MD, Niger Delta Exploration and Production Ltd, Mr Oyawoye, and Mr Ernest Nwapa, pioneer Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

FUOYE unveils meteorology lab

with

EDERAL University OyeEkiti (FUOYE) has inaugurated a meteorology laboratory named after Mr Otis Anyaeji, Deputy President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). In a statement, the institution noted that the university's Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Asuzu, expressed his gratitude to Anyaeji for his encouragement and contribution during the project execution period and accreditation of the En-

gineering department by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). Asuzu emphasised the importance of meteorology to human existence, saying: "Correct measurements have a direct impact on all spheres of human life. They allow ordering and facilitating of commercial transactions, consumer protection, make accurate diagnoses of diseases, help preserve the environment, help the rational use of natu-

ral resources, which together affect the quality of life of people." Accepting the honour, Anyaeji encouraged Nigerians to support the vision of the institution and ensure that the children get the best facilities to study at all times. The inauguration, which took place at the Ikole-Ekiti campus of the university, also featured a project tour of completed and ongoing projects within the engineering department.

HE story of Oguola SecKofoworola ondary School in IkpobaOkha Local Government Belo-Osagie Area, outskirts of Benin City, Kofosagie@yahoo.com which features as our Education 08054503077 (SMS only) cover today is indeed pathetic. Yet I know that there are many more schools scattered across the country in similar or even worse shape. I visited one in the Southwest last year. The school is quite popular because its pupils have won many laurels. Though its facilities are not as bad as Oguola, the pupil-population is so high that many stay outside for classes. There are up to 200 many classes. But they do not all stay in class. Even at that, a teacher cannot walk between the rows to reach those at the back. When we asked the pupils the whereabouts of others not in class, they replied "Market" - that is what they call their tuck shop located behind some classroom blocks. We can deduce that it means many of the pupils do not attend classes. Because of the high population, they are not noticed by the authorities. Though in school, they are as good as 'lost'. Grooming pupils in poor learning environments like in Oguola and the other school (I have decided not to name) affects performance of the average pupil. If there is no extra commitment from the teachers, and it is difficult to be committed in such situations, only the fittest survive. Many others would be left behind. Why the school I visited in the Southwest has been able to win laurels in competitions for many years is because the teachers have a system of identifying and grooming the best pupils for competitions. But the result of the average pupils does not reflect the general perception people have that the school is good academically. A preliminary study carried out on performance of the pupils in a particular subject showed that very few achieved average scores. That is why I have said countless times in this column that the welfare of the average learner should matter. The average pupil must excel. The average pupil must be skilled, motivated, and empowered. If they are not, when they get into the labour market, we should not expect magic; we should not be surprised by mediocre performance of our economy. The Federal Government should do an audit of schools in bad conditions like Oguola and work with state governments to address the infrastructural and manpower deficit in these schools. Like has been suggested by some stakeholders, the secondary school sector should get its own version of the Universal Basic Education Commission. It should be structured like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, which has worked wonders in the tertiary sector. Best practices can be learnt from another successful initiative of the past administration of Lagos State, the Eko Project, a World Bank long-term loan that helped provide funds directly to schools to repair facilities, purchase equipment, and train workers. A public school teacher I spoke with hoped that the initiative would continue with the new administration because she was a witness to the transformation it brought to public schools in Lagos State. If public funds that find their way into private pockets are mopped up, appropriated to education projects and stringently monitored - like is done by TETFund and Eko Project, our government will be able to put public schools in good shape and provide better quality education for Nigerian children regardless of their socio-economic background, tribe, and religion. What we must aim for is to improve the average pupil, and on the whole, we would fare better.

‘The Federal Government should do an audit of schools in bad conditions like Oguola and work with state governments to address the infrastructural and manpower deficit in these schools. Like has been suggested by some stakeholders, the secondary school sector should get its own version of the Universal Basic Education Commission. It should be structured like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, which has worked wonders in the tertiary sector. Best practices can be learnt from another successful initiative of the past administration of Lagos State, the Eko Project, a World Bank long-term loan that helped provide funds directly to schools to repair facilities, purchase equipment, and train workers’

Mac 45/ Edu this week / 39-40-Pgs - 18-06-15

THURSDAY JUNE 18, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not pleased with what appears like a rebellion within its ranks and the emergence of a bi-partisan leadership in the Senate. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI looks at the development and what can be done to ensure that it does not have negative consequences on the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

What does Saraki’s, Ekweremadu’s emergence portend for APC? T

HE emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, contrary to the wish of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila should get the positions, has been rightly described as a continuation of the battle for supremacy between the party and the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). With its numerical advantage in both chambers of the National Assembly, the APC could have easily taken charge of the situation, but it probably took things for granted. According to observers, the rift has revealed some cracks within the ranks of the ruling APC, which must be papered before it causes a colossal damage to the objective of the APC to steer the country towards a new direction. But, the APC appears to have found itself in a cul-de-sac. Though the party has reversed its earlier position, saying the development is not acceptable, the Lawan group within the party is still insisting that Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who was elected as part of the deal that brought Saraki and Dogara into office, must go. Ekweremadu who represents Enugu North in the upper chamber belongs to the PDP and he was returned as Deputy Senate President as a result of the agreement members of his (Ekweremadu) party in the National Assembly had with Saraki and Dogara as a condition to back them. The justification of the Lawan group is that a bi-partisan Senate leadership would set the stage for an administrative disorder and a possible disintegration of the ruling party. The group believes that the alliance of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives with PDP members is going to be a cog in the wheel for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to reform and sanitise the Nigerian polity. Be that as it may, the irony is that the position of the group runs counter to the suggestion of political analysts that this is not the time to further inflame passions and that the APC must engage its dissident members. Thus, in spite of what has happened, former SecretaryGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Colonel Joseph Achuzia, said the APC should move on, by forgiving Saraki and Dogara and thereby unite all its members for the task ahead. Achuzia said the APC members of the Senate were naïve, by being elsewhere when they should have been at the Red Chambers of the Senate for their inauguration. He said: “They should have realized that both Saraki and Dogara were all members of the PDP; it was just at the last moment that they opted out because they knew what they wanted and knew they would not get it if they remained with the PDP. But, in their heart of hearts they still consider themselves as founding members of the PDP.” The former Ohanaeze Secretary-General said what won the election for the APC is not so much the manifesto or the programmes of the party, but the yearning for change of the populace, as a result of the failure of the previous government to satisfy their aspirations. Against this background, he warned the APC to tread softly, so that it would be able to deliver the promised change to Nigerians. Similarly, elder statesman and Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, said it would be in the national interest for the APC and the PDP members in the National Assembly to put their differences aside and work as a team. The elder statesman said the executive and the legislature can work harmoniously, as long as the Buhari-led government is not hostile to the National Assembly. He added:

•Saraki

•Buhari

“If President Buhari handles the National Assembly with care, I don’t think there will be trouble. The sooner the APC leadership accepts the reality of the situation in the National Assembly, the better for everyone.” Like other observers, Yakassai believes the crack within the APC in the National Assembly should be cemented with care, to avoid bringing a collateral damage to the cohesion within its members. His words: “The Lawan group has gone to court, but I don’t think this course of action will be in the overall interest of the APC. From my personal experience in the Second Republic, when I worked as a Liaison Officer between the Presidency and National Assembly, I don’t think they have a strong case. Nevertheless, it is only when the court comes up with a ruling that we can know the true position, but as a layman, I don’t think they have a strong case. “In the first place, I think the APC made a mistake; it has not learnt from past mistakes of the former ruling party. There is the case of former Speaker Patricia Etteh; the PDP wanted her as Speaker, but members of the House were not favourably disposed to her leadership. Eventually, members of the House had their way. “The second example was when former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was elected; he was not the candidate of the ruling party. The party wanted Adeola Akande to be Speaker, but members of the House decided that they wanted Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha and they had their way. “In my view, I think any political party in power should allow members of the National Assembly to decide who they want to be their presiding officers. The party can come in, by zoning the positions, so that each geo-political zone would be given a sense of belonging. But, the issue of which particular office should

•Ekweremadu

go to which member, should be left for the lawmakers to decide. If the ruling party does that, there will be peace because the members have their own mandates; the mandate of the President is different. “We should learn from what obtains in other climes; there is nowhere in the world that the party dictates to the National Assembly or parliament, as to who should be their presiding officers. It doesn’t happen in America, Britain, Italy or any other Western country for that matter. In these countries, the parties give parliamentarians the freedom to decide who should be their leaders. Yakassai also subscribes to the belief that the APC authorities committed a blunder by not taking care of the interest of former members of the PDP who defected to the APC. He said: “There is a saying in Hausa that if you see a horse with a saddle already mounted and running amok, you should know that he has thrown somebody off and that you too can be thrown off. So, what happened to the PDP, if

The APC appears to have found itself in a cul-de-sac. ‘ Though the party has reversed its earlier position, saying the development is not acceptable, the Lawan group within the party is still insisting that Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who was elected as part of the deal that brought Saraki and Dogara into office, must go

’

care is not taken, can also happen to any other party, including the APC. “You see, the PDP benefitted from defections from other parties and it thought it would be in its own interest. Members of the party were happy when members of other parties were leaving their parties and joining them, not knowing that in the end they will be the worst losers. But, with the sign of trouble, such members started to leave one-by-one and sometimes in droves. So, the APC should beware.” Based on past experience, the current crisis, if not properly handled, may lead to instability within the legislature and this may have negative consequences on the good governance of the country. if it is not properly handled. The intrigues that characterized the inauguration of the 4th National Assembly in 1999 under the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the emergence of Senator Evans Enwerem as the Senate President is a familiar story. Just like Saraki, Ekeweremadu had emerged under a similar controversial circumstance but sooner than expected lost out to Dr Chuba Okadigbo. He fell to the proverbial banana peels in the hallowed chamber because his emergence was at the instance of Obasanjo against the desire of majority of his party members in the PDP, who had in a mock election chosen Okadigbo as their preferred candidate. In November 1999, aggrieved PDP lawmakers in the senate took advantage of Obasanjo’s oversea trip and impeached Enwerem and installed Okadigbo. But, unfortunately, Okadigbo’s tenure did not last; he was also ousted in a counter coup plotted by the same power he and his group had rebelled against. Senator Anyim Pius Anyim stirred the affairs of the Senate until the end of the tenure. But, bored with the power play intrigues, Anyim had denounced his membership of the PDP in his valedictory address. At the inception of the 5th National Assembly, another Obasanjo’s protégée, Senator Adolphus Wabara, emerged as the Senate President. But, he was forced to resign in April 2005, following his implication in the bribefor-budget scandal. He was accused of taking gratification from the Minister of Education for approval of education budget. The upper legislative chamber witnessed a bit of stability when Senator Ken Nnamani took over the Senate presidency. But, it was Senator David Mark that eventually brought relative stability ro the Senate; he was the longest serving Senate President. Until the recent defeat of his party, he had served for two consecutive terms in that position. He was in a good stead to retain the position, but for the poor outing of the PDP in the last elections. Mark is said to be instrumental to the emergence of Saraki and Ekwueremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. The APC is yet to recover from the shock of their emergence. As far as civil society activist and President Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTAS), Comrade Mashood Erubami, is concerned, the cracks opened by the emergence of Saraki/ Ekweremadu/Dogara is a new twist in the fight against corruption. Erubami said it is a clever attempt to prevent the commission of class suicide by those who survive through the water of corruption. He added: “Fighting corruption to these elements is a deliberate act of dehydrating the bodies of such politicians for them to be wedded away. If the priority task of President Buhari’s government is to fight corruption and they know they are the target, their emergence is in a way an anti corruption • Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 18, 2015

All of you clerics here present, please continue to pray for the family ‘most especially the immediate family. I also want to ask you to give us the kind of prayer point you gave my dad while he was alive ’ ’

POLITICS

Seven years after, politicians desert Adedibu’s family

SSOCIATES and relations of the Ibadan political godfather, the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu converged on his residence last week for the seventh anniversary of his death. But, the atmosphere at the expansive residence was a sharp contrast from what it used to be. Seven years after the demise of Adedibu, his disciples have deserted his family. Those who benefited from his political clout shunned the annual celebrations. Islamic clerics dominated the entire event. The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Sheikh Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere and other muslim scholars arrived, the late Adedibu’s Molete castle as early as 9a.m to offer a prayer for the diseased and celebrate with his family. The late Adedibu was a political pillar in Oyo State who mingled with Islamic clerics and politicians. He installed many governors, senators and local government chairmen before his demise in 2008. His political activism

By Jeremiah Oke

for over five decades forced politicians, even the opposition parties, to reckon with him. While calling on Adedibu’s sons and daughters to emulate the legacy left behind by their father, Agbotomokekere said Adedibu will be remembered for good. He said Adedibu contributed to human development and ensured that the less privileged were fed in his house. The cleric added: “Adedibu was able to contribute to human development while he alive. He helped many people, especially the less privileged. What do you want people to say about you when you die? It is left to you and I to decide. We need to do good, so as to be rewarded with good. God will reward us accordingly; therefore we need to do good.” Speaking on the low turnout, the wife of the deceased, Alhaja Abosede Adedibu, said whatever people sow is what they will reap. She said: “I thank God. God has al-

What does Saraki’s emergence portend? • Continued from page 43 crusade fight back waged deliberately to stall being targeted. “It is in this context that the conspiracy and the treacherous acts exhibited in the hallowed legislative chambers should be understood. It does not take time to know that the calibre of most of legislators left behind by the government that wound up cannot wait inactive under a government that has taken fight against corruption as a key task. Since most of the members of the APC, too, are also not infallible, there is the tendency that they may see the emergence of the clandestine groups as a cover against their being prosecuted later. “The legislative coup against the APC has launched a new space for political intrigues and prepared veritable ground for confronting the President in case the line of the fight against corruption is not drawn to shield those who committed corrupt acts in the past to start the war afresh. Thus, landmines have been set for the war against indiscipline in the party and in the parliament. Erubami said what played out on the floor of the Senate is just a rehearsal of what to expect from the members of the PDP left behind. “Unless the President shifts the focus of governance and makes his administration people-driven, the country cannot be taken away from the sway of those who have tormented and set various agenda for the backwardness of the country in the past 16 years,” he added. To install a new order rightly built on the foundation of incorruptible legislature, the VOTAS President

ways been there for me. I don’t hold grudge against anybody and I am not going to fight anybody because God has been faithful to me. I have not seen them (Adedibu’s political associates) since my husband died, but thank God I am coping. The turn out is not too bad though. As you know, it is the seven years anniversary and people still turned out to join us in the prayer. It shows how important he was while on earth. When we did the five years anniversary, the turnout was impressive, but we still thank God for His faithfulness. We must do the prayer because it is very important for him and we shall continue to do it every year, so that he can sleep well. “The family is working hard to ensure we immortalise him because he was too important to be forgotten so soon. For successive government not to immortalise him, I want to say whatever you sow, you shall reap. I won’t say more than that.”

•The late Adedibu

The first son of Adedibu, Professor Aderemi Adedibu, said he was happy to be part of the prayer. he urged people to continue to pray for the family. He tasked the clerics to give all his siblings the prayer points they used to give his father before his demise. “All of you clerics here present, please continue to pray for the family, most especially the immediate family. I also want to ask you to give

Yuguda warns successor against policy somersault

•Dogara

wants the Buhari administration to work towards massive participation of the people to herald an inclusive government. He said: “Government should, in view of the perfidy experienced during the inauguration of the National Assembly, engage the people in partnership, so that they can see the government as their own. People engage with what they feel part of and value what they help to build. Engaging citizens and local communities is indispensable when it comes to developing a sense of ownership in local decision-making and service delivery. “This will make the citizens to become a tool for checkmating the legislators in case of need. Working with citizens will allow the nation to fine-tune services based on actual needs, especially now that the country is experiencing austerity. The government needs to mobilise the people with adequate information upon which to base their loyalty and as an essential strategy to /national planning effort.”

ORMER Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has said that his successor, Mohammed Abubakar, has no right to change any of the decisions he took while in office. Yuguda, who was governor between 2007 and 2015, also charged the people to call Abubakar to order because he has no right to harass anybody over land allocation. He denied claims that his regime left a debt of N125.551, 171,366:79 billion behind. Since he assumed office, his successor has revoked some of Yuguda’s last minute allocation of lands and auctions of government vehicles. According to the Secretary of the Transition Committee, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, Yuguda, who governed Bauchi State for eight years, left a huge debt for the new All Progressives Congress (APC ) administration. He said: “The government inherited debt of over N125b from the immediate past government of Governor Isa Yuguda.” But, Yuguda in a telephone interview with reporters has questioned the propriety of the new government to reverse decisions taken by his administration. He said: “The governor should be called to order because he has no right to upturn my own decision and they don’t have right to change anything or harassed anybody within the state.” Yuguda also stated that “ any public servant that has worked under me and I handed anything to him and I signed and approved it, that approval is legal and Abubakar has no right to reverse that approval. Also anything that I allocated to any individual, group or association which remains legal,Mohammed Abubakar does not have any right to reverse my decisión”.

• From left: Gov. Mohammed Abubakar and Yuguda From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

“If Abubakar thinks he can reverse what I have done, he has made a mistake because I had the right as an Executive Governor elected by my people to take such decisions on their behalf so any person that is aggrieved should go to court because such is not done in a government administration”. Commenting on the over N125b debt, Yuguda informed that” all the loans he handed over to Governor Abubakar were not up to N80 billion,including the loan he inherited from the then Gov. Ahmadu Muazu including foreign loans that would be service for a period of 40 years”. “While I was in office, we paid salaries, provided water, security, edu-

Senate President receives British High Commissioner

ENATE President Senator Bukola Saraki has eulogised the bilateral relations between Nigerian and the United Kingdom, assuring that the present administration will fulfill its obligations to the betterment of the nation. The Senate President, who hosted the visiting British High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Pocook, in his

us the kind of prayer point you used to give my dad while he was alive.” Speaking on his political influence, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin said the death of Adedibu was responsible for the political instability in the state. “We all missed baba. He was a hero; he was a father. He was our political oracle. It is a pity we don’t have him around at this critical time. But, we shall continue to celebrate and pray for him.” The former Secretary to the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Alhaji Basiru Akanbi, said the death of Adedibu was responsible for the dwindling fortunes of the PDP in the state, Southwest and Nigeria in general. “Many negative things have happened to the PDP since the demise of Baba Adedibu. Baba was a legend. He was an institution. He was a gift to Oyo State. He was a pride to all of us and his family. He lived a fulfilled life and he died as a martyr. “He was brave. He was courageous. He was always achieving results. The absence of Baba made PDP to breakup in Oyo State, in Southwest and in Nigeria as a whole. His death has made things fell apart for us. He was intelligent, rich, and nice man. He was a leader,” Akanbi noted.

office, commended him for reinvigorating the mutual understanding between the two countries. He said that Nigeria will always look forward to Britain in areas of infrastructural development and social-security. Saraki added: “I am very delighted to receive Your Excellency in my office barely 48 hours to my resumption to office.

This shows the level of commitment the British government has towards the course of Nigeria. “We look forward to a very good working relationship in order to move our dear country forward. Nigerians deserve the best of governance.” The Senate President spoke on the task before the new adminis-

tration, assuring that, with the collaboration from the United Kingdom those challenges are surmountable. Dr. Pocook congratulated the Senate President on his election. He said the United Kingdom will always walk closely with Nigeria government in ensuring good governance at all levels.

cation. We constructed International Airport, Specialist Hospital among others. When I came into government in 2007, I did not only meet an empty treasury but I met over draft of N8 billion in the account which I inherited from Muazu ,but I did make noise about it, I did not complain but I started work as a governor.” Yuguda added. “We took a bond from capital market which is N52b and we completed the Airport, specialist hospital and we also have N7b arrears of gratuity and 1.3b of contractor obligation. We inherited about N20b Foreign debt which is payable in 30 to 40 years, these are the only debt that we know of so if there is any debt apart from this maybe his Abubakar who have taken the debt. “These are the figures that I handed over to Abubakar, if you convert the debt that you are going to pay for a period of 30 to 40 years is not up to 80b. So, what the governor is saying is a white lie, it’s unfortunate that somebody in his position will be talking like that , I handed over to him and he signed and collected the handing over documents. If he gave any other information outside that one, may be he has his own Government somewhere.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Fruits, vegetables ‘good for arthritis’ P EOPLE who suffer from arthritis have been advised to consume fruits and vegetables regularly. This, according to the Chairman, National Association of Natural and Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Lagos branch, Dr Yekini Akande, would ensure that damaged cells are repaired or replaced. He described arthritis as a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint, adding that it is common among the aged. “Today, the condition also affects the young and middle-age adults,” he said. He said people can suffer arthritis if they are overworked or engaged in too much of tedious work. “Sometimes, people who have overworked themselves or are working too hard could develop arthritis. Previous injury, infection, smoking, and occupations which are very demanding physically can also cause it. “Arthritis can start suddenly without any obvious cause, and at any age. Sometimes something in your lifestyle or medical history – or a combination of these – could be responsible. A number of factors may increase people’s risk of developing the condition if they are already susceptible to it. Previous injuries sustained by people can increase their risk of arthritis,” he said. He continued: “Infections or an allergic

•Akande •Assorted fruits By Wale Adepoju

reaction can cause short-lived arthritis. ‘’Some foods may appear to make your arthritis worse, although your diet or a food intolerance are unlikely to cause arthritis.” The traditional medicine practitioner said

men who engage in too much of intercourse without adequate care are likely to have arthritis. “After intercourse, men are usually advised to use mineral supplements to cover for the lost energy. This is because the energy expended during the exercise can cause wear

and tear to the body,” he said. He advised people to rest for six to eight hours after a hard day job so that the body tissue and all organs recover from the activities. Akande said too much of carbonhydrates is bad, adding that most people who suffer arthritis are those taking starchy food often.

NAFDAC chief: herbal medicine key to healthcare delivery

ATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director-General (DG) Dr. Paul Orhii, has underscored the importance of herbal medicine to healthcare delivery. According to him, herbal medicine has a big role to play in healthcare. Orhii spoke when he visited the Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories in Ewu, Edo State. Orhii praised the centre’s high level of scientific research, quality assurance and good manufacturing practice, which he descibed as the best of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa. NAFDAC, he said, would continue to work with Paxherbals as partners in progress, adding that he would strengthen the capacity of traditional healers in ensuring quality assurance and good manufacturing practice. Orhii frowned at some herbal practitioners who make bogus and unsubstantiated claims about herbal cures and thanked Paxherbals for introducing true professionalism and scientific rigour in its research and production. He enjoined Fr. Adodo and his team to continue to be true ambassadors of herbal medicine in Nigeria and Africa. Orhii and team toured the ultra-modern facilities, which include the microbiology, quality control, chemistry and diagnostic laboratories, the herbarium, production and processing workshops. Responding, Director, Paxherbals, Fr. Anselm Adodo said: “Paxherbals is the only herbal manufacturing company left in Nigeria that is still locally producing its herbal medicines, despite the harsh economic climate which makes it easier and more profitable to be an importer rather than a manufacturer. “It is no wonder that the Nigerian market is flooded with herbal products from China, India and other Asian countries, and from Europe. By so doing, Nigeria is creating wealth abroad and promoting poverty at home”. Adodo said: “If NAFDAC wants to leave a lasting legacy for herbal medicine development in Nigeria, we are your best ally. If you want to set a sustainable standard for herbal medicine promotion and develop-

•Dr Orhii By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

ment in Nigeria, we are your best collaborator. If you want to make history by initiating the first clinical trial of herbal products for diabetes, malaria and hypertension (to INGER has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like ginger decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy and overall lower weight. Digestive issues The phenolic compounds in ginger are known to help relieve gastrointestinal irritation, stimulate saliva and bile production and suppress gastric contractions and movement of food and fluids through the GI tract. Nausea Chewing raw ginger or drinking ginger tea is a common home remedy for nausea during cancer treatment. Pregnant women experiencing morning sickness can safely use ginger to relieve nausea and vomiting, of-

•Adodo

mention a few) in Africa, we are your best bet. There are thousands of traditional herbal practitioners out there who have efficacious herbal recipes for serious chronic diseases. They need help and training in

standardisation and packaging. Some of them are trying to set up tiny ‘factories’ in their backyard as laboratories. These people may never have the technical and financial capacity to meet NAFDAC requirements for registration. If they die with such valuable knowledge, posterity will not forgive us. Here at our centre, we empathise with them and we speak for them. They know us and they trust us. Most often, they accuse NAFDAC of being a bully rather than partner in progress. We are ready and willing to partner with NAFDAC to reach out to these people and assure them that NAFDAC is their friend not their enemy. For at the end of the day, what the agency under your administration will be remembered for is not how many local factories it managed to close down but how it was able to encourage, support, sustain and nurture local pharmaceutical companies and helped to preserve indigenous knowledge”. Head, Scientific Research and Development at Paxherbals, Prof Joseph Okogun urged NAFDAC to support herbal practitioners in drug standardisation, laboratory analysis and training, since many herbal practitioners do not have the financial capacity to operate a standard laboratory.

Ginger’ll cure nausea, pain, others ten in the form of ginger lozenges or candies. Pain reduction A study involving 74 volunteers carried out at the University of Georgia found that daily ginger supplementation reduced exerciseinduced muscle pain by 25%. Ginger has also been found to reduce the symptoms of dysmenorrhea (severe pain during a menstrual cycle). In one study, 83% of women taking ginger capsules reported improvements in pain symptoms compared to 47% of those on placebo. Inflammation Ginger has been used for centuries to reduce inflammation and treat inflammatory conditions. A study published in Cancer Prevention Research journal found that a ginger root supplement administered to volunteer participants reduced inflammation markers in

the colon within a month. Researchers on the study explained that by decreasing inflammation, the risk of colon cancer is also likely to decrease. Ginger has also shown promise in clinical trials for treating inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. •Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

•Ginger

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NATURAL HEALTH

Near- death experiences diary sleep (sleep apnea)

ANY people hate to think about death or talk about it, not to mention visualising their funerals. I am in perfect agreement with the need not to live in the past or in the future but in the present. For only people who live in the present, not necessarily loosening and loosing themselves in pleasure, that is letting themselves go, who are really enjoying life. Life is all about gaining deep recognitions of present events and employing the lessons they bring to build bridges to the future. In this scenario, I have to constantly bestir myself to know who I am, where I came from, why I am here, how event I am priviledged to experience, bitter or sweet, are contributing to the fulfillment of that purpose, how well I am allowing my experiences and experiencing to enable me achieve this as purpose, and wither, someday, after earthly demise or death is an inevitable end-pole of this scenario. I was priviledged to be so emboldened early in life, after about three. Out of Body experiences OBEs that, at 27, I signed my funeral will and at 33 reconfirmed it to my wife. It permits of no live band(s), no singing, no grieving, sobbing or crying, no dining and no feasting, no revelry simply because I am gone. In accordance with my faith, my friends will, no doubt, be around to say "good-bye". If am lucky to have severed from the corpse, after dethatching the silver cord from my soul, they'd be left with an empty carcass. I would love to have gone away even before my friends come around to encourage me to do so, in line with the teaching of my faith. For souls which are disturbed by many, if not all of today's funeral event, such as tossing the coffin up and down like football, may become trapped in the corpses for month or even years, lonely or alone in the cemetery, while their families and friends imaging they have giving them a most befitting funeral. Sleep apnea The nearest many people come to thinking about death is sleep apnea, which in the Nigerian corner of the earth they think is caused by witches who try to kill them in their sleep. Do not get me wrong. I do not imply from this that witches or witchcraft does not exist. They are people who have understood certain possibilities in creation and manipulate them ethereally for negative and, rarely, positive ends. In the ethereal realm, they manipulate the ethereal bodies of their victims and, soon, the manipulations affect the physical body. This is what many people suspect and for which they seek "deliverance" in their churches or from the age-old native doctor who may order sacrifices to appease the witches or the gods. But what happens if the condition is physiological or biological? In the United States, where we do not hear so much about witches, a whooping 18 million suffer from sleep apnea and between two and four percent of the population suffer from it but do not know they do until their doctors orders sleep tests for other complains. Symptoms In the days I suffered from sleep apnea, I would suddenly feel from deep sleep that I was about to die. I would be unable to breathe, and it would appear something or someone was pressing me down, stopping me from breathing, with the intent of killing me. I was always lucky to wake up with a start otherwise I would not be alive today to tell the story. I would wake up if I could move an arm or a leg, or if there was such noise, such as the banging of a door, that would ordinarily and naturally rouse one from sleep. In their Precriptions for natural cures, James F. Balch, M.D., and Mark stengner, N.D., Say: "sleep apnea affect five percent of adults, but most of them will never be diagnosed. During this condition, a person repeatedly stops breathing during the night and wakes up to catch his or breath. The two consequences of this are a significant drop in the blood's oxygen and deprivation. Be suspicious of this condition if you snore, have daytime sleepiness, have high blood pleasure, or are overweight. People who sleep on their back are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. ANY of us do. It is still the most convenient way for me to sleep. But, these days, I adjust to the right side when I catch myself along so, or crossing my legs which I understand may predispose one to a heart attack or stroke by causing muscle misalignments. Regarding sleeping apnea on one's back, I recall my maternal grandmother rousing her grand children from sleep and warning that if witches flew past, they would see all of one's internal organs and feast on whichever organ pleased them. We now know sleeping on one's back may make the tongue to fall back, blocking the airways in the upper throat. The soft muscles at the back of the throat may also over- relax blocking the airways. This may cause snoring as little air is forced through. Breathing may ceased for 10 to 20 seconds hundreds of times a night. This causes oxygen deprivation, light sleep and headaches next day, apart from tiredness and loss of concentration. Over a long period, sleep apnea may cause diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and weight gain among other problems. Some researchers have diffentiated about three types of sleep apnea, namely… •Obstructive sleep apnea: In this condition, the most common, caused by relaxation of soft tissue at the back of the throat. This may cause loud snores. •Centre sleep apnea: This involves the Central Nervous System (CNS) when the brain does not control muscles which control breathing. The sufferers seldom snore. •Complex Sleep Apnea: When obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea interlock, the result is complex sleep apnea. Inobstructive Sleep Apnea, he sufferer hardly recognizes anything goes wrong in his or her sleep. For by simply adjusting the sleep position, sleep resumes. An indicator is of-

ten heaviness the next day due to lack of deep sleep which refreshes and revitalizes. In Central Sleep Apnea, the brain works through the CNS to correct the problem. This possible explains some cases of restless leg syndrome, a situation in which constant leg jerks disturb sleep or, in this case rouses the oxygen - deprived sleeper to life. Treatment As in all health challenges, natural remedies comprise measures to eliminate the problems from their root causes. So the following approaches may be tried. •Sleeping on the side, is better than sleeping on the back. Some people prefer the right side to the left in the belief that lying on the left may affect the heart in some ways. I learnt to alternate between lying on the side and lying face down. •In the days I experience sleep apnea, I ran a test which suggested I didn't have enough oxygen in the brain. In such a condition, it is possible to experience swoons even when the red blood count, the iron level and the blood sugar level are normal. I learned to start and close the day with two capsules each time with VITALAIRE, and oxygen formular. The deep green plants are available for oxygenation in oxygen- deprived conditions such as sleep apnea. I love wheatgrass, spirulina, Barley grass, Alfalfa, Kale and Spinach in powder form, taken as a tea or added to meals. In then and other greens, plants have captured and stored oxygen in their chlorophyll for the benefit of man. For chlorophyll is composed of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen, all of which are necessary for the formation and maintenance of cells. •As the muscles at the back of the throat fall to the air passage, the improvement of muscles tone or strength is called for. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols of the d- alpha variant) is highly recommended. It has proven its worth in the upkeep of the heart and uterus, two of the body's mascular organs. Lady's mantle, traditionally used to improve tone in uterine muscles, is good for this purpose. So as calcium and magnesium. Calcium contracts, magnesium relaxes. They combine in a 2:1 ratio. Some doctor prefer they be taken separately at different times of the day to guarantee maximum absorption of each. Some do not mind them being taken together. Some authorities believe vitamin D deficiency is a cause of the weakness of theses muscles. Indeed, vitamin D, especially D3, is believed to be needed for optimal Calcium absorption. My preference is CORAL CALCIUM, which comes with not only calcium but magnesium and about 40 other minerals in a state nearly as balanced, if not in the same proportions as Mother Nature gave them to man. I obtain them, also from an alkaline form of Vitamin C. I take, to which manganese and iron are also added. Ditto from green powder drinks. •Sinus and throat infections play some roles in throat conditions. Sometimes, these problems begin in the mouth with gum and teeth infections or disease. When people complain of symptoms of sleep apnea, I try to get close to them to size their breathe. Often, the breathe is foul and the tongue is gray, indicating candida may have a hold. For oral teeth, Diatom may be pasted on the gum and teeth overnight. Alternatively, a capsule of probiotic (friendly bacteria) may be used in like manner. There are many nasal and mouth sprays for the condition. •Some doctors have reported in medical journals that weight loss does help. In one such publication, about 20 percent in an experimental group recovered from sleep apnea after an aggressive weight loss programme. •Many authorities suggest sleep - promoting food supplements such as Melatonin, (to be used for short periods), melatonin, 5-HTTP, Valerian root, Passion Flower, Calcium and Magnesium, and Vitamin B12, St. John's Wort (not to be used when on medication for depression). •Since muscles are involved in sleep apnea, and since muscles do not work or misbehave without nerves imploring them, nerve tonics are indicated for this condition. The suggestions in No 6 above should help. One more I'd like to mention is the biochemic/homeopathic cell salt named KALI MUR. It heals mangled nerves. Many of us do not wish to think about death. Also we do not wish to die. Yet sleep apnea is a potential source of death and we treat it with kid gloves, labeling it a handiwork of

e-mail:johnolufemikusa@yahoo.com or johnolufemikusa@gmail.com

witches and a “spiritual attack”. A friend of mine suffers from it. He has had about three day - time symptoms of a near stroke. Yet he avoids laboratory tests and medications. Treachery, like all falsehood. Will inevitably Collapse. We live on a planet where air, water and food are poisoned and where the ethereal environment is despoiled by treachery in human relationships. The inauguration week last of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President of the Buhari Presidency era smells of nothing but treachery. And if treachery is a wrong or false principle of life and, therefore, stands in opposition to God in whom we all claim to believe, what profit will treachery bring if, in the end of all things, whatever is false or opposed to the Will of God must collapse? I do not think the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President would be rancorous and divisive and divertusionary as it has become if the organizers had followed due process. By the way, due process is not about the constitutionalism or legalism of the Senate forming a quorum for the election. It is about imbuing the process with trust. The process is trust deficiency when, for the purpose of the election, a large Section of the Senate is led away to hold a meeting that never was with the President of the Federal Republic and another large Section is retained in the Senate Chambers to elect a Senate President. What has aggravated ill Feelings towards the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President is the fact that, as a member of President Buhari's party, the APC, he, too, should have been in the group of Senators which went to attend a meeting with the President. Because he was not at that meeting, and because it should have been obvious to him that his fellow APC Senators were not in the Senate chambers, he exposed himself to suspicions that a plot was hatched of which he knew or was a part to exclude some Senators from the voting. As many commentators have observed, such a process was not only at variance with the Change the APC promised to bring to Nigerian political life and social order, it was inimical to it. For the foundation is false, the structure on it would wobble. T is still unclear if the saraki senate thunderbolt is the “major” event president Buhari said last month would happen in early June, or if this is yet to come. Meanwhile, he has promised to work with whichever senate leadership emerges. In my view, that is throwing caution to the wind or, since the statement came after saraki’s inauguration, a way of validating it. Again in my humble view, it should have been better if the president remained neutral, allowing the senate to resolve its differences, especially as he has promised not to middle, like his predecessors, in National Assembly affairs. By not doing so, the president is saying he is ready to dance to music, any music, even if the fingers of Lucifer are on the strings of the harp. Yet the president was brought to office by the prayers, steadfastness and faith of people who saw him as man who does not dine with the devil and who would relax Lucifer’s hold on Nigeria. The PDP, routed in the last elections, has suddenly found its feet and voice in the senate, with a senate president who is APC in body but PDP in spirit, and deputy senate president who is PDP in body and spirit. What may happen next is that it would bare it fangs, and president Buhari may resort to EFCC in self defense. In that case, will anything have changed. In the second series of buhari articles, this column warned that APC presidential election victory lifted the lair of the snake and that a snake half smitten is a dangerous snake which would seek to avenge the intrusion on its life for as long as it had any breath to fight back. Now, APC would appear chained in the senate for PDP to begin to work towards recovering the presidency under a Bukola Saraki who would have returned to the PDP after pulverising the APC. All the die- hard PDP people I met last week had suddenly come alive from hiber nation. One of them, a so- called pastor, was most irritating. I call him so- called pastor because, as people who calm to be serving the creator, whether he called them to his service or they are trying to force themselves on him, which is impossible, are supposed to live and act on the basis of certain ethical and spiritual standards which separate them from Dic and Harry men or the run-of the- mill men, otherwise they may not qualify to lead rustic, emotional and slumbering human spirits out of the moraks in which they think. This pastor was jubilating hilariously. I asked if he had thought of the implications of what had happened to Nigeria, and to the prospects of change. He said there was nothing like change, that the word was an empty electioneering slogan. I asked if, as a pastor, he did not see treachery at play or know that treachery is a grave betrayal of trust or if as a Pastor he had not learned that betrayal of trust, prevalent on earth today, is a sign of an approaching Final Judgement. This Pastor, to my dismay, said all of that didn't matter, that "this is politics". To him, life on the pulpit could be separated from life in politics or even business. I did not give up, leading him back to his Bible. •Cain killed his brother Abel. Treachery. •Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus. Treachery. •King David took the wife of Uriah, a soldier fighting in the war front to protect the land over which David was king. To cover his shame, David recalled Uriah home only to give him a letter for the commander. Uriah in trust, did not read this letter. David asked that Uriah to be posted to the hottest sector of the war where he would be killed and Uriah was killed. Treachery. •David's son, Amon, loved his sister, Tamar, a virgin, so much he wished to sleep with her. His friend, Jehonaidab, the son of David's brother, advised him to pretend he was ill and would get well only if Tamar brought him a meal in the privacy of his bedroom. Tamar, on suspecting, took a meal to her brother. When they were both alone Amnon seized Tamar.

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 08116759749

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS Obuah sacks two more waste management contractors

ARELY two weeks after the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Authority, Felix Obuah, sacked 10 contractors for ‘disobedience’, he fired two more contractors yesterday. Those sacked are Sharon Business Ventures and Beegam Integrated Services. Obuah said he fired the two contractors for their disloyalty and negligence. He directed NUMAC

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

Project Limited, another waste management contractor, to fill in for the sacked contractor and ensure waste is cleared within 24 hours. The sole administrator urged the contractors to work harder to achieve the Governor Nyesom Wike’s vision of a cleaner Port Harcourt.

Ex-militants fault calls for Kuku’s removal

ORMER Niger Delta militants, under the aegis of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Solidarity Front, yesterday faulted a group, the United Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and Leaders’ Forum, for asking the Federal Government to stop Mr. Kingsley Kuku from parading himself as chairman of the Amnesty Programme. In a statement by its National Coordinator/Leader, Comrade Ramsey Mukoro, the Solidarity Front said there was no group called the United Niger Delta ExAgitators and Leaders’ Forum. The statement described the Leaders’ Forum as faceless, adding that it was being sponsored by ‘mischievous elements’ to undermine Kuku’s achievements. The Solidarity Front was reacting to an advertorial on page 49 of Vanguard on June 4. The group said the advertorial was by political jobbers bent on discrediting Kuku’s reputation. The statement reads:

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

“We have noted the futile attempts by a faceless and directionless group, United Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and Leaders’ Forum, to discredit Kingsley Kuku and the laudable achievements of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme till date. Their publication on page 49 of Vanguard on June 4 is purely the handiwork of political jobbers.” The Solidarity Front hailed the Federal Government and Kuku for keeping to the vision of the Amnesty Programme. The group noted that the programme had brought peace to the region and reduced militancy in the Niger Delta. It recalled that during the first phase, the leaders struggled for justice and equity for the region. The Solidarity Front added that the second and third phases were included in the programme to accommodate those with reservations about the original idea.

From left: Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Barineme Fakae; Marketing Manager, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Mrchidi Okpala and Group Head, Business Development, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Ms Nneka Nwobi, at the presentation of Galaxy Backbone proposal to the university in Port Harcourt...yesterday PHOTO:NAN

Rivers is peaceful, says Wike

IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the state has been peaceful since he took over on May 29. The governor said several national conferences and meetings in the state in the last three weeks had shown that stories of insecurity in the state were propaganda aimed at attracting negative publicity. Wike spoke on Tuesday night at a cocktail in Port Harcourt, the state capital, for vice chancellors. The governor said his administration had put in place measures to guaran-

tee the safety of life and property. He added that the state had again become a destination of choice. Wike expressed happiness that the vice chancellors and other university top officials had stayed in the state for over three days and realised the state was peaceful. He said: “We have committed ourselves to hosting many national meetings and conferences since we took over the reins of governance. This, we have done to prove that we have restored peace and stability in

the state, with businesses going on without hindrance. “If you (vice chancellors) had not come here for your 30th annual conference, you might have been tempted to believe that Port Harcourt was an unsafe place. “They created the impression that as you move around Port Harcourt you see bodies of people who have been killed in violence. In the days you spent in Port Harcourt, you have noticed that it is a peaceful community with a rich night life.” The governor said his administration took firm measures to revive the Judiciary

and the House of Assembly to return the state to fullfledged democracy. According to him, the people are reaping the benefits through the peaceful atmosphere across the state. Wike assured that further steps were being taken to ensure that security agencies work on grey areas to consolidate the achievements the government had recorded. The Chairman of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof Joseph Ajienka, hailed Wike for taking proactive steps to improve the state.

48 THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

Melaye’s supporters accuse INEC of tampering with materials

UPPORTERS of Senator Dino Melaye in Kogi State have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of tampering with ballot papers used in the March 28 National Assembly Election. In a statement by their leader, Abubakar Bala Muhammed, yesterday in Lokoja, they alleged that the recent happenings at the Lokoja INEC Office, where officials tampered with ballot papers, could undermine the commission’s integrity. The statement said: “We understand that some officials at the Lokoja Local Government Office and INEC headquarters have been

From James Azania, Lokoja

interrogated by the Department of State Security (DSS) in respect of the alleged fraud.” Muhammed, who said they remained resolute and committed to defend the mandate the Kogi West people gave Senator Melaye, urged the commission’s management to expedite effort to uncover and prosecute whoever was guilty of the criminal act, to act as a deterrent to others. He enjoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) members to be vigilant and law-abiding, pending the outcome of the investigation.

•Melaye

Senator Melaye’s election as the lawmaker representing Kogi West is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Smart Adeyemi.

NLC to protest ‘attack’ on teachers

HE President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, is to lead the congress on a march to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, following the alleged assault on teachers by security agents. They were attacked while protesting the nonpayment of their salaries. Wabba told The Nation that the congress would

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

not allow security agents to assault workers for fighting for their rights. The teachers were reportedly beaten up and tear-gassed by policemen. The NLC president said: “I’m visiting Kogi personally. We are mobilising an action there. We are trying to investigate the incident. Once it is confirmed, I will lead the protest because I don’t

think it will augur well for us in this democratic dispensation. “For me to protest for my right is legitimate and legal. No security agent will be allowed to perpetrate such act. “I will lead a delegation to Kogi and assess the situation to know how to react. If need be, we will protest because we cannot take the violation of the rights of our members for granted.”

Teacher, 30, ‘defiles’ 11-year-old pupil

30-year-old teacher, Terhemba Hon, was yesterday arraigned before a Makurdi Magistrate’s Court in Benue State for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old pupil. The suspect is an employee of Ikyor Victory College, Iber in Konshisha Local Government. He is facing a charge of gross indecency, punishable under Section 286 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State, 2004.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

The prosecutor, Inspector Terzungwe Kajo, told the court that the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, from the Divisional Police Headquarters at Tse-Agberagba, via a letter, for discreet investigation. According to the letter, the victim’s father, Ageva Gbaden, first reported the matter at Tse-Agberagba Police Station, on February 9.

The complainant told the police that the accused called his daughter, a JSS 1 pupil, into the staff room, locked the door and defiled her. The suspect pleaded not guilty. The prosecution prayed the court for an adjournment, requesting more time to make further investigation. Magistrate Lillian Tsumba granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and adjourned the matter till July 16.

68 firms get N16b from Bank of Industry

HE Bank of Industry yesterday in Kano said it has disbursed over N16 billion loans to 68 firms in Kano State. The Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, spoke at the inauguration of the bank’s new office in Kano, which will also cover Katsina and Jigawa states. He said: “I will like to add that BOI has, on its own, provided direct loans in excess of N16 billion to 68 enterprises in Kano State.” As part of the bank’s efforts to transform the nation’s industrial sector through the provision of financial and business support services to enterprises, Olaoluwa said it accredited 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) nationwide last November.

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

“Of this number, 28 have national coverage and 14 specifically cover the Northwest. “The BDSPs are to assist entrepreneurs package bankable loan proposals that have a high probability of loan approval, as well as provide post-finance services,” he said. According to him, the bank is in partnership with 10 SME-friendly banks to provide working capital for BOI customers at a negotiated interest rate of Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) + six per cent. “At the current MPR of 13 per cent, the applicable interest rate is 19 per cent per annum. “In pursuit of inclusive growth, the bank has worked assiduously to

identify SME clusters in Kano State, ostensibly to extend financial support to the entrepreneurs operating therein.” Olaoluwa urged the people to take advantage of the bank’s presence in Kano to boost socio-economic activities. His words: “We believe the developmental impact of the bank will be greatly enhanced in support of the real sector and complement the state government’s socio-economic development objectives.” Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by his deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, pledged government’s readiness to partner the bank to create jobs. He hailed the management of the bank for establishing its office in the state.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

e-Business

Nigeria drops to 119 in networked readiness ranking

IGERIA and several other African countries have dropped in Networked Readiness Index ranking released yesterday by Cisco.. Its leaders stressed the vital importance of Networked Readiness to drive socio-economic transformation for the continent. In the report, while Kenya’s Networked Readiness ranking improved, climbing six places to 86th position, the same is not true for other major African economies. Nigeria dropped seven places now standing at 119th, South Africa dropped five to stand at 75th while Egypt dropped three places to stand at 94th position. Cisco’s leaders highlighted the considerable challenge facing most African countries as they seek to develop the infrastructure, institutions and skills needed to reap the full benefits of information communications technologies (ICTs), as only 39 per cent of the global population enjoys access to the Internet despite the fact that more than half now owns a mobile phone and Africa having one of the highest mobile phone penetration. They lamented that lack of

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

access to the internet is depriving many Africans of the opportunity to take full advantage of e-learning as well as online financial, data and health services, stressing that governments can shape policies that will spur development of broadband access. African countries need to take full advantage of the potential offered by information and communications technologies (ICTs) to drive social and economic transformation, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report 2015 (GITR). Crucial to achieving societal and economic transformation is the ability to embrace the Internet of Everything (IoE), the connections between people, process, data and things, to create unprecedented opportunities for African citizens as well as the public and private sectors. In order to embrace the IoE, African governments and businesses must be fully digitised, supported by a highly robust and secure network. Becoming digital requires an agile IT model, and

the ability to rethink core processes for the digital era. Embracing new security, cloud, mobile, social and analytics technologies required to fully digitise takes imagination, investment and expertise.This is why Networked Readiness is such a crucial indicator of a country’s ability to implement and take full advantage of ICTs. General Manager, Cisco, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dare Ogunlade, said: “At Cisco, we have learned that technology helps people find innovative solutions to address societal problems. We believe there has never been a better time to combine human ingenuity and technological innovation to improve the lives of all Africans. As home to nine of the world’s 15 fastest growing economies, Africa is ripe for transformation and is an increasingly attractive environment for global business investments. Technology is at an inflection point and African economies need to prioritise ICT adoption to take full advantage of the benefits that embracing digital transformation strategies will offer.”

The GITR report suggests that investing in infrastructure and education; supporting the development of local content; and creating an enabling environment by promoting competition through sound regulation will correct the imbalance in many African countries today. Cisco is committed to working with public and private sector organisations in Africa to work on strategies for the digital transformation, thereby helping them transform their IT strategy, connect everything, embrace analytics, and secure their technology and operations. “Africa can make massive strides in connecting more citizens and bringing about positive social and economic change by improving its Networked Readiness. With political will and commitment from the private sector, progress can be made in bringing the benefit of ICTs to more people. We are already facing the next wave of the Internet – the Internet of Everything (IoE) – Africa needs to prioritise ICT development if it is to benefit from the new experiences and efficiencies that the IoE will bring,” Mr. Ogunlade added.

• From left: Director, Customs Services Delivery, Airtel Nigeria, Ajay Bakshi; CEO, Segun Ogunsanya and GM Brands, Dele Anifowoshe during the launch of It is Now Campaign in Lagos.

ICT skills development crucial for national growth, university are very highly reN information comsays New Horizons munications technolgarded.

ogy (ICT) training firm, New Horizons, has said developing the requisite skilled man power in the sector is crucial if the country will ever be competitive among the global community. Its Chief Executive Officer, Tim Akano said it is only when young Nigerians are given the right environment and infrastructure that they would excel, adding that it is the desire of the firm to build people such as the Nigeria-born Chinedu, whom Apple Inc acquired his software company for $1 billion recently. Akano spoke on the sideline during the foundation laying ceremony for a $2million (about N400million) state- of the -art second ICT skills acquisition center for Babcock University, Ilesan-Remo, Ogun State. He said the centre will also cater to students who are in the adjoining towns and cities that will come to participate in the programmes, adding that part of the overall vision is to make Nigeria the IT hub for Africa and the world by getting Nigerian graduates and youths in

general to replicate and even beat the exploits of Bill Gates, Mack Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs and others through development of innovative software, applications and others to benefit the world. He said: “We believe that by the time it is completed with the 2,000 PCs installed and the 1,000 PCs centre currently at Babcock, the centre will help bridge the skills gap in the country. “The N400 million ICT centre will also cater for those outside the four walls of the university by offering international certification courses that students can use after graduation to establish their business and offer them a meal ticket. It opens up the space for more people to come in. Right now, the job opportunities are in the ICT sector. We want Nigerians to go into software development and coding.” Akano said New Horizons with 360 centers in 80 countries of the world has been in existence for the past 34 years and has partnership with all the world’s major technologies including Microsoft, Cisco, EC

Council, Oracle, Adobe, Cisco, Certiport, VUE and others. Its Chairman, Mr. Dotun Sulaiman, together with members of the governing council of the university while laying the foundation for the building at the weekend, said when completed, it will position Babcock as the premier IT learning higher institution in Africa. The building which will be called New Horizons/Babcock ICT Empowerment Centre, will be used by undergraduates, post-graduates and those outside seeking the university’s international ICT certifications. It is being built beside the present 1,000 computer ICT centre operated by the company in the school. Sulaiman said: “When Akano came up with this project, I said let us go ahead. It is something we are extremely very proud of. I am also very proud of what we have been able to do with Babcock University with these certifications. I can tell you from experience in my various roles in the corporate world that graduates of this

“Right because of the standard of education in Nigeria, after recruiting Nigerian graduates from Ivy League institutes, the next best is people from private universities in Nigeria like Babcock and Covenant University. In the last 16 years of this institution, you have done a marvelous job and anything we can do to continue to assist we will do. Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Prof Kayode Makinde, said: “We believe that our students are actually the centre of our lives, which is what this is about. People who really have a vision don’t need persuasion, which is what I see in New Horizons. They started with Babcock and they are everywhere now.” The four-storey building will contain 2,000 computers, bestin- class education technologies such as in- motion- biometrics (IMBM), SAP LMS Success Factor, U-Pointer among others. On completion, the varsity will be able to boast of a 3,000 computer training facilities which will most likely be one of the largest in any university in the world.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

e-Business

Dearth of spectrum threatens broadband plan targets L ACK of spectrum to drive the penetration of wireless broadband may scuttle the short, medium and long term ambition of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) of the Federal Government, The Nation has gathered. Under the NBP, for cities, accessibility through wired medium currently (2013) stands at 1.3 per cent with short term goal (2015) of 10 per cent, medium term (2018) 18 per cent and long term target (2020) of 25 per cent. For penetration, the current level stands at 0.3per cent while short term goal is 3.3per cent, medium; 5.3 per cent while long term is 8.3 per cent. For national target, availability through wireless currently stands at 33 per cent, with short, medium and long term targets of 60, 80 and 95 per cent respectively. For penetration or usage, it currently stands at 6 per cent with short, medium and long term ambition of 21, 42 and 76 per cent respectively. But one of the frequencies that will make this happen are still with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and there is no indication that it will be freed up soon to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for auctioning to operators. According to sources, the spectrum is called 2.6 gigahertz (GHz)

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

and it ranges from 2.5GHz to 2.69Ghz. The source before now, it was used by the NBC licensed operators who are licensed to do Mutichannel Multi-point Distribution System (MDDS). MDDS is defined as a wireless system consists that of head-end equipment (equipment for satellite signal reception, radio transmitter, other broadcast equipment, and transmission antenna) and reception equipment at each subscriber location (antenna, frequency conversion device, and set-top device). MMDS transmits on Super High Frequency (SHF) microwave frequencies and can be encoded for pay-for-view and subscriber services, all from studio facility. According to the source, by the time the allocation was made at the international Telecommunications Union (ITU) for the frequency to also be used for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT), the NCC contacted the National Frequency Management Committee (NFMC) and which requested the NCC and NBC to work out the modalities for the release of the band. A committee was subse-

quently formed for that purpose. According to ITU, “long term evolution (LTE)-Advanced and “WirelessMAN-Advanced” should be accorded the official designation of IMT-Advanced. Advanced systems include new capabilities that go beyond IMT-2000, widely deployed since 2000 and referred to as 3G mobile technologies. ITU has now specified the standards for IMT-Advanced, the next-generation global wireless broadband communications that provide access to a wide range of packet-based telecommunication services supported by mobile and fixed networks. Director, Spectrum Administration, NCC, Dr Nwaulume Augustine confirmed that indeed a committee has been put in place but unsure whether it will get the spectrum freed for the NCC. He said: “That committee is still working. I don’t know if it is possible for the licence to be auctioned this year based on the fact that not so much progress has been made with regard to getting it freed from those users. “But I am very sure that by the first or second quarter of next year, something would have happened because it is very important. It is very vital to wireless broadband,” He spoke on the sideline at a capacity training forum for journalists in Lagos.

• Vsat

‘Why Airtel launched It is Now campaign’

IRTEL Nigeria has said it launched its new campaign, It’s Now to further promote its mission of touching peoples’ lives in all its areas of operation. The campaign which has Yaya Toure, Africa’s best footballer of the year, as brand ambassador, seeks to nurture and grow talents in Africa while providing customers with access to connectivity and technological solutions that will enable them explore opportunities around them. Its Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya, who spoke during the launch, said Airtel understands that people’s desire to succeed is outstripped by their ability to access the needed resources. He noted that Airtel, an ambitious front-runner in the technology industry has helped millions of Africans plug into the global community. He said: “We push the boundaries of technology, constantly innovating and drawing on our entrepreneurial spirit to provide our customers a window to the world. This commitment to Africa’s success finds its expression in the launch of our new campaign, It’s

Now. Airtel takes the expression of our belief in the power of Africa’s potential to the next level by giving them tangible, aspiration call to action. “At Airtel, our core values echo this dedication to our customer’s success. Our mission is to provide them the tools they need to propel this great continent into the future. Our values drive the way we interact with our customers and with each other. We are Alive. We act with passion, energy and a can-do attitude. Innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit drive us. We are inclusive. We champion diversity; anticipating, adapting and delivering solutions that enrich the lives of the communities we serve. We are respectful. We share the joy and pain of our customers. We act with humility and are always open and honest.” The campaign further reiterates the company’s vision of connecting inspired Africans to knowledge and opportunities. Available through multiple channels, including television, print and radio platforms, the campaign also shines the spotlight on the company’s commit-

ment to help people succeed, as well as providing tools and resources that will enable them to achieve their dreams. On the choice of Yaya Toure as pan-African brand ambassador, he said the Ivory Coast born player has been making soccer history since he started playing in 2001and thus serves as a beacon of inspiration, showing that with hard work and dedication one can achieve his dreams. “Touré is respected in Africa and beyond. As the first player to win African Player of the Year for four consecutive times, he is an inspiration to everyone working to achieve their potential and striving to be their best every day. We would like everyone to experience our cutting edge technology at their fingertips. To enable them pursue their passions wherever it may take them, because their dreams are our dreams too. We all dream of an Africa without bounds; boundless knowledge, boundless creativity, boundless love, and boundless opportunities. The time to live your dream is now and Airtel will be your partner in achieving those dreams”.

Phone: Samsung Galaxy S6

HAVE never been a big fan of Samsung phones. They’ve always being packed with great technology — the best displays, cameras, and processors — but all of that was overshadowed by poor hardware design and software bloated with too many unnecessary features. Samsung sold more phones than anyone original equipment manufacturer (OEM) else, but sales slowed and profits fell last year as other Android-phone manufacturers made similar devices at half the cost and Apple finally released two big-screen iPhone models. So Samsung started from scratch with its newest phone, the Galaxy S6. It has a new design constructed out of metal and glass and is the first Samsung phone to rival the iPhone in build quality. The Galaxy S6 has already gone on sale, starting at about $650. It’ll come in a version with a curved screen, called the Edge, that’ll cost about $100 extra. All the major US carriers will offer various oncontract prices and payment plans. The Galaxy S6 is the first Samsung phone I’ve enjoyed using, and it’s easily the best Android phone available today. And I bet it’ll be the best smartphone, period, for a lot of people. Design As pretty and solid as the Galaxy S6 is, I have one major gripe. It’s clear Samsung looked to the iPhone 6 for inspiration. From the front and back, the Galaxy S6 looks a lot like previous Galaxy phone models. But the rounded metal frame and punched-out speaker holes are remarkably similar to the iPhone 6. The other day, my colleague had her white iPhone 6 on her desk next to my white Galaxy S6. From certain angles, it was tough to tell which phone I was looking at. I’m glad Samsung started taking design seriously, but it’s a shame it looked to the iPhone for inspiration, especially considering it has been accused of doing just that in the past. imilarities aside, I really like the look and feel of the Galaxy S6. It always irked me that Samsung consistently had the best hardware but wrapped it all in kitschy faux leather or dimpled plastic that looks like a Band-Aid. The Galaxy S6 is built like the premium device it was meant to be, and it’s a refreshing new step for Samsung. The Edge model, which is essentially the same phone except with a curved screen, is unique and much more beautiful than the regular Galaxy S6. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s worth the extra $100 and the hit you take on battery life. Even Samsung admits it made the Edge just to look pretty. The curved screen serves very little purpose other than to draw attention. The new design comes with some sacrifices. Samsung had to ditch a lot of features fans loved like a removeable b a t t e r y , waterproofing, and a slot to add extra storage. There was a minor uproar in the Android community after Samsung announced the Galaxy S6 because of that, but I don’t think its a big deal. The entry-level Galaxy S6 comes with 32GB of storage, twice the storage of the iPhone. That should be plenty for most people. Apple, HTC, and Motorola have all proved unibody phones with built-in batteries have mass appeal and don’t hurt the user experience. If anything, Samsung is way behind the competition by offering that now.

Hardware The Galaxy S6’s camera is the best one I’ve ever used on a smartphone. Period. When I compared the iPhone 6 camera with the Galaxy S6 camera, I found that the Galaxy S6 took better pictures under most circumstances, especially in low light. But the real key feature is how easy Samsung made it to use the camera. A double tap of the home button launches the camera app so you can start shooting right away. The camera sensor is always on too, so you don’t have to wait that extra beat for the image to appear on your screen. Even if the Galaxy S6 camera was slightly worse than the competition, the ability to take shots so quickly still gives it an edge. Samsung also improved the fingerprint sensor embedded in the Galaxy S6’s home button. Last year’s model required you to swipe your finger across the button just right to unlock the device. And even then, it didn’t always work. The Galaxy S6’s fingerprint sensor is perfect. You just lightly rest your finger on the button and — poof! — the phone unlocks. It hasn’t failed on me once. (Eventually, the fingerprint sensor will be used with Samsung Pay, Samsung’s mobile payments system that will launch in the summer). The screen is wonderful too. At 5.1 inches, it’s a little bigger and a lot sharper than the display on the iPhone. Samsung has always made the best displays, and this is no exception. But the screen comes with a drawback. I noticed the battery life is a little worse on the Galaxy S6, likely because the screen is sucking a lot of power. I could make it through a full day on a charge, but just barely. You’ll likely find yourself charging your phone during the day just to be safe. Good news, though: The Galaxy S6 comes with a special plug that charges it a lot faster than normal chargers, which is perfect if you’re in a jam but don’t have enough time to charge your phone all the way. It’s also one of the few major smartphones that support wireless charging right out of the box, a feature I can’t believe isn’t standard on all phones these days. (I’ve loved plopping my phone on Samsung’s wireless pad at the end of the day. There’s no need to worry about fiddling with a plug.) Software Samsung is famous for bogging down its phones with apps and superfluous features. But with the Galaxy S6, a lot of that has been stripped out and cleaned up to the point where I don’t even feel like I’m using a clunky Samsung phone. The standard apps for calendar, messages, and email are all designed well and dead simple to use. And instead of relying on its own services, Samsung has teamed up with Microsoft, so you get Skype, OneNote, and the online storage service OneDrive right of the box. (If you’re still a fan of Samsung’s apps, you can download them t h r o u g h Samsung’s app store.) The user interface i s better, t o o . Unlike years past, Samsung didn’t meddle too much with Android’s basic design, which is excellent on its own. Menus, notifications, and settings are much easier to manage no Courtesy: Business Insider

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

NLC kicks against Buhari’s Jobs, terrorism top Nigerian ascent to 46 bills delegates’ discussion at ILO talks T

ORSENING terrorism in Northeastern part of Nigeria, youth unemployment were among issues that topped the Federal Government’s agenda to the 104th International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Clement Iloh, who led the delegation, said these emerging challenges and solutions called for more introspection among member states, especially the dynamic roles culture, religion, politics and ethnicity, among others, plays in fostering development. Iloh reminded the conference of the adverse effect of terrorism with implications for discrimination, stigmatisation, abduction, kidnapping, and rape at work, among others. He said: “There was need for international collaboration to fashion out a framework that would address these hydra headed problems amongst member states in the world.” President of the Nigeria Labour

Stories by Toba Agboola

Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Waba, who spoke on the occasion urged world leaders to embrace the spirit of unity in the current struggle by the tripartite body that make up the ILO, the government, employers and workers to fight anti-workers’ activities in developing countries. He said: “We call on world leaders to unite in the spirit of unity to confront anti-workers’ activities. We are concerned with the increasing challenges which the emerging forms of employment relationships such as contract staffing, casualisation, part time work and employees without borders pose to developing countries in confronting the basic issues of fundamental principles and rights at work.” Comrade Waba added that the issue of dealing with the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in some crises affected countries such as the Northeast of Nigeria is a current challenge that needed to be urgently addressed within the centenary framework.

Also, President of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, said the country is in need of international aid to confront insurgency ravaging some parts of the country. He said: “We need international support to confront and to address the hydra headed problems associated with terrorism, insurgency and other forms of political upheavals with implications for discrimination, stigmatisation, abduction, kidnapping and rape at work.” On child labour, the National Women Commission Chairperson of TUC, Comrade Oyinkansola Olasanoye said: “Our new investigative report in Nigeria shows the need for a coherent policy approach that tackles child labour and the lack of decent jobs for youths. “Keeping children in school and receiving good education until at least the minimum age of employment will determine the whole life of a child. It is the only way for a child to acquire the basic knowledge and skills needed for further learning, and for her or his future working life.”

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its disappointment over the action of the National Assembly to pass 46 bills within 10 minutes, urging President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign them into law. NLC described it as a display of gross disdain for the procedure of lawmaking in a democratic setting. Its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said: “In the light of the cavalier manner in which these bills were passed, the Congress wishes to, with all sense of responsibility, call on Mr. President not to sign them into law. President Buhari should instead return them to the new National Assembly to be subjected to proper legislative procedures.” According to Wabba, the Senate, apparently competing for the Guinness Book of Records for legislative infamy, passed 46 bills “without legislation” in 10 minutes, while the House of Representatives took turn the next day to pass 14 bills transmitted to it by the Senate, without following the regular legislative procedures. “Whoever advised our lawmakers to take this reckless path to lawmaking has only succeeded in putting an indelible dent on whatever achievements the 7th session of the National Assembly wished to be ascribed to it.

“By this singular action, our distinguished and honourable lawmakers have not only displayed gross disdain for the philosophy of law making in a democratic setting, they have exposed their lack of interest in and commitment to the wellbeing of the country. They have, by so doing, apart from ridiculing themselves, also unfortunately embarrassed the country in the eyes of the civilised global community,” Wabba said. He said by skipping the first, second and third reading process, as well as the public hearing on these bills, the lawmakers have denied Nigerians the basic opportunity to interrogate the desirability or otherwise of these bills. “We wish to use this opportunity to congratulate members of the new National Assembly. The Congress wishes to extend its hand of partnership to the legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly in the interest of good governance in the country. “In line with the current popular mood of the country for change, the NLC expects the incoming legislature to depart from the opaque ways of the previous sessions of the National Assembly. Congress, and indeed Nigerians, expects the incoming legislators to be prudent, accountable, transparent and more effective in their legislative and oversight functions,” he said.

‘PIB threatens $80b investment’

• From left: Managing Director, Geometric Power Limited, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji; former Minister of Power and Chairman Geometric Power Limited, Prof. Bart Nnaji; Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Bola Onaguruwa and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Treali Power Company, Mr. Innocent Obande during West Africa Power Summit in Lagos. PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL.

Appoint competent ministers, ASCSN urges

HE Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint competent persons as ministers to enable him fulfil his campaign promises to the electorate. In a statement in Lagos, the ASCSN National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama said the advice became necessary because some names being touted in mainstream and social media as possible candidates for ministerial portfolios in the Buhari administration are persons of questionable character that have been recycled over and over again by previous governments. “Nigeria has abundant pool of human resource in all fields of endeavours and as such there is no need to continue to appoint persons with antecedents that will offend the sensibility of Nigerians into strategic positions any longer. “If Mr. President proceeds to appoint certain individuals who spearheaded anti-people policies while serving the previous governments into his cabinet, his pledge to change the pattern of governance including the culture of impunity in the country will be dead on arrival,” he said. According to Kaigama, if for any reason Mr. President wishes to appoint

persons that have served the governments in the past into his cabinet, they must be individuals with impeccable character, proven integrity, and track record of selfless service to the country. It added that if Buhari opts to appoint deadwoods, including those that tried to sell the 104 Federal Unity Colleges to their mentors and to themselves as ministers or into any important positions in his government, there would be instant public outcry and resistance that would not augur well

for his administration. “At this critical stage of the country’s development, it will be a tragedy if Mr. President recycles failed experts and expired activists either as ministers, advisers or assistants to serve in his government,” Kaigama said. He equally urged the trade union movement, civil society groups, and other individuals in the country to prepare and resist such appointments if made in the interest of democracy and good governance.

THE Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Producers’ Forum, Emmanuel Onourah has warned that the proposed fiscal terms under the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would threaten $80 billion investment in the oil sector between now and 2020. The proposed fiscal terms was based on $100 per barrel model. He said the development would bring about $44 billion reduction in accruable revenue to the Federal Government in the sector under the period. Onourah, who spoke in Lagos, said the fiscal terms would affect the sector because no deepwater Production Sharing Contract (PSC) production will be viable and production of gas under the Joint Venture (JV) with the government would reduce by 90 per cent. He said production of oil under the JV with government would reduce by 30 per cent while there would be an overall decline of 25 per cent production due to the proposed fiscal regime. According to him, it is therefore better imagined what the impact of the terms will be in a depressed market economy of $50 to $60 per barrel as the country is presently experiencing. “Although the government is

disputing the results of this modeling as a major stakeholder in the industry, we will align with the recommendation of our parent body, PENGASSAN and demand that the new government should employ the service of an independent third party consultant to run the models and come up with a non-biased assessment,’’ he said. He expressed disappointment over the non-passage of the PIB by the 7th National Assembly and urged the new government to represent the bill to the current Assembly for accelerated passage and assent by the president. He further suggested that the bill should be broken into manageable segments to allow the needed reforms to commence while the more controversial issues like host community fund, frontier exploration and fiscal terms can be further debated to some points before being passed. “We also advocated that the gas policy for PSC and appropriate domestic gas should be addressed because it affects gas supply to Independent Power Projects (IPPs), which impacts negatively on electricity,’’ he said. Onourah also implored President Muhammadu Buhari to unveil his plans for the nation’s oil and gas industry within the first 100 days of his administration.

9,000 migrants seek employment yearly in Italy , says IOM

PPARENTLY in search of greener pastures, no fewer than 9,000 migrants from Nigeria arrived Italy through the Mediterranean Sea last year, an official of the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said. A research officer with the organisation, Tara Brian said at a conference on National Migration Policy Thematic Areas, organised by IOM that Nigeria was the fourth top country of origin for people arriving in Italy in last year. She said, already, between January and April this year, no fewer than

3,000 Nigerians arrived Italy for jobs. In his presentation, a migration expert, Prof Adepoju Aderanti, said Nigerians abroad constitute the population of about seven African countries, adding that it is not surprising considering the country’s population. Aderanti however said Nigerians in Diaspora could be potential development tools for the country. He said the remittances of Nigerians abroad is about $25 billion yearly, adding that it overtook direct foreign investment and was second to oil revenue. “An average African who migrates ultimately wishes to return home but returning home depends on the situa-

tion at home. Some Africans in Diaspora want to come back home but the circumstances at home in many countries are not encouraging,” he said. Aderanti called on the Federal Government to make migration a winwin-win situation for the migrants, the origin and destination countries through policies to attract remittance flows such as tax holidays. He also called for policies to woo Diaspora engagements like establishing a Diaspora Commission and reviewing bilateral migration agreements with destination countries in favour of Nigeria.

Aderanti commended Nigeria for being the first country in Africa to adopt a National Policy on Migration. A representative of the UN Resident Coordinator, Jean Gough, commended the Federal Government for adopting the National Policy on Migration. Gough said Nigeria was a major country of origin, transit and destination within West African sub-region and globally. She said having a legal framework for the governance of migration was an important step and a major achievement in managing the multi-faceted challenges of migration and taking hold of the opportunities.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

DOWN

ACROSS 1. Celebration (9) 6. Greeting (2) 7. Documentation (6) 9. Indelible Mark (4) 10. Former (2) 11. Spread Out (3) 12. Final (4) 14, Resounding Noise (4) 15. In direction of (2) 16, Myself (2) 17. Eager (4) 19. Young Boy (3) 20. Father Christmas (10) 24. Being (2) 26. Tinkle (6) 27. Perform (2) 28. Tease (6)

1. Impression (4) 2. Cereal (4) 3. Created (4) 4. Amuse (6) 5. Celebration of Christ’s birth(9) 8. Free Air (6) 11. Paths (5) 13. Clawed 18. Deserve (4) 19. Juvenile (3) 21. Story (4) 22. So be it (4) 23. Musical Note (2) 25. Gladness (3)

SUDOKU To play the game, simply fill in the missing numbers in the grid such that every row, column and 2 by 3 box contains the numbers 1-6.

SANDS OF TIME GARY COLEMAN

PERSONALITY MAZE Solve the puzzle by providing alternative words to the clues below. Each letter of your word has a place in the grid as indicated by the numbers beside the clues.

CLUES Press (1,9,5,6,7) Roof (2,8,3,4)

Your answer will unfold an appendage of the photo inset

Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in Diff’rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as “one of television’s most promising stars”. Without a doubt Gary Coleman was THE child TV star of the late 1970s and early 1980s. A refreshingly confident little tyke with sparkling dark, saucer-like eyes and an ingratiating, take-on-anyone burst of personality, the boy charmed the pants right off of TV viewers the minute he was glimpsed in national commercials. Amazed by how mature he came across, Gary was in truth older than he looked, which was brought upon by a congenital kidney condition. Sadly, the pint-sized phenomena outgrew his chubby-cheeked welcome and found the course of his grown-up Hollywood career brutally rough and patchy. In addition to his life-long health issues, Gary’s adult problems came in the form of scattered financial and legal entanglements, as well as scrapes with the law. He was once arrested in 1999 for punching a persistent female autograph fan, in which he was fined and ordered to take anger-management classes. He also had many disorderly conduct and reckless driving charges brought up against him at various times. He would admit that the tally of his life problems led to more than a few feigned suicide attempts In 1989, Coleman successfully sued his adopted parents and business manager after they allegedly pilfered his youthful fortune for their own self interest totaling $3.8 million in losses, and he won $1,280,000. Despite the large settlement, all of the money was soon spent on taxes, legal fees,

Pep Talk

CROSS NUMBER Find the correct numbers to fill in the missing spaces in the grid to ensure that vertical numbers total to figures below, horizontal numbers total figures on the right while diagonal numbers total figures on top and bottom right

COLEMAN CONT’D as well as his increasingly high medical bills for his continuing dialysis treatments. In 2007, he married the much younger actress Shannon Price, whom he met on the set of the low budget film Church Ball (2006), but the quickly marriage dissolved quickly into domestic squabbles that put him in front of the court system yet again on domestic abuse charges Filed for bankruptcy in 1999. In order to earn money, he worked as a security guard. As a gag, he ran for California’s 2003 governorship during its recall election. The fragile condition of his health coupled with this lack of adult career acceptance, sparked an aggressively defensive behavior mechanism in his adult years and led to great personal unhappiness, chronic legal/financial hassles and early death. The brain hemorrhage that eventually led to his death, was a result of a fall at his home in Utah (on May 26th) that put him into a coma. His ex-wife Shannon Price, who was with him at his home at the time of the fall, made the 911 call. It was also Price who eventually made the decision to take Coleman off life support.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things”. - Thomas S. Monson

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

BUSINESS AFRICA

Dangote donates $1m to Nepal’s earthquakes’ victims

ANGOTE Foundation has donated N1million to the earthquake ravaged Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, to provide succour for the victims of the disaster. Two major devastating earthquakes, with a moment magnitude of 7.3 and 7.8 respectively had occurred in Nepal on 12 May this year, killing more than 8,800 people and injuring mover 23,000. The earthquake was reported to have shifted the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest by three centimetres (cm) Southwest. Dangote Foundation donated the cash in line with its mandate to provide relief in times of disaster, with a message that the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote and people of Nigeria shared in their moment of grief. The Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou

By Emmanuel Udodimma

said on behalf of Dangote, said during the cheque presentation to the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sushil Koilara at Kathmandu, at the country’s capital, that the gesture was to support the government’s emergency efforts in providing relief to the victims of the disasters. These tragic events were recorded as the worst quakes to hit the Himalayan nation in nearly a century causing a high number of deaths, injuries and an avalanche on Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain. Over 600,000 homes were reported to have been destroyed in the catastrophe. In his message to the Prime Minister, Dangote conveyed his sympathy to the government and people of Nepal, assuring them of the Foundation’s support in rehabilitating the victims of the unprec-

edented tragedy. Dangote said: “We join the rest of the world to express our sympathies over this unfortunate incident. “We hope this donation will help alleviate the suffering of the Nepalese people who have been devastated by the earthquakes.” Responding to the kind gesture, the prime minister expressed the gratitude of the people and government of Nepal to Dangote and the Foundation, for their humanitarian support at this difficult moment in his country’s history. The Dangote Foundation has been touching lives both within and outside the shores of Nigeria since its establishment in 1993, providing opportunities for social and economic transformation through investments and interventions that improve and promote health, education and broaden economic empowerment

opportunities. In September 2010, the Foundation made a similar donation of $2million through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), to assist survivors of flood that ravaged Pakistan. Through this donation, the Foundation extended its support to more than 325,000 children in need in that country. Dangote Foundation spent about $5million as part of its intervention to combat the Ebola Virus Disease that affected four West African countries namely Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, last year. In addition to these, the Foundation donated $16million to the Nigerian government to assist victims of flood that ravaged many states of the federation in 2011. Dangote endowed the Foundation with $1.35billion in March last year, to ensure that the Foundation, has

•Dangote secure and steady funding to carry out its mission as it significantly scales up its work both within and outside the shores of the country.

Nigeria misses ITU’s digital migration deadline Internet penetration in schools low, says Vodacom IGERIA yesterday missed likely to meet the date.”

the deadline set by the In ternational Telecommunications Union (ITU) for member countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the Federal Government agency charged with the responsibility of driving the process. The NBC had all along assured of a hitch-free transition only for its Director-General, Emeka Mba to appeal for an extension of the timeline which had earlier been set for ITU’s over 100 member countries in 2005 during a meeting of the body in Geneva. Within a 10-year window, each country was allowed to choose its analogue switch-off date. Several countries chose one single date for all broadcast operators to switch over to digital broadcasting while others such as the United Kingdom and India chose different dates for different cities and regions within their territories. Optimistic that digital switchover was going to be a simple exercise, stakeholders in the broadcast industry hurriedly adopted June 17, 2012 as the nation’s switchover date. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by late President Umaru Yar’Adua approved that date which became Nigeria’s official digital switch over date. Another date of December 31 2014/January 1 this year was set by the Economic Community of

By Lucas Ajanaku

West African States (ECOWAS) and the National Council on Information respectively. Sadly, however, despite NBC’s best efforts, the country is unable to transit the country by June 17 this year. A year after the timeline was unveiled by ITU, the Netherlands became the first country to transit to digital broadcasting while other countries that followed closely were Andorra, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland Denmark, Germany, Isle of Man, and Norway. Many other countries have joined the league of countries. In response to a text message on the consequences of missing the global timeline,, the NBC DG referred our reporter to the Commission’s website on which there was a post that read: “In the digital broadcast environment, digital transmitters are protected from interference from signals coming from analogue transmitters. Therefore the main consequence is that if our analogue transmitters should interfere with the signals of any digital broadcast in any of our neighbouring countries, we can be forced by the ITU to shut down our own analogue transmitters. If, however, a digital transmission from any of our neighbours should interfere with any analogue broadcast in Nigeria, we do not get any protection. However, the chances of any of that happening are very slim since none of our neighbours is

On why the country failed to meet the target a third time, the NBC explained: “The Digital Switchover programme in Nigeria was a victim of unfortunate political developments in the country. Following recommendations from a broadcast summit organised by the NBC, the government, in 2007, set up the Presidential Advisory Committee, PAC, to prepare the policy document that would guide the transition. Just after the submission of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) report to government in December 2009, the nation was plunged into a crisis of succession resulting from the illness and eventual death of President Umar Musa Yar’adua. Soon after that, the nation went into an election in 2011. “Eventually, in December 2012, government issued a White Paper on the PAC report, approving the critical steps needed to achieve the Switch Over, including the setting up of the DigiTeam. However, since then, government has not been able to provide the necessary funds to finance the activities of DigiTeam, to finance the Set-TopBox rebate programme, to finance publicity and public enlightenment, to finance analogue transmitters buy-back programme and others. “With no money to operate the DSO budget, it was impossible to move beyond what the Commission had been able to achieve.”

FrieslandCampina increases its equity stake in Friesland

RIESLANDCampina has in creased its equity stake in its subsidiary FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria (FrieslandCampina WAMCO) from 54.58to 67.61 per cent. It has acquired 13.03 per cent of the shares for a total consideration of approximately 180 million euros. Speaking on the development, Chief Executive, Royal FrieslandCampina, Roelof Joosten said: “The size of the market, the growth outlook and the commitment of the Nigerian people to bolstering the stability and economy of the country are the reasons why FrieslandCampina will continue to invest in its subsidiary FrieslandCampina WAMCO.” FrieslandCampina WAMCO has been a key player in Nigeria since 1954. The Nigerian Peak brand is one of the key brands in FrieslandCampina’s portfolio and enjoys iconic status in Nigeria. FrieslandCampinaWAMCO Nigeria produces, packages, markets and distributes a large variety of dairy products and is a major force in fastmoving consumer goods in Nigeria. Besides Peak, its leading brands

• CEO, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, Rahul Colaco

•Joosten

are Three Crowns and Friso.With this transaction, FrieslandCampina has demonstrated its commitment to Nigeria and to its dairy market. Under the terms of the transaction which was executed on the NASD OTC trading platform,

FrieslandCampina acquired 127,184,030 ordinary shares in FrieslandCampina WAMCO at N315.67 per share. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has been informed of the transaction.

ODACOM Business Nigeria has decried the low level of internet penetration in public schools in Nigeria, adding that provision of reliable high speed, affordable and efficient internet service to public schools will enhance both learning and teaching. The firm said it firmly believes that access to internet services under strict supervision of tutors, will positively impact on the learning process of the students as they will have access to limitless diverse resources materials from the internet. Its Managing Director, Guy Clarke who spoke on the sideline during the inauguration of the internet facility it donated to the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, said the firm was inspired to extend the gesture to the school because of its firm believe in the immense potential of the internet for education. He added that it was in line with the Vodacom Power to You Project. He said: “Internet penetration in Nigeria is still low, especially in public schools. With the Power to You Project, we aim to bridge the digital divide that exists in communities and schools without access to ICT. It’s for this reason that we’re proud to be able to provide this connectivity to the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba.” Speaking on the occasion, the principal of the school, Chris Ugorji ex-

pressed gratitude to the tech firm for the gesture, adding that it would go a long way to promoting learning and teaching in the school. He said: “The vision of the college is to provide the scientific and technical skills, required to produce self-reliant young men and women, ready for tertiary institution and the ICT industry. The sponsorship of high-speed internet access and power generator by Vodacom guarantees this vision and we are happy to be beneficiaries of this project The principal said the school is well-known for producing some of the country’s best students in science and technical fields at secondary school level. Guy said the facility will help improve the results of the school even further. Vodacom Business Nigeria provided WiFi services for students and teachers in classrooms, laboratories, workshops and staff offices. It also provided a 220KVA powered generator to help keep the school connected during power outages. The Vodacom Power to You Project supports public and private schools in the country by ensuring that students and teachers have access to ICT and new technologies. The power of the internet is invaluable and connectivity has the potential to transform education and accelerate economic growth in the country, the firm added.

Greek central bank issues ‘Grexit’ warning if aid talks fail

warning by Greece’s central bank that the country risked being driven from the euro zone and, ultimately, the European Union failed to break a deadlock with creditors before a potentially decisive meeting of European finance ministers. A top Greek negotiator told Reuters Athens was ready to make unspecified concessions, but once again ruled out any cuts to pensions – a major sticking point in the negotiations. Germany, the euro zone’s most powerful economy, stuck to its line that Greece had to make significant moves to break the stalemate. Athens has until the end of June to find a way out of the impasse before it faces a 1.6 billion euro ($1.8-billion) repayment due to the International Monetary Fund, potentially leaving it bankrupt and teetering on the edge of the euro zone. “It won’t work without Greece moving significantly,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Berlin. Greek negotiator Euclid Tsakalotos confirmed that Greece does not have the money to repay the IMF and said the leftist government would only accept a deal that was sustainable and

addressed debt, financing and investment – issues the European Union has said it does not want to open at this stage. “If you have that, then the Greek government will sign the deal,” Tsakalotos said. “If it doesn’t have that kind of deal there is no point in signing onto something that you know is going to fail.” Hopes that a deal might be struck on Thursday at a meeting of European finance ministers looked increasingly remote. “People are getting anxious on both sides. Athens expects Brussels to move. And Brussels expects Athens to move. And it’s stuck,” said a senior EU diplomat, who declined to be named. “It’s very dangerous, and we may have an accident.” Making clear the huge stakes at play, the Greek central bank said reaching an accord was “an historical imperative” that the country could not ignore. “Failure to reach an agreement would ... mark the beginning of a painful course that would lead initially to a Greek default and ultimately to the country’s exit from the euro area and, most likely, from the European Union,” the Bank of Greece said in a monetary policy report.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-06-15

Nigerian equities slip further as investors await govt direction

HE topsy-turvy at the Nigerian stock market continued yesterday as prices of quoted equities generally fell for the second consecutive day. Key benchmark indices indicated overall average decline of 0.37 per cent, equivalent to a loss of N42 billion, yesterday, two points higher than 0.35 per cent decline recorded on Tuesday. Quoted equities, which had gained N1.82 trillion in the immediate rally that followed Nigeria’s successful April presidential election and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, has since lost steam considerably as investors wait for the government to form its economic management team and make clear-cut pronouncements on key economic issues. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities, which had opened April at N10.718 trillion, closed the month at N11.787 trillion, representing a gain of N1.07 trillion, about 9.97 per cent. The benchmark index

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), also indicated a month-on-month average gain of 9.3 per cent during the period, rising from the month’s opening index of 31, 744.82 points to close at 34,708.11 points. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities dropped yesterday from N11.470 trillion to close at N11.428 trillion. The ASI also decline from 33,602.67 points to close at 33,478.42 points. The negative trade yesterday further depressed the average year-todate return at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to -3.40 per cent. “The market has so far been driven by macroeconomic uncertainties as investors continue foot-dragging ahead of policy pronouncement,” Afrinvest Securities stated yesterday. Market analysts said investors were being cautious and biding their time to ensure they have a clear view of the economic direction of the new government.

With 24 losers to 22 gainers, the downtrend was driven by both the widespread decline in share prices as well as losses recorded by some highly capitalised stocks including Dangote Cement, the largest stock by market capitalization, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank and Guinness Nigeria. Guinness Nigeria recorded the highest loss, in value terms, of N9.75 to close at N174.80. Dangote Cement followed with a loss of N2 to close at N175 while Beta Glass dropped by N1.96 to close at N37.32 per share. On the upside, Nigerian Breweries led the advancers with a gain of N1.87 to close at N149.90. Berger Paints Nigeria followed with addition of N1.04 to close at N11.24 while Conoil rose by N1.03 to close at N41.98. Total turnover remained around average with the exchange of 204.99 million shares valued at N7.40 billion in 3,704 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-06-15

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

MONEYLINK

CITN: FIRS, McKinsey to raise tax revenues by N460b

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and McKinsey are working towards increasing tax revenues and adding N460 billion to Federal Government revenues in the next three years, President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Dr. Olateju Somorin, has said. Speaking at a budget seminar in Lagos, she said the FIRS and McKinsey initiative is one of the measures being taken to close tax gaps. She said Messrs. McKinsey & Co. an international firm was engaged in 2014 to work with the FIRS to strengthen the tax body in tax collection in non-oil sector and provide technical assistance in the implemen-

consistent in its fiscal and monetary policies designed to diversify the economy and increase the country’s tax base,” he said. Somorin noted that there are still leakages and incidences of non-remittance of requisite funds to Treasury by some agencies and that is why government issued an unequivocal directive to all revenue agencies to ensure remittances of their obligations to Treasury. “In the short term, Government is determined to improve tax revenues not by increasing tax rates but rather by first, strengthening our tax administration. It is worthy of note to observe that Government aims to plug leakages, increase the tax base and improve tax collection efficiency,” she said.

Stories by Collins Nweze

tation of its capacity enhancement programme. She said the global growth performance has been weak and there has been volatility in oil prices. Nigeria is part of the global economy and therefore susceptible to development in the rest of the world economy. She said the 2015 budget is aimed at boosting the non-oil sectors of the economy and also to raise tax revenues. “The introduction of a luxury tax regime buttresses the fact that oil revenue is expected to play a less significant role in 2015 and future years. We hope that government will implement the National Tax Policy and be

FirstBank unveils FBNBank Guinea

IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, has unveiled FBNBank Guinea, formerly registered as International Commercial Bank (ICB), Guinea. The unveiling, it said in a statement, comes after the agreement reached by FirstBank and International Commercial Bank Financial Group Holdings Ag (ICBFGH) for the acquisition of a 100 per cent equity interest in ICB Guinea. The launch further consolidates FirstBank’s position as the largest corporate and retail banking financial institution in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) with presence in Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, and Democratic Republic of Congo as well as presence in the UK and Representative Offices in Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi and Beijing. The expansion represents FirstBank’s strategic objective to

maintain significant market share, expand its pan-African footprint and diversify earnings while delivering value to shareholders. FBNBank Guinea is strategically positioned to foster greater collaboration and provide better service for the country’s public and private sector clients, and the general public at large. The Bank leverages FirstBank’s international network, business expertise, which is part of the diversified synergies of the FBN Group to offer innovative, convenient and secure banking services to its customers and better seize the emerging opportunities in the local market. Speaking on this development, the GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, said the launch of FBNBank Guinea fulfills one of the critical stages of our ambition to steadily broaden and build a more diverse footprint across Africa. “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 and equity participation to local investors.” The Managing Director, FBNBank Guinea, Akeem Oladele said “Having built value for Nigeria over the last 120 years, FirstBank through FBNBank Guinea is poised to do even more in the Guinean financial market. FBNBank Guinea will provide customers with a bouquet of banking solutions that make their financial lives more convenient and stressfree whilst providing a delightful service experience”. “Given our heritage and market leadership at FBNBank, we are committed to co-creation; to listen and input feedback received from our customers in the development of products and services that are relevant”, Oladele added.

CBN to raise N120.5b treasury bills next week

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it plans to sell N120.52 billion of three-month, six-month and oneyear Treasury bills on June 24, the bank said.

The bank said in a statement it would sell N31.19 billion worth of the three-month paper, N39.33 billion of the six-month bill and N50 billion in the one-year debt next week, using the Dutch auction System. At an auction later, the bank is offering N143.64 billion worth of Treasury bills of tenors ranging between three-month and oneyear. In addition, a total of N80 billion worth of Treasury bonds with maturities between five-year and 20-year are also on offer at the same auction. The results of both auctions will be published today.

Stanbic IBTC to publish list of loan defaulters

TANBIC IBTC said yesterday it will publish the list of loan defaulters in line with a new directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Stanbic IBTC would be among the first banks to publish such a list after the regulator ordered lenders in April to crack down on nonperforming loans to forestall a repeat of a 2009 industry bailout that cost the government $4 billion. The new plan requires banks to give bad debtors three months to square their accounts, following which they would be named in the media and barred from taking part in currency and government debt

markets in Africa’s biggest economy. Stanbic said in a statement that in addition to publishing a list of defaulters by the end of August, it would also use legal and other means to recover non-performing loans. While issuing its order, the central bank did not give an estimate of the level of non-performing loans held by banks. In 2009, the central bank rescued several banks that had lent mainly to the oil and gas sector just before crude prices collapsed, triggering a near-collapse of eight commercial banks.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.2539 1.3581 0.7923 1.1661

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.2471 1.3581 0.7793 1.1661

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

BERGER PHARMDEKO ETERNA CHAMPION HONYFLOUR DANGSUGAR CONOIL STANBIC CILEASING SKYEBANK FIDSON NB

10.20 2.23 2.53 6.72 3.85 6.69 40.95 27.00 0.56 2.50 3.40 148.03

11.24 2.34 2.65 7.00 4.00 6.90 41.98 27.50 0.57 2.54 3.45 149.90

1.04 0.11 0.12 0.28 0.15 0.21 1.03 0.50 0.01 0.04 0.05 1.87

LOSERS AS AT 17-06-15

O/PRICE

GUINNESS 184.55 BETAGLAS 39.28 MAYEBAKER 1.63 AIICO 0.95 ACADEMY 0.95 COSTAIN 0.96 THOMASWY 0.73 WEMABANK 0.99 DIAMONDBNK 4.36 OANDO 16.95 ZENITHBANK 19.90

C/PRICE 174.80 37.32 1.55 0.91 0.92 0.92 0.70 0.96 4.23 16.49 19.51

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -9.75 -1.96 -0.08 -0.04 -0.04 -0.04 -0.03 -0.03 -0.03 -0.13 -0.39

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$28.2b

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 17-06-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

16.5%

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

15.033

15.977

15.809

17.177

16.493

17.908

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices 27 May Statistics 5 May All Share Index 34,649.3 29,383.93 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 11.8 9,804.36 Deals 3,385 3,714 Volume (mn) 564,28 377,75 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80 6,568.66 GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m

400m 350m

399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Health workers protest non-payment of arrears

•May begin strike on Tuesday

ORKERS of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos have given management up till Tuesday to meet their demands or face a strike. The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday accused the management of not paying their promotional arrears for three years. JOHESU chairman Shehu Sulaimon told reporters after the workers’ protest on the hospital premises that many are scared of using the hospital because of its decaying infrastructure and rise in service charge. Sulaimon called for improved staff welfare, saying workers’ morale was low because of some steps taken by the management. ‘’It has been a protracted issue that we have been discussing with our management. “For instance, they have not done anything about the promotion arrears which have not been paid and only God knows the reason. “We heard that other FMCs have collected their arrears and the budget office at the Ministry of Finance confirmed that our centre is not being owed promotion arrears. It means that our hospital has collected the arrears just like FMC Owerri too, yet we have not been paid. Where is the money? “We gave the management 14 days ultimatum that

•Sulaimon (middle) with (from right) JOHESU Secretary Chijioke Ejiofor; Josephine Mbaeri; Mrs Israel; Achonwa and Comrade Ebenezer Akande...yesterday By Tajudeen Adebanjo

elapsed without doing anything; we gave another seven-day ultimatum and our Managing Director decided to travel out during this period. I wonder how the head of a house would travel while his house is on fire,” Sulaimon said. He enjoined the management of the hospital to upgrade the equipment in the hospital to make the hospital attractive to the public. Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FMC, Ebute Meta chapter, Mrs Blessing Israel, said the use of outdated equipment was affecting internally generated revenue because of the dwindling number of patients.

Man allegedly clubs prophet to death 27-YEAR-OLD man, Azeez Alimi, yesterday appeared before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly clubbing a prophet called “Woli Akin” to death. The prosecutor, Corporal Iyobosa Onaiwu, told the court that the offence was committed on April 8, at 8, Okewode Street, Lakowe in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos. Onaiwu alleged that the accused hit Akin with a plank on his head. She said Akin had accosted Alimi, asking why he was giving people his residential address. The prosecutor said a fight ensued and Azeez picked a plank, hit the deceased on the head and he died. Onaiwu said the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes a death sentence for the crime. The court did not take Azeez’s plea. Chief Magistrate Mr F.J. Adefioye ordered that the accused be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending receipt of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). He adjourned the case till July 15.

Driver docked for killing pedestrian

27-YEAR-OLD man, Akeem Lawal, was yesterday arraigned before an Ojo Magistrates’Court in Lagos for allegedly knocking down a pedestrian, Gbenga Fadahunsi, 37. Lawal is standing trial on a two-count charge of reckless driving and manslaughter. According to the prosecutor, Corporal Femi Adeleye, the accused had on June 5 at 10 am. driven a bus on IkotunEgbe Road recklessly and caused the death of Fadahunsi. “The accused drove an LT commercial bus – KJA 15 XN — on a public highway in a

dangerous manner. The accused also drove the bus without due consideration for other road users,’’ Adeleye said, adding that the offence contravened Sections 18 and 20 of the Road Traffic Law of Lagos State, 2012. The accused, pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Peter Nwaka granted him N200,000 bail, with two sureties, who must be his relations. The sureties, he said, should provide evidence of three years’ tax payment as part of the bail conditions. The case was adjourned till July 15.

“The equipment are outdated and with outdated equipment, you cannot really work efficiently. We need new equipment; light is nothing to write home about; patients scream at night because they are always in the dark throughout the night; the members of staff are not encouraged to give their best due to poor welfarism. The generating set is very old and not functioning well. “The tariff is very high and because of this, we are not really having patients, if the tariff should come down, patients will come and we will be happy to work. We don’t want to be made redundant; let them bring down the charges,” Israel said. Medical and Health Union Chairman, FMC, Ebute Meta

chapter, Mr Julius Achonwa, said the workers were being treated like second-class citizens. He said: “Can you imagine you can’t speak your local language to any patient here; you get query for doing so – my mother tongue? How do you communicate with a patient who doesn’t understand English language? “One pathetic aspect of our case was when one of our staff died, the management sent people to attend the burial. On their way back, the bus had an accident; one died and some were taken to the nearest hospitals, but many of the injured ones were brought here. The management refused to pay the medical bills of those treated here. Those that used their money for the

treatment are yet to collect refund from the management.” According to him, no staff has gone on training in the last four years. “We are here dying silently; we are begging the government to come to our rescue and if care is not taken, this place will die a natural death,” he said. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the hospital’s Medical Director, Mrs Yewande Jinadu, when contacted on phone, said she was on leave and was outside the country. Mr Emmanuel Okone, Director, Administration and Human Resources, when contacted, declined comment. “You are talking to the wrong person on this issue,” he said.

NGO hosts seminar

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Initiative (CRAAAI) in collaboration with Charms Plc, has concluded arrangements to hold an awareness seminar in Lagos. The event will hold on June 22 at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja. In a statement by the CRAAAI Chairman, Mr. Moses Igbrude, its theme is: Identity Management in Nigeria Economy: The Bedrock of a Cashless Society. It is billed to x-ray the challenges of the financial sector, telecommunication and the nation’s economy. The one-day seminar would enlighten and address all stakeholders on the benefits of identity management, and how it would enhance the effective used of e-payment service delivery in trade, finance and commerce. Expected at the seminar are: Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among others. Also expected there include the police, medical practitioners, telecommunications providers, the banks, insurance, the media practitioner among others.

Foreigners contest court’s power to try them

OURTEEN foreigners charged with illegal dealing in petroleum products have challenged the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction to try them. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 10 preferred a four-count charge of conspiracy, dealing in and storage of petroleum products without lawful authority against them. They are three RussiansArthur Pakhladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich, Kretov Andrey; a Japanese, Sergio Abgarian; and three Ukrainians-Vitalis Biluos, Laguta Olesksiy and Chepikov Oleksan. Others are seven BritonsHilarion Teofilo Regipor Jr, Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero Jr, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Carantiquit Micheal Bryan. Three vessels-MT Anukt Emerald, Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd were charged along with them. The commission said they committed the offence on February 27 by storing 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel inside the MT Anuket Emerald’s Cargo tank. They also stored 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in other tanks. The offence contravenes Sections 4, 17, 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Petroleum Act, Laws

By Joseph Jibueze

of the Federation. Yesterday, their lawyer, Mr Babajide Koku (SAN), said the court lacked jurisdiction to try them because they were not carrying out any illegal activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters. He said the accused were carrying out their activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Koku argued that they were charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which has no effect within the EEZ where the accused were arrested. “The Miscellaneous Offences Act under which the accused were charged doesn’t cover the jurisdiction in which the accused were arrested. “These are foreign nationals, the Miscellaneous Offences Act cannot apply to them and does not apply within the EEZ because it is oustide the sovereignty of Nigeria,” Koku said. The senior advocate urged the court to decline jurisdiction and strike out the suit, adding that the fiat of the Attorney-General of the Federation was not sought before the accused were brought to court. He cited Sections 31 and 34 of the Territorial Waters Act, which state: “A Nigerian court cannot try a person who is not a citizen of Nigeria for an offence committed in an open sea, and the consent of the AGF

must be provided before such trial could commence.”. EFCC’s lawyer Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to discontenance Koku’s arguments. He said the accused had been arraigned and their plea taken, pointing out that if the court’s jurisdiction is being questioned at this stage, it should be considered along with the substantive suit. Oyedepo said: “It is late for

the accused after taken their plea to challenge the prosecutorial powers of the EFCC.” The AGF, he said, does not have the monopoly of prosecuting such matters, adding that the EFCC is vested with the powers to prosecute any economic crime whether it occurs at sea or land. Justice Ibrahim Buba reserved ruling till June 18.

Youths mark anniversary

HE Christ Ambassadors Band of the Melototah Church of Zion will mark its second thanksgiving anniversary on Sunday, June 21. The theme is: Arise, Shine; for your light is come. The time is 8.00am and venue, 18/ 20 Ikale Street , Papa –Ajao, Mushin. Highlights of the programme include a symposium today at 5.00 p.m.; All night praise on Friday at 11.00 p.m, a thanksgiving service and a N2.5 million Fund Raising for Evangelism on Sunday. Speaking on the event, the president of the band, Senior Apostle Michael Onuwaje said: “This is our opportunity to give thanks to God for his mercy and love over us. We also use the event to beseech Him for further grace. We enjoin all the come and partake in this favour”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

‘My wife is a thief’ •Wife: He disgraces me publicly

•Some of the freed inmates

Lagos CJ frees 21 Kirikiri inmates

AGOS STATE Chief Judge Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade yesterday freed 21 awaiting trial inmates at Kirikiri Medium Prisons. She freed them in exercise of the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007. Her gesture is part of efforts to decongest prisons. Justice Atilade was accompanied by Justices Oluwatoyin Ipaye, Aishat Opesanwo, Kudirat Jose, Lateef Lawal-Akapo and Sedoten Ogunsanya as well as her Chief Registrar Emmanuel Ogundare and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs Idowu Alakija. She advised the freed inmates to be of good

By Adebisi Onanuga

behaviour henceforth, saying: “I release all you today 17th day of June, 2015 from custody pursuant to the powers conferred on me and admonish you to go and sin no more.” Most of the inmates had spent more time in prison custody than they would have if they had been tried and convicted. Justice Atilade urged them to refrain from crime because the government has zero tolerance for it. She implored others not to lose hope in the system, cases would be reviewed periodically to release those who have spent more time in prison than they would have if convicted. The judge restated her commitment to an effective justice delivery system where the courts work effi-

ciently and the prisons are not congested. Her visit to the prison to release inmates, she said, would be continuous, adding: “ Those of you released should, henceforth, be of good behaviour. The state government is committed to a crime-free Lagos and anyone found committing crime will be arrested and prosecuted.” Justice Atilade appealed to non-governmental organisation’s (NGO) and other stakeholders working with the prisons authority to ensure that those released are re-integrated into the society. Earlier in his opening remark, Officer-In-Charge of the prison, Deputy Controller (DCP) Kayode Odeyemi thanked Justice Atilade for exercising her powers in releasing the inmates’ favour.

He said: “My Lord, today the criminal justice system of Lagos State has taken a leap in seeing that justice is done to all as a result of your visit to the prison because a good number of of inmates with minor offences will be let off the hook.” Odeyemi thanked the immediate past administration for approving the fortification of the prisons before leaving office. He appealed to the Judiciary and the executive to assist the prison authority with trucks and buses to ease the challenge of conveying inmates to court. A total of 2452 inmates are in the prison built to take 1,700 inmates. About 2349 are awaiting trial, 92, convicts, 32, detainees, and 21 described as lodgers/ acquitals.

‘Ikeja Electric to distribute 2,000 smart metres’

HE Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) said yesterday that it would begin the distribution of 2, 000 units of smart metres at the end of this month under its pilot scheme. Its Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Pekun Adeyanju, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that another batch of 5,000 metres would be installed in July. The equipment, he said, is a new technology in

power consumption measurement that ensures regular interface between electricity providers and consumers, adding that it is both pre-paid and post-paid. Adeyanju said: “Ikeja Electric will distribute 2, 000 units of smart metres by the end of June and another 5,000 units in July under the pilot scheme. Consumers who engage in illegalities such as bypassing the metres in their homes will be checkmated by the smart metres.”

Adeyanju said the company had invested about N20 billion in the smart metre technology to boost its services. The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) also said it had installed 5,400 units of smart metres between April and June. “We have installed 5,400 smart metres within the zone in the last three months,’’ Mr Godwin Idemudia, an Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, said yesterday.

He urged customers to apply for the metres under the company’s Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme. He said they would be made available within 45 days after payment. He said one-phase smart metre costs N39, 650, while three-phase metre costs N68, 906. Idemudia said the new metre would address all the problems associated with metering.

MIDDLE-AGE man, Friday James, has prayed an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his marriage because his wife, Linda is a thief. James said his wife was not caring, claiming that she spent their children’s school fees on several occasion. “Not only does my wife spend our children’s school fees she also steals from me. Whenever our children’s school proprietress calls me on phone, I know there is a problem. She once stole N83, 000 from my wardrobe,” he said. The petitioner also said his wife spent the money she was to use to buy foodstuff. He said: “The painful thing is that she wouldn’t give account on what she spent the money on and it is annoying because I can’t continue to give her monthly allowance while I starve with our children. If she truly respects me as her husband, she won’t be doing all this.” James said he brought his wife to court to see if she would change. Linda said she disrespects her husband would because he is fond of harassing her in front of neighbours. “I didn’t steal from him. I only took N10, 000 from his wardrobe without his knowledge because I was told my father was ill and I thought I could refund it before he got to know. Whenever I requested for money from him, he asks me to be patient till month end.

By Basirat Braimah

‘

I don’t know why he is complaining because when he knew I took his money, he took me outside and called me a thief in the presence of almost everyone who lives on our street

’

“I think I have also made up my mind for dissolution because whenever our tenants misplace anything, my husband refers them to me and it is not right. I don’t know why he is complaining because when he knew I took his money, he took me outside and called me a thief in the presence of almost everyone who lives on our street,” Linda said. Linda also said her husband went to the extent of telling her boss she steals which led to her sack. She said: “As if all he had done wasn’t enough, I was sacked from my place of work because of his actions. I now sell noodles and eggs. I can’t continue to put up with his attitude.” The marriage produced three children. The court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, fixed a chamber discussion for after the whole proceedings.

Manager ‘steals’ from hotel

42-YEAR-OLD hotel manager, Israel Osanebi, I was yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N 512,000 from his employer. Osanebi, who lives in Apapa, Lagos, pleaded not guilty. But the prosecutor, Corporal John Iberedem, said the offence was committed on May 18, at the Events Hotel, 2, Nosamu Street in Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos. The prosecutor: “Instead of depositing the money into the company’s bank account, Osanebi converted it into his personal use,’’ he said. Iberedem said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 285, he noted, prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing. Senior Magistrate G.L. Otepo granted the accused N100, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum. The magistrate adjourned hearing in the case till July 20. (NAN).

Foundation pays for boy’s surgery

ESPITE has come for Oluwanimilo Afolabi, a three-yearold boy, who has been battling a huge tumour on his head for three years. Last Sunday, the Chris Okafor Humanity Foundation (COHF) donated N500, 000 to fund the required surgery for little Afolabi at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin. Pastor Chris Okafor, General Overseer, Liberation Ministries International Churches, and Founder of COHF, said he was moved by the boy’s plight after reading his story in a newspaper. “I saw the story of the boy with the lump on the head last Friday. Looking at his picture, I saw that the lump was almost as big as his head, and I felt touched. Af-

By Muyiwa Lucas

ter reading, I went back to the room to break my fast that was when the Lord said to me: ‘You must help that boy,” Okafor explained. Presenting the cash to the boy’s father, Mr Sola Afolabi, Okafor said COHF and the church would further intervene in Afolabi’s situation to ensure that he is restored to good health. “My relationship with this boy (Afolabi) has just started; and it is just the beginning of good things to come,” the cleric said. Okafor said lending a helping hand to the needy is “practical Christianity,” adding that the gesture is in line with the teachings in Matthew 25: 1-46. “The only thing you can do for God is to reach out to others. The Bible says he that

lends to the poor, lends to God. You don’t help someone because of what he can give to you,” he said. Afolabi thanked the pastor for his gesture, explaining that he has been struggling to raise the money. “I am extremely happy today for the milk of human sympathy shown my son by the COHF and the church. Some people advised me to inflate the amount needed, and I tell them this is not a business for me. All I want is to see my son well and able to run around like his mates. I am glad that COHF has now given my son the opportunity to live like every other normal child,” he said. The dilemma all started on January 12, 2012, when little Afolabi was born. His mother had noticed a tiny lump on his head, which was

mistaken as a boil. But later, the lump grew in size. The father narrated further: “All this while, the child refused to eat. When the mother breast-fed him, he would vomit everything. Anything he takes in he vomits. At LUTH we were told he couldn’t eat because the passage where food goes through was blocked. As I speak with you he only eats through the tube attached to his navel. The doctors at LUTH said that the operation needed to give him succor would not be carried out then because of his tender age. I still took him to LUTH when he was one and was told that he was still too young; look at how big the lump has become.” Afolabi said the family’s lives had never remained the same since Oluwanimilo was born.

•Pastor Okafor with the boy

“Raising money has been difficult. Since my wife was delivered of another baby, I have been the one running around for him. It has not

been easy at all. It is lack of funds that has kept me till this time from taking him back to LUTH,” he submitted.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS ‘Ebonyi Assembly witch-hunting me’

ORMER Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ohaozara council of Ebonyi State, Chaka Nweze has said he is the target of the House of Assembly’ investigation of council’s accounts. The committee on Tuesday recommended that a warrant of arrest be issued on Nweze and three others for failing to honour their invitation. Nweze said the committee submitted its report before concluding its investigations because it was witch-hunting him. He said the House was merely chasing shadows because he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) based on his personal convictions. “Government is accusing me of leading other council chairmen in defecting to the APC. I am neither their leader nor the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). “I have no business in the affairs of the PDP-led government because I worked against it during the elections and the House, dominated by PDP members, will always do government’s biddings. “I did not honour their invitation because I had re-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

signed my position as chairman,” Nweze said. The committee’s Chairman, Obasi Odefa could not be reached for comments but he remarked during the report’s presentation that his panel was doing his constitutional functions.

600 displaced in Ebonyi-Cross River feud

O fewer than 600 persons have been displaced in the renewed boundary dispute between Ochienyim community in Ndiagu Amagu Ikwo Council of Ebonyi State and Adadama community in Abi council of Cross River State. The Ochienyim of Ndiagu Amagu, Peter Azuegumade, gave this figure yesterday when Ebonyi State Deputy

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Governor Dr. Kelechi Igwe visited the area to assess the damage. Azuegumade accused the people of Adadama of laying ambush for the people of Amagu and killing them. He alleged that indigenes of the area, including Sunday Ujebe, Nte Anyigor Omar and

ables were destroyed. “Students have been forced out of school following insecurity and lack of funds to cater for them,” he said. Igwe praised the people for being law abiding and called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to their aid.

Youths protest member’s death

• CP: we’re in control

OUTHS of Nanka community in Orumba council of Anambra State yesterday protested the death of their member by a stray bullet. Sources said officers from the zone 9 police command in Umuahia stormed the community to arrest people for alleged illegal dredging. In the ensuing chaos, a youth was hit by a stray bullet. They said the police arrested the wrong person. The protesting youths blocked roads linking other communities. They vowed to

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

continue unless the arrested youth was released. A community leader who asked not to be named, said the protest started on Monday. He added that the killer was arrested. Police Commissioner Hosea Karma said the police were on top of the situation. He said the matter had been reported to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Usman Gwary.

Man sentenced to death for rape

N Abakaliki High Court sitting in Ebonyi State has sentenced Ekene Nweke to three years imprisonment for rape. The Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, convicted Nweke for raping Blessing on February 21, 2011. Nweke was said to have had carnal knowledge of the complainant at her residence 5, Akam Street, Abakaliki, contrary to Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1 laws of Ebonyi State. A medical report confirmed

How to achieve credible polls, by CSOs From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

COALITION of Civil Society organisations has said for Nigeria to have a credible election in 2019, the National Assembly must amend the constitution so that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) can implement electronic voting. They spoke at a post-election poll survey in Abuja organised by the Alliance for Credible Elections, (ACE) in conjunction with the MacArthur Foundation. Chairman, Partner for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwangwu, who spoke on behalf of the CSOs, said Diaspora voting will be easier with electronic voting. He said: “INEC has done its part with the conclusion of this year’s election. The Card Reader performed in the best way it could but we can still do better. “Electronic voting, if deployed in 2019, will assist with the lapses of the Card Reader and it is not too early to start preparing”. ACE’s board member, Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, who was the chairman of the occasion, said the survey was to address public perceptions about the conduct of the election. Ya’u said organised platforms in the country has the mandate to speak about what went wrong in the last elections, how they want it addressed, and how future elections should be conducted. The chairman stressed the need for the National Assembly to amend the constitution so that INEC can implement the electronic voting. ACE’s program officer, Abdulwahab Ekehide said the report was a random sample of 1000 respondents from all geopolitical regions.

Christopher Ogodo were shot dead. Their bodies, he said, have been missing since the community was invaded on June 4. Azuegumade added that many were injured in the attack and are in hospitals. He lamented that their economic trees and other valu-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

the deposit of semen in the complainant’s private part. Nweke’s counsel, J.N Okezie, standing in for Arthur Nwaji, pleaded for leniency, saying the convict was married with children. He said remanding the convict in prison will affect the family. Justice Nwankwo maintained that there was evidence of rape against Nweke and sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour.

‘Pure’ water sellers protest •Hon. Hassan Anthony Saleh, member representing Ado, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State being presented with his Certificate of Return at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja by a representative of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Deputy Director Legal Services, Mrs O. O Babalola.

Gunmen kill police officer in Ebonyi

ORPORAL Aliah Yusuf of the Ebonyi Police Command was on Monday shot dead by unidentified gunmen on his way home. An eyewitness, Simon Ogbu, said the gunmen trailed Yusuf to his house, snatched his gun, shot him and told him to report the matter. Residents, he said, fled the area for fear of being arrested. It was learnt that mobile policemen have flooded the area. “When I heard the gunshot, I thought it was behind me. What I heard next was ‘let us see how

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

you will go and report us’. The killers wore police uniform; they collected his gun and sped off on their motorcycle”, Ogbu said. Deputy police spokesman Ejike Emmanuel confirmed Yusuf’s death. He said the investigation department was handling the matter. “It was an ugly incident; the Commissioner of Police was sober on hearing the news. For now, no arrest has been made but I think the investigation department is trying to get the

hoodlum. “When he was killed, his gun was taken. He was supposed to go to his beat in Izzi. Officially, we have a modus opradi of conveying our officers to their various beats but he probably went to get personal things when he was trailed to an isolated area and killed. “When the incident was reported, a team of mobile policemen and a divisional patrol team went to the area; they saw his body lying down and rushed him to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. The gunmen were wearing a mask,” Emmanuel said.

AWKERS of sachet water, popularly known as ‘pure water’ yesterday marched on the streets of Aba to protest a hike in price. The protesters lamented the increase, saying the hike did more harm than good. They said if the situation was not addressed urgently, they could be out of business. A protester, Mrs. Chiamaka lamented that the product, which hitherto sold for N100 per bag, now sells between N140 and N150. She said they witnessed low patronage in the past weeks. “Now that we sell at N15 and N20, people who drank five or more sachets have reduced their patronage, unlike when we sold at N10 per sachet. “The turnover is poor and at the end of the day, what we take home is not commensurate with the stress. We are in a season where people don’t drink much; the rains are here and people

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

don’t seem to be thirsty like they are during the dry season. “We pay levy of between N20 to N50 every day before we are allowed to sell in motor parks and with the current situation, things are beyond our limit”. Another hawker, Mrs. Cynthia Ikwumezie said problem started when producers went on strike for alleged rise in price of water proof used in packaging the product. Mrs. Ikwumezie said the situation was telling on them and their families as they could no longer fend for them. The protesters called on the state government to address the situation. They pleaded that government should abolish the tolls they pay in the parks. A bag of sachet water which sold for N100 now sells for between N140 to N150, while roadside retailers sell at N15 per sachet as against the previous N10.

Nigerians warned against climate change activities Bejide for burial

HE Federal Government has urged Nigerians to be mindful of environmental challenges. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Nana Fatima, said the consequences of over-exploiting ground water resources would affect the hydrological balance of the affected areas. She urged Nigerians to adopt sustainable agricultural systems, plant appropriate tree species to protect the soils, and explore forest re-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

sources more sustainably. Mrs. Fatima spoke during activities marking this year’s World Desertification Day (WDD). She said the government would continue to update relevant sectoral policies, legislation and regulations for environmental management. According to her, the WDD is targeted at giving human face to environmental issues, empower people to become active agents of sustainable

and equitable development, and promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues. She advocated a partnership that will ensure that all nations and people enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. “It is my belief that the people will begin to take issues of sustainable land development far more seriously than we have ever done in the past,” she said.

HE final funeral plan of Deaconess Julianah Bejide-Ogunsina aka Olori, who died on May 19, has been released. She was 87. The three-day funeral will begin with a Service of Songs today at her residence, Olora Estate, Adebayo, Ado Ekiti by 5pm. A wake will follow tomorrow at Olufunmilayo House, Emure Ekiti by 5pm. His remains will be buried at Redeemed Way, Oke Ope. Outing/thanksgiving service and entertainment of guests will follow at her residence.

•The late Deaconess Bejide

Deaconess Ogunsina is survived by children, grand-children and great-grand-children.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS Special Task Force ‘kills’ two women in Jos

EMBERS of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis code-named ‘Operation Save Haven’, have been accused of killing two women at Heipang in Barki Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. The victims are Victoria Solomon, 35 and Pricilia Bitrus, 44. They were indigenes of Heipang village. It was alleged that the deceased were among the women and youths, who protested attacks on the communities by unknown gunmen. The protesters, who were not armed, demanded the withdrawal of soldiers from their community “since they cannot defend us anytime the gunmen attack us.” The Chairman of Barkin Ladi Council, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone, said: “Yes, it is true that soldiers of the STF shot dead two women. “The victims were among the protesting women and youths. After the protest, they went to their shops by the roadside. Then one soldier came to meet them in their shops and shot them at closerange. “Now I ask, don’t these

•STF: it’s not true women have a right to protest?” A source said a middle-aged man was also beaten to a pulp by the same soldier, adding that he is being treated at Barkin Ladi General Hospital. The STF denied killing the women. Its spokesman, Cpt. Ikediche Iweha, said no woman was shot dead by a soldier. He said there was a directive from their headquarters to review checkpoints. Iweha said the STF personnel went to the area to review the checkpoint, but some people, mainly women and youths, mobilised themselves and destroyed the checkpoint. He added that in the process, somebody in the crowd shot and the bullet hit two people. His words: “I’m not aware of any death. Nobody died in the confusion. However, two women were hit. They sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.” Iweha urged the public not to take the law into their hands. “People should show understanding to enable the STF serve them better.”

Arewa youths to Buhari: take charge of APC and bring about change

HE umbrella organisation of youths in the North, Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), yesterday rose from a meeting in Kaduna and told President Muhammadu Buhari that he cannot stand aloof from what is happening in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It urged him to take charge of the party and bring about the change Nigerians voted for. A statement by the forum made available to reporters in Kaduna said many people voted for the change mantra of the APC because of President Buhari, adding that he cannot afford not to take part in what happens in the party and how they are going to fulfill their promise of change to Nigerians. The statement signed by Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, the national president of the forum, noted that after consultations with stakeholders in the North and meeting with its members, they contended that “happenings in the country since Nigerians voted for change in the last elections have shown that the APC and President Bu-

US condemns Boko Haram attack on Chad, Nigeria

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

hari, who was the arrowhead of the APC change mantra, need to restrategise to make sure that Nigerians are not disappointed in the party and in the President, whose way of life was the yardstick on which the party rode to power.” According to the youth, “this clarion call has become necessary in view of the fact that Nigerians are not only patiently waiting to see the line of change that the APC will take, but also the fact that some sections are already viewing the impasse in the party as a sign that they must have made a mistake in pitching their tents with the party to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last elections.” The statement reads: “As youths from the North, we are not only disappointed, but we must also said that we are worried about the initial steps being taken by the APC and Mr. President in resolving some of the teething problems arising from forming a new government in a country like ours. “As a people who want

things done in a different way from what used to be the norm, we believe that was the main reason Nigerians defied the hostile environment during the elections and voted for the party. If things are seen to still be done in the same way, then there is a serious problem. “The forum was forced to come to this stand because of the recent happenings in the National Assembly. We were surprised that the senators and members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the APC defied the stand of their party to conduct an election that went contrary to the stand of the APC. “We see this as an aberration and a move contrary to democratic tenets and use this medium to urge Nigerians to monitor their representatives, be aware of their activities to make sure that the victory of the party does not go down the drain. “The situation is even more worrisome when the person proposed by the party, Senator Ahmed Lawan, is a credible and loyal party man. He is known to be an upright and a sincere politician, who has

•Buhari calls Chadian president

HE United States yesterday condemned “in the strongest terms” Monday’s terrorist attacks in the Chadian capital N’Djamena and in Nigeria. A statement by Spokesman John Kirby of the U.S. State Department said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the innocent victims who were killed in the attack. “Our thoughts are also with the many who sustained injuries. “ We remain dedicated to supporting Chad, Nigeria and their regional partners engaged in the fight against Boko Haram.” Also yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed condolences to the president and people of the Republic of Chad. The attacks, which the Chadian police blamed on Boko Haram caused the death of 23 persons. Scores were injured. The President, also condoled the people and government of Borno state over the loss of over 60 lives from ex-

plosion triggered by abandoned explosives in Monguno town. Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President Garba Shehu, said Buhari expressed his condolences in a telephone call to President Idriss Deby, at 5.30pm yesterday. He said: “Chad has been on the frontline of the regional fight against the Boko Haram terrorists. They have stood by us through the worst and most difficult times of the challenges we have faced with terrorism. You also have our support during this difficult time.” But he expressed hope that it was only a matter of time before the insurgents would be flushed out and dealt with. He assured the people of Borno state of the commitment of his administration to degrade the insurgency which had necessitated the relocation of the command centre of the military to its hotbed. ”Crushing Boko Haram will remain a priority of my government,” President Buhari said.

Ortom urges federal legislators to make quality laws

ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has urged the National Assembly to make quality laws that would enhance good governance. He spoke yesterday when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, visited him at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. Ortom listed critical areas as corruption, power supply and security, stressing that if legislation was targeted at the areas and enforced, the country would progress. He enjoined the Speaker to put the intrigues that led

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

to his emergence behind him and build bridges between the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its members as well as others in the House. The governor described Iorwase Hembe, the member representing Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, who led the delegation to see him, as a worthy ambassador of the state, who had a vision to identify and invest in the leadership qualities of the Speaker.

touched the lives of those that have come across him. So it was no surprise that the party endorsed him against others in the race. “We also think that since politics is about give and take, the Northeast that has given all to the APC since its opposition days and gave almost 100 per cent votes to the party in the elections should have been compensated. This is even more apt since the last administration treated the zone with disdain in appointments and projects, taking the place as an opposition enclave. With the Boko Haram insurgency, we thought the position of a Senate president would have given the people a sense of belonging. “We advise President Buhari that he cannot afford to stand aloof from what is happening in the National Assembly and the party. It is expected that the party officials come through its instrumentality, as this is the only way to move the party and the country forward. It is time for the President to take control of the party and make sure that things are done the right way.”

•From left: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Manager, Birnin Kebbi branch, Amina Umar; Special Assistant to the CBN governor, Paul Eluhaiwe and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, during their visit to the governor in Birnin Kebbi... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Two die in Jos after drinking gin

WO persons have been confirmed dead and seven others in a critical condition in a hospital after drinking a locallymade dry gin called ‘Goskolo’ in Jos, the Plateau State capital. The incident reportedly occurred at a local drinking joint in Bukuru, behind Tayen Petroleum Station. A source said 11 young men went to a party at a location behind the filling station and drank a local gin allegedly poisoned by one of

•Seven in critical condition From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

them, Emmanuel Paul, who poured an insecticide, ‘Sniper’, into the gin. The source said nine of them drank the poisoned gin. One of the men, Emmanuel Choji, who did not drink the gin, said: “We are friends. We move together. We were together at a party organised by one of us. I was tired and I fell asleep. I later woke up and found that one of us had poi-

soned the gin. “My friends vomited. Good Samaritans gave them palm oil to neutralise the effect of the poison. We later left for our homes.” Police spokesman Abu Emmanuel confirmed the incident. He said: “The nine young men, who drank the poisoned gin, ended up in hospital. Two of them later died. “The deceased are Moses Adams and Ayuba Garuba.

The other seven are in a critical condition at the Air Force Military Hospital, Jos. “The suspect has been arrested by the police at B Division, Bukuru. He has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation. “We are still investigating the incident. After our findings, the suspect will be charged with culpable homicide. The government has banned the sale and consumption of ‘Goskolo’.

Yobe Assembly holds valedictory session

OBE State House of Assembly yesterday held a valedictory session to mark the end of the 5th Assembly. The House was gloomy. Speaker Adamu Dala Dogo said despite the Boko Haram insurgency, members

•Members gloomy From Duku Joel, Damaturu

performed their duties to the best of their abilities. His words: “We in Yobe State are proud to tell the world that despite the insur-

gency witnessed, we remain united, stable and focused.” The Speaker said in the 5th Assembly, “we passed 24 bills and 59 resolutions.” He hailed the cordial relationship between the House and the Executive. The lawmakers thanked

their constituents for giving them the opportunity to represent them. Seven members will not return to the House and seven new legislators will join the 6th Assembly, which will be inaugurated on Monday.

THE NATION THURSAY, JUNE 18, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

ECOWAS brainstorms on illicit weapons Greece headed for ‘painful’ proliferation in Calabar C

HECKING the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) was the goal as National Commissions on Small Arms of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday. Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission, Mrs Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, said although member states were experiencing growth in their collective effort at combatting the menace of small arms in their countries, small arms proliferation still remained a major challenge as demonstrated in the Sahel and in Northern Nigeria, coupled with the rising level of urban crime and criminalities. “The porosity of our borders allow easy accessibility of dangerous military style weapons to non state actors. The case of the Sahel and Northern Nigeria in particular, revealed the deficiency in the enforcement capacity of the security, a situation being exploited by criminals

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

to kill, maim and damage properties in our communities. This trend must be stopped by limiting state arms acquisition and continuous advocacy with the International Community in order to effectively control arms transfers around the world. “While ECOWAS Commission acknowledges the efforts at national level in the fight against small arms proliferation in the region, more still needs to be done by our governments given the dynamics of the challenges,” she said. Chairman of the Nigerian Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Mr Emmanuel Imohe, said the problem of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in West Africa is a hydra headed monster that must be resolved as quickly as possible. “The Nigerian government is sufficiently seized with this problem

and is committed to ensuring that we collectively dismantle the template from which the problems of insecurity are drawing support,” Imohe said. Governor Ben Ayade, represented by deputy, Prof Ivara Esu said Nigeria and West Africa have no doubt been caught in the web of Small Arms and Light Weapons. He said, “There are clear linkages between the availability of illicit small arms and light weapons and insecurity in many countries in our neigbourhood, while economic development is often negatively affected by insecurity, much of which is perpetuated through the use of small arms. “It is therefore commendable that ECOWAS member states have adopted the ECOWAS convention on small arms and light weapons to effectively combat the menace as well as related incidence of insurgency and armed violence.”

Palestinian unity govt quits

HE Palestinian unity government resigned yesterday in a deepening rift with Gaza as the blockaded territory’s de facto rulers Hamas held separate, indirect talks with Israel. An aide to president Mahmud Abbas said prime minister Rami Hamdallah “handed his resignation to Abbas and Abbas ordered him to form a new government.” Discussions to form a new government would include consultations with the various Palestinian factions, including Hamas, aide Nimr Hammad said. The government of technocrats was formed last year to replace rival administrations in Gaza and the West Bank. “The government will continue to function until we have a new one,” a Palestine Liberation Organisation official said before the official resignation. “I think what’s coming now is the formation of a government with politicians, not a government of technocrats.” Officials said the move had been

under discussion for several months because of the cabinet’s inability to operate in the Hamasdominated Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas official Ziad alZaza, however, struck a more conciliatory note, calling on Abbas “to form a unity government with all national and Islamic factions to face Israeli occupation.” Riyad al-Malki, foreign minister in the outgoing government, said “the prime minister always wanted to incorporate new ministers. The move comes at a critical time, with Hamas sources saying it is holding separate, indirect talks with Israel on ways to firm up an informal ceasefire agreement that took hold last August, ending a 50-day war in Gaza. It was not clear whether Abbas’s move to dissolve the government was linked to those talks, but the PLO official said he believed that they played a role. “If you end up having a different kind of status for Gaza, then basically the idea of a Palestinian state completely disappears,” the official

past three months, capturing military bases, villages and a border crossing point with Jordan.Maj. Issam el Rayyes, a spokesman for the Southern Front, said the aim of the offensive “is to liberate remaining regime targets in Quneitra.” He added that they aim to link southern Syria with rebel-held neighbourhoods in the suburbs of Assad’s seat of power in the capital, Damascus.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting Wednesday killed a soldier and one insurgent, after six rebels were killed the day before. Explosions from the fighting could be seen from the Israel-controlled Golan Heights several

REECE’s central bank has warned for the first time that the country could be on a “painful course” to default and exit from both the eurozone and the EU. It comes as the Greek government and its international creditors blamed each other for failing to reach a deal over economic reforms. That failure is holding up the release of •7.2bn (£5.2bn) in bailout funds. About •30bn was withdrawn from Greek bank deposits between October and April, the central bank added. The central bank also warned the country’s economic slowdown would accelerate without a deal. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann was in Athens yesterday in a last-ditch bid to end the standoff. “For Europe to be stronger, it must show solidarity and support to any country which needs it,” he said during a meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. That came ahead of a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Thursday although officials have played down expectations of a make-orbreak decision being reached. The Austrian chancellor’s comments followed a harsher critique

• Tsipras

from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who on Tuesday accused the Greek government of misleading voters, as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) of trying to “humiliate” his country. Greece has two weeks remaining to strike a deal with its creditors or face defaulting on an existing •1.6bn (£1.1bn) loan repayment due to the IMF. The country has already rolled a •300m payment into those due on 30 June Mr Juncker said the Greek government had not told the truth about its latest reform proposals. “I am blaming the Greeks [for telling] things to the Greek public which are not consistent with what I’ve told the Greek prime minister,” Mr Juncker said.

Yemen: youths blow up delegate’s home

• Abbas

said. Another high-ranking Hamas official said he believed Abbas decided to act after receiving word of the indirect contacts. The indirect Hamas-Israel talks are said to have gone through a number of Arab and European channels. A Hamas source said senior members of the Islamist movement had met in Doha over the weekend for talks with Qatari officials.

Syrian rebels kill 33 in advance near Golan YRIAN rebels launched a wide-ranging offensive against government positions near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights yesterday, after shelling in and around Damascus killed at least 33 people, activists said. The rebels of the Southern Front alliance and the so-called Haramoun Army targeted several areas in the Golan, including the towns and villages of Quneitra, Khan Arnabeh, Baath, Jiba and the base of Brigade 90, the main government force in the region, said opposition activist Jamal al-Jolani, who is based in southern Syria. Insurgents have been on the offensive in southern Syria for the

euro exit

miles (kilometers) away. A Syrian government helicopter could be heard dropping bombs on rebel targets as tanks, believed to belong to the rebels, fired back. An Israeli warplane flew along the frontier as a precautionary move. Syria’s state-run SANA news agency meanwhile said two shells struck Arnous Park in Damascus late Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding 13 as shoppers were out ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins Thursday.Government forces earlier fired Iranian-made “elephant” rockets on the rebel-held suburb of Douma, killing 24 people, including five children and 14 women, according to the Observatory.

OUTH fighters in central Yemen blew up the home of a senior politician yesterday while he was in Switzerland as a member of the exiled government’s delegation to peace talks, residents said. The destruction of member of parliament Abdel-Aziz Jubari’s house in Dhamar city coincided with more air strikes by Saudi-led forces on military targets throughout Yemen in support of the government. In Geneva, the U.N.-sponsored talks between the warring factions went into a second day. A delegate said on Tuesday the parties had agreed on the need for a ceasefire but others said a deal was still far off. Dhamar residents said that the Houthis, who had taken over Jubari’s house in April, dynamited the building early in the morning.

Yemeni websites published picture of its collapsed ceiling on top of a pile of rubble. Jubari, who is deputy head of the delegation sent to Geneva by ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, said he was shocked when he heard the news. “This is regrettable that people’s manners and behaviors can reach this point,” Jubari told Reuters in Geneva. “Of course my house is not the only house in Yemen...a lot of people’s homes and properties have been targeted in an unbelievable way.” Foreign Minister Reyad Yassin Abdulla, the head of the government delegation said: “It is in this spirit of revenge that they are dealing with all the Yemeni people and we cannot remain silent on this.” Houthi officials were not immediately available to comment.

Tiger from flooded zoo kills man

tiger that escaped from a flooded zoo in Georgia has killed one man and wounded another. The Tbilisi zoo had previously said all lions and tigers that went missing after the flooding had been found dead and only one jaguar remained unaccounted for. The Interior Ministry says police killed the big cat, which was hiding

in an abandoned factory when he attacked the men. Many zoo animals – among them tigers, lions, bears, wolves and crocodiles – escaped from the Georgian zoo and onto the streets of the capital Tbilisi. Rescuers herded a hippo back to the zoo and recovered a crocodile completely buried in mud.

UK Police: Mother says missing children are in Syria

member of a British family that went missing last week in the Middle East has made contact, and police said yesterday the information suggests the father’s worst fears may have been realised. The three women and their nine children between the ages of 3 and 15 may have entered Syria, authorities said. The extended family disappeared on a trip from Bradford, in northern England, to Saudi Arabia. They ceased all contact on June 9 and failed to return home on June 11, as expected.

Police said that, instead, the mothers and children all boarded a plane for Turkey, which shares a border with Syria. The husbands of two of the women issued tearful televised pleas Tuesday for the return of their wives and children. But the contact from one of the mothers suggested that the family has crossed the border into Syria, police said. They did not say which mother got in touch, by what means, or whom in the UK she contacted. Police called the information that

the family was now in Syria “uncorroborated.” “We are extremely concerned for the safety of this family, especially the nine children,” said West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster. The same group — all three women and their nine children — tried to fly to Saudi Arabia earlier this year, but they were stopped for security checks at an airport, the United Kingdom’s North East Counter Terrorism Unit said Wednesday.

• The tiger ... Yesterday

PHOTO: Reuters

61 THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS Governors to Fed Govt: pay your debt Continued from page 4

out, let us look for how the Federal Government can settle that backlog for us so that we can move forward. Nearly all the states are being owed by the Federal Government. “Some of the states are being owed about N10 billion, some N20 billion, with a state like Lagos being owed more than N50 billion. So, if we can get that done, then most of the issues can be resolved in earnest,” Yari said. Lamenting the poor state of the national economy, the governors observed that the problem of unpaid workers’ salaries was not peculiar to the states, adding that some Federal Government agencies also owed their workers. Yari is optimistic that the planned meeting with the President will provide a lasting solution to the cash crunch. “We discussed that extensively. And we are trying to see that we find a lasting solu-

tion. We are seeing the President to sit down with him. As we are, the Federal Government is also in the same problem because some of its agencies were not paid salaries for six months. “So, it’s not only states that are owing. It’s the problem of the entire nation, not only states. We are going to work in synergy and keep our fingers crossed. We will meet with the President so that we can get a lasting solution to this problem,” he added. The communique released by the governors after the meeting said the governors ratified Yari’s election as chairman of the Forum for a term of one year, renewable after expiration. They also planned a retreat at a future date to discuss how states can become more viable and to identify means of improving governance. The Forum pledged to work with the President and support him in the running of the

government. It also sympathised with states and victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern congratulated the Muslim community on the Ramadan. Governors at the meeting were Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), who has been elected as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta). Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Umar Ganduje (Kano), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu) were also there. There were also Governors Willie Obiano (Anambra), Mohammed Abubakr (Bauchi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Idris Wada (Kogi).

Buhari’s age makes him better to rule, says Presidency Continued from page 4

a military governor of the then North-Eastern State at 33 years old, declared, ‘I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.’ “The above comments have been reported by some newspapers to mean that the President was saying he was too old to cope with the demands of his office. Far from it. “As the saying goes, ‘old wines are tasty’ and the President Buhari we have today is a man, like old wine, that has got tastier. “At 72, yes, he can’t be called a youth, but he has in quantum the wisdom, the patience, temperance and forbearance that age brings. And all these vir-

tues he has brought to the Presidency, to make a difference in our national life. “The President assured the Nigerian community in South Africa that his administration will make a positive impact on the country. And that he would do. “Insecurity as symbolised by insurgency will be brought to an end, corruption will be fought to a standstill, employment will be created for the teeming army of unemployed, the economy will be revived, and the quality of life of Nigerians will take an upward swing again. “These will not come by a sudden flight, but they will happen in the life of this administration.” “At 72, the Buhari persona

has not changed. “The President remains the simple, honest, incorruptible patriot he has always been. ”They took his message well. That is the essence of good wine. It gets better with age. And it is a message for all Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora.” Using his Twitter handle, Adesina added: “All the virtues and values of the Buhari persona would be deployed into governance in the weeks and months ahead. “The Nigerian community in SA was enthralled. In fact, leaving the venue was an effort, as they swarmed round the President, who shook hands with as many of them as he could,” Adesina concluded.

APC: Buhari is performing Continued from page 4

again. Nothing else matters, not for him the excitement of an office he previously held and the quest for personal accomplishment. If the country had been well managed, President Buhari will not at 72 be crisscrossing the whole world seeking solution to Nigeria’s problems, it said. APC said within three weeks of his inauguration, President Buhari had succeeded in returning Nigeria to the comity of nations, to such an extent that world leaders are now so eager to engage him on how to assist his country in key areas, including security and the fight against corruption. ‘’Within three weeks of President Buhari’s inauguration, he has done what the PDP government could not do in six years: Invigorate the fight against Boko Haram by rallying a regional and global front against the terror group. Today, the US has pledged to give $5 million for the fight against Boko Haram, in addition to other material support. This is apart from the support that has been pledged by the G-7 for Nigeria’s efforts to quell the insurgency. ‘’Thanks to President Buhari’s shuttle diplomacy, the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that the PDP government could not bring together for all of six years is ready to deploy next month, while the President has ordered the release of $21 million to facilitate the establishment of the headquarters of the force in N’Djamena, Chad. ‘’Since assuming office about

three weeks ago, President Buhari has visited Chad, Niger, Germany and South Africa, winning support and friends for Nigeria all over again and returning the country to the comity of respected nations. Those who were put off by the PDP government’s resort to politicising the fight against Boko Haram - even as the insurgents grew stronger - are now joining President Buhari to battle the terrorists. In no distant future, the results of his tireless efforts will begin to show. ‘’On the domestic front, President Buhari has been handling pressing issues far away from the klieglight, and his efforts to assemble a first class team to implement his change mantra, which he is personally driving, are continuing apace. We in the APC, and we are sure most unbiased Nigerians, are very proud of President Buhari and the vigour he has shown in governance, the kind of vigour we did not see in the immediate past administration that was

presided over by a far younger man,’’ the party said. It said only anarchists and non-democrats will ask a President who has not spent one month in office to resign, adding: ‘’It rankles when those making these calls are from the ranks of the party that failed to avail itself creditably in 16 years.’’ APC said it has deliberately refused to take up issues with the PDP, “which has been issuing a series of insipid press statements that showed clearly that the party is not ready to provide a robust opposition to the APC-led federal government. ‘’For the umpteenth time, we say that the PDP and its satellite bodies must realise that in order to be relevant, credible and to make the necessary impact, they must pick on real issues and articulate them intelligently, rather than latching on to trite matters. This very amateurish display won’t get them anywhere,’’ the party said.

Editor jailed in Turkey

N Ankara court on Tuesday handed down a 21-month suspended jail sentence to an editor of an English-language Turkish daily newspaper after convicting him of “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoðan. The Ankara penal court said Today’s Zaman editor-in-chief Bülent Keneþ was guilty of “insulting” Erdoðan in a tweet, which implied Erdoðan’s late mother would have been ashamed of him had she lived to see what he was doing to Turkey, Agence France-Presse had

reported. Erdoðan’s mother Tenzile died in 2011 and the then-prime minister had grieved publicly for his loss. The tweet was posted in July 2014, when Erdoðan was serving his last months as prime minister just before he became the country’s first president elected by popular vote in August 2014. In his defense, Keneþ argued he was protected by Turkish law on freedom of speech and noted he did not even indicate in the tweet that he was referring to Erdoðan.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

NEWS

•Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Uzoma Dozie (fifth left); and winners – Tochukwu Uwakaeme (left); Adeboye Adetola; Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Peter Bankole (third left); another award winner - Onofua Emmanuel (fourth left); another winner - Pere-Albert Amaebi (third right); Executive Director , Lagos and West Business, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr Victor Ezenwoko and another winner Uzokwe Ike at the Building Entrepreneurs (BET4) Dinner and Award Ceremony in Lagos.

From right: Managing Director Al-Barakah Micro Finance Bank Tajudeen Sekoni;Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) Chairman Prince Sulayman Olagunju; ZSF Executive Director Abdullahi Shuaib and ZSF Primary Education Scholarship Award Committee Chairman Mr Sulayman Ogunmuyiwa during presentation of scholarships to 62 pupils in Lagos... yesterday

.From left: Deputy Director Research, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Kingsley Nwaigwe; Manager, Media Relations, Mr Gbenga Fabuyi and a corps member Miss Aghaunor Agatha during an NDIC seminar for corps members at the Nasarawa orientation camp... yesterday

•Director-General of National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi (middle) and Management Staff of the University of Maiduguri, during his visit to the university...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

•From left: Representative of the Chief Judge of Lagos State Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Oyekan-Abdulahi, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties, (representative of Lagos State Governor), Dr. Aderemi Desalu, Lagos NYSC Coordinator Mr. Akhanemhe Cyril and Lagos NYSC Camp Commandant during the swearing-in of 2015 NYSC Batch ‘A’ Stream (II) held at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos

•Olofin Adimula of Isheri Olofin, Oba Nurudeen Adekambi(right) presenting an award to Prince Oladega Ibrahim Kehinde.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

SPORT EXTRA NIGERIA VS CHAD FALL-OUT

Onazi gets two-match ban L

AZIO’S Eddy Onazi has been handed a two - match suspension by the Confederation of African Football for his violent conduct during the second half of the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad lat weekend. Around the 80th mark, the central midfielder was dismissed for retaliation after the referee awarded a spot kick to the Super Eagles for a foul on Watford’s Odion Ighalo. The former My People FC starlet will miss crucial

games in the qualifying series against Tanzania on September 5 and Nigeria’s first official fixture in 2016 - a home tie against Egypt in March. Eddy Onazi apologized for his misbehavior on social media after the game and it is believed the Nigeria Federation has decided not to appeal the decision of CAF. The 22 - year - old has been yellow - carded nine times in the Serie A since his debut while he took an early shower in Lazio’s 3 - 2 win over Udinese on January 19, 2014.

Manu may resign • Onazi

'NFF should strip Enyeama of captaincy'

ORMER Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Emmanuel Babayaro wants the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to strip Vincent Enyeama of his role as captain of the Super Eagles over what he terms as indiscipline. The Lille shot stopper allegedly tore a letter of query served to him by the NFF over his criticism of Kaduna State, venue of their Saturday game against Chad which they won 2-0. Enyeama who has been captaining the Eagles since Yobo left the national team, after the 2014 World Cup, complained about lact of security and the weather in the northern state prior to the game, and also openly criticized the NFF for moving the game to Kaduna

as opposed to Abuja, Uyo and Calabar where the Eagles have been playing their games lately. Babayaro in his opinion said if it's true Enyeama tore the query then he should be stripped of the captaincy, stating that the act was not befitting of a team captain. "The NFF should take the captaincy from him if it's true he tore the query, as a captain he needs to set good precedence for the younger ones and that act is unacceptable as a captain," he told News24. "No player is bigger than the team, not even the captain. England treated John Terry the same way when he crossed the line, so Enyeama shouldn't be an exception.

Hamburg eyes Leon Balogun

ERMANY Bundesliga side Hamburg are closely monitoring out of contract Nigerian full back Leon Balogun, with a view of moving for the 26 year old.

• Balogun

RESULTS GLOBACOM Enyimba 2-0 Heartland Rangers 1-0 Abia Warriors Lobi Stars 2-1 Nasarawa Akwa Utd 2-1 Kwara Utd Ifeanyi Ubah 1-0 Dolphins Sharks 0-0 El-Kanemi Bayelsa Utd 0-0 Shooting TODAY’S MATCHES Kano Pillars vs Giwa FC Sunshine vs Warri Wolves FC Taraba vs Wikki Tourists COPA AMERICA Argentina 1 - 0 Uruguay WORLD CUP U-20 Brazil 5 - 0 Senegal (AET) Serbia 2 - 1 Mali WOMEN’S WORLD CUP Australia 1 - 1 Sweden Nigeria 0 - 1 USA

Hamburg are desperately seeking defensive reinforcement after narrowly beating relegation via the playoffs and Balogun is reportedly top of their priority list. Two days ago fresh from helping Nigeria beat Chad, Balogun told newly promoted Bundesliga side Darmstadt that he won't be renewing his deal, which will run out at the end of June. Balogun’s decision came as a surprise to the team who were hoping the former Fortuna Dusseldorf man, will help their campaign in the top flight after playing a pivotal role in helping them secure promotion. It is widely believed he will join another Bundesliga team but, Darmstadt are however hopeful he might have a change in mind, as they are yet to cancel their contract offer to him.

LYING Eagles’ Coach Manu Garba has hinted he could throw in the towel after failing to live up to pre-tournament title ambitions of his side at the FIFA U20 World Cup. Garba who has come under heavy criticism since Nigeria’s New Zealand-fiasco, is also accused of bribe-taking prior the tournament. The former U17 Coach who thanked the Football Federation for its support also implored them to expedite the hiring of a new coach for the Flying Eagles and in his words ‘ a very strong team’ can be assembled to help the country return much improved for the AYC which will also serve as qualification for the World Cup in 2017. ” Everybody has gone home

for now, So its left for the NFF to decide on whoever they’re giving the job to start to build a strong team before the next qualifiers. I appreciate the support of the Federation and entire country.”

Ighalo excited to work with Flores

ATFORD FC and Eagles’ striker Jude Odion Ighalo says he is well acquainted with Qique Sanchez Flores after the coach was unveiled as the new coach of the newly promoted side. Ighalo noted that although he got aware of the new appointment via social media site Twitter, the man isn’t new to him after both had stints in La liga. Odion was a Granada

• Ighalo

Ike Uche joins Mexican club EXICAN club Tigres have announced the signing of Ikechukwu Uche from Villarreal subject to a successful medical. The Nigeria international watched from the stands when Tigres clashed with Emelec in the quarter - final of the Copa Libertadores last month and he would feature in the semi - final tie against Internacional on July 16 if his switch is completed by then.

• Garba

Ikechukwu Uche has spent the last 13 years of his career in Spain after arriving from local side Iwuanyanwu Nationale. The 30 - year - old represented Racing Ferrol, Recreativo, Getafe and Real Zaragoza before he was snapped up by Villarreal in the summer of 2011. Apart from the aforementioned teams, the Super Eagles star enjoyed a loan spell at Getafe.

player between 2009 and 2014 on loan from Udinese, the same time Qique Sanchez Flores was coach of Atletico Madrid from 2009- 2011. Quique-SanchezFlores“Well, I saw it on twitter that we have appointed a new coach and I know that man very well in Spain. I can’t wait to work with him when we resume” Odion told footballlive.ng. At the end of the 2009–10 campaign, Flores led Atlético to the ninth position in the domestic competition, but also to two cup finals: the UEFA Europa League against Fulham (2–1 win) and the Copa del Rey, lost to Sevilla FC. Frequently clashing with star player Diego Forlán during 2010–11, he announced his departure from the Colchoneros before the season ended, with the team finally qualifying to the Europa League. He also had stints with AlAhli Dubai FC, Al-Ain and Getafe before his appointment with Watford, becoming the fifth manager to hold that position in just 12 months.

AHEAD 2015 ALL AFRICA GAMES

I’m not gold medal favourite in javelin — Osanyade

011 All Africa Games bronze medallist, Friday Osanyade Friday has doubted his ability to contest for the gold medal at the 2015 edition of the multi-sport championship in Congo Brazzaville. The athlete has urged the public to do more in terms of sponsoring athletes ahead of the championship “We are currently at the mercy of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and AFN has done their bit by holding athletics leagues like the one we recently had in Anambra. They cannot solely bear the burden of all the athletes. Private firms and individuals should come on board and help us athletes as we are not only representing the country in international meets but we are also representing them.” On his goals for the 2015 All Africa Games, the Edo born athlete said he aims to make it to the medals zone, while admitting that he is not the favourite for the gold medal. “I am just returning from a

By Kudirat Oderinde long term injury and my main goal is to make it to the national team. From there we can see if I would make it to the medals tables based on my performances. I will be attending the AFN league holding next week in Kaduna as part of my ongoing preparations for the games,” Osanyade said. He added: “I will not deceive myself and say I will be going to Brazzaville to win the gold medal, I know winning it is a very long shot from my current form, but Nigerians can be assured that if I make it to the games I will do my best whilst representing the country.” “The main contender for the gold medal is Julius Yego, a Kenyan thrower who has been training at Finland for two months and he became the first Kenyan thrower to compete at the Olympics. Yego’s throw holds the African record and the best in the world since 2006 at a massive throw of 91.39m to win the British grand prix at Birmingham in 2015,” he said.

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

TODAY IN THE NATION

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

DAPO FAFOWORA

RIPPLES

REPORT CORRUPT POLICEMEN, IGP tells Nigerians

Oga, one man forced me to pay for BAIL in his STATION...his name is DPO

VOL. 10, NO. 3249

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

(A big challenge to President Buhari) HE cost of running Nigeria’s vast and bloated bureaucracy has become too high and unsustainable. It presents President Muhammadu Buhari with one of his most pressing and gravest challenges. The success of his government will be determined by his success in bringing public expenditure down and under greater control. In his commissioned report a few years ago, Professor Anya O. Anya warned the Federal Government that the country was spending over 70 per cent of its total revenue on public administration. Of the balance of 30 per cent, which should go to capital projects, at least 15 per cent is lost through policy slippages and widespread public corruption. Large bureaucracies tend to provide more opportunity for graft and public corruption. They constrain growth. It can, in the circumstances, be seen why vital infrastructure projects, such as roads and electricity supply cannot be executed in the country. Nigeria runs 37 separate governments, consisting of the federal and state governments, one of the largest in the world. At the federal level, the president is constitutionally obliged to appoint a minister from each of the 36 states, plus Abuja. In effect, he has to appoint 37 ministers. This constitutional provision should be reviewed. At the state level, the situation is pretty much the same. The governors are constitutionally obliged to appoint not fewer than 12 commissioners. But in actual fact, at both levels, the president and governors find a way of circumventing even these large constitutional limits by adding a coterie of special advisers and other numerous idle aides. In addition, the country has to run over 700 local governments with the same overstaffing as the federal and state governments. When you factor in the vast expenditure on the National Assembly, it is a prescription for economic and financial disaster at all levels of government. The United States, the most powerful and richest country in the world, has a comparatively slimmer and more cost effective bureaucracy than Nigeria. It has less than 20 federal ministries and secretaries of state (equivalent to our own ministers). The British cabinet is smaller than that of Nigeria. And spending on the public service in Britain is undergoing savage cuts currently to reduce the cost of running the country. I can only think of two or three countries that, because of their huge size, have larger bureaucracies than Nigeria. But despite the huge size of its bureaucracy, top heavy with an inverted pyramid structure, Nigeria really does not have an effective public administration. This accounts for its poor budget implementation. Its bureaucracy remains weak, incompetent,

‘Has the story of Saraki’s emergence as Senate President ended? No, the story may just be beginning because the issue is deeper than what those of us who are not insiders think’

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Reducing cost of governance in Nigeria

•President Buhari and ineffective. A slimmer bureaucracy is likely to be more effective in implementing the government’s economic programmes and easier to control. Now, virtually all Nigerian political leaders acknowledge the fact that something really drastic has to be done to reduce the size of the Nigerian bureaucracy. When he was in office, President Olusegun Obasanjo really made a serious effort to tackle the problem by reducing federal staff and the cost of running the vast federal bureaucracy. The perks of civil servants were either monetised or reduced to bring down the cost of running the country. The privatisation strategy was more vigorously pursued through the hiving off of more public enterprises to the private sector. Some success was achieved in this regard, but his two successors did very little to sustain the programme. The result has been that, instead of cutting both the number of staff and the cost of running the bureaucracy, the federal bureaucracy has continued to grow inexorably. In fact, in the last few years, all efforts

to tackle this problem have been more or less abandoned by both the federal and state governments. Now, as is well known, the situation today is that the Federal Government has had to borrow over N400 billion recently to meet its wage obligations, as a result of the loss of some 50 per cent of the total national oil revenue. Of the 37 states, over 20 owe their workers several months of salaries because of the fall in the financial allocations to the states. For instance, Osun State owes its workers over seven months of unpaid salaries. While it is easy for the Federal Government to have recourse to deficit financing through the CBN to meet its wage obligations, the states do not enjoy that fiscal privilege. So, it is difficult to know how the states intend to solve their difficult financial predicament. The banks are already over exposed in their lending to the state governments and are unlikely to offer them additional loans, or issue bonds on their behalf. This places the states on the horns of a financial dilemma. A recent meeting of the Governors’ Forum described the situation as a national emergency and disaster. The only way out for the states appears to be to increase their internally generated revenue. But this is a long term solution to an immediate and urgent problem. It is said that a country is poor because it is poor, meaning that it lacks the capacity to grow because of its poor strategy for growth. One of the major sources of the economic drains on a poor country is the diversion of vital economic and financial resources to a bloated bureaucracy that is largely unproductive and contributes little or nothing to economic growth in the country. Economic growth is made more difficult when a country, such as Nigeria, spends 70 per cent of its entire budget on public administration, including the building of vast secretariats all

HARDBALL

LRIGHT, alright, President AbdelFattah el-Sissi, the Egyptian strongman, is no sissy. But for Egypt’s ultimate good, Hardball would wish he slowed down on his seeming ravenous appetite for blood and gore, evidenced by the alacrity with which Egyptian courts now sentence political opponents to death sentences and life imprisonments. But before going further, some clarifications. Ordinarily, Hardball would dismiss the Egypt Muslim Brotherhood (MB) battering as Afghanistanism — that media penchant to wallow in foreign matters, when there are pressing local issues. True, Egypt is not Nigeria, almost always in an emergency, having more than its fair share of problems. But the Yoruba also say that if without a care, you watch your neighbour devour unwholesome stuff, the sheer racket of his laboured snoring would banish sleep from your own eyes. So, if you accuse Hardball of Afghanistanism, for dabbling into the Egypt of el-Sissi, remember that when the Egypt thunder breaks, no one would be immune from its tragedy. Yes, former President Mohammed Morsi and his Islamist Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the MB electoral vehicle, committed a fatal power blunder. Though FJP got at best a

Butcher of Cairo? split mandate, winning the presidential election with a 51-49 margin, its rush through its Islamist vision brought the Hosni Mubarakera military back from the dead. Banding with a good number of Egypt’s liberals, very keen on Egypt’s secularity and scared stiff by MB’s Islamist project, Morsi’s presidency and its Islamist dreams came a sad cropper. But did it, really? The repressive way elSissi goes about his anti-Islamist campaign, he may well hand Egypt a long, long night of Islamism. El-Sissi’s fist of mail may set up a titanic clash between the proverbial manic executioner and the zealous suicidal! Egypt would certainly be the worse for it. An Egyptian court just confirmed the death sentence on Mr. Morsi, president from June 30, 2012 to July 3, 2013. Also harvesting death sentences are five MB leaders, including Mohammed Badie, the MB leader and Said elKatatni, head of the now disbanded FJP. Some six MB convicts had faced snappy execution. Another 21 got life; while yet another 93, tried in absentia, got death sentences pending arrest and retrial. Perhaps then, their death sentence would be confirmed, or downgraded to life (which by Egypt’s law is 25 years in gaol) or even lesser terms.

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

over the country. When the British were here, they ran the entire country from the modest old secretariat on the Marina in Lagos. Later, an equally modest federal secretariat was built at Broad Street. As independence approached, a new secretariat was again built at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. Later, the military developed the vast secretariat complex at Ikoyi. When the capital was transferred to Abuja, a vast and impressive secretariat complex was again developed to house the vast bureaucracy that had developed over the years. But all this expansion in office accommodation has made little or no difference to the poor quality of public administration in Nigeria. Many people may not remember now that when Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was federal Prime Minster, he ran the entire country from his modest official residence at Onikan with only nine federal ministers, three from each of the old regions. The country was better and more effectively governed then. When I joined the diplomatic service in 1964 on graduating from the then University College, Ibadan, the entire Foreign Ministry was housed in only two floors in the General Post Office building on the Marina. Later it moved to two new complexes on the Marina. But each time it moved its offices to new and larger buildings, they proved inadequate because of the rapid expansion of its staff. Now the Foreign Ministry has a huge office building in Abuja, one of the largest Foreign Offices in the world. But it is already overcrowded because of its large and unwieldy staff. President Buhari’s objective of economic transformation in our country will be made a lot easier if he can find a way of reducing the huge economic and financial burden of running this country. This may be politically difficult, particularly at a time of mass unemployment. But there has to be a freeze on fresh recruitments in the federal bureaucracy. He should also consider offering civil servants financial inducements that will make them consider early retirement. This strategy will be costly in the short run, but will lead later to vast savings in the cost of running the country. It is not only the large size of the bureaucracy that accounts for the huge cost of running the country. The huge pay and financial perks of all public officials should also be reviewed downwards. Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State has shown the way by cutting his own pay and those of his commissioners. The same measures should also be considered by the states. • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Strictly by law, former President Morsi’s sentences, which Egypt’s highest appeals court will automatically review, were for alleged crimes arising from the Mubarak-era gaol breaks, from where he was sprung from prison to later become president, after Egypt’s first democratic elections. But in the eyes of hurting MB cadres and even the detached public in and out of Egypt, it is little more than harsh crackdown to break MB and smash its Islamist vision. Whatever ideology is best for Egypt, Islamist or secular, is for the Egyptians themselves to determine. It would even push credulity too far to suggest that because Mr. Morsi was former president, he should not account for alleged crimes he was party to. But what is absolutely unacceptable is elSissi’s apparent belief that he can brutally smash MB, with its nonsensical Islamism. That is a near-impossibility — not with the equal opportunity anarchists, calling themselves Islamic State (IS), prowling. Indeed, el-Sissi can easily make himself the Butcher of Cairo, by killing anyone killable among the MB cadre. But that might only gift Egypt to Islamist forces in the long run, if the Iran example is anything to count by. That is why he must change tack before it is too late. Egypt is too important to fall a potential bastion of IS.

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