Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 26, March, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 62 Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Jimadal Ula 15, 1434 AH N150 . . . putting the people first

Anenih begs govs

One killed, cops fleeas gunmen attack

police station in Yobe>> PAGE 37>> PAGE 2>> PAGE 3

Imposition ofcandidates, root ofPDP crisis, says Tukur

Ex-Zambian President,Banda arrested over

$11m Nigeria oil deal

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (2nd right), inspecting beddings at Arabic Teachers College, during hisvisit to the college, yesterday in Maiduguri.

By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja &Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

Pandemonium began inthe Eastern Bye Pass areaof Kano early yesterday

when security agents under themilitary Joint Task force, JTF,

arrived the area to conduct ahouse-to-house search.

A resident of the area, whospoke to Premium Times over thephone, said the security agentswere conducting the search inapparent manhunt for membersof the Boko Haram sect.

“They have been here sincemorning, searching forinsurgents and weapons,” he said.

He added that the agents mayhave a point in conducting thesearch there because it has latelybecome notorious for incessantattacks.

A security source said that thesecurity agents were convincedthat most of the insurgentsoperating in Kano reside aroundthe area.

However, reports saymotorists plying the Eastern ByePass up to Hotoro, who noticed the

large presence of security agentsin the area, panicked and starteddriving in all directions whichcaused heavy traffic build-up inmost of the adjoining roads.

“Everyone was confusedbecause no one could tell what was

By Abubakar Ibrahim,with agency report

Contd on Page 2

Contd on Page 2

There are strong indicationsthat the much publicisedPeoples Democratic Party

(PDP) nationwide reconciliationtour might have failed as it didnot meet the desired goals.

Competent party sourceshinted yesterday that thedevelopment prompted thedecision of Chairman, PDP Boardof Trustees (BoT), Chief TonyAnenih, to embark on a freshnationwide campaign, pleadingwith the governors for a moreunited house.

Anenih, in Dutse, the Jigawastate capital, yesterday cameshort of going on his knees as hebegged Governor Sule Lamido notto join the league of allegedaggrieved PDP governors whomay dump the party for theopposition.

Although the JigawaGovernor reportedly gave Anenihhis words on the sanctity ofhaving one united PDP, Lamido’s2015 presidential campaignposters flooded the streets ofKaduna yesterday, a glaringconfirmation that the

JTF in house-to-house search in Kano

PDP crisis

As reconciliation failsLamido, Amaechi posters flood Kaduna

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSNews 2-10

Editorial 12

Op.Ed 13

Letters 14

Opinion 15

Metro 16-18

Business 19-22

Digest 23

Defence 26-27

Agric 28-29

Feature 30

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2015: INEC, oppositionparties and credible

elections, Page 4

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Int’l 31-33

Strange World 36

Digest 36

Politics 37-40

Sports 41-45

Leisure 47

Columnist 48

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013PAGE 2

JTF in house-to-house search in Kano

Contd from Page 1

Anenih begs governorsreconciliatory initiatives actuallyhit the rocks.

A source in the PDP BoT whopleaded anonymity said: “Thenews we are getting from theaggrieved governors is heart-breaking because these people areno longer comfortable in the party.

“In spite of the fact that theparty’s NWC has conducted anationwide peace tour, ourChairman has realized that thereis much more to be done as thereconciliation tours were notadjudged successful.

“Most of the stakeholdersexpected to attend the peace talksstayed away and where you hadthem, reconciliation was notparticularly successful.

“In all the zones, you discoverthat grievances were raised andit would go beyond the currentsurface scratching for there to beresolutions.

“Already, we haveinformation that some governorsin the north are planning to adopt

the African People’s Congress(APC) as an alternative platformin 2015 should their grievancesbe left unaddressed.”

Meanwhile, members of thePDP were yesterday locked behindclosed doors for several hours inAbuja, reviewing the latestpolitical developments within theparty.

Peoples Daily learnt that thedisenchanted governors who areuncomfortable with the runningof the party, accusing theleadership of surreptitiouslyworking for the emergence ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan asits presidential candidate for the2015 presidential election.

The governors, the sourcemaintained, are alreadyshopping for an acceptablenorthern candidate for theposition of President with a VicePresident from the south-south,who are expected to slug it outwith the incumbent at the polls.

At the Jigawa stateGovernment House, Anenih told

Lamido that, “the challenges wehave now in the party made mefeel that I needed you more thanever, adding he did not believereports indicating that he(Lamido) has been hobnobbingwith the Action Congress ofNigeria (ACN).

“The Sule I know would not doso even on the face of the firingsquad because he is a person I knowstays where he has the convictionthat it is the right place to be,”Anenih said.

Re-affirming his loyalty to thePDP, Lamido said that theNigerians could not afford to leaveaffairs of the country in the handsthe ACN or any of the otheremerging political parties.

According to Lamido, “nomatter what, we will stand by youand for the sake of your childrenand the future of Nigeria youmust not fail us”.

Senator Wali Jibrin, SecretaryBoT, Barnabas Gemade, AhmaduAli, Senator Ken Nnamani,Hassan Halliru, Chief Obenezer

Babatope and Air Vice MarshalLarry Konya, were some of theprominent party men onAnenih’s entourage.

But barely 24 hours afterLamido and Amechi reportedlywalked out of the PDP reconciliatorymeeting in Abuja, posters of the duowere pasted at strategic locationsin Kaduna yesterday.

“Sai Lamido, Sai Lamido, SaiLamido (it must be Lamido forPresidency in 2015),” Lamidoloyalists chanted in the town assome of insisted that the PDPreconciliation has to start with astatement that Jonathan will notcontest the Presidency in 2015.

“That is why the posters wereplanned to coincide with the endof the meeting, showing that thezone will not support PresidentJonathan come 2015.

“The appearance of the postershas also rubbished thereconciliation meeting led by PDPchairman, showing that nothingwas achieved in the meeting,”they said.

going on and people starteddriving anyhow to get away andso the entire area was in a state ofconfusion,” a resident said.

Kano has recently becomeanother major hotbed ofinsurgent attacks as scores ofpeople including security officialshave been killed in recent weeks.

Efforts to talk to thespokesperson of the JTF in Kano,Ikedi Iweha were unsuccessful.

His telephone numbers wereearlier not reachable.

It would be recalled that twoexplosions had been reported indifferent locations in the troubledcity

The first explosion happenedat Hotoro area, according to asource who declined to be named,close to the NNPC Mega station“from a car which refused to stopfor a search at a military searchpoint”.

Contd from Page 1 The other explosion reportedlyoccurred at Tishamaneighbourhood along the EasternBye-Pass highway.

On Monday last week, asuicide bomber targeting luxurybuses full of passengers detonateda car bomb at a busy motor parkin Kano along New Road in SabonGari , killing dozens of people andinjuring many others , shortlyafter 5pm when luxury buseswere preparing to travel to other

parts of the country. Five luxury buses that were

hit by the explosions andcompletely destroyed.

Survivors said that a suicidebomber drove a Volkswagen Golfcar into the motor park, meantfor passengers traveling to thesouthern part of the country, andrammed into a Lagos-bound buswhich was driving out of the parkwith dozens of passengers onboard.

Unknown gunmenyesterday morninglaunched multiple

attacks on the Divisional PoliceStation at Bara town, theadministrative headquarters ofGulani local government area ofYobe state, killing a policeman.

They also vandalizedtelecommunication masts in thearea.

Bara is about 160 kilometresfrom Damaturu, the capital cityand had previously witnessedseries of killings and bombings.

The latest incident reportedlyoccurred at about 6.30 am whenover 20 men, suspected to beinsurgents, armed with assaultrifles and explosives raided thetown, firing sporadic shots indifferent directions beforeheading to the police station,eyewitness accounts said.

The gunmen stormed the

town, firing sporadically into thepolice station and engaged thepolicemen on duty in a gun duel,killing a police corporal on thespot, while others fled upon beingoverpowered by the rampaginginvaders, according to thewitnesses.

It was also learnt that theonslaught lasted for over twohours and that after chasingaway the security personnel, thegunmen bombed the police stationbefore heading to destroy nearbymasts belonging to MTN and Glotelecommunication firms.

The state Commissioner ofPolice, Sanusi Rufai, whoconfirmed the incident, said thehoodlums used Rocket PropelledLauncher (RPG) on the policestation.

The hoodlums, according tothe Commissioner, destroyed theMTN and the Glo telecom mastsand made away with away threevehicles belonging to the localgovernment council.

Reports indicated that theattack scuttled socio-economicactivities in the area as residentsstayed indoors while schools,markets and shops remainedclosed.

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru,Maiduguri

Gunmen attack policepost, kill cop in Yobe

Five persons have been feareddead after two fuel ladentankers collided at the early

hours of the morning in Kanoyesterday.

Reports indicate that theexplosion occurred around theBayero University Road and mayhave been due to break failure ofone of the tankers causing it tocollide with the other.

An eyewitness account saidthat the two tankers exploded at amilitary checkpoint following abreak failure after being stoppedby soldiers for routine checks.

“Two persons were engulfed inthe inferno from the explosion withboth drivers believed to have died.A kid was also knocked down by avehicle that lost its brake due tothe explosion,” the source said.

He said emergency andsecurity services are currentlyhelping victims of the explosion.

The spokesman of the NationalEmergency ManagementAgency, NEMA, Yushau Shuaib,could not be reached for a response.

Five fearedkilled in Kanopetrol tanker

explosion

Inspector-General of Police,Mohammed Abubakar

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 PAGE 3

Ex-Zambian President, Bandaarrested over $11m Nigeria oil dealTransnational theft and

corruption in the Nigerianoil industry has again been

exposed with the arrest of formerZambian President Rupiah Bandawith abuse of authority inconnection with the sale ofNigerian oil when he was in office.

According to agency reportyesterday, Banda, 76, wasreleased on 500,000 kwacha($93,000) bail after surrenderinghis passport and will appear incourt today, Namukolo Kasumpa,a spokeswoman for theGovernment Joint InvestigativeTeam, said yesterday.Investigators will resumequestioning Banda on April 4.

“He totally denies anywrongdoing,” Sakwiba Sikota,Banda’s lawyer, said yesterday bymobile phone, expressingconfidence that“he will bevindicated by the court.”

Justice Minister WynterKabimba read out a list ofallegations against Banda inParliament on March 15,including “abuse of authority ofoffice, fraud and misappropriationof public funds,” leadinglawmakers in Africa’s largestcopper producer to remove hisimmunity.

Banda became president in2008 after Levy Mwanawasadied, and he was elected later thatyear.

Banda’s government divertedmoney from the sale of Nigerian

crude oil into a separate bankaccount instead of the NationalTreasury, Kabimba said in hisstatement to parliament.

The Lusaka-based High Courtwill hear an application on March27 from Banda that seeks to declarethe lifting of his immunity illegaland unconstitutional, Sikota said.

Banda’s lawyers will ask theMagistrate’s court today to delayhearing of the criminal case untilthe superior court has ruled, hesaid.

“It’s not that he’s afraid of thecriminal proceedings, but it’s outof principle that it shouldn’t goahead” until a judge has ruled onthe civil case, Sikota said.

Zambia’s kwacha fell 0.7percent, the most in almost a week,to 5.395 against the dollar by 6:06

p.m. in Lusaka. Yields on Zambia’sEurobond were little changed at5.4031 percent.

Banda also faces allegations ofusing government money to buycampaign material, as well asusing offshore accounts to fund“opaque transactions” thatindicate money laundering,according to Kabimba’sstatement.

Government investigatorshave questioned Banda three timessince Parliament removed hisimmunity.

“They’ve rushed these chargeswhich are completely bogus,”Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer forthe former head of state, said bymobile-phone interview yesterdayfrom Washington. “It’s allcompletely political”, he said.

By Abubakar Ibrahim,with agency report

INEC, politicians connive to deny rival APCregistration, protem chairman alleges

Protem Chairman of theAfrican People’s Congresswith the rival acronym of

APC, Chief Onyinye Ikeagwuonu,yesterday alleged that certainofficials at the IndependentNational Electoral Commission(INEC) connived with someprominent politicians in thecountry to deny it registration.

This is coming as INEC hadearlier foreclosed the possibility ofregistering the merger AllProgressives Congress (APC)currently in battle with theformer over the acronym.

Speaking with newsmenyesterday, at a press briefing inAbuja, Ikeagwuonu claimed hehad the knowledge of a letter,purportedly written by INEC,

premising non-registration ofAfrican People’s Congress onpurported irregularities in theaddresses of its national officers.

The unsigned letter, accordingto Ikeagwuonu, emanated fromINEC and titled, “Re: Applicationfor Registration as a PoliticalParty” and dated 21st March, 2013indicated that African People'sCongress was being deniedregistration because its applicationwas in breach of the NigerianConstitution.

The letter read in part, “yourapplication for registration as apolitical party dated 28thFebruary, 2013 refers.

“The Commission has observedthat your association is in breachof Section 222(a) of theConstitution of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria (as amended)

which stipulates as follows:“No Association by whatever

name called shall function as apolitical party unless:

(a) The names and addresses ofits national officers are registeredwith the Independent NationalElectoral Commission"

“A close observation of yoursubmitted form PA 1 establishedthat it does not contain theaddresses of your national officersas stipulated in the provisionabove. Consequently, theCommission shall not register theproposed African People’s Congress,(APC) as a political party.”

Ikeagwuonu, who furtherclaimed that the unsigned memowas sourced from INEC howevervowed that his party wouldchallenge its non-registration incourt.

The Senate has accused theMinister of Trade andInvestment, Olusegun

Aganga, of being indifferent toefforts towards entrenching localcontent in procurements by thevarious ministries, departmentsand agencies of government.

Speaking yesterday during apublic hearing on Local IndustryPatronage Bill, held by theSenate Committee on Trade andInvestment, Senator NenadiUsman also blamed lack ofpatronage of local products asone of the reasons for lowcapacity utilisation.

She pointed out the situationhas equally contributed to thedownward trend in the nation’sannual Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

Declaring the programmeopen earlier, Senate President,David Mark, who wasrepresented by the SenateLeader, Victor Ndoma Egba,noted that the passage of theLocal Industry Patronage Bill isof great economic importance tothe Nigerian economy.

Mark vowed that the Senatewill not relent in providing allthe necessary legislative supportto industrialise the country.

Also speaking, the sponsor ofthe Bill, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi,explained that the Bill if passedinto law is intended to phase outunemployment in the countryand revive the agriculturalsector of the economy.

He added that in order forcountry’s local industry tosurvive, government mustensure that materials foruniforms of school children andthe Armed Forces are producedin the country and assured thatevery stakeholder would beinvolved before the final report.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Muslim Rights Concern(MURIC) has appealed toleadership of the Boko Haram

sect to release the French family ofseven being held by the group.

Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, hiswife, four children and brotherwere reportedly abducted by theBoko Haram group on February19, 2013, while holidaying in theregion around Cameroon’s WazaNational Park.

Some six weeks after, thereappears to be evidence that thehostages are still alive as a videoshowing all of them was circulatedto journalists on March 21.

MURIC said in a statementyesterday that it was deeplytouched by the plight of thehostages as depicted in thephotographs displayed on the

pages of newspapers.According to the statement

signed by MURIC Director, Prof. Is-haq Akintola, “we remind theleader of Boko Haram, MallamIbrahim Shekau, and thoseconnected with the kidnapping ofthe French hostages of the positionof Islam on the treatment of womenand children both in peace timeand during wars.”

Citing various portions of theGlorious Qur’an, the statementexplained further that men areenjoined to treat women kindlyand that the Prophet of Islamdescribed men who treat womenkindly as the best among theirpeers.

“MURIC therefore appeals toBoko Haram to release the womanhostage and her four children inthe light of the Islamic teachings,”the statement said.

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

Muslim group appeals to BokoHaram over French hostages

Posters of Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and Rivers state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi for President 2015adorn the major streets of Kaduna yesterday.

MDAprocurements:Senate accusesAganga ofsabotaginglocal content

By Lawrence Olaoye

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

2015: INEC, oppositionparties and credible electionsAlthough the year 2015 is

still some two good yearsaway, virtually

everything in the country seemssubordinated to the generalelections billed for that year, andthe Independent ElectoralCommission (INEC) has latchedonto the mood, making all thenoises about free and fairelections. But given the obviousintension of President GoodluckJonathan to go for re-election in2015, and the controversialemergence of multiple politicalgroups with 'APC' acronym andINEC's initial ambiguity over thematter, there is serious doubt inthe camp of the oppositionparties that the electoral umpirewill be able to walk its talk in2015.

At the INEC's first quartermeeting with representatives ofregistered political parties inAbuja last week, the Chairmanof the Independent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC),Professor Attahiru Jega hadassured Nigerians that thecommission would conductmuch freer, fair and credibleelections in 2015.

The meeting, according toProfessor Jega, was called "toshare information, exchangeideas, discuss mutual concernsand evolve partnership, as wellas strengthen the goodrelationship which exists, inaddressing challenges in theelectoral process."

But the INEC's reassurance isobviously a product of theconstant doubt expressed by theopposition political parties thatthe electoral body would reallybe able to improve on its maidenouting in 2011, and conductfree, fair and credible electionsin 2015, especially given theundisguised interest of PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to contest forre-election.

So much doubtful aremembers of the opposition thatlast month in Abuja, the leaderof the Congress for Progressive(CPC), General MuhammaduBuhari accused INEC of being inunholy alliance with the rulingPeoples Democratic Party (PDP),the judiciary and the securityagencies.

And three weeks ago at theAfrica Diaspora Conference inLondon, the former Head Stateand CPC's presidential candidatein the 2011 elections, GeneralMuhammadu Buhari called forthe overhaul of INEC, sayingthat the electoral body, asconstituted presently, could notdeliver any meaningful electionsin 2015.

"In the run-up to the lastelections, INEC requested (and

received with indecent haste) inexcess of N80 billion (about£340m) a hefty sum by anystandards, so that it couldconduct the elections includingorganising a bio-metric votersdata specifically for the 2011elections. But when oppositionparties challenged the patentlydishonest figures it announcedand subpoenaed the biometricdata in court, INEC refused todivulge them on the laughableexcuse of 'National Security'.

"INEC's top echelon isimmersed deep in corruptionand only wholesale changes atthe top could begin to cure itsmalaise. What is required is agroup of independent minded,patriotic and incorruptiblepeople with the capacity tohandle such a strenuousassignment of conducting

elections in Nigeria."It is not difficult to find such

people but whether the FederalGovernment and the NationalAssembly have the inclinationto do so, I am not so sure. Theonly way I and many moreexperienced politicians thanmyself expect the 2015 electionsto be remotely free and fair is forthe opposition to be so strong thatthey can effectively preventINEC from rigging."

In what appears like kiteflying, INEC, in a report creditedto its Chairman, Prof. AttahiruJega and the Resident ElectoralCommissioner for Cross RiverState, Mr. Mike Igini, hadrecently expressed fears thatelections may not hold in theNorth as a result of securitychallenges occasioned by theactivities of Boko Haram. In the

views of observers, this wasintended to prepare the groundfor anything but free and fairelections when the time comes.

But former Vice PresidentAlhaji Atiku Abubakar was quickto see through the ruse and reactaccordingly, declaring that "theentire North is peaceful, exceptfor two states. I think it is a veryinaccurate statement to makeand certainly not from quarterssuch as INEC".

The controversy surroundingthe emergence of three politicalgroups aspiring to register withINEC as parties with the sameacronym, APC has also called toquestion the assurances by theelectoral umpire that it would bea dispassionate arbiter in 2015contest.

Although the controversyover the nomenclature had beenraging on for weeks, INEC onlycame out to make categoricalstatement over the matter twodays ago when the Chairmandenied that the commission wasfrustrating the registration of theAll Progressives Congress (APC),the new political group floated bythe four leading oppositionpolitical parties; Action Congressof Nigeria (ACN), All NigeraPeoples Party (ANPP), Congressfor Progressive Change (CPC) andAll Peoples Grand Alliance(APGA).

Professor Jega, who spoke

Federal Radio Kaduna Hausaprogramme, Hanu Dayawa Jegasaid that, "the issue has generatedcontroversy in the past fewweeks. Firstly, the truth is thatno political party wrote to notifyus that it is planning to mergewith some other political partiesuntil the past five days or so.

"It is not true that we werenotified. The issue becameserious when one group came outto seek for registration and I guessthat was what made them towrite and notify us. But that isnot the issue. The main issue isthat there are guidelines forregistered political parties whowant to merge to become a newparty. There are also guidelinesfor individuals or groups whowant to form a political party forregistration.

"The guidelines for registeringnew political party are differentfrom that of registered politicalparties who want to merge. Forregistered political parties whowant to merge, they must haveagreed to merge and each of thepolitical party in the mergermust hold a convention andagreed to withdraw theirregistration as a political partyto become part of the new partyto be formed through the merger.

"After their conventions, theyare expected to write and requestINEC to withdraw their formerregistration and say they wantto join a new party. In spite of allthe controversies, none of thesepolitical parties who want tomerge has held their convention.

"We only read in thenewspapers that they have theintention of merging and nobodywrote us until about five or sixdays ago. If anybody wants toregister a political party, you areexpected to tell INEC of yourintention by saying that youwant to register a party with soand so name and you want toknow the procedure for doing so."

Although there have beenpersistent calls for electronicvoting, Professor Jega ruled outthe possibility of adopting theelectronic voting in the 2015general elections, saying sincethe constitution is against theuse of the system, INEC wouldonly use technology to improveon the registration of voters andthe electoral process.

A former Secretary of INECand retired Federal PermanentSecretary, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed had urged the FederalGovernment to immediatelyconsider adopting the electronicvoting system as a major reformthat would promote a free andfair election during the 2015general elections.

Prof Attahiru Jega

“In what appears like kite flying, INEC, in a reportcredited to its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and

the Resident Electoral Commissioner for CrossRiver State, Mr. Mike Igini, had recently expressedfears that elections may not hold in the North asa result of security challenges occasioned by the

activities of Boko Haram. In the views ofobservers, this was intended to prepare the

ground for anything but free and fair electionswhen the time comes.


EFCC files fresh charge against Atuche

The former ManagingDirector of Bank PHB, Mr.Francis Atuche, has been

slammed with a fresh forgerycharge by Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

The charge dated March 13,2013, was filed before justiceAdeniyi Onigbanjo of a LagosHigh Court sitting in Ikeja, bythe commission.

The former bank chief wascharged alongside two officials ofCentral Shared Services Centreof Keystone Bank Ltd., JoachimNnosiri and Uguru Onyike on anine-count charge of forgery.

According to the chargedsheet signed by EFCC counsel,Mr. Ben Ubi, the commissionalleged that the defendants hadon March 4, 2013 , in Lagos,attempted to smuggle forgedboard resolutions of somecompanies into Keystone Bank,the successor of Bank PHB.

EFCC claimed the forgedboard resolutions were said tohave emanated fromFutureview Securities Ltd.,Tradjeck Ltd. and Extra Oil Ltd.

According to the anti-graftagency, the board resolutionswere allegedly signed by theManaging Director of thecompanies, Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi

and addressed to Keystone Bank.EFCC said, the purpose of the

board resolutions was to requesta N10.9 billion credit facilityfrom the bank .

It would be recalled that Ebihad earlier testified in Atuche's

L-R: New Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, in a handshake with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, after his swearing-in ceremony, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

The Federal AirportAuthority of Nigeria,FAAN yesterday disclosed

that it has so far generated overN100 million from the newlyremodeled domestic airport inLagos.

The facility was commissionedon Monday, October 22, 2012 bythe Secretary to the Government ofthe Federation, Senator Anyim PiusAnyim.

Also, the agency said that by2015, it hopes to operate independentof the federal government budget asrevenue generated by it could driveits operations.

Managing Director of FAAN, Mr.George Uriesi made the disclosureyesterday in Lagos when hereceived members of the House ofRepresentative committee onaviation who were on an oversightvisit to the agencies in Lagos.

Mr. Uriesi said though theagency has experienced someshortfall in expected revenue, itsanticipated projection for the year isstill on course especially as theremodeled facilities across thecountry are beginning to attractrevenue from non-aeronauticalsources.

According to him, the agency iscurrently carrying out 73 projectssimultaneously nationwide andwhen completed, would boost therevenue base of the agency towardits sustainability by 2015.

Uriesi disclosed thatnonpayment of revenue by majorairlines also hampered the revenuebase but said that they have entereddiscussions on how the airlines andothers would remit the revenues toFAAN.

FAANgeneratesN100m fromLagos domesticairportStories from Suleiman Idris, Lagos

Father demands N11m from police for torturing son to death

A 65 years old man isdemanding N11 millionas compensation from the

police for allegedly torturing hisson Bala Babangida Yashi, 25,todeath.

Alhaji Bala Adamu whohails from Yashi village inDuguri district of Alkaleri inAlkaleri Local GovernmentArea of Bauchi State, was at theBauchi State Legal Aid Council'soffice alleging that his son wasallegedly tortured to death bythe police while in detention.

He particularly fingered oneMusa Abdul, a policeman forbeating his son severely whilein a cell

at the Maina Maji policeoutpost in Allakleri LocalGovernment whichsubsequently led to his death.

The aggrieved old man said

From Ahmed MohammedKaigama, Bauchi

the problem started when oneDan Bauchi, a resident of Yashireported at the police station inAlkaleri on July 23, 2008 thathis son allegedly lied againsthim that he (Dan Bauchi)

was seen with a girl calledFareedah

He added that "the villagehead of Yashi called IbrahimSaleh came to the police stationto secure bail for my son butthe police refused to grant bailto my son insisting that theywould only grant bail to the

father and we rushed to thestation when I received thenews of my son's predicament".

"Prior to his arrest, I sentmy son on an errand thatfateful morning before I wentto the farm. When

I returned from the farm Iwas told what happened, andwhen I reached the policestation, they brought my sonout in a very bad shape. His

younger brother had to carryhim and we went home.

He told me that Musa thepoliceman tortured him. Thathe kept beating him, matchinghim, beating him in the cell."

The father of the deceasedman said he went to the policestation the next day to ask thepolice to accompany his son tothe hospital but the policerefused and had to seek alawyer who stood as aguarantor before his son wasadmitted at the SpecialistHospital, Bauchi.

Bala said nothing was doneabout the issue and so he had towrite a letter of complaint to theState Sharia Commission andalso reported the matter to theLegal Aid Council of Nigeriaafter over one year of waitingand nothing was done.

He appealed to Governor IsaYuguda , Inspector General ofPolice to investigate the matter

Police authorities inNasarawa state haverescued a 6 year old boy,

Master Joseph Akpan,kidnapped by a five-man gangof armed robbers who stormedthe residence of Mr.Nkeweuren Thompson Akpan,a civil servant with the Officeof the Secretary to theGovernment of the Federation(SGF).

In the process, the policerecovered one Beretta pistol,one locally made pistol with

seven rounds of 9mmammunition, a flash drive,ATM cards and an identitycard belonging to the father ofthe kidnapped boy.

According to a release madeavailable to journalists inLafia, signed by the commandspokesman, DSP Michael Ada,the robbers gained access to theresidence of Mr. Akpan, whoresides in Aso "C" in Mararaba,when the victim was returningfrom a church service onJanuary 23, 2013, at about2130 hours.

The robbers ransacked the

Police rescues 6 year old from kidnappers in Nasarawa

From Matthew Irinoye - Lagos

N25.7 billion fraud trial beforeJustice Lateefat Okunnu, also ofthe Lagos High Court in Ikeja,that Atuche had granted aN10.9 billion loan facility to thecompanies without theirknowledge or request.

The commission said thedefendants offence contravenedSections 361 and 409 of theCriminal Laws of Lagos State2011. No date has been fixed forthe arraignment of thedefendants.

and "help me I am a poor manbut I need justice over thedeath of my son and I have acertificate of his death releasedfrom the Specialist HospitalBauchi which confirmed thetruth on how my son wasbrought to the Hospitalunconscious.

A letter by the Legal AidCouncil addressed to the BauchiState Commissioner of policedated January 7, 2010, signedby the State Officer of thecouncil, Barrister MuhammedHanbali azzubayr, expressedregret that despite severalcomplaints, made by theaggrieved father, nothing wasdone by the police to address thematter.

When contacted PolicePublic Relations Officer Bauchistate Police Command ASPHassan Mohammed Auyo saidhe was not aware of theincident.

house at gun point, cartingaway N150, 000 cash, laptop,handsets and other valuables.

Not satisfied, the robberstook away little Akpan,demanding for N10 millionransom before the boy would bereleased.

Senior Akpan alerted theMararaba police "A"Divisionwhose DPO, SP Emega John,alerted the Control Room inLafia, igniting manhuntthrough all police formationsin Nasarawa and the FederalCapital Territory.

Detectives from the State

Criminal InvestigationDepartment (SCID) andoperatives of the StateIntelligence (SIB) joined thesearch, following which a teamled by Cpl Simon Adamu,trailed the gang to anuncompleted building locatedat Orange Market inMararaba.

One Eze LaurentNwachukwu, underinterrogation, disclosed wherelittle Akpan was kept inanother uncompleted buildingin Jikoyi (FCT) wherepolicemen picked him alive.

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

Following the disclosurerecently that the NigeriaAirspace Management

Agency (NAMA) tilted itsemployment in favour of aparticular part of Nigeria, theagency yesterday said that itfollowed the Federal CharacterCommission requirement thatstipulates that everyappointment into the federalcivil service must includepersons from the differentgeopolitical zones of the country.

NAMA Managing DirectorMr. Nnamdi Udoh disclosed thatthe agency only employed 32people from Abia state out of 797staff engaged so far by theagency in the past four yearsaccounting for only 4% of thetotal employment figures.

He told the House ofRepresentative committee onaviation in Lagos that NAMA hasclarified the issue with the Codeof Conduct Bureau and theFederal Character Commission;both agencies had invited it todefend the imbalance.

We followed fedcharacter rules inemployment, saysNAMA MD


NAFDAC moves to moderate use of narcotics by medical personnelreasons alone.

This was disclosed by theNAFDAC Director General, Dr.Paul Orhii, in Abuja yesterdayat the launch of theInternational Narcotics ControlBoard (INCB) report 2012.

According to Orhii, theannual presentation of INCBreport by United Nations Officeon Drugs and Crime goes a longway in preventing travails

caused by drug abuse, drugtrafficking, illegal productionand inadequate access to painkillers.

He described Nigeria as oneof the countries with the lowestuse of opioids (powerful pain-relieving substances that areused as analgesics or painmedications), as stated by thereport to Commission onNarcotic Drugs (CND).

By A'isha Biola Raji

National Agency for Foodand DrugAdministration and

Control (NAFDAC) says it iscommitted to safeguarding theuse of narcotics, psychotropicsubstances, precursors and othersuch controlled substances, inorder to ensure their use are forboth medical and scientific

Again, ‘Desert Herald’ Publisherescapes assassination in KadunaFor the third time in less

than three years,Publisher of Desert Herald

newspaper, Mallam TukurMamu, again narrowly escapedbeing killed by a gang of heavilyarmed suspected assassins at theweekend in his Kaduna office,according to a statement from themanagement.

"On Friday, 22nd March,2013, four gunmen invaded thecorporate headquarters of Fuza

Communication Services Limited,publishers of Desert Heraldnewspaper and magazine, atabout 5:15pm," said the statementsigned by the newspaper's DeputyEditor, Sadiq Umar.

The statement noted that thetarget of the assassins, wasobviously Mamu as theythreatened the security man withtheir assault rifles and forcedthemselves into the office.

According to the statement,"they went straight to the VIPwing of the office where Mamu

usually attends to visitors anddoes his weekly production workwhere they met the ProductionManager.

"The gunmen ransacked theentire VIP wing and threatenedto kill the Production Manager ifhe did not tell them thewhereabouts of the publisher.

"It was in the process of theconfrontation that a staff in thenearby office alerted Mamuthrough the office intercom andthat was how he escaped throughthe back door."

By Sonde Abbah

Orhii said the low use ofopioids for medical purpose hashowever necessitated the needfor obtaining pain killers for usein both public and privatefacilities.

He said, "this has necessitatedthe procurement of morphinepowder and other analgesics toimprove access to essential painrelief medicines for Nigerianswho needed them.

"Today, we are proud to saythat oral morphine is nowavailable in the country and theFederal Ministry of Health iscurrently renovating a newproduction laboratory that willproduce morphine and it will alsowork with partners to improveclinical training and awareness.

Presenting the INCB report,UNODC Representative, Ms.Mariam Sissoko, warned againstlegalisation of drug possession bynon-medical and non-scientificusers as well as cultivation anduse of cannabis for non-medicalpurposes.

Sissoko said that: "The INCBcautions government that anysuch initiatives if implementedwould violate the internationaldrug control system."

L-R: CountryRepresentative,United NationsOffice on Drugsand Crimes(UNODC), MrsMariam Sissoko;Director General,National Agencyfor Drugs and FoodAdministration andControl (NAFDAC),Dr. Paul Orhii; andDirector General,National DrugsLaw EnforcementAgency (NDLEA),Alhaji AhmaduGiade, during thepublicpresentation of the2013 AnnualNarcotic DrugsReport by theInternationalNarcotic ControlBoard, yesterdayin Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

The statement said that Mamureported the matter to theKaduna state Commissioner ofPolice and at Divisional PoliceStation at Malai, adding that itwas the third assassination onthe Desert Herald Publisher inless than three years.

Mamu later told reporters inan interview that, "this is not aBoko Haram issue as I believesome agents of government areat work again but we willremain committed to theservice of humanity."

FG, Nasarawa sign MoU for technology incubation centre

The federal and Nasarawastate governments havesigned a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) on theestablishment of a technologyincubation centre in Lafia.

At the ceremony yesterday, theDeputy Governor, Hon. DameshiLuka Barau, signed the documenton behalf of the government whileProf. Gambo Laraba Abdullahi,Director-General, National Boardfor Technology Incubation (NBTI),signed on behalf of the FederalGovernment.

According to Gambo, theproposed centre will seek to address

As she put it, "in the 21stcentury, innovation has becomethe product and there is the need toadd value to the country'sindustrial process in order tocatch up with the global trend."

In his response, the DeputyGovernor said that theadministration of GovernorUmaru Tanko Al-makura wasset to transform the societythrough technologyacquisition.

According to him, the centrewould go a long way in availingthe teeming unemployed youthin the state the rareopportunity to shake-off idlenessand engage in productive ventures.

the issue of unemployment, asaccording to her, "we haveunemployment because we do nothave industries and governmentis not supposed to be the soleemployer but to provide servicesand make sure that laws andpolicies are implemented."

She argued that universitiescontinue to churn out graduates onyearly basis with no assurances foremployment while researches areleft to gather dust on shelves andnoted further that the programmewas initiated to bring togethertalents, capital and knowledge andgive integrated supportprogramme for the creation of atechnology-based industry.

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

My wifetalks toomuch, mantells court

Ojukwu familywithdraws suitagainst Bianca

Family of the late Ikemba,O d u m e g w u - O j u k w uyesterday withdrew its

suit over property against Mrs.Bianca Ojukwu, before a LagosHigh Court.

The family's firm, TransportCompany, which is representedby one of its directors, Dr. IkeOjukwu, filed the N140 millionsuit before Justice AdedayoOyebanji of the Lagos High Courtsitting in Igbosere.

It had demandedcompensation of N100 million andpayment of N40 million being theexpected rentable value per yearof the said premises fromSeptember 27, 2012 until thedefendant gives up possession ofthe property.

However, it filed a notice ofdiscontinuance of the suit datedFebruary 5, 2013 through itscounsel, Ike Ubahakwa.

During proceedings yesterday,Bianca's counsel, Nick Omeya, didnot object to the application.

Consequently, the trial judgegranted the company's applicationto strike out the case.

"Pursuant to the notice ofdiscontinuance dated February 5,2013, this suit is hereby struckcourt," the court ruled.

From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

Alhaji Muyideen Idris ofGambari area, Ilorin, onMonday told an Ilorin

Area Court that his wife, JemilatMuyideen, is a 'talkative' andhave funny manners.

The petitioner further saidthat’s "'my wife cannot hold onto any secret because she will goand reveal it to friends andoutsiders due to her behaviour."

The 48-year-old man prayedthe court to dissolve his five-year-old marriage which wascontracted in 2008 and hasproduced two male children.

"'My Lord, I want an end tothis marriage because I hateexposing my private life andaffairs to outsiders, which mywife cannot stop doing," said thepetitioner.

On her part, Jemilat, thedefendant, objected to the prayerof her husband saying she is stillinterested in the marriage. "Iadmit that I am wrong and Ipromise to change and stopseeking for advice from friendsas my husband wishes," she said.She prayed the court to granther more time to make someamends and to initiate areconciliatory move.

The Presiding Judge, MrYusuf Abdulkareem, adjournedthe case till April 10 for a reportof settlement or continuation ofhearing. (NAN)


By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

President GoodluckJonathan yesterdayordered the new Head of

Civil Service of the Federation,Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji to tacklecorruption and restore sanityand discipline in the civilservice.

Speaking shortly afterswearing in Aji at the StateHouse, Jonathan told the newHead of Service to pursue theimplementation of theperformance managementsystem in the civil service withvigour.

According to him, the fullimplementation of theperformance managementsystem would positivelyimprove the ability of civilservants to discharge their

responsibilities.Jonathan said the civil

service was historicallyacknowledged as the citadel ofexcellence where the bestbrains, equipment andstrategies are engaged,stressing that Aji must workhard to bring back that type

of civil service in theinterest of the nation.

The President appealed toall civil servants to lend theirunalloyed support to Ajiespecially the permanentsecretaries that would workwith him, saying that theyshould cooperate in themovement of greaterefficiency, dedication,patriotism in service.

Jonathan said, "I will wantto especially draw yourattention to the ongoing

reforms aimed at our nation'srapid economicdevelopment" "As you setabout your duties, theexpectation of thegovernment and our peoplesis that you will now build onthe achievement's of yourpredecessors so as tocomplete on-going reforms.

" In particular, you mustfocus on those sectors likeagriculture, infrastructure,education, health amongstothers. The civil service whichyou now head is very centralto the realization of our

transformation agenda asa people and the associatedhopes and aspirations of ourcitizens", the President toldAji.

Jonathan expressedappreciation to the former

Jonathan charges new HOS to sanitize civil service

The Gombe state commandantof the Nigerian Security andCivil Defence Corps, Mr. Joel

Onoritsebawo Khestossen yesterday saidhis command has made necessaryarrangements to train 200 men on theuse of arms to counter terrorism in thearea.

Speaking to Peoples Daily in Gombe,the commandant said it wasmandatory for the command to trainits men on counterterrorism so asto safeguard lives and properties of citizenry.

He said in line with the arrangementmade between the commandantgeneral of the NSCDC and the chief ofarmy staff, the Gombe state commandfound it necessary to train its men so asto combat crime in the state.

The commandant said his menwere able to carry their legitimatefunctions in the state effectively intermsof maintaining law and order and theprevention of vandalization of valuableproperty in the state.

The commandant added thatinsecurity in north -East region wasalarming, stressing that in order toeradicate the menace in the area,communities must inform securityagencies on the activities of insurgentsin the area in order to tackle the menace.

Gombe: NSCDC totrain 200 men oncounter-terrorismFrom David Hassan, Gombe

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Adamawa varsity honors ex-studentsfor being good ambassadors

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Alhaji Aliyu Numan, and Permanent Secretary, Office of Secretaryto the Government of Fedaration, Mr. John Gana, during their official visit to the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

The Vice Chancellor ofAdamawa StateUniversity (ADSU), Mubi,,

Dr. Alkasum Abba hashonoured two former students ofthe university for being goodambassadors of the institutionduring their National YouthService Corps (NYSC)programme.

Presenting the ex students,Mr. Aminu Pius and Mr.Desmond Declan to newsmen ina ceremony, Dr Abba, said thecelebrants who were graduatesof Public Administration wonState Honours Award and werenominated for National Awardat Ebonyi state where they didtheir primary assignments inthe recently concluded 2012/13

service year.Represented by the Head of

Department PublicAdministration and PoliticalScience, Dr Ndaliman Hassan,Abba said the feat by the formerstudents was a crediblereflection of the younguniversity's

intellectual and characterbuilding effort.

Abba commended the stategovernment for its sustainedsupport to ADSU, the first stateuniversity in the North Eastand assured that the institutionwould continue to deliverquality students in knowledge

and character.Speaking on the honour, the

celebrants Aminu Pius andDesmond Declan, said they wereproud to be associated with theuniversity and that the

knowledge and motivation theygot at the institution played avital role in their achievementsduring the service year.

Pius who served at AfikpoSouth Local Government saidduring the service year, said heexecuted community projectssuch as construction of desk forprimary schools, gave freebooks to some schools as well asembarked on HIV/AIDSawareness campaigns.

"I also engaged in farmingand after the harvest of myyam and maize, I distributedthe produce to the less privilegeto promote love", said Pius.

On his part, Declan whoserved in Abakaliki, the statecapital, said as someone withtalents in fashion design, hecarried out entrepreneurshiptraining in fashion design for

Head of Service, Isa Bello Saliwhom the President saidserved the nationmeritoriously before retiringfrom service last week.

Speaking with State HouseCorrespondents after he wassworn in, Aji said that hisimmediate priority was toreposition the Civil Service forthe attainment of the objectivesunder the transformationagenda

of government "How weintend to do this is that we willslightly depart from the way wedo things, we will be fasttracking the processes so thatwe will ensure there areconcrete outcomes for ourpeople to see", Aji said.

Aji also said the he wouldalso tackle the issue of jobracketeering in the Civil Service

inmates in Abakaliki prison.Declan said he also produced

traffic jackets and distributedthem to police, FRSC and NYSCcommunity developmentservice officials.

" I also checked an erosionarea that had been causingaccident along a road", saidDeclan who explained that hespent only N92, 000 given tohim by Ebonyi state LocalGovernment ServiceCommission for all the projects.

He called on institutions toalways prepare their studentsgoing on NYSC to enable themmake impacts on thecommunity where they serve.

Declan urged those callingfor the scrapping of NYSC torather come with suggestionson how to improve it formaximum benefit.

Al-makura tasksreligious leaders onpeace

Nasarawa state Governor UmarTanko Al-makura, has

i m p l o r e dreligious leaders to continue

preaching the gospel ofpeace,tolerance and mutual co-existence amongst the people in thestate.

The governor who made the callin Abuja through his seniorspecialassistant on media and pressaffairs, Sani Musa Mairiga said, hisadministration is working tirelesslyto better the living conditions of thepeople despite the fact that the federalmonthly allocation to the state isnothing to write home about.

He stressed that the crisis witnessin some parts of the state would soonpave way for peace and tranquilitybecause government has set upmachinery to proffer solutions to theimmediate and remote causes of thelingering crisis, even as he warnedthat mischief makers would not beshielded from facing the full wrath ofthe Law.

He called on the traditional rulersin the state to strive hard to maintainpeaceful co- existence in theirdomains, "as custodians of our cultureand tradition".

On his administrationspreparedness to conduct localgovernment elections in the state,Mairiga said legal, rather thanpolitical considerations stopped theconduct of the local governmentelections in the state as former localgovernment council chairmenelected during the Aliyu Akwe Domaadministration filed a suit at a statehigh court challenging their removalfrom office by Doma.

The chairmen claimen that theconstitution guaranteed them threeyears tenure of office but the formergovernor shortened it to two, in whatthe former government claimed waspart of the implementation of apurported amended localGovernment Law of 2008.

The media aide said the case isnow before the supreme court,adding that council elections wouldbe held after pronouncement on thematter by the apex court before

By Umar Muhammad Puma


Frequent money problems: Why they're your entire fault?

March on. Do not tarry. Togo forward is to movetoward perfection. Marchon, and fear not the thorns,or the sharp stones on life'spath.

- Kahlil Gibran

Quote

I love writing about money - notbecause I'm obsessed withwealth (or my relative lack

thereof), but because I think theway we spend our money reflectswho we are, good or bad. That'sprobably why I bought the veryfirst condo I saw. I'm known to beimpatient, impulsive even, in justabout all things.

Was it a mistake? So far so good,but I left a lot more to fate than isprobably wise in a six-figurepurchase. And let's just say that Ihope to exercise a little more self-control next time. Of course,whether it'll actually work out thatway is another story altogether.

But that's really what issuesthat surround money are allabout, isn't it? The way we behavewith our money is a lot like manyother things in life - we know whatwe should do, but that hardlymeans we actually do it. We knowwe should exercise, avoid fast food,and eat more vegetables just likewe know we should spend less,avoid debt, and save more of ourmoney. Most of us struggle withboth, at least sometimes. The keyto solving money problems, then,often isn't about outside factors (like

making more money). Instead, it'sabout our own habits andbehaviors.

So how can we make betterchoices when it comes to money?First, we need to accept that ourmoney problems are (usually)entirely our own fault. Then, it'stime to stop relying on self-discipline and develop habits thatput bad choices out of reach.What's the problem?

I think the key to unravelingany money problem is to firstaccept that the problem isprobably an emotional one. Justthink about some of the moneyproblems people tend to get into.Debt is one of the most obvious, andif you've ever watched SuzeOrmanor Dave Ramsay or Oprah addressthis, it's pretty clear that debt goesmuch deeper than just a frivolousdesire to acquire more. For somepeople, a desire to give their kidsall the things they never hadgrowing up makes it impossible forthem to say "no." For others, afinancial setback has them feelingtoo ashamed to admit they can nolonger afford the lifestyle they'reused to. And far too many peoplefeel important, triumphant - evenhappy - when they come homefrom the mall with an armload ofnew purchases - whether they canafford them or not.

Anyone can see that thosethings aren't really about money,which is why all the money in theworld is likely to lead these peopledown the exact same path. Thatmay be why so many lotterywinners end up penniless in a fewyears. They throw their moneyeverywhere, because what they're

looking for is something moneycan't really buy. The problem isthat while we all fall prey toemotion-driven money behaviorfrom time to time, few of us areaware of it.Who's to blame?

Let me just start by saying thatnot all money problems are theresult of emotional issues. Peoplelose their jobs, rack up hugemedical bills, or fall victim to someother financial pitfall that's beyondtheir control. I get that. But what Ialso know is that a whole lot morepeople make excuses forthemselves and blame theirproblems on things that are outsideof their control rather than face thefact that they themselves are thereal problem. I know this becausenot only have I seen a lot of peopleIt isn't necessary to build a

business based on passion.There are many successful

companies that have relied onthe financial viability of theproduct or service they'reproviding. But I also know thatthe people who run thesecompanies don't feel as fulfilled,happy, or inspired as those wholaunch businesses around topicsthey're passionate about. If youare looking to succeed in businessand also live a fulfilling life, thenhere are a few things to consider:

If your day job is toodemanding or leaves you withlittle time or freedom to launch aside business, then you may needto think about making a move.Find a job that gives you the timeto explore other opportunities.

Alternatively, you canconsider establishing a simplebusiness that will generate profitdaily. Use this as a short-term,money-making measure, or as abridge between your current joband achieving your long-termgoal of building your passion intoa profitable business.

"If you're a young person whostill has the option of living athome with parents, do so. I cannotstress this enough. It keeps yourliving costs as low as possible soyou have the freedom to build abusiness based on your passion.

Money Tip:Passion inBusiness andLife

How to entertain in a restaurantEntertaining in a restaurant

will spare you a lot of work,but you also have less

control over events. That's whyyou need to make arrangementsin advance.Here's how:

Select a restaurant with yourguests' preferences in mind. Forexample, if your guests arevegetarians, don't select asteakhouse; pick a restaurantwith a more diverse menu.

" If possible, visit therestaurant to make reservations.

" Speak with Maître d' orowner for special requests suchas a special table or menu.

" If you are giving a surpriseparty and want to serve a specialcake, find out if the restaurantwill prepare one for you. If youwant to bring your own cake,clear it in advance with therestaurant.

" If hosting a large group,prepare place cards. Either makearrangements with therestaurant to lay them out foryou, or arrive early enough to doit yourself.

" If you will have guests fromout of the area, request directionsfrom the restaurant. Mostrestaurants have directions withmaps that you can send to yourguests.

" Call the day before your eventto confirm your reservations.

" Arrive before guests tointroduce yourself to wait staff.

" Inform Maître D' that you willbe the person responsible for thebill.

" Pay for coat checking beforeguests arrive.

Throughout meal, be aware ofyour guests' satisfaction with their

food and service. If there is aproblem, bring it up with theowner or Maître D'.Tips:

Select a location that isappropriate for your event. If youare hosting a serious business

do it, but because I also have atendency to do it myself.

You see what I'm getting athere, right? Your money - and allthe issues that come with it - areyour problem. Admit that, andmaking better choices will beeasier. After all, it'll be a lot harderto ignore what are really justconsequences of your own badchoices when you have no one elseto blame.OK...Now what?

Even if you know you makebad choices when it comes to yourmoney, making better ones isalways hard. That's why I thinkit's best to leave as little to choice aspossible. Several recent studies ondecision-making have indicatedthe existence of something called"decision fatigue." In essence,

researchers believe that decision-making and willpower may comefrom the same mental store. Whenwe are overburdened withdecisions, our decision-makingsuffers - and so does our willpower.This is why so many people makepoor spending choices at the end ofa long and stressful day at work, orgrab a few impulse buys on theirway out of the grocery store.

When it comes to your money,then, it's best not to leave everythingto choice. Don't choose to spend less -leave only enough in your checkingaccount for planned expenses. Don'tchoose to not use your credit cards -cut them up or lock them away sothat you can't pull them out in amoment of weakness. Don't chooseto save a portion of your paycheck -have it withdrawn from youraccount automatically. In otherwords, rather than making betterdecisions, try to make fewer decisions.That way, you'll be able to save upyour self-discipline for when a toughchoice really is required - andhopefully make a better one.A tangled web

If you struggle with moneyproblems, you probably alreadyknow that it's a complicated issue.But next time you catch yourselfdoing something with your moneythat you know you shouldn't, stopand ask yourself why you're doingit. You might be surprised by theanswer, but in many cases you'll bemost surprised to learn that it's notyour money that's the problem - it'syou. Once you get that messybusiness out of the way, you'll be farbetter prepared to do somethingabout it.

meeting, choose a quietrestaurant that offers privacy.

Purchase a good restaurantreview book if you're not familiarwith the restaurants in your area.(Source: About.com Guide)


Chinua Achebe(1930 - 2013)

Some authors are famous fortheir literary skills, asevident in their classic books.

Others are, however, renowned forsundry other stuffs such asactivism, advocacy, politics, etc,aside for their literary works.Chinua Achebe, the globallyacclaimed literary luminary whokicked the proverbial bucket lastweekend, aged 82, combined bothliterary prowess and politicalactivism. Achebe, winner ofcountless local and global awards,hit the literally scene running withhis blockbuster novel, Things FallApart. Barely had the book beenpublished than it started attractingcritical acclaims around the world.His poetic prose, mastery of theEnglish language, wit, andremarkable prowess as a story teller- not to mention the way he usedproverbs as the "palm oil withwhich words are eaten" - electrifiedall and sundry.

But the wordsmith was notfinished with his masterpieces, asevident in his subsequent works.These include Arrow Of God, A ManOf The People, the Trouble WithNigeria, Chike And The River, andGirls At War. With trademarkshort, deceptively simple, anddirect sentences, Achebe's booksstand out as some of the finestamong the literary works of hisgeneration.

“we urge the government tonot only accord Achebe abefitting burial but build a

monument that would testifyto the exemplary work and

life of this rare gem

The fallen writer's genius was notrestricted to the literary arena. As acrusader for the common good,Achebe stood out. And, as thisnewspaper has pointed out, "for aslong as many could remember, theacclaimed author had stood out onaccount of his activism and

unbending principles. Not for himthe cant and chicanery thathallmarks the life of the typicalprominent Nigerian politician orpublic office holder. Not for him thedoublespeak that is the stock-in-trade of your typical "statesman".What of the complicity and unholyalliance with ungodly rulers?Certainly not for Prof. ChinuaAchebe."

The Majaha reports in his Sunathat the Prophet of Allah said: "Thebest form of Jihad is to tell a word of

truth to an oppressive ruler." Ask thenation's present and formeroppressive rulers and virtually all ofthem would regale you with tales ofhow Achebe had, through his ownbrand of "Jihad", terrified them withbitter truths. Also witness the way hethrew back the awards given him byformer President Olusegun Obasanjoand the sitting President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan. Instead ofembracing such national honours asif his life depended on them (the waymany a Nigerian love to do) Achebespoke ''word of truth to oppressiverulers'' by rejecting the awards in hisown inimitable style.

Achebe was, in short, anuncommon compatriot. In hiswritings as well as in his speechesand actions, he demonstrated whatFranz Fanon said in his book, TheWretched of The Earth: The futurewill have no pity on those who,despite being in a position to tellwords of truth to unworthy leaders,find refuge in silence orcollaboration.

For being an exception to the rule,for not winking at evil, the presentand future alike would certainlyhave pity on this exemplary man ofthe people. In this respect we urgethe government to not only accordAchebe a befitting burial but build amonument that would testify to theexemplary works and life of this raregem. Adieu, Achebe.

OUR MISSIONOUR MISSIONOUR MISSIONOUR MISSIONOUR MISSION OUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLECHAIRMAN

MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

ALI M. ALI

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION

HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

ACTING EDITOR, DAILY

HAMEED M. BELLO

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND

JAMILA NUHU MUSA

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING

HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU

ADESOJI OYINLOLA

“To be the marketplace of ideas and theleading player in the

industry by putting thepeople first, upholdingthe truth, maintaining

the highestprofessional andethical standards

while delivering valueto our stakeholders”

“To be a reputable,profitable,

innovative andtechnologically

reliant mediacompany offering

world classservices and

products”

OUR VISIONOUR VISIONOUR VISIONOUR VISIONOUR VISION

DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRUFA’I IBRAHIM

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL


Just outside PresidentGoodluck Jonathan's officesat 17 ambulances, just in

case he or one of his aides took ill.They were seldom, if ever, used.No actual health-care facilitynationwide had as many and, infact, a few still have none at all.But as soon as a Nigeriannewspaper took a photo of theambulances and published astory about them, theysuddenly disappeared - probablyto an underground garage.

Jonathan is president ofNigeria, which should be amongthe world's most prosperousnations. After all, it produces anestimated 2.4 million barrels ofoil each and every day. With oilnow selling at $93.61 a barrel,that's $224 million in incomedaily. And yet many hospitalscan't afford to buy anambulance. The reason, in myview: Nigeria is the mostcorrupt nation on earth.

Sure, TransparencyInternational lists almost threedozen states as more corrupt -Chad, Haiti, Laos, Yemen,Cambodia and the like. But areany of those nations as wealthyas Nigeria - taking in $81 billionannually, just from the sale ofoil? No, not even one of them. SoNigeria steals and squandersmore money than any othernation, making it the world'smost corrupt nation, by that

Jonathan, it's time you were impeachedmeasure.

Nigerian journalist,Musikilu, finds all this sodiscouraging. "With itsgeopolitical power, economicresources and middle class," helaments, "no country (with thepossible exception of SaudiArabia and Egypt) has thepower to change the course ofblack/African civilization likeNigeria." After all, Nigeria isAfrica's most populous state -and large, twice the size ofCalifornia.

So Nigerians are living anopportunity squandered -particularly now. Egypt is inturmoil. In just the last few

days, in fact, many Egyptianshave been calling for a militarycoup - anything to rid the stateof its widely despised MuslimBrotherhood government. And anew report by the WorldEconomic Forum ranked Egyptthe least safe and secure touristdestination among 140 touristnations evaluated.

Egypt has lost its place as theArab/African worlds' leader,and Saudi Arabia never had it.So for Nigeria, the time is ripe.But its leaders seem interestedonly in stealing the state'smoney to make themselves richbeyond imagining. Think aboutit: $81 billion a year just from

oil, while most every localgovernment official still tells hispeople the nation just doesn'thave enough money to fix theroads, schools or hospitals.(Roads are in such a terribleshape that government officialsgenerally travel any distance byhelicopter.)

And Nigeria's people - well,they are as mistreated as any onearth. In only nine nations -among them Liberia, SierraLeone and Somalia - do moremothers die during childbirth.And in only 10 states, includingChad, Afghanistan andZimbabwe, is the average lifeexpectancy lower. Right now theaverage Nigerian's average lifespan ends at 52. That may bewhy the median age ofNigerians is just 18.

A few months ago, theEconomist Intelligence Unitpublished an evaluation of thebest places for babies to be bornin 2013, given their probablewelfare as children and thechance for a safe, comfortable,prosperous life. Switzerland,Australia and Norway were thetop three. The United Statescame in at 16th, largely because"babies will inherit the largedebts of the boomer generation."

Dead last: Nigeria. "It is theworst place for a baby to enterthe world in 2013," the reportsaid. Even with all that wealth,only just over half thepopulation has access to clean

By Joel Brinkley drinking water, and one-third toa toilet, UNICEF says. Two-thirds live below the povertyline. Only one child in four whocontract pneumonia is givenantibiotics, and only about halfthe population is literate.

The CIA also cites endemic"soil degradation; rapiddeforestation; urban air andwater pollution." All this in acounty whose gross domesticproduct stands at $236 billion ayear, in the same league asDenmark, Chile, Israel and theUnited Arab Emirates -prosperous, successful states tobe envied.

Goodluck Jonathan iscertainly aware of all of this.After all, taking the oath ofoffice, he swore to "devote myselfto the service and well-being ofthe people of Nigeria. So help meGod." Well, just last week hedemonstrated who he really isand what he stands for when hepardoned a former stategovernor who had beenconvicted of embezzling statefunds and laundering themoney. That pardon triggered abroad, angry uproar. Good luck,Mr. Jonathan. It's time you wereimpeached. Joel Brinkley is theHearst professional inresidence at StanfordUniversity and a PulitzerPrize-winning formercorrespondent for TheNew York Times.

Royalty and FCT land swap policyNow that almost all thetraditional andcommunity leaders in

the Federal Capital Territoryhave expressed full support forthe land-swap programme of theFCT administration, I think thecoast is clear for itsimplementation. It will berecalled that at a recent stakeholders meeting with the FCTminister, Sen. Bala Mohammed,the monarchs openly supportedthe programme after theyagreed with its framework,presented by ten investorsinvolved in the mass housingprogramme in the FCT.

The ten investors are RosehillGroup, Afri - InternationalProjects Limited, Bolmus NigeriaLimited, Ridley Group, CRCCNigeria Limited and HongyeGroup. Others are AM-PM GlobalNetwork Limited, Urban ShelterInfrastructure Limited, GilmorEngineering Services Limited,First Aries Petroleum & Crude OilProduction, System Properties &Development ConsortiumLimited, PIMA InternationalLimited and Ketti InfrastructuresLimited. They have all signed anMOU with the FCTA, aimed atfast tracking implementation ofthe scheme. The traditionalrulers were enthusiastic aboutthe integration of the originalinhabitants of the FCT into theprogramme. One of theconditions given to the investorsby the FCDA is that the investorsmust provide up to dateinfrastructure within astipulated time frame, apartfrom ensuring that 40 percent ofthe land allocated to them will begiven back to the FCTA. Theinfrastructure to be provided

must be in line with global bestpractice.

The land swap system isaimed providing criticalinfrastructure in all the newdistricts of the FCT, making use ofprivate investors due todwindling funding from theFederal Government which hassaid repeatedly that it alone canno longer continue to shoulderthe burden of providing theneeded infrastructure, mostlybecause of inadequate financesand the fact that more and morepeople now need the structuresbecause of population explosionover the years. With populationexplosion, it has becomenecessary to provide moreinfrastructures because existingones have been overstretched.Abuja was planned for about 1.3million people initially. Howeveras at now it is estimated thatthere are about 3 million peopleor so in Abuja which makes itvery necessary for new

infrastructures to be provided tothe people if they are not to livein shanty and un-planned houseslike in some of our cities.

The land swap scheme is thegovernment's idea of meeting theinfrastructure challenge in theFCT. At least, 30billion Nairawill be needed to developinfrastructure in only onedistrict while the entireallocation of the MFCT from thefederal government is just about46 billion Naira annually.Therefore, the FCTadministration needs 300billionNaira to provide physicalinfrastructure in all the ten newdistricts.

I see the collaborationbetween the investors andtraditional rulers as animportant factor in the successof the land swap programme asa way of meeting the housingdemand in the FCT. As leaders ofthe original inhabitants of theterritory their endorsement of

By Ibrahim Biu

the scheme will remove theinitial suspicion that becloudedthe intentions of the FCTadministration. By beingbrought into the scheme, theaborigines, are assured ofowning their own houses in theterritory. They will not be justtenants on their "own" land,something they had fearedabout the land swap scheme. It isonly through this system thattheir status in life could beimproved.

Some of the salient issuesordinary people had with theland swap programme includedthe place of the common man inthe project; what will happen tothem when the 10 districts arefully developed, what willhappen to low income earners inthese districts, ten years fromnow, how will their interest betaken care of especially becausewithin the 10 districts it isexpected that menial workerslike cooks, drivers, cleaners,

Some of the salient issues ordinary people had with the landswap programme included the place of the common man in theproject; what will happen to them when the 10 districts are fullydeveloped, what will happen to low income earners in these

districts, ten years from now, how will their interest be taken care ofespecially because within the 10 districts it is expected that menialworkers like cooks, drivers, cleaners, gardeners etc are expectedto be gainfully engaged by the well to do and even the government

“

gardeners etc are expected to begainfully engaged by the well todo and even the government.

Another issue of interest tothe poor people was how toensure that the requirement oftwo percent of land area to bedesignated for solid housing wasmet. This very issue, I believe,has been sorted out with theintegration of the indigenouspopulation into the programme.The most important thing aboutthis programme is that it hasallowed for unfetteredinteraction between the peopleand the FCTA and between thepeople and the investors unlikebefore when FCT residents wokeup only to bulldozersdemolishing their house after ashort notice. Under the newarrangement, people are notonly being consulted but theyare going to be carried along inthe decision making process.

It does appear that the peoplehave accepted the g aftermaking their own inputs whichgovernment has also welcomed.For instance, they have selectedsome individuals to dialoguewith the relevant stakeholderson their behalf. Some of theindigenes have been consultedby a youth leader who has beengoing round with a goodwillmessage from the government.This has been the case in thepast three weeks or so. It isbelieved that adequate publicityin the media will go a long wayto removeany lingering doubtsabout the land swap scheme.

Ibrahim Biu resides inFCT, Abuja.

Egypt has lost its place as the Arab/African worlds' leader, and Saudi Arabia

never had it. So for Nigeria, the time is ripe.But its leaders seem interested only in

stealing the state's money to makethemselves rich beyond imagining. Think

about it: $81 billion a year just from oil, whilemost every local government official still tells

his people the nation just doesn't haveenough money to fix the roads, schools or

hospitals

“


Anyone who is familiarwith the import and exportbusiness in Nigeria can

testify to how tedious the processused to be. It could take days oreven weeks to complete due to thevarious documentationsimporters, exporters and theiragents have to do with thevarious regulatory agencies.

The trading community hadbeen faced with the frustration ofgoing from one agency to the other,repeating the submission of relevantimport/export documents, therebytaking longer than necessary tocomplete the importation orexportation process and at highercost. This very challenge has oftenbeen cited as a major factorencouraging smuggling in thecountry. Overtime, Nigeria- boundcargo has been found to be divertedto neighbouring ports from wherethey are smuggled into the country.

But this has now ceased to bethe case as the Nigeria CustomsService (NCS) has developed aweb-based application known asthe Nigeria Trade Hub Portal,simplifying the process andproviding information andguidance for international tradebusiness processors in the areas ofimport, export and transit trade.

This is part of the NCS'continuous effort at consolidatingon its modernization,preparatory for eventual take-over from the service providerscome June, 2013. Recall that theservice providers' contract wasextended by the federalgovernment in December, 2012,by six months, which will end byJune this year.

The new portal,www.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng, anon-restrictive online medium, is

an intuitiveand interactiveplatform forclassifyinggoods. Throughthis portal,trade processorsare enabled tofind exactHarmonisedSystem Codes(HS Codes)required forrelated tariffsand duties. Thislatesttechnology bythe NigeriaCustomsindustryanalysts havesaid will enhance compliance bytraders and avail them therequired information on tariff inareas like the prohibited itemsand taxes/levies due for paymentupon importation.

The application is alsodesigned to touch on the aspect oftrade facilitation such that tradeprocessors can access informationfrom all related governmentagencies. Guidelines andprocedures for obtaining permits,licences and certificates ofspecified commodity andcountry of origin that a trade willrequire for business processingare also available on the portal.

The Nigeria Trade Hub portalfurther allows traders to convertcurrencies to exchange rates setby the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) on a monthly basis, makepayments, simulate tax andaccess the CPC Code.

The development of the portalwas achieved through thededication of the Nigeria CustomsService technical partners,nominated officers of the NCS aswell as contributions from its

Compliance with Nigeria Trade Hub PortalBy Suleiman Uba

Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, textmessages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written

contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name anda valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed

to:

The Editor,Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza,

35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.Email: [email protected]

SMS: 07037756364

WRITE TO US

other stakeholders and partners.The Nigeria Trade Hub is acollaboration of agencies such asNational Agency for Food, DrugAdministration Control(NAFDAC), NationalEnvironmental Standards andRegulation Enforcement Agency(NESREA), StandardOrganisation of Nigeria (SON)and the NAQS.

The most interesting featureof the portal is that from thecomfort of their homes or officeswould be, or existing importersand exporters, both within andoutside of Nigeria can accessrelevant information from acentral point - the Nigeria TradeHub.n Items on the portalinclude news about the Serviceand industry in general,regulating agencies, guidelinesand procedures, currencyconversion, Customs ProcedureCodes (CPC) and HS Codesamongst others. Anotherinteresting feature is that thiseasy to use online application canbe accessed via smart phones,PC's tablets etc., whilst on the

move.Furthermore,

informationentered on theportal byimporters orexporters can besimultaneouslyaccessed byotherregulatoryagencies such asNAFDAC,NESREA, SON,NigeriaAgriculturalQuarantineServices(NAQS), as theplatform isshared by all

relevant regulatory agencies.The application will no doubt

ease the frustrations of tradersby intuitively guiding them viathe classification tool, whichpresents a series of questions tothe user until the right HS codefor the product is found, therebyaiding compliance. This helps toeliminate the era of going fromone agency to another to submitthe same document, which isusually time consuming,frustrating and tedious.

The user friendly portal isdesigned in such a way thatonce an HS Code is selected, theapplication automaticallypresents the user with thecontrol measures of thatproduct. For instance, if theproduct is regulated byNAFDAC, the application willinform the user that theparticular item is a "Red Lane"item which will be subject toinspection by the particularagency. It goes further to alsohighlight if the product is on theprohibition list or not.

With the debut of this

application, importers are nowwell informed about what andwhat are allowed or not allowedinto the country. Instanceswhere some of them feignignorance of items on prohibitionlist when caught with such itemsand their goods seized would nolonger occur. Going forward, anyimporter who still engages inimportation of prohibited itemsinto the country does so inoutright violation of the law andwould face the full weight of thelaw. There would be no moreexcuses.

Apart from these significantuses, the application goes furtherto provide the tax and dutiespayable on any particular item,whilst presenting the user withthe documents, i.e., the namedpermits or certificates requiredfor the product, the issuingagency, the processing cost aswell as the duration (no of days)for processing. This empowers thetrader and provides them withsound information to assist themin competing on theinternational market.

The benefits of this portal arenumerous: they include non-stoponline access even as it simplifiesprocesses whilst reducing the costand time required forcompliance. Within hours,import/export documentationprocess which usually tooktraders days or even weeks tocomplete, can be completed onthe portal.

No doubt the simplification ofthe process is expected to result inimproved compliance level bythe trading community, andwith improved compliance levelcomes improved revenuecollection for the country.Suleiman Gaya wrote from64, Lome Crescent, Wuse,Abuja

Snapshots at moral and power abuseFirst, it came as a rumourthat President GoodluckJonathan was

contemplating state pardon forhis former boss and politicalbenefactor Diepreye SolomonPeter Alamiyesegha, aka DSP.Alas, like a bad dream, Nigeriansgot a rude shock from Mr.President. 'DSP' did benefit fromthe state-granted pardon forsome ex-political convicts. Itwould be recalled that this sameDSP looted and laundered themoney meant to improve the lotof Bayelsans during his tenure asgovernor, with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan as his deputythen. He was arrested in Britainand charged to court but heshamelessly escaped from housearrest and returned to Nigeria asgovernor.

Morally, granting of pardonto Alamieyeseigha is nothingshort of the president'sinsensitivity to the plight ofNigerians who suffer daily theconsequences of the corruptactions of its leaders. Nigeria haslost over $380 billion dollars tograft between 1960 and 1999.This is the same country that60% of these citizens leave on lessthan a dollar a day.

This President has no regardfor public morality and for thewider implication of its severalinappropriate and inauspiciousactions and decisions. It isunimaginable what politicalcalculations this is meant tobalance. One sure thing though,is that the Country's best interest

is not any where on the mind ofMr. President while taking thisdecision. No doubt, thepresidential pardon toAlamieyeseigha serves only theinterest of two persons; thepardoned and the pardoner. It isno surprise, therefore, to hear theNational Working Committee ofthe People's Democratic Party(PDP) dissociating itself from thePresident's action.

Politically, Mr. Presidentappears to be further charting aself-destructive path for himselfand his party, First, it was thecrises with Governors, then theAnenih/BOT saga and now this.Nigerians will wait to see howMr. President and DSP wouldsurvive the heat of this self-holed

kitchen. Beyond the legality,morality and politics is thequestion of exercise of discretionand caution in presidentialactions. Is this pardon to DSP atthis time circumspect, is theprocess tidy and will theperceived benefit justify its cost?

Mr. President's recentacknowledgement ofAlamieyesegha, the President-General of Ijaw nation, as hisbenefactor confirms that thepardon was a gift from a godson toa godfather and they could notcare less how it robs off on thecountry. In a half hearted attemptto veil the real intentions, Alams'presidential pardon was packagedalong with purported offer ofsimilar pardon to General Diya

and Company to serve as a smokescreen. This subterfuge failedawfully though. It turned out thatDiya and his group already hadpresidential clemency - somethinghigher than a pardon - fromGeneral Abdulsalami Abubakaron March 4, 1999. What Diya andhis co travelers probably arewishing is the restoration of theirmilitary ranks and benefits. For apresidency that could commit thischeap blunder, it leaves littlewonder the quality and integrityof the ruling elite in Nigeria.

Just recently, the BritishPrime Minister told off PresidentJonathan at the last WorldEconomic Forum, with thestatement that the internationalcommunity would like to knowwhat Nigeria did with the overUS$100 billion realized fromcrude oil sales in the last 1year.What would the internationalcommunity say now when thepriority of our president is therestoration of privileges tothieves and ex-convicts. By theway, Nigerians now look up tothe British system for assistancein tracking, capture, prosecutionand conviction o looters of ournation. As a consequence of elites'incapacitated criminal justicesystem. Of course, theyafterwards return home to Statepardon, rehabilitation and moreopportunities to loot. None of thisis good for the image of Nigeriaabroad or for our effort to reformand transform the polity.

By Olanrewaju Suraju

Mr. President's penchant for rewardingcorruption is legendary. First, his wife

represented him at a thanksgiving servicefor Bode George, who was convicted for

looting the funds of the Nigerian PortsAuthority (NPA); then made he made Tony

Anenih, the indicted former minister ofWorks, Chair of the PDP Board of Trustees.

Now it is DSP

“

Mr. President's penchant forrewarding corruption islegendary. First, his wiferepresented him at athanksgiving service for BodeGeorge, who was convicted forlooting the funds of the NigerianPorts Authority (NPA); thenmade he made Tony Anenih, theindicted former minister ofWorks , Chair of the PDP Board ofTrustees. Now it is DSP. The samepresidency shamelessly shieldedAbdurrasheed Maina who stolepensions fund until the NationalAssembly went openlyconfrontational.

Irrespective who occupy'soffice of the President, FederalRepublic of Nigeria, it is thepatriotic duty of every Nigerianto protect the integrity of thatoffice from self-inflicted orexternal disgrace. It is in pursuitof this patriotic duty that everyright-thinking Nigerian ischallenged to stand up and becounted in the redress of thisinauspicious action of the currentoccupier of the office. All politicaland legal means available mustbe deployed at reversing thisabuse of power and despicablepardon granted to DSP byPresident Jonathan. From a layman point of view, the duplicatedpardon of Diya and others hasinvalidated the purportedpardon and so shall it be! Olanrewaju Suraju is theChairman of Civil SocietyNetwork against Corruption.


Kaduna refinery and its host communityThe media, as an

institution, is one of feworgans that have specific

functions spelt out for them inthe 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.Many impartial observers of ourmedia scene are agreed thatwhile members of the mediaalways impress on thegovernment need to discharge itsresponsibility to the people, theyhardly discharge their ownduties to the same people, as theyrush to judgement without thebasic facts and often a timesindulge in public trial of publicinstitutions and officials without,in the least, focusing on their owngross inadequacies in thedischarge of their ownresponsibilities, sometimesarrogating to themselves thefunctions of the courts. The factcannot also be denied that someindulge in the infamous brownenvelop syndrome also used toslant stories in favour of thegiver, contrary to their ethicswhich says in Section 7 (i) that"A journalist should neithersolicit nor accept bribe,gratification or patronage tosuppress or publish information".

Regrettably, this has becomethe standard practice of fewjournalists who have earned for

the noble profession a verydented image. Members of thepublic persive some reports fromthis angle, as fortunate as it is.For instance, take the publicationin some media regarding thealleged dumping of harmful toxicmaterials by KEPA, Kaduna, asubsidiary of the NNPC, at Rido.It was reported that about 700birds (chickens) and five peopledied as a result of pollution fromthe dump. Almost all the papersthat went to town with the storyreported from this angle withoutfinding out the truth about theincident. Indeed, some reporterseven refused or failed to reflectthe KRPC version of what actuallhappened for reasons best knownto them. Had they shownprofessionalism anddemonstrated ethical standard intheir reportage of the incident,they would have discovered thatthe story was and is a plant bysome interested parties to dentthe public image of the companyand set it against one of its hostcommunities, Rido, in ChikunLocal Government, Kadunastate. The core substance of thereport, as earlier noted, was thatKRPC dumped toxic waste at Ridoleading to the death of five peopleand 700 birds at a poultry farmowned by a military officer.

Following the report, experts

from the Federal Ministry ofEnvironment and the KadunaState Environmental ProtectionAuthority- KEPA, took promptaction by personally visiting thealleged dump site and took withthem samples for laboratoryinvestigation. After a thoroughprofessional analysis of thesamples, KEPA wrote "Theconfirmatory test shows thatresult obtained are withinacceptable limits therefore, therefuse dump is not harmful to

the environment and publichealth"

The Kaduna State House ofAssembly also looked into thematter through its appropriatecommittee on Environment,Natural Resources and SolidMinerals headed by HonHaruna. M. A. Inuwa. It was toascertain (a) whether waste wasdumped and if it was actuallytoxic and (b) To find out how itaffected the community. Thereport of the Kaduna State of

By B.A. Lawan

There are some questions here regardingthe role of some of the journalists who wereinvited by the KRPC to visit the dump site

but declined. Why did they so refuseparticularly that this would have offered them

the opportunity to balance their report?Interestingly, even the owners of the poultryfarm did not cooperate with the KRPC whenit sent a team to investigate the claim of 700

dead birds. Worse still, there was noevidence that any single bird was lost at all

“

Assembly actually blamed thecontractor for dumping non toxicwaste at sites not designated byKRPC as required by law. What ismore, the Village Head of Ridotold investigators that no onedied as a consequence of thealleged dump. The company inquestion, Chinbache Investment(Nig) Ltd, in a letter to KRPCaccepted full responsibility forwhat happened. It says, "Weunderstand and acknowledge themistake-which caused thisunpleasant experience: we areable to see where we wentwrong".

There are some questionshere regarding the role of some ofthe journalists who were invitedby the KRPC to visit the dumpsite but declined. Why did theyso refuse particularly that thiswould have offered them theopportunity to balance theirreport? Interestingly, even theowners of the poultry farm didnot cooperate with the KRPCwhen it sent a team toinvestigate the claim of 700 deadbirds. Worse still, there was noevidence that any single birdwas lost at all. What was theirrole in spreading this false claim?B. A. Lawan wrote in fromKaduna and can bereached [email protected]

You preach againststealing, for example, but areyou sure of your ownhonesty? You denounce thepractice of adultery, but areyou sure of your own purity? -the Bible in Romans chapter2, verse 21

An absorbing, real-lifedrama was witnessed at achurch in Makurdi some

years ago. The wife of one myneigbours, Pastor John, engagedone of their fellow churchmembers, Mama Okonji, in afierce fight. Right there in theirchurch. In the presence of manyof their church members. Rightthere North Bank, a town on theoutskirts of Makurdi, BenueState. So ferocious was the fightthat in the heat of therecrimination that ensued,Pastor and Mrs. John quit thechurch - the same church hehimself had set up some yearsago.

Did I hear someonewondering, "wetin concern you,Sonde, with all that?" Plenty. Tobegin with, it so happened that Iwas one of those who had been atthe receiving end of that so-calledman of God's fire-spitting tongue.For reasons that defiedcomprehension, Pastor Johnliked to spread all sorts ofmalicious gossips about me. Hismalice heightened after mysweetheart, F, had opposed hisplan to use part of her latefather's land for his church.

Hell has no fury like a Pastorscorned! As if he had received adivine command or vision totarnish my image to the fullest,the gentleman intensified hiscrusade. He would tell whoever

Born again? No; thank God I'm notcared to listen (particularly myfriends and family members) allsorts of real and imaginarythings about me. Half truths, liesand misinformation alike weredeftly deployed by thepropagandist/pastor.

Things degenerated when Iwrote him a letter urging him tomind his business.After all, I pointedout, he ought toremove the 'wood' inhis eye beforepointing at the sandin someone else's eye.Needless to say, hewasn't amused. Forthe next couple ofweeks, he hadnothing else to dothan titillatingpeople's ears withdetails of what he called my"satanic letter". The number ofhis barbed arrows targeting meincreased dramatically. As I saidto one Mr. Sunday Ocheme thattime, "there is, as the holy booksays, no peace for the wicked."

You could, therefore, imagine

how amused I was when the"mother of all fights" occurred inPastor John's church barely a fewweeks after the man had wentround Benue State demonizingyou-guess-who with recklessabandon. I'm, according to him,the worst sinner on earth. Ahopeless, terrible, ungodly person

who, he swears, would end up inthe hottest part of hell fire.

It's true that I am the worstsinner on earth. I have neverbeen to a Church since I was bornin 1934, even though I am aChristian. And, needless to say, Ihave never claimed to be a "born

again". And that brings us to themain topic of this article: being aborn-again Christian.

Normally, being born-againis a great virtue. "Draw close tome," the Bible quotes God assaying, "and l will draw close toyou." Having such a relationshipwith our heavenly father is, in

my view, theultimate. As PastorWilliam Kumuyisaid in SEARCHTHE SCRIPTURES,"There is a void inthe heart of everyman which noamount of money,material possessionor social status canfill. Life will remaininexplicable andmeaningless until

we get into a meaningfulrelationship with God."

The emphasis, mind you, ison having a MEANINGFULrelationship with God. Not aPRETENDFUL, or a DECEITFUL,or a HYPOCRITICAL-FUL,relationship. Yet what do wehave these days? So-called born-again Christians whose conductbelies their claim. Born-again inname only. Yet someonesomewhere wants me to be partof such a charade by claiming tobe born-again. No; thank you sir.

*To be concluded next week

Who wants TukurMamu dead?Had the forces of darkness had

their way (God forbid!) the mediaindustry would have beenmourning the untimely death ofone of our own now. MallamTukur Mamu, the publisher of

'Desert Herald' newspaper andmagazine, that is. A gang ofarmed-to-the-teeth suspectedassassins was said to havestormed his office last weekend,baying for Mamu's blood.

According to a statementissued by the Kaduna-basedmedia outfit, the motley gangransacked everywhere in searchof Mamu at the peak of hispaper's production operations.Had he not escaped through theback door, only God knows whatwould happen that fateful day.

Incidentally, that wasreportedly the thirdassassination attempt on theindomitable publisher in the lastthree years. And that raises theposer: who is after Tukur Mamu?Who wants this gentleman dead?What sin has he committed todeserve such a grim fate? Andwhat, if any, are the authoritiesconcerned doing about thiscritical situation?

These questions are pertinentbecause what concerns anypublisher and/or journalist,concerns all of us. Because we areall involved. Today it is Mamu.Tomorrow it could be you or me.More so as Wole Soyinka said inhis book, 'The Man Died', "Booksand all forms of writings havealways been objects of terror tothose who seek to supress thetruth."

Granted, D/Herald's brand ofwritings may have always beenobjects of terror to certaininterests. But should journalists'lives be sacrificed in the bid to killthe truth? Of course not. LetMamu and his ilk be. The lawcourts, and not assassination,should be resorted to byaggrieved parties. C-o-u-r-t!

SONDE’SSONDE’SSONDE’SSONDE’SSONDE’SDIARDIARDIARDIARDIARYYYYY

By Sonde [email protected]

0803-2159-249 (SMS only, pls)

what do we have these days? So-calledborn-again Christians whose conduct

belies their claim. Born-again in name only.Yet someone somewhere wants me to bepart of such a charade by claiming to be

born-again. No; thank you sir

“


NGO partnersNDE, others onentrepreneurshiptraining forAbuja youths

Strategies have been puttogether for the trainingand empowerment of youths

in skill acquisition in the FederalCapital Territory(FCT).

The initiative is a collaborationof a non-governmentalorganization, ViscountMultipurpose Co-operative Society with Small Medium EnterpriseDevelopment Agency of Nigeria,SMEDAN, National Directorate ofEmployment, NDE and the AbujaEnterprise Agency(AEA).

Speaking at the weekendduring a maiden edition of itsmonthly entrepreneurshipbreakfast seminar organized inAbuja, the Chief Executive ofViscount Multipurpose Co-operative Society, Mr. OdeOghogho said the training wasbasically to raise the psyche ofyouth beyond the white collar joband become entrepreneurs afterleaving higher schools.

“Basically, the seminar is inthree folds. We try as much aspossible to raise their psyche, train,and empower them to becomeindependent in their various fields.We are putting these togetherbecause we believe that a countrythat neglect its youth is doing so atit own peril,” Ode stressed.

On the importance of theseminar, he affirmed that “nosociety can advance without theastute support and development ofher youths. Nation building is likea relay-race; all athletes on thetrack must do their best bits andtrust in the ability of each other towin the race”.

He therefore, tasked Nigerianleaders and policy makers toprepare the youth in the task ofnation building, stressing thateducation must be given animminent priority.

He said:”We cannot separate thedevelopment of our youths from thereality of our society. To this end, ifwe want to see a better societywhich we talk and dream about,Nigerian youths have the best ofenergies, survival strength, best ofbrains to take the country to thenext levels”.

In her remark at the event, aDeputy Director in charge ofResource Center of the NationalDirectorate of Employment, NDE,Mrs. Umar Alawiyya commendedthe effort of the organizers forassisting government in re-orienting the minds of the youthstowards productive venture.

“We in the National Directorateof Employment are partneringwith this group because they haveput their resources together toachieve this noble goal. We keeptelling our youths that there is nosuccess in apathy. On our part, wewill continue to support anygenuine group by providing manpower development,” she said.

FCT board warns residentsagainst unaccredited fumigatorsThe Abuja Environmental

Protection Board (AEPB)on Monday warned

residents against engagingunaccredited fumigators toundertake fumigation activities inthe Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

Mr Uche Agbanusi, the board’sDeputy Director, EnvironmentalHealth and Safety, gave thewarning in an interview with theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) inAbuja.

NAN reports that the FCTMinister, Alhaji Bala Mohammed,had directed the AEPB toharmonise fumigation

responsibilities in the FCT.He also directed the board to

supervise fumigation with a viewto controlling proliferation offumigation.

This, he said, was to protect theFCT environment from beencontaminated with the applicationof chemicals.

Agbanusi said the board had thelegal mandate to carry out allfumigations through its trainedEnvironmental Health Officers.

According to him, the officershave been trained in chemicalhandling and are most qualified tohandle chemicals effectively.

“The AEPB has the sole

responsibility to carry outfumigation using either itsenvironmental health officers orthe board’s fumigation consultants.

“The AEPB Act 10 of 1997,section 6(6)(b) mandates thecontrol of vectors, rodents andreptiles in the FCT to the board.

“We are warning the public todesist from engaging quacks in thefumigation of hotels, shoppingmalls, hospitals and residentialhomes to avoid any contaminationof the environment.”

The deputy director noted thatthe regulation of the professionbecame necessary to control anyadverse effects of chemicals.

fine or with both.’’The Police Prosecutor, Mr

Umar Mohammed, told the courtthat, one Ayorinde Oluwale, ofMolete Layout, Ibadan, Oyo State,reported the case to the Karu policestation on March 13.

Mohammed said thatOluwale paid the sum ofN150,000 for a self-containedroom for a period of one year, butwas transferred to another branchof her office after staying for justthree weeks.

He said that when the

complainant asked the landlord torefund her money, he allegedlyresponded with threats to dealwith her if she ever requested forany such refund.

“The accused went as far ashiring three jobless thugs,suspected to be Indian hempsmokers in the neighbourhood tothreaten to kill her if she asks theaccused for any money.

“Further investigation into thematter by the police revealed thatthe accused forcefully collected thesaid room key from Oluwale and

Tenant drags landlord to court over alleged threat to life

A tenant on yesterdaydragged her landlord,Isaac Ade, before a Karu

Senior Magistrates Court, Abujaover alleged threat to life andcriminal Intimidation.

Ade, 60, is facing a one count-charge of criminal intimidationcontrary to Section 397 of thePenal Code.

Section 397 stipulates that“whoever commits the offence ofcriminal intimidation shall bepunished with imprisonment termwhich extends to two years or with

An Abuja-based priest ofSaints Peter and PaulCatholic Church, Nyanya in

Abuja, Rev. Fr. Henry Kwasu, hasadvised Nigerians to cultivate thehabit of forgiving and praying in linewith the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Kwasu, gave the advice onSunday during the celebration ofPalm Sunday at the church.

He said Nigerians should alsoendeavour to pray for their enemies.

“The betrayal by a relation or

close friend is more painful, but wemust learn to forgive them, nomatter the pains this may cause.Forgiveness is the only thing we owethem.

“We should also pray for ourenemies, and we should stop prayingfor them to die because Christforgave the people that crucifiedhim,’’ the priest said.

Kwasu advised those passingthrough hard times to be patient as“the Lord will answer them in his

time’’.The priest cautioned Nigerians

to “avoid doing bad things in orderto make ends meet.

“For those who are undergoingsuffering, calm down, the Lord willreward you in due time.’’

He said prayers and fastingshould be part of people’s lives as theymake the person spiritually strongto overcome temptations.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Palm Sunday

Easter: Cleric urges Nigerians to cultivate habit of forgiveness, prayercommemorates the triumphalentry of Christ into Jerusalem.

During this, palm branches wereplaced on his path, before his arreston Holy Thursday and hisCrucifixion on Good Friday.

Palm Sunday also marks thebeginning of Holy Week, the finalweek of lent when Christianscelebrate the mystery of theirsalvation through Christ’s deathand his resurrection on EasterSunday.(NAN)

had the intention of renting theroom out to another tenant.

The accused pleaded not guiltyto the allegation having carefullylistened to the First InformationReport(FIR).

Senior Magistrate OmololaAkindele granted the accused bailin the sum of N20,000 with tworeliable sureties in like sum whomust reside within the jurisdictionof the court.

The case was adjourned to April15,2013 for further hearing.(NAN)

“Chemical reactions can affectsome sensitive organs throughinhalation; the endocrinedisruption can be caused by theinhalation of dangerous chemicals.

“The liver and the lungs canequally be damaged by the sameinhalation of dangerous chemicals.

“Definitely, the public isendangered by engaging theservices of unlicensed andunaccredited fumigators.’’

Agbanusi said some of thechemicals approved for use indomestic pest and vector control arediazinon, karate, cypermetrin,pyranex, fenthion, abate fluazetop,among others. (NAN)

National Orientation Agency drama troupe performing at a function, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

By Josephine Ella Ejeh


Lawyer in court for allegeddisobedience to lawful orderThe Police on Friday

arraigned a lwayer,George Achigbu of Road

13, Plot 5, Gwarimpa Estate,Abuja, at an AbujaMagistrates Court for allegeddisobedience to lawful orderfrom a public servant.

Police prosecutor AbdulahiAdamu told the court that onNov. 22, 2012, theaccused was invited by

Man, 35, jailed for criminal trespass, theft

the police for interrogationbut intentionally refused tohonour it.

According to Adamu, theaccused went undercover untilhe was arrested and taken tothe station on Feb. 3.

The accused, however,pleaded not guilty to thecharge.

Counsel to the accused, MrI.A. Solomon, urged the court

to grant his client bail,citing the 1999 Constitution.

He added that the bailwould enable the accusedto have sufficient time toprepare for his defence.

He also said the accused wasa lawyer and a member of thebar, married man and anemployer of labour whowould not jump bail, ifgranted.

The Magistrate, Mrs NafisatIbrahim, granted the bailin N200,000 and two sureties.

Ibrahim said the suretiesmust have a fixed address andresident within the jurisdictionof the court.

She also ordered theaccused to deposit his Call to BarCertificate with the court andadjourned the matter to April15, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Mason incourt forallegedlycausinggrievous hurt

The police on Thursdayarraigned a mason,Abdul Ibrahim, of

Kuruduma village, Asokoro,Abuja, in a Karu Upper AreaCourt for alleged joint act andcausing grievous hurt.

Police prosecutorMohammed Garba told thecourt that one Chidi Odoh ofKuruduma Village, Asokoro,reported the matter at theAsokoro Police Station onMarch 18.

Garba said Ibrahim and twoothers, still at large, beat upOdoh when he emerged from arestaurant in Korodumavillage on March 12.

“They stabbed him in theback with a dagger and hespent N27,000 on treatmentand was discharged from theAsokoro General Hospital onMarch 21,” Garba added.

He said the offencescontravened the provisions ofsections 79 and 247 of thePenal Code.

Section 79 stipulates that“when a criminal act is doneby several persons infurtherance of the commonintention of all, each of suchpersons is liable for that act inthe same manner as if it weredone by him alone.’’

Section 247 states thatwhoever causes grievous hurtshall be punished withimprisonment for a termwhich may extend to sevenyears and is liable to a fine.

The accused, however,denied committing theoffences.

The presiding judge, AlhajiUmar Kagarko, granted theaccused bail in the sum ofN30,000 with a reliablesurety who must reside withinthe court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case toMay13,2013 for hearing.(NAN)

An Abuja Grade TwoArea Court hassentenced a 35-year

old man, Peter Dauda, to fivemonths imprisonment withan option of N5, 000 fine forcriminal trespass and theft.

The presiding judge, MrAhmed Ado, sentencedDauda after he pleadedguilty to a two-count chargelevelled against him.

Ado said the sentence

would deter othersfrom engaging in such acts.

Earl ier , the pol iceprosecutor , Sgt . S imonIbrahim, told the court thatthe case was reported at theUtako Police Station by oneMr Yahaya Abdul lahi ofGovernment SecondarySchool Jabi, on March 9.

Ibrahim al leged that theconvict fraudulent ly brokeinto the school premises at

Jabi District and stole slidingwindows, water tanks,fumigation equipment, hoes,cutlasses, buckets, rain bootsand shovels valued atN 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 .

Ibrahim added that foursl iding windows wererecovered at the t ime ofDauda’s arrest.

The convict pleaded forleniency, saying he was afirst offender. (NAN)

11 traders in Mararaba charged to court for obstructing public highway

The police on Thursdayarraigned 11 personsbefore a Mararaba

Upper Area Court inNasarawa State for allegedlyusing their wares to obstructpublic highway.

The accused are; VirginiaAbah; Amos Nwancha; JosephIkechukwu’ Kelechi Ido;Nothing pass God Chibueze;Yusuf Hamza, Olisa Obi,Kinsley Agwurumba; Sunday

Zebed; Nwokpoku Pius andAmuche Amos.

The police prosecutor, MrJoseph Ahwa, told the courtthat a team of Mobile TrafficDivision personnel, led byInsp. Joseph Ahaba, while onclearing of obstruction duty,arrested the accused onMarch 21.

He said that all theaccused, who are within theages of 18 and 45 years, reside

at Ado and Masaka.Ahwa said the accused

displayed their wares on Keffi–Abuja Federal Highwaybetween Access Bank and Asooverhead Bridge, therebycausing heavy traffic hold-up.

Ahwa said the offencescontravened the provisions ofSection 63 sub-section 3 of theRoad Traffic Act, but theaccused pleaded not guilty tothe charges.

Mr John Ukaegbu, thedefence counsel, standing infor the accused, applied forbail for his clients, saying thatthey would comply with theconditions of the court.

The Presiding Judge, MrVincent Gwahemba, grantedthem bail in the sum ofN50,000 each, with onesurety each in like sum.

He adjourned the case toApril 16 for hearing. (NAN)

A vehicle burning at city gate along airport road, recently in Abuja. Photo: NAN

INSIDE FCTCOURTS

Businessman incourt for allegedcheating, issuingdud cheques

A businessman, ElishaChori, has appearedbefore a Karu Upper Area

Court, Abuja, charged withcriminal conspiracy, breach oftrust, cheating and issuance ofdud cheques.

Police prosecutor Adams Petertold the court that AlhajiAbubakar Isah of No 3, BamakoSt., Wuse 2, Abuja, sent a petitionto the Commissioner of Police inFCT on March 14,2013.

Peter further said that Choriof No. 21D, Drive 3, Prince andPrincess Estate and one other atlarge, collected N15 million fromIsah to process a plot of land atMaitama New Extention, Abuja,on April 5, 2010.

“Chori was to process andobtain the Right of Occupancy atAGIS/FCDA. But he defaulted.

“When the complainantdemanded for his money back,Chori issued him Diamond Bankand Zenith Bank cheques of N7.5million each,” Peter said.

He told the court that theoffences contravened theprovisions of sections 97, 312 and322 of the Penal Code and D11section 1 of Dud Cheque Act2004.

Section 97 states that whoeveris a party to a criminal conspiracyto commit an offence punishablewith death or with imprisonmentshall be punished in the samemanner as if he had abetted suchoffence.

Section 312 stipulates thatwhoever commits criminalbreach of trust shall be punishedwith imprisonment that mayextend to seven years or be finedor both.

Section 322 states thatwhoever cheats shall be punishedwith imprisonment which mayextend to three years or be finedor both.

Chori, however, deniedcommitting the offences.

The presiding judge, AlhajiUmar Kagarko, granted him bailin the sum of N16 million withthree credible sureties who mustreside within the court’sjurisdiction.

He also ordered that one of thesureties must be a civil or publicservant of reasonable grade level.

He adjourned the case to May13, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)


Pastor, 55, dockedover bank theftThe police yesterday

arraigned anacclaimed pastor,

Ikechukwu Olekanma, ofKado, Abuja before a WuseZone 2, Senior MagistratesCourt for allegedly stealinga bunch of bank keys.

Olekanma is standingtrial on a one-count chargeof theft.

The Prosecutor, MrAbdullahi Adamu, told thecourt that the matter waslodged at the Wuse policestation on March 22 by oneDaniel Edibo.

Adamu said that Edibo,who works as a securityguard at the Skye Bank,Wuse branch, allegedlycaught Olekanma stealinga polythene bag from a

By Adeola Tukuru

customer’s locker at theentrance of the bankpremises.

He said “ Olekanmaentered the bank’spremises, used a bunch ofkeys, opened the locker andremoved a polythene bagcontaining a bunch of keys.

Adamu said that thekey to the main gate of thebank was on the bunch ofkeys in the polythene bag.

The prosecutor saidthat the offencecontravened the provisionsof Section 287 of the PenalCode.

Section 287: stipulatesthat whoever commitstheft shall be punishedwith imprisonment for aterm which may extend to

five years or with fine orboth.

The accused pleaded notguilty to the charge.

The PresidingMagistrate, Mrs ChinyereNwecheonwu, admitted theaccused to bail in the sum ofN100,000 with a surety inlike sum.

Nwecheonwu orderedthat the surety must be acivil servant not belowGrade Level 09.

She said that the surety’sofficial and residentialaddresses must be verifiedby the prosecutor andofficials of the court.

Nwecheonwu adjournedthe matter to April22,2013 for hearing.(NAN)

Infrastructure development in FCTboosted by digital survey, says Akinjide

Minister of State forFederal CapitalTerritory, Oloye

Olajumoke Akinjide, hasdisclosed that infrastructuredevelopment in the FCT hasbeen boosted by the use ofdigital surveying andmapping.

The minister stated this over the weekend in Abujaat the Ninth regionalseminar organised by theWomen-in-Surveying (WIS)of the Nigerian Institution ofSurveyors.

Akinjide, who wasrepresented by her SeniorSpecial Assistant on SpecialDuties, Mrs. JummaiKwanashie, noted that theadoption of digital surveyingand mapping had madeplanning and development inFCT less cumbersome.

She explained that thetechnology had beenperfected under AbujaGeographic InformationSystem (AGIS), the Urbanand Regional Planning, andthe Mapping and SurveyDepartments of the FCTA.

“The FCT Administrationis committed towardsmaking planning anddevelopment ofinfrastructure lesscumbersome. This informedthe digital surveying andmapping mechanism in theFCT which has resulted inimproved satellite imageryand aerial photography.Surveying and Mapping is aservice that is fundamentalto physical and socio-economic development ofany nation and Nigeria is notan exception.

“Surveying andMapping data are requiredfor development planningsuch as for the design andconstruction of roads,railways, airports,waterways, industrial andhousing estates, farmsettlements and othereconomic and physicalinfrastructures. Surveyingand Mapping also facilitatemonitoring and providingthe solution to desertification,erosion, flooding, pollutionand other landdegradation,” she stated.

The minister advised

more women to take up thesurveying profession, notingthat profession wasdominated by the men.

“There is absolute needfor more awareness of theprofession in schools and alsomore colleges are needed soas to encourage more womento take up the profession. Inaddition, a greater liaisonbetween schools andsurveyors in the professionand increased informationand awareness of careeradvisers are needed,” sheadded.

The NationalCoordinator of the WIS, Mrs.Augustina Anobili, urged thegovernment to put in placepolicies that would attractmore women into theprofession.

She noted there was agender imbalance in themainstream of the professionthat should be redressed.

“Presently, there are onlyfive women fellows in theNigerian Institution ofSurveyors and one in theSurveyors’ Council ofNigeria. This is notencouraging,” she stated.

An FCT High Courtsitting in Kuje,yesterday remanded

two men in prison till April24,2013 after they pleadednot guilty to stealingN205,000.

They are Joseph Ibeh,28, of Wuse Zone 6; andJohn Nwuze, 29, of SaboLugbe, Abuja.

Police prosecutorBabajide Olanipekun saidthe duo stole the money

from Mrs Titi Iyanda, ofArea 1, behind DunamisChurch, Garki, Abuja, onNov. 12, 2012.

Olanipekun said theysnatch a bag containing themoney from the complaintand “immediately ran intothe bush.’’

He said the offencecontravened, and ispunishable under sections97 (1) and 298 (1) of PenalCode.

The News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) reports thatthe prosecutor prayed theCourt to grant him a date tocall witnesses as the accusedpleaded not guilty to thecharge.

Justice MaryannAnenih granted theprosecution counsel’sapplication and adjournedthe case to April 24,2013.

She ordered the accusedto be remanded in KujePrison until the adjourneddate. (NAN)

Court remands 2 men in Kuje Prisonfor alleged theft


Management Tip of the DayReduce stress with self-compassion

INSIDE

You have too much on yourplate, deadlines arelooming, and people are

counting on you. Since you can'teliminate bouts of intense stress,you have to learn to deal withthem.

Studies show that people whopractice "self-compassion" arehappier, more optimistic, and

Oando Marketingchanges retail

strategy

- Pg 20BBBBBUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSEmail: [email protected] Mob: 08033644990

less anxious and depressed. Thisis the willingness to look at yourfailures with kindness andunderstanding - without harshcriticism or defensiveness. Mostof us believe that we need to behard on ourselves to perform ourbest, but it turns out that's plainwrong.

A dose of self-compassion

when things are at their mostdifficult can reduce your stressand improve your performance,by making it easier to learn fromyour mistakes. So rememberthat to err is human, and giveyourself a break.

Source: HarvardBusiness Review

AgriculturalProduce ondisplay at theFederalUniversity ofAgricultureAbeokuta(FUNAAB)during theAgriculture FairTagged``Agricultureand the futureof Nigeria``,Organised tokick-start theUniversity'ssilver jubileecelebration,yesterday inAbeokuta.

Photo: NAN

The management of FBNHoldings Plc has expresseddelight at the timely

resolution of tax issues which hasengendered an equitabletaxation regime for BankHolding Companies in thenation.

The Bank HoldingCompanies emerged incompliance with the Central Bankof Nigeria (CBN)'s regulation onthe Scope of Banking Activities &Ancillary Matters, No. 3, 2010requiring the separation ofcommercial banking businessfrom other financial servicesbusinesses.

They include FBN HoldingsPlc, Stanbic IBTC, UBA, andFCMB. Speaking on the issue, theCEO of FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. BelloMaccido said the holdingcompanies at inception faced amajor concern over possibleinterpretation of existing taxstatutes that would lead to thedouble taxation of dividends.

There was also a concern aboutthe magnitude of transactioncosts that would be incurred bythe banks in responding to thechange in regulations.

"It was therefore necessary forBank holding companies to seekmitigation of some of these coststhrough waivers and concessionsfrom the regulatory authorities.It was very clear that withoutgovernment's intervention, thecompanies would have facedpossible challenges in this regard,"he said.

The Financial ServicesRegulation CoordinatingCommittee (FSRCC) is reported tohave created the platform for theBank Holding Companies to tabletheir tax and transaction costsissues to regulators and supportedthe idea of creating an industryworking group.

Maccido said the CoordinatingMinister for the Economy, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in concertwith the Federal Inland RevenueService (FIRS) team was veryinstrumental to ensuring that thetax issues were heard and resolvedin good time to meet the CBNdeadline.

He noted that the Securities &Exchange Commission, NigerianStock Exchange (NSE) andCentral Securities ClearingSystem (CSCS) were equally veryreceptive to discussions onreduction of transaction costs forBank Holding companies.

According to Maccido, theleadership of the Federal Ministry

FBN Holdings commends resolution of tax issues for bank holding companiesof Finance and the FIRS hadthrough the resolution of the taxissues demonstrated theircommitment to ensuring greatergood of the economy andstimulation of economic activity."We salute the professionalismand insight of Okonjo-Iweala, andthe FIRS team for the progress sofar recorded," he added.

FBN Holdings Plc is the largestfinancial services group inNigeria. The holdings companyemerged from the erstwhileFirstBank Group in November2012 to effectively ring-fencethe commercial bankingbusiness from other businessesas required by the CBN.

Market Making: NSE capitalisationrises by N2.6 tr in 6 months

The Naira gained for a third dayand headed for its strongest inmore than two weeks on

speculation that Nigerian oilproducers will sell dollars to meetmonth-end expenses before acurrency auction yesterday.

The currency rose less than 0.1percent to 158.15 per dollaryesterday, poised for the highestclose since March 8, according todata compiled by Bloomberg.

Oil producers who sell dollars tomeet local expenses around the endof the month, are the second-biggestsource of foreign currency after theCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Theapex bank sells dollars at auctionson Mondays and Wednesdays to helpmanage the exchange rate.

"We anticipate appreciation ofthe Naira in the forex market amiddollar sales by multinationals tomeet month-end obligations,"analysts at Lagos-based CowryAsset Management Ltd. saidyesterday.

Yields on the $500 million ofEurobonds due January 2021declined nine basis points to 4.24percent yesterday. (Bloomberg)

Naira heads for2-week high onoil industrysupply bets

The market capitalisation of theNigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) has appreciated by

N2.56 trillion in six months underthe market making programme ofthe exchange, investigations haverevealed.

Market making is the processwhereby selected stockbrokers(market makers) ensure constantliquidity for certain securities byproviding continuous two-wayquotes to the market for the

securities during trading days.The programme, which is one

of the initiatives brought by theNSE to deepen the market,commenced last September with16 securities.

By the close of the first sixmonths last week, the securities inthe market making basket havebeen increased to 52securities.However, theprogramme has boosted the marketcapitalisation of the Nigerian bourseby N2.56 trillion, rising fromN8.077 trillion to N10.637 trillion.

Similarly, the NSE All-ShareIndex (ASI) appreciated by 31percent from 25,373.83 to close at33,243.53 last Monday, whichmade it six months.

In the first phase of the marketmaking programme, 10stockbroking firms were appointed,while supplementary list of marketmakers would be added in the secondphase, beginning in April.

The market making wasintroduced into the market alongsidesecurities lending and short selling,which was expected to provide

liquidity and deepen the market.The10 market makers are: Stanbic IBTCStockbrokers; Renaissance CapitalLimited; Future View SecuritiesLimited; Vetiva Capital Limited;ESS/Dunn Loren Merrifield, WSTCSecurities Limited; Capital BancorpLimited; FBN Securities Limited;Greenwich Securities Limited andCSL Stockbrokers Limited.

While launching theprogramme, the Chief ExecutiveOfficer of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema,had said the 10 selected marketmakers were committed to ensuringthat the objectives of introducing thisinitiative into the market would beachieved.

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

The Borno state government saidthat it would send 50 graduatetrainees in agriculture to India

to further sharpen their skills inagricultural mechanisation.

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Bornostated this at the weekend inMaiduguri, during a receptionorganised for trainees whosuccessfully completed a three-monthcourse in Thailand. He explained thatthe objective was to prepare theground for agricultural revolution inthe state.He expressed satisfaction onthe skills exhibited by the trainees onvarious agricultural fields.

“I am highly impressed by thepresentation made by the trainees, itis an indication that they have learntwhat we sent them to learn inThailand. But I believe we shouldfurther sharpen their skills by sendingthem to India to learn about the GreenHouse and other modern technology,''Shettima said.

The governor said that the stategovernment had already ordered 500rice milling machines from Thailandto utilise the skills of the trainees inrice production.Shettima explainedthat government will also acquiremore implements from Thailand tofurther ensure full utilisation of theskills acquired by the trainees. (NAN)

“In addition to providing thetrainees with necessary tools andfarmlands to establish farms forproduction and processing ofproduce.̀ `Some of them are expectedto be drafted to train large chunk ofour local farmers on the new farmingtechniques,'' the governor said. (NAN)

Borno state tosend 50agriculturetrainees to India toacquire skills

By Abdulwahab isa

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

COMPANYNEWS

UAC Nigeria Plc

UAC of Nigeria Plc (UAC)has announced theacquisition of majority

stake in Livestock Feeds Plc,one of the leading animal feedsproducers in the country.

A statement from thecompany said the transactionhas been concluded via aspecial placement and placesUACN as the majorityshareholder with a shareholdingof over 51 per cent in LSFhaving previously acquired inexcess of 11 per cent of thecompany’s share capitalthrough secondary markettrade.

UAC of Nigeria Plc, adiversified conglomerate inNigeria with operations infoods, paints, logistics and realestate, now owns 51 per centshare in Livestock Feeds Plc,the third largest producer ofanimal feeds by market share inNigeria.

Contour Global

A group of Americaninvestors with stronginterest in power

generation, ContourGlobal,has shown interest inpartnering with the FederalGovernment in powergeneration with focus on theIbom Power Plant.

Pascal Mbawuike, a seniorassociate with Cohen andWoods International Inc and ateam of investors, who arecurrently working withContourGlobal on the issue,disclosed this at the StateHouse after meeting withPresident Goodluck Jonathanin Abuja.

ContourGlobal is currentlygenerating power for CocaCola Bottling Company ofNigeria Plc, a subsidiary of theCoca Cola Hellenic BottlingCompany (CCH), using theContourGlobal’s unique Quad-Gen technology to providepower for the NigerianBottling Company Plc.

NCC

Nigeria is the fastestcommunicationgrowing country in

Africa, with the NationalCommunication Commission(NCC) registering over100million communicationlines and subscribers.

The development amountsto 81 percenttelecommunication densitywhich is also the largest in thecontinent.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Mr EugeneJuwah, made these disclosureson Friday at the EnuguInternational Trade Fair. Headded that through theUniversal Access Programme,the Commission had ensureddeployment oftelecommunication services tothe rural areas.

Oando Marketing changes retail strategy

Oando Marketing,Nigeria’s leading fuelmarketing retailer, has

added a mega station to itsrapidly expanding service stationoutlets with the opening ofanother mega station at Berger,along the Lagos-IbadanExpressway.

Similar stations owned by thecompany are located in Marina,Maryland, and Lekki in Lagos, aswell as another in Abuja.Thestation offers customers a modern

and friendly environment thatwill engender delivery of optimalservice to customers.

Formally opened to customerson March 11, 2013, the stationwill be a major attraction tomotorists as it is the last fillingstation before leaving Lagosstate.The full complement ofOando Marketing’s product andservice offerings is on display forcustomers at any of the eight

modern fuel dispensing pumpsinstalled at the stations.

According to the company,the pumps are fitted with e-payment terminals that enablecustomers to buy fuel using theirATM debit and credit.Furthermore, customers candispense fuel into their tanks 24hours a day and all year roundusing their cards.

At the Lubes Bay, Oando said

The price of OPEC basket oftwelve crudes stood at105.88 dollars a barrel on

Friday, compared with$106.05 the previous day,according to OPEC Secretariatcalculations.

The new OPEC ReferenceBasket of crudes (ORB) is madeup of the following: SaharanBlend (Algeria), Girassol(Angola), Oriente (Ecuador),Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic ofIran), Basra Light (Iraq),Kuwait Export (Kuwait), EsSider (Libya), Bonny Light(Nigeria), Qatar Marine(Qatar), Arab Light (SaudiArabia), Murban (UAE) andMerey (Venezuela).

This implies less foreignexchange generation for majorcrude oil producers andexporters, including Nigeriawhose projection is $79 perbarrel this year.Brent crudedeclined to its lowest level thisyear, erasing last week’sadvance, as flows increasedthrough a North Sea pipelineafter a five-day halt.

It is not only OPEC basket;available figures showed thatthe prices of other crude oilgrades also slide marginally atthe volatile market.Forinstance, Brent futures droppedas much as 1.8 per cent to thelowest since December 26.

The Brent Pipeline Systemin the North Sea is“approaching” its targeted flowrate of 80,000 barrels a day.Itstated that Brent for Aprilsettlement decreased as muchas $2.01 a barrel to $109.14 onthe London-based ICE FuturesEurope exchange. It traded for$109.95 yesterday and wasdown 0.4 per cent last week.

OPEC dailybasket pricedrops to$105.88/b

A typical oil refinery

JEPTFON calls for relocation ofresidents near tank farms in LagosThe Jetty and Petroleum

Tank Farm Owners ofNigeria, JEPTFON, has

called for the relocation of allresidents near tank farms in thecommercial city of Lagos.

JEPTFON ExecutiveSecretary, Mr. Enoch Karnawa,made the call in Lagos, againstthe backdrop of an explosion at atank farm around Tin Can Islandon January 8.

According to him, “The tankfarms have other roles to playapart from supplying products.They generate employment andalso pay taxes to the stategovernment”, he said.

Karnawa further stated thatit was easier to relocate theresidents around the tank farmsthan to relocate the tank farms.

“The government shouldrelocate the residential housesand not the tank farms becausethe tank farms are capitalintensive. It is easier to relocatethe residential houses becausethe investments in them are notas much as that of the tankfarms. In actual fact, the tankfarms are always located by theseaside, apart from the ones atApapa, to ensure access to shipsbringing in petroleumproducts,” Karnawa said.

It would be recalled that anexplosion occurred at a tankfarm around Tin-Can IslandPort, on January 8 when a bargecarrying petrol was trying todischarge its cargo at the MRSJetty.

Governor Babatunde Fasholaof Lagos State had said that thestate government wouldcollaborate with the FederalGovernment to relocate thejetties.

Karnawa, however, said thatrelocation of the jetties would bea Herculean task and that thetank farms had economicadvantages.

its customers will be offered anarray of services that include oilchanges, wheel balancing,alignment and free air tomention a few. In addition, thisnew outlet will boost thecompany’s aspiration ofswitching 5 million low-incomehouseholds from dirty cookingfuel to the clean LiquefiedPetroleum Gas (cooking gas) asthe full bouquet of its LPGproducts are on offer at thestation, especially the 3kg OGAScooking stove.

It would be recalled thatOando Marketing introduced a3kg cooking stove last year toreduce the burden of cooking onlow income households; Thecompany says these householdscan also refill at the cylindersusing the company’s Pay-As-You-Gas system that allows customersto buy cooking according to theirrequirements using a meteringsystem.

....moves into mega station businessStories from Etuka Sunday

Industry watchers have saidthat the best way to make thenation’s four comatose

refineries begin to functionproperly would be for thegovernment to get out of thebusiness of owning refineries.

They say that ifalternatively, governmentscales down the currentNigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC), ownershipstake to a minority level, equalto or less than 49 percent,refineries in the country wouldbecome much morecompetitive and productive.

This process would entailgetting private sector managersto run the refineries, in essence,

employing the Indoramamodel.Industry sourcesmaintain that continuing thecurrent reform process bypumping more money into acesspool of corruption and ablack hole of fraudulent Turn-around Maintenance (TAM)was bound to be a failure.

They add that the saidprocess would guarantee thecontinued importation ofrefined petroleum products intothe country – along with itsugly baggage of corruption,

scarcity and inefficiency- farinto the future.

According to the president of the Trade Union Congress ofNigeria (TUC), Peter Else, therefineries cannot workoptimally under the control ofNNPC because there is too muchgovernment interference.

The managing director of oneof the oil companies, meanwhilehave said that until therefineries are operated asmanufacturing entities, theywould not work competitively.

Stakeholders advise FG to hands-off refinery ownership


NCC releases new interconnect ratesThe Nigerian

C o m m u n i c a t i o n sCommission (NCC), has

released a new interconnect ratethat would guide telecomoperators in the country onterminating calls for oneanother.

The new rate, which will

begin from April 1,2013 according to NCC, will seemajor operators terminatingcalls on new entrants/ smalleroperators’ networks at N6.40,while the smaller operators dosame on major operators’network at N4.90.

The new rate apparentlybecame necessary after theexpiration date of December2012 for the old interconnect

rate regime, which came intooperation in 2009.

The NCC also reviewed therespective rates furtherdownwards for the next threeyears ending 2015.NCC said ittook the step to enable smalloperators and new entrantsremain in business. It describeda new entrant as newly-licensedoperator entering an existing ornew market within 0 to 3 years.

Commission, gave the welcomeaddress, in which he requestedfor open talks to achieve farreaching resolutions.

The meeting observed thatpublic-owned broadcaststations operate largely as themouthpiece of governmentinstead of representing thewhole society while the privatestations operate as themouthpiece of the rich andpowerful; thereby the commonman is abandoned by both.Theysaid that instances abound whenbroadcasting has been used tothe detriment of thenation.Stations are increasinglycoming under pressure topolarise the society along thelines of opposing political divides.

According to them, there isnear-total absence of propersupervision and gate-keeping bystation owners, stationmanagers and editors and thatgate-keeping is crucial andthrough it, broadcasters areexpected to use their expertiseand knowledge to promotegenerally-accepted social values

and norms, especially civil andsocial responsibilities.

They also said that somebroadcasters commit seriousbreaches against the provisionsof the code, which attractssevere sanctions, adding thatactive participation of theNigerian Society ofBroadcasters is required.

At the meeting, it wasagreed that broadcasters needto be wary of “super anchors”that make subjective,unprofessional and abusiveremarks without considerationfor fair-hearing and thatgovernment stations do nothave the capacity to say no totheir governors/proprietors.

“There is the challenge ofdisproportionate financialcapacity of contendingcandidates and political parties.However the need for theCommission to ensure fairnesscannot be over-emphasized”,they said.

“Super anchors make noeffort to carry out research onissues they present on radio and

television.There is the tendencyfor stations to have sympathyfor the political views of theirowners” they further said.Theytherefore recommended theestablishment of appropriateconcept of gate-keeping, in orderfor broadcasters to use theirexpertise and knowledge topromote civic and socialresponsibilities.

The meeting also urged theNBC to invite state governorsfor free discussions concerningethical broadcasting and thatbroadcast stations should beginto network among themselvesto red-flag unruly staff.

“There is need for effectivecontrol of the broadcast media,irrespective of their ownershipso that the media is not used tothe detriment of thenation. Political advertisingmust comply with the APCONCode of Practice, the NigeriaBroadcasting Code and theElectoral Act. In addition, alladverts should be submitted toAPCON for vetting” theypointed out.

Stakeholders task NBC on scrutinising political broadcast in states

L-R: Vice President, National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE), Comrade,Danjuma Musa, ExecutiveDirector, Mainstreet Bank Limited, Mr. Anogwu Anyanwu, representative of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Nyamali John Audu,and Deputy President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFIE), Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye,during the signing of agreement on peaceful resolution of industrial harmony of the disengage staff of Mainstrret Bank between the unionsand the management, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n spowerhouse, Globacomhas unveiled a new strap

line, to reaffirm its brandpromise to consumers as itprepares to celebrate its 10thanniversary on August 29 thisyear.

Aptly tagged: “Unlimited”,the new strap line encapsulatesGlo’s commitment to enabling itssubscribers achieve their dreamsand desires.It embodies Glo’sattitude towards its stakeholdersand its commitment to be alwaysthere for them; facilitating therealization of their desiresanywhere in the world, throughthe company’s world-classnetwork.

Globacom’s Group ChiefOperating Officer, MohammedJameel said the new pay-off linemarks a natural progression inthe growth of the Glo brandidentity and represents theunparalleled commitment of thecompany to its subscribers.

He explained that “Glo willoffer subscribers the power toachieve and excel. It means thatwith Glo, they can realise theirdreams and achieve infinitepossibilities. To do this, Glo willgive them unfettered access to thebest tools that will enhance theirproductivity and energise theirprofessional and socialconnections”.

“Unlimited” underscores theessence of the brand’s belief in theconsumer in the sense that oursubscribers are operatingwithout boundaries in theirattitude and altitude towardswhat they can achieve in life. Itmeans that consumers cantherefore go all out, pulling outall the stops in the drive towardsachieving their objectivesbecause Glo is always there tomake it happen”, he said.

Jameel further explainedthat the new strap line capturesthe relevance of the Glo brandpromise to its variousstakeholders as well as staff afterthe monumental success ofprevious strap lines such as “Glowith Pride” and “Rule YourWorld”.

He said that starting with thepay-off line, “Glo with Pride” atlaunch, promoted and built asense of pride in every Nigerian,by providing a world-classindigenous telecommunicationsnetwork which offered Nigeriansthe enablement platform tosucceed in different fields ofhuman endeavor.

Glo flauntsstrength with“Unlimited” newstrap line

The National BroadcastingCommission (NBC) hascalled on broadcast

stations in the country tomaintain the code and theethics of the profession aspracticed elsewhere.

Speaking during astakeholders meeting with thetheme: “Political Broadcasts:Getting it Right”, they said political broadcast forumsconducted at state’s level bescrutinised.

The stakeholders meetingwas chaired by Mr. Osa SunnyAdun, president, DBNTelevision and had inattendance Alhaji IbrahimDasuki Nakande, formerminister of State forInformation andCommunication, eight statecommissioners of Informationand two permanentsecretaries.

In his keynote address,Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa,Director-General, NBC, said themeeting was called with a viewto strategising for thebetterment of the industry.

The Registrar, APCON,Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofipresented a paper on politicaladverts and decency, while Mr.Mark Ojiah, secretary to the

Stories from Chris Alu It also said that for the purposeof determination, small operatorcould be defined as an existingoperator with a market share of0 - 7.5% in terms of subscriberbase.

The current rate, which hasattracted several hues and criesfrom smaller operators since itcame into operation, was fixed ata uniform N8.20 perminute.Interconnect rate

represents the cost of terminatinga call on another network.

In other words, it is the ratethat a network operator thatoriginates a call pays to theoperator on whose network thecall is terminated.Theinterconnect rate is important intelecommunications because ithelps in defining tariffs for callsthat involve at least twonetworks.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

Niger Insurance targets N15bnpremium income this yearDetermined to effectively

implement thetransformation agenda

through responsive and efficientcustomer services, NigerInsurance Plc is targetingpremium income generation ofN15 billion this year.

The Managing Director/CEOof the company, Kolapo Adedejisaid during an interactive forumwith journalists in Lagos that, asone of the leading light in the

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos Nigerian insurance industry,they wanted to continue tooperate on sound principlesbased on responsive and efficientcustomer services.

According to him, “We aregoing to have a strongercompany that is going to be moreresponsive to the needs of ourcustomers, efficiently run andone of the leading light in theNigerian insurance market.”

He said that, if one observedin the last one year, “we

embarked on transformation ofthe processes, in the sense thatwe x-rayed the entire systemprocesses of the company, ourpeople and processes, with aview to revamping thecompany to meet the peculiarneeds of our customers as well asall stakeholders in the company.

“The business model we aredoing is going to be driven by ICTplatform, having got approvalfrom National InsuranceCommission on life annuity

products. We are also workingon our traditional products tomake it more user friendly.

With the processes being putin place, we are projecting togenerate a premium income ofN15 billion this year.

Adedeji took over from Dr.Justus Clinton Uranta inJanuary this year following hisretirement after 35 years ofmeritorious service in theinsurance industry.

L-R: 1st deputy president Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, president of ECCIMA, Dr.Theo Okonkwo, and Managing Director, Hardis and Dromedas group of companies, Chief Chike Obidigbo, during the Hardis and Dromedasday at the Ongoing 24th Enugu International Trade Fair, on recently in Enugu. Photo: NAN

Fifteen Africans, includingsix Nigerians are among199 honourees who have

been selected for the 2013 YoungGlobal Leaders Award of theWorld Economic Forum (WEF)instituted by The DangoteFellowship.

Of the 15 honourees, eighthave been adjudged eligible forYoung Global Leaders (YGL)Dangote Fellowship, a fellowshipthat gives them the opportunityof being sponsored fully toregional and global events beingorganised by the WorldEconomic Forum.

Dangote Fellowship,instituted by the DangoteFoundation, has sponsored themembers of the Community ofthe YGLs to various privateprogrammes at the annualgeneral meeting of the NewChampions in China, WorldEconomic Forum in India,several meetings in Davos andthe WEF Educational Module inthe United State of America(USA).

Since its inception theDangote Fellowship programmehas funded 35 trips to 14 AfricanYoung Global Leaders, with the

By Ibrahim Kabir Sule

15 Africans bag Dangote - sponsored WorldEconomic Young Global Leaders awards

opportunity to increase theirparticipation to regional andglobal events organized by theWorld Economic Forum.

The Young Global Leaderaward is an honour bestowed bythe World Economic Forum eachyear to recognize the mostdistinguished leaders under theage of 40, nominated fromaround the world.

The beneficiaries come fromall parts of Africa and representthe diversity of the community.

Some of the past African YGLbeneficiaries of the fellowshipsponsorship include, ClareAkmanzi, Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Rwanda DevelopmentBoard (RDB), Rwanda; OsayiAlile Oruene, ExecutiveDirector, Fate Foundation,

Nigeria.Others include Mr. Akudo

Anyanwu Ikemba,Founder andChief Executive Officer, Friendsof the Global Fund Africa,Nigeria; Salim Amin,Chairman, A24 Media/Camerapix, Kenya; and KingsleyBangwell, Founder, YoungstarsFoundation, Nigeria.

Investors’ appetite for FederalGovernment of Nigeria(FGN) bonds appears to have

waned as the Debt ManagementOffice (DMO) records the lowestbids for bonds on offer at its mostrecent monthly auction held lastweek.

The DMO sold N35 billioneach of 5- and 10-year bonds,raising N70 billion ($440m)from a total bid of N132 billion atits regular debt auction lastWednesday. This compares withthe N105 billion of 5-, 7-, 10- and20-year bonds, sold in Februarywith total bids of N251.9 billion.

“We detect a cooling of interestamong offshore investors,” said

FBN Capital research analysts, ina note released Friday.

Last week’s sales by the DMOwere the lowest in the quarter,which might be a reflection of therecent approval of the 2013budget.

The Federal Government hasplans to issue approximatelyN528 billion worth of new bondsin 2013 (excluding rollovers torefinance maturing issues),compared with the N752 billionissued in 2012, according to datafrom the present budgetproposals.

The development in the bondsmarket may not be unconnected

with rallies in the equities marketand some macro-economicindicators.

FGN bond yields have notbroken the 10 percent threshold(in spite of single digit inflation)and have trended upwards latelywith the January 2022sreaching 11.3 percent on March8 .

Nigerian bonds have ralliedsince mid 2012 on the back ofBarclays and JP Morgan’sannouncement of indexinclusion.

FGN bonds made up 61.44percent of the domestic debt stockof N6.5 trillion at the end of 2012.

DMO records lowest bids in 4 months....as appetite for FGN bonds wanesFrom Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

Pepsi is rolling out a newshape for its 20-ouncebottle for the first time in

about 17 years.The new bottle has a contoured

bottom-half that appears easier togrip, and the wraparound label isshorter, so that more of the drink isexposed.

The change follows a numberof splashy moves in the past yearby PepsiCo to improve results forits namesake soda, including amulti-year deal to sponsor the USSuper Bowl halftime show and awide-ranging deal with pop star,Beyonce.

PepsiCo Inc., based in Purchase,NewYork, has been working torevitalise the brand after losingmarket share to Coca-Cola Co. inrecent years.

A PepsiCo spokeswoman,Andrea Foote said the new 20-ounce bottle is part of thecompany’s ongoing update ofmarketing and packagingmaterials for the cola.

The single-serve bottles, whichare widely sold in coolers atdrugstores and other retailers inthe US, will begin rolling out inApril. The new shape will also beused for the 16-ounce bottles, whicharen’t as common, as well as DietPepsi, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Next.(Source: Associated Press )

Pepsi rolls outnew shapefor 20-ouncebottle in April

The Niger Government saidon Wednesday that it hadentered into agreement with

some commercial banks to injectN17 billion over the next threeyears on rice cultivation in thestate.

The Commissioner forAgriculture, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, said this at Kuchin Worovillage in Lavun Local GovernmentArea during the disbursement ofrelief materials to victims of 2012flood.

He said 200, 000 hectares ofland would be cultivated with anexpectant annual yield of onemillion tons of rice.

Matane said that 100, 000farmers are expected to participatein the project, with each farmergetting two hectares for ricecultivation.

According to him, each hectreis projected to produce five tons asagainst the current yield of two tons.

“The farmers are expected tocultivate the rice all-year-round,thus ensuring that farmersparticipate in dry season farmingtoo instead of depending on rainwater for their farming.

“Each farmer will be providedhigh yielding seeds, fertiliser,herbicides, and harvesters amongother farming inputs that willguarantee them higher yield, withthe assistance of their extensionofficers.

Niger stategovernment tospend N17bn onrice project

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

Energy drinks can causehigh blood pressure andfatal heart problemsEnergy drinks may cause

high blood pressure andpotentially lethal heart

problems, new research hasfound.

Doctors are warning peoplewith high blood pressure to 'usecaution and judgment' beforedowning the drinks, after findingthey may increase blood pressureand disturb the heart's natural

Scientists find chocolate cuts risk of stroke

By Anna Hodgekiss rhythm.American researchers

analysed data from sevenpreviously published studies todetermine how consumingenergy drinks might impactheart health.

The pooled studies includedhealthy patients, aged 18 to 45.

In the first part of the pooledanalysis, the researchersexamined the QT interval - asegment of the heart's rhythm - of

93 people who had just consumedone to three cans of energy drinks.

They found that the QTinterval was 10 millisecondslonger for those who hadconsumed the energy drinks.

The QT interval describes asegment of the heart's rhythm onan electrocardiogram; whenprolonged, it can cause seriousirregular heartbeats or suddencardiac death.

Lead author Doctor SachinShah, assistant professor atUniversity of the Pacific in theUnited States, said: 'Doctors aregenerally concerned if patientsexperience an additional 30milliseconds in their QT intervalfrom baseline.

'QT prolongation is associatedwith life-threateningarrhythmias. The finding thatenergy drinks could prolong theQT, in light of the reports of suddencardiac death, warrants furtherinvestigation.'

The researchers also foundthat the systolic blood pressure,the top number in a blood pressurereading, increased an average of3.5 points in a pool of 132participants.

Doctors have warned the drinks may disturb the heart's naturalrhythm

By Simon Murphy

Energy drinksmay increasebloodpressure

drink muchcaffeine mighthave ane x a g g e r a t e dincrease in bloodpressure.

'People withhealth concernsor those who are

Dr Shahadded: 'Thec o r r e l a t i o nb e t w e e nenergy drinksand increasedsystolic bloodpressure isc o n v i n c i n ga n dconcerning,and morestudies areneeded toassess theimpact on theh e a r trhythm.

' P a t i e n t swith highb l o o dpressures orlong QTs y n d r o m eshould usecaution andj u d g m e n tb e f o r ec o n s u m i n gan energydrink.

' S i n c eenergy drinksalso containc a f f e i n e ,people who donot normally

older might have more heart-related side effects from energydrinks.'

The findings were presented atthe American Heart Association'sEpidemiology and Preventionconference.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

They found that thechocolate had an effect oncarbon dioxide levels whichaffected blood vessels,improved blood flow and, inturn, impacted on brain cells.

Professor Matthew Walters,who led the study, told TheMail on Sunday: 'Consumptionof a normal chocolate bar wasassociated with a change instiffness of the blood vessels.

'Our data is consistent witha direct effect of chocolate onthe brain blood vessels.

'It raises the possibilitythat there is a direct effect ofsome component of thechocolate on blood vessels.This is plausible because of theflavonoid moleculescontained in chocolate.

'We think a reduction instroke risk may be caused bychocolate changing how brainblood vessels behave.'

The beneficial flavonoids,found in the cacao plant andothers, are antioxidants thatcontribute to the preventionof heart disease.

However, chocolate alsohas a high sugar and fatcontent which can causeobesity - a definite risk factorfor strokes.

Tom Solomon, professor ofneurology at LiverpoolUniversity, said: 'We have totake the findings withcaution.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Research from GlasgowUniversity shows that eatingjust a single chocolate barhas a direct effect on thebrain and may cut the riskof stroke

The studyfound that thechocolate hadan effect oncarbondioxide levelswhich affectedblood vessels,improvedblood flowand, in turn,impacted onbrain cells

Previous research hasshown eating dark chocolate inmoderation could be good foryou. But the latest study, inthe journal Neurology, showsfor the first time how chocolateaffects blood vessels.

Researchers at GlasgowUniversity measured thespeed of blood flowing throughthe biggest artery in the brainwhile subjects ate chocolatelying down.

Just in time for Easter, it'sthe news chocolate lovershave dreamt of - official

confirmation that theirfavourite guilty pleasure canbe good for you.

New research shows thateating just a single chocolatebar has a direct effect on thebrain and may cut the risk ofstroke.


Army intercepts 14 tankerswith suspected stolen crudeNigerian Army 177

Guards Battalion KeffiNassarawa State, over

the weekend paraded 14suspected crude oil thieves,their tankers and five othermen who claim to becontractors with NigerianNational PetroleumCorporation (NNPC)

Addressing press menbefore parading the suspects,Commander Guards BrigadeAbuja, Brig. Gen EmmanuelAtewe said the 14 tankers wereintercepted by troops stationedat Toto check point in TotoLocal Government ofNasarawa State conveyingsubstance suspected to becrude oil stolen from AbajiArea Council of FCT

According Atewe, “On10th of March, 2013 at about16000hrs, troops of 177Guards Battalion stationed atToto checkpoint intercepted 14tankers conveying substancesuspected to be crude oil ontheir way to Kano.

“However, the owner of thesaid tankers, one Mr. JosephAmaechi attempted to bribeour troops which was outrightly rejected and theincidence promptly reportedto appropriate authority andthe tankers subsequently

impounded.The tankers were

immediately moved to 177Guards Battalion in Keffi whilethe owner and 15 others were

Training and capacity building will help Nigeria meet challenges

arrested”.The Guards Brigade

Commander also saidAmaechi admitted that he andother members of his

syndicate broke and siphonedcrude oil from NNPC pipelinealong Abaji FCT adding that1AK 47 riffle and a magazinewere recovered from one of the

suspects.Atewe further said with

preliminary investigationsinto the theft concluded by theNigerian Army Corps ofMilitary Police, the tankers aswell as the suspects will behanded over to theEconomic and Finan cialCrime Commission (EFCC) forfurther investigation andprosecution.

Speaking with the principalsuspect, Mr. Joseph Amaechi,an indigene of Amanachivillage of Orlu LocalGovernment Area of Imo Statesaid was introduced to the“business” by one MohammedTanko he met in Warri someyears back.

According to him “I was atrader selling cloths beforeMohammed introduce me tothe business”

The suspect said out of the14 tankers, 11 carried crudeoil, one kerosene while twocarried diesel.

Five of the suspects pleadednot guilty, arguing that theywere workers of a privatecompany whoseresponsibilities includedwatching over the NNPCpipelines.

Speaking with journalistafter the suspects were handedover to them, the Head ofcounter terrorism and generalinvestigation of EFCC AbujaBaba Mohammed described oiltheft as a nationalembarrassment noting thatthe commission will do itinvestigation thoroughly witha view to charge them to courtwhere they will know theirfate.

The Chief of DefenceIntelligent, (CDI) Maj.Gen. Sanni Audu has said

training and capacity buildingof personnel will enable Nigeriameet the growing securitychallenges adding that policydecisions must be taken withevery assurance that elementsof uncertainty are eliminated orreduced to the barest minimum.

Audu stated this recently inAbuja at the graduationceremony of National SecurityTraining Seminar (GALILEE)and the Advance DefenceIntelligence Officers’ Course 07/1 3 .

He noted that the NationalSecurity Training Seminar and

Advance Defence IntelligenceCollege Nigeria has beenaccredited and it is jointlycertificated for the first timebetween the Defence IntelligentCollege Nigeria and GalileeInternational ManagementInstitute (GIMI)

The CDI further said thisgraduation is a combination of twocourses and the first of its kind asthe institute’s nomenclature haschanged from DefenceIntelligence School to DefenceIntelligent College.

He also said that DefenceIntelligent Agency has gottenapproval to establish MedicalIntelligent Unit and a JointMilitary Attaches School which

will prepare potential DefenceAdviser/Attaches for diplomaticduties before reporting to missionarea.

Audu also noted that theAgency is poised more than everto provide qualitative educationand transform the fortune of theentire intelligence communityadding that any certificateawarded from the institution isrecognised internationally.

In his words, the Commandantof the College, CommodoreAdekunle Olawunmi said thecollege is in partnership with allMinistries, Department andAgencies to be able to curtail themenace of terrorism that hasbedevilled the country with ease.

Stories by Joy Baba

Some of the suspected oil thives and their tankers being paraded in 177 Battalion, Keffi, weekend. Photo: Joy Baba

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.General AzubuikeIhejirika said the

prevailing security challengesfacing the country made itinevitable for regular reviews ofexisting internal securityoperation techniques.

Ihejirika who wasrepresented by the Commander,Nigerian Army Training Centrestated this at training centre inKontagora, Niger State duringthe graduation of another batchof 705 soldiers trained in quickresponse.

The Army Chief saidgraduands have beensufficiently provided with therequisite combat skills to tacklethe challenges they are likely tomeet in the field.

He noted that thecontemporary securitychallenges of bombing andkilling of Nigerians called formission of specific training toensure that the security threatsare tackled proficiently.

According to him, “We havewitnessed an upsurge in acts ofterrorism characterized bybombings, senseless killings ofinnocent people, attacks onsecurity operatives and otheracts of violence”

“This has necessitated thereinvigoration of our trainingefforts. These challenges call forregular reviews of existinginternal security operationtechniques,” he added whilesaying that the course wasdesigned to equip them withbasic soldierly skills that willenable them fit into thetransformation programmes ofthe Nigerian Army.

Ihejirika calls for review ofsecurity operation technique

The Nigerian Army hasrefuted reports in somenewspapers recently that

fire gut the Chief of Army Staffoffice at the Army HeadquartersAbuja.

This was contained in astatement signed by the Directorof Army Public Relations (DAPR),Brig. Gen Attahiru Ibrahim.

According to the statement“It is indeed true that there wasa fire incident as a result of anelectrical surge in one of the air

conditioners at the ArmyHeadquarters Conference Roomin Abuja.

“The incident whichoccurred on Wednesday 20March, 2013 between 6.00 p.m.to 6.30 p.m. was promptly putoff by vigilant personnel on dutyincluding our own fire serviceoperatives using existing routinefire drills and men of the Federal

Fire Service. “It is important to state that

the minor fire incident did notoccur in the Office of the Chief ofArmy Staff as reported in somedailies. It was localised withinthe conference room”.

DAPR also said in thestatement that there was nocasualty or loss of anydocument.

Fire not in COAS office- Army Chief of Army Staff, Lt. GeneralAzubuike Ihejirika


Navy use N45,000 bait to nab 3members of fake job syndicateNigerian Navy, in line

with its zero tolerancefor criminality both

afloat and ashore said it has usedN45, 000 bait, to nab 3 membersof a fake recruitment syndicatein Abuja.

Commander, Naval Unit,Mogadishu Cantonment AbujaCommodore Segun Adebaristated this over the weekend inAbuja while addressingjournalist at the cantonment.

Adebari said the fakesyndicate fell for a bait of N45,000.00 which they wanted topersonally collect from one of

their victim noting that theyhad previously collected N150,000.00 from one Mr Bulus Dojewho fell for their fraudulentantics.

The arrested members of thesyndicate are; Paul AgadeManyep, AnthonyNgbeMonjack and Samuel EnochZamai.

He also said the ringleaderof the suspected syndicate, whocoordinates the fake training atAtu primary school Atimbo,Calabar, one Mr. MorrisOkorobi Effiong also based inCalabar is still at large and isbeing trailed.

The Naval Commander

further said that at the time ofarrest, the 3 members of thesyndicate had the followingitems on them; Fake NigerianNavy Identity cards,photocopies of credentialsbelonging to severalindividuals, mobile phones,Navy uniforms andaccoutrement and a MitsubishiLancer with registrationA2808LND.

The suspects however deniedany wrong doing, insteadclaiming to be victims of asyndicate in the Nigerian Navy.

They were later handed overto the police for furtherprosecution.

By Joy Baba

The Nigerian NavalEngineering College(NNEC) Sapele, Delta State

will soon be upgraded to the statusof a University.

Commandant of the College,Rear Admiral Akinjola Johnsonrevealed this when he paid acourtesy call on the President ofthe Council for the Regulation ofEngineering in Nigeria,(COREN), Engr. Ibikunle

Ogunbayo in Abuja.Rear Admiral Johnson said

the main purpose of the visit wasto seek possible ways ofcollaborating with COREN whichis a regulatory body forprofessional advice since theNNEC is an engineering basedinstitution.

The Commandant statedhowever that, as part of theNavy’s efforts to localise overseastraining, the Nigerian Navyestablished the Nigerian Navy

Naval Engineering College Sapele to get university status

Oil theft: JTF arrest 33 thieves

By Miriam Humbe

By Joy Baba

The Joint Task Force in theNiger Delta region, code-named Operation Pulo

Shield, recently said it hadarrested thirty three oil thievesout of which three areforeigners (two Ghanians anda Togolese) and the remaining30 Nigerians.

This was contained in astatement signed by the MediaCoordinator, JTF; Lt. Col.Onyema Nwachukwu.

Nwachukwu, further saidin the statement that thesuspects were arrested on boardtwo vessels, MV GIFT and MVTiGER FISH.

He said the operatives of theoutfit also seized the vesselsduring multiple raids theyconducted along the FederalOcean Terminal Onne, RiversState.

The JTF media coordinatoralso said the raids lasted 19days, adding that the arrestedvessels had been secured at the2nd Brigade Nigerian Army,Gunboat Company, Onne.

The statement added thatthe suspects and samples of theproducts have been handed overto authorities of the NigerianSecurity and Civil DefenceCorps in Rivers State for furtherinvestigation and prosecution.

Nwachukwu said JTFintercepted 10 barges ladenwith illegal petroleum productsalong Delta and Bayelsa stateswaterways.

He said over 143 illegalrefineries discovered by theoperatives along Obi Ayagbo,Otu Jeremi, Gbekebor, Esere,Ajugbo, Tigbubeni andIgbamatoru were destroyed insitu.

“Patrol troops of the JTF

Technical Training Centre at atemporary site in Port Harcourtin 1982.

According to him, the basewhich was renamed NigerianNaval Engineering NavalEngineering College in 2003, hasseven schools namely, MarineEngineering, Automobile,Nuclear, Biological. Others areChemical Defence School whichincludes Damage Control andFire Fighting Training and AirEngineering Schools.

Johnson also said theaccreditation process for HigherNational Diploma (HND)electrical electronics technologyand for ND and HND in Marineengineering technology was inprogress and had reached anadvanced stage.

Responding, the CORENpresident, Engr. IbikunleOgunbayo said the Actestablishing COREN mandatedit to regulate the practice andtraining of engineering

personnel in the country.Engr. Ogunbayo clarified

that COREN would notcompromise in ensuring thestandard and quality ofengineering programmes run inthe nation’s tertiaryinstitutions.

The COREN Presidentexpressed the need for a pre-visitation of the institution toascertain the level ofpreparedness of the college beforeembarking on full accreditation.

R-L: Former Director of Defence Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima handing over to the new Director,Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade at Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

have also arrested eight trucksconveying suspected illegalpetroleum products along AkimAkim village in Odukpani LocalGovernment Area of CrossRiver State and Abudu pumpstation along Sapele road of EdoState, while 70 Cotonu boatsand 214 storage tanks caughtindulged in oil theft relatedactivities” the statementfurther said

Commander, Naval Unit, Mogadishu Cantonment AbujaCommodore Segun Adebari

Alledged illegal oil bunkers


Africa: New frontier for global food security - Adesina

At the recently concludedForum for the future ofAgriculture in Brussels,

Belgium, the Minister ofAgriculture and RuralDevelopment, Dr. AkinwumiAdesina, opened up on thestrategic positioning of Africa infeeding the world, producingrenewable energy and whatpolicies the countries within thecontinent must pursue to realisethese and minimise the adverseconsequences of climate change.

Farmers and their voice orpolitical power If you take a lookat agriculture in Nigeria, orother African countries, 80 percent of the farmers are smallholder farmers. But being smallholder farmers does not meanthat they cannot produce and betechnically or economicallyefficient.

For the small holder farmers,the real challenges that they facehave to do with technology,markets, finance andinfrastructure, organisationalcapacity to engage markets, andwe are investing heavily on that.You can only achieve this kind ofrevolution when you havemillions and millions of smallholder farmers participating.

The experience of greenrevolution in Asia was not by largefarmers. It was actually by smallfarmers. So, small holder farmersare technically and economicallyefficient. They just need to have anumber of boundary conditionsdealt with, which are finance,infrastructure, market access,information and insurance, inparticular, in the context ofclimate change.

The issue of pitting the smallholder farmers versus large inAfrica is not the right kind ofbifurcation that we need. Africahas a lot of land. We just have to beable to optmise around small holderfarming population. Medium scalefarmers and large scale farmerscan actually co-exist.

Africa, today, is where the landfrontier is. When we talk aboutlarge scale farmers, we aresensitive to the issue ofenvironment. We are sensitive tothe issue of local ownership. Therevolution we are talking aboutmust be an inclusive one thatcreates robust opportunities formillions of small holder farmers.That is where our focus is.

Foreign money inflow, urbangrowth and land grab We shouldnot be afraid of growth. Africaclearly needs a lot of foreign directinvestment. We have takenagriculture in Nigeria as abusiness, a business that createswealth for millions of our people.

For that you need a lot ofcapital. So, we encourage a lot offoreign direct investment and alsodomestic investors. In Nigeria'sagriculture, in the last one yearwe have been able to attract $8billion worth of foreign directinvestment commitments into ouragriculture.

We don't encourage land grab.It is a partnership in which thebusiness is coming to invest theirmoney, whether in processingcapacity or in feedlot. However,the voluntary code of conduct hasto be respected in the sense that theright of the community has to beprotected. The communities musthave a share in a lot of thesebusinesses. We have to make surein particular that women are notdisempowered when things likethese happen and that we usemodern agriculture, when it comes

in, to build our own capacity.For example, in Taraba, one of

our states up in the north, we set astrategy for us to be self-sufficientin rice. Nigeria is the largestimporter of rice in the world today.It makes absolutely no sense. Wecan produce rice all the way fromthe north of Nigeria to the deepsouth mangrove land. It is all aboutfinance and technology. We wereable to attract an investor, whichis Dominion Farms, the largestproducer of rice in Kenya, intoNigeria.

They are putting in domesticinvestment of $40 million. Thetotal enterprise is about 30,000hectares. That is not 30,000hectares for the investor. Theinvestor only gets 3,000 hectares.The rest of it is actually inoutgrowers' schemes in which thecommunities are in outgrowers'schemes. A lot of the youth, about15,000 youth will have landallocated to them, to have theirown farms and they will be able toproduce paddy and supply to aworld class mill.

That is the win-winpartnership that Africa needs. Toavoid win-lose, we need to improvetransparency in how these kindsof investments are done in Africa.We have to make sure that thecommunities are involved. Wehave to make sure they know whatthey sign; the legal issues thatsupport their communities. Thatis where the issues of civil societies'support is very important. InNigeria we are not doing the issueof large scale people coming andgrabbing land.

Selling out land to foreignersWhen you have a situation whereAfrica is where the land frontier is;to be able to meet the global foodsupply that we have to all need tofeed 9 billion people by 2050, thereis no doubt that we all have to havea lot more larger farms and a lotmore foreign direct investments.What is important is how youmanage them, to make sure thatconcerned farmers areempowered; that things aretransparent; that small holderfarmers are not displaced; that you

do not go into excessivemechanisation; things thatdestroy the ecosystem.

The responsible investmentframework that was put togetherby FAO, IFAD and the World Bankis the way to look at it. There is acompact between the businesssector and the communities thatthis has to work for thecommunities.

Climate change, flood, farmingand Sub-Saharan Africa Climatechange is here to stay. We have tofind a way of adapting under acontext of climate change. Thereare number of things we can do,but we have to prioritise. We mustdeploy intelligent technologies forremote sensing and satelliteimagery that allow you to be ableto predict - through early warningsystems - seasonal forecasts, howmuch rain you are going to get,how much inundation for flood areyou going to get; how fast is thatflood water going to recede so thatyou can do flood recessionagriculture.

In other words, we cannotmanage agriculture as before. Wehave to manage agricultureintelligently with modern tools. InNigeria, last year, we had adevastating flood, which was theworst in several decades in thecountry. There was a lot of hue andcry in the media. A lot of peoplewere saying that there was goingto be food crisis by December inNigeria. Big importers of food tookadvantage of that: they wanted tocreate another flood, which was toflood the market with a lot of cheapfoods.

What I basically did was thatwe approached the InternationalWater Management Institute,which is the world's leading centrefor water management, to deployremote sensing analysis andsatellite imagery.

What we were able to show wasthat the total area that wasinundated was about 1.4 millionhectares. And the area in whichwe suffered crop loss was 467,000hectares. You have got to put thatin perspective because the totalarea cultivated in Nigeria was 40

million hectares, which was 1.17per cent of the area. Using science,using modern tools, helps you tomake evidence-based policies, notbased on hues and cries in themedia.

The second thing that isimportant for us to do is the issue ofinsurance. The World Bank haspiloted a number of countries.Syngentaand others have pilotedgood models of how you insurefarmers under a context of climatechange with index insuranceschemes. What we have to do is toscale up these weather insuranceschemes. The cost of developing theinsurance scheme is the problemand the affordability for the poor.For the cost of developing it,government should subsidise theupfront development of these, sothat you get a lot more insurancecompanies into the mix. And thepremiums will go down as thatcompetition eats in.

But in terms of access byfarmers, government mustsubsidise the access to weatherinsurance for millions of farmersunder a climatechange. In areaswhere you have susceptibility tofloods, the federal government, likein Nigeria, state governments andlocal governments,ought to worktogether and put in place area-based flood insurance schemeswhere you can insure thecommunities that are involved.Other things have to be done. Whenyou have flood, for instance, you'vegota lot of water. When the floodwater recedes and you don't have away of harnessing that water, youlose all the water. So we really havetoinvest in managing water.

Weather insurance as an assetin Nigeria If you take a look at thesmall holder farmers, they puteverything into it. They are verypoor farmers. They invest in seeds,they investin fertilisers. If they loseall that, they've probably lost mostof their assets. If they are investingin chickens or in goats, or other smallruminants, if they are hit by ashock, they lose everything.

Their ability to recover whenthey have a shock is compromisedunless you are insuring them.

Nobody likes to do insurance. Peopledon't like to pay for insurance.

However, under this context,it will be irresponsible ofgovernments not to insure theirfarmers in the face of the kind ofclimate shocks we are going tohave. Is there going to be morefloods or a lot more droughts? Thefarmers themselves are not goingto demand insuranceproductsbecause, in most cases, they arenot even aware of such products.But, like in Kenya, Syngenta hasan interesting programme, wherethey actually help the farmers toinsure their seeds and fertilisers, ifyou lose some of your seeds andfertilisers, then yougetreimbursed.

We cannot, as governments,abandon farmers. That has alwaysbeen the challenge in Africa; thatthe farmers are not well organisedand so people can afford to ignorethem. But the times are changing,and the cost of inaction insupporting our farmers is muchmore than the cost of action. I thinkwe should support a lot morefarmers with insurance scheme atscale under the context of climatechange.

GM technology potential In acontext where you have challengeslike increased drought, increasedflood, rapid growth of pests anddiseases, you do need to have acombination of conventional andnon-conventional technologies ifyou are going to address all theshocks and feed the world andstabilise food supplies. I actuallydon't think we should be afraid ofalot of these new technologies. We'vegot to manage them.

Take for example,biotechnology. Biotechnology hasa huge potential in agriculture inraising yield, in stabilisingproduction, in enhancingnutrition in crops. For example, inAfrica today, we have the orange-fleshed sweet potato.

Olukayode is of the FederalMinistry of Agriculture andRural Development

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (middle), discussing with some participants, during the Forum forthe Future of Agriculture, recently in Brussels.

By Dr Oyeleye Olukayode


Nigerian scientists can help with theintellectual capability on biotechnology-HeapCan you clarify on the

significance about technology in the develop-

ment of agriculture in Africa,and why has B4FA suddenlydeveloped interest in the con-tinent?

The point about the agricul-tural technology for developmentin Africa is that the interest de-rives from the fact that the yieldof cereals in particular in Africahas not improved to any greatextent over the

last sixty to hundred years,while in a lot of countries, for ex-ample China or in Europe the yieldhave been growing up all the timebut cereals in Africa has beenflapped.

The question is, can we find amethod of helping to increase theyield of cereals and one of the waysof doing this of course, is to use amore intensive agriculture butthat of course has risk because ithas an effect on the environmentand it can have a negative effecton the environment by the over-use of fertilized chemicals, an al-ternative will be to up ways inwhich we can introduce genes intoploughs that will increase the yieldand that is the area of particularinterest because it might help toreduce the amount of chemicalsthat you used to increase produc-tion.

So, that is why biotechnologyhas significance to yield and theother potential is the possibilitythat you can introduce genes thatimproves the nutritive value ofthe plant. So you might be able tointroduce the vitamin, the im-proved vitamin that will actuallyenable people, in particular thechildren who eat the grain or therice in this case help to get a highlevel of vitamin A because thismay aid deficiency in cereals prob-lem and for human health so thisis the two areas yield number one,number two, the possibility of im-proving the nutritive value ofcrops.

The second question you askedis why we've chosen Africa as ourpoint of call in this project. So whenI was approached by Dr. JackTempleton who is the Chairmanof Templeton Foundation in Phila-delphia in USA, who succeeded hisfather, Sir John Templeton, whois the man who made all themoney from the stock marketwhich he then used for philan-thropy for doing good in differentpart of the world. Jack

Templeton, a son of Sir JohnTempleton, helped then to developa program on genetic and in par-ticular on GM crops and he askedme whether I will be interested indoing the project in GM crops, helpto feed the world and I said yes, Iwould be interested in it becausethe Templeton Foundation allowsus to do that study without anyinvolve of industry or any inter-ested parties so, we can do it inde-pendently, and that's the reason Ibecame involved. Number one,independence- we can actuallysay we think is the position with-out any outside influence fromanybody else and the second rea-son is because there is particularneed in Africa for the reason I'vementioned to you that yields havenot gone off, your population is in-creasing, there is going to be more

inside. That is what we are aim-ing for so the science will help pro-vide the policy makers with de-tailed information at the back.

Do you see this project suc-ceeding in Nigeria or Africa?

Yes I do see it because I thinkit's got some very bright side herebeyond the scientist and you builda lot of enthusiasm in Nigeria.

You've got to be leaders in Af-rica here. Well at the moment; thethree countries that have alreadyput the legislation in place areSouth Africa, Burkina Faso andEgypt. Nigeria is lacking behind.Now let's just think about this be-cause there are a number of othercountries that are looking up thepossibility of passing the legisla-tion. You cannot grow GM cropsunless you have the legislation inplace. You cannot because if youdo, you are doing it illegally andthat is not correct, so you have topass the bio-safety bill, you haveto help the legislating testing pro-cedures, you have to have the vot-ing procedures. It takes a longtime, it may take years to get tothe point where you can actuallygrow this crops commercially,but, the three countries which Imentioned can grow this cropscommercially but there arehardly any other countries in Af-rica but that notwithstanding,biotechnology will prove to helpbenefit what we could build on inNigeria and you will help with theintellectual capability to do that.

How much do you think Ni-geria in particular and Africaat large is missing out of thissuperlative enterprise?

We visited a few laboratorywhich is bio national safety; na-tional biotechnology laboratory inNigeria and that is an example ofwhere you make the big statementwhen you setup the laboratorythat was very important but youhave to help the investment be-cause this is not a cheap technol-ogy, you have to actually build onit and build for future success soyou have to have a long term use.It's not going to happen in the nexttwo to three years, so you need tolook good and plan your strategicdevelopment to apply in the nexteight to ten years, that's essential.It's not a short term thing but it issomething of considerable prom-ise but I repeat it's the only answer,it fits in with a lot of other thingsthat have to happen at the sametime including particularly infra-structure. Your infrastructure isimproving all the time and I thinkthat is fantastic what you've donebecause if you do grow this cropyou've got to find ways of whichyou can transport them readilyand people who want to trade withthem will want to enter into tradeagreement as well. That of courseis where you are going to get profitback into your system.

At the recently concluded training of the Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA), SirBrian Heap, President, European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) andProject Leader, opened up on the need for African leaders be open-minded about thepotential application of biosciences for farming on the continent. In this interview withMohammed Kandi, Heap was optimistic that the future of bio-technology driven agric-business lay in Africa with right technologies and legislation in place. Excerpts:

hungry in Africa. Therefore wehave to (you are a scientist, thewhite will be very pleased to in-teract with your scientists) see ifwe can find ways to actually en-hance the productivity of crops inAfrica so that's the reason whyAfrica was chosen.

How will you describe thelevel of successes recorded sofar in Africa, is the organiza-tion making progress and ac-cording plan?

Well, if you listen to the con-versation we just had, it does soundas if there is a feeling that scien-tists should be big involved in theefficacy in Africa. But I think we'vegot to be more careful about sin-gling out GM on its own. GM is onlyone technology; there is a wholerange of other technologies thathave to be developed, for example,you have to look at ways of im-proving the saving of soil structureinstead of plowing the land with

so I think it's unwise to single outGM and not other parties. I thinkit's very important because otherplant breeders and the youngplant breeders we met in this hallmeeting have a very importantrole to play because they are us-ing what we call conventionalplant breeding, that is, using thegenomics of what we now knowas genes and using that to actu-ally find ways of which we canidentify genes that are in theplant and breed them and causethem to produce hybrid that willthen give you this high produc-tivity. That's not GM, that's con-ventional plant breeding with

what we call maker assistantbreeding. So, I think that is thenumber three. The number four;well, I am involved with the Euro-pean Academies Science AdvisoryCouncil (EASAC). Because wehave a number of reports address-ing plant biotechnology, plant ge-netic resources and these policystatements that we make whichare based on science policymarker, now are carrying out astudy which will be published inJune, which is looking at the ques-tion for European policy makers.Are you aware just how much it'sdeveloping in different parts of theworld, in North America, in SouthAmerica, in China, in India, inSouth-east Asia where biotechnol-ogy is roaring ahead and is devel-oping? And the two areas of theworld where biotechnology is notdeveloping is Europe in one handand Africa in the other hand. Eu-rope, in this study that we are go-Sir Brian Heap

A cross section of participants at the just concluded training of the B4FA, with world-famous Oxfordscientist, Chris Leaver, recently in Abuja. Photo: Julia Vitullo-Martin

hand, you use better method orwhat is called tillage which is justturning over the surface withoutactually destroying the soil struc-ture. It's very important we findway in preserving the water inthe soil and to bring out waterfrom the accurate source to theycould help to provide water for thedeveloping crop. It's also very im-portant to think about ways of re-ducing the waste because veryoften, food is wasted and some-thing like 30% to 40% of food thatis grown never reaches people'smouth, it's wasted because it de-teriorates or is attacked by pestsor diseases or is just thrown away,

ing to publish in June, we are go-ing to be asking a question, towhat extent is this policies inBristol and the negative effect onthe development of this technolo-gies in African countries, so, therewill be quite a news and an issueas far as policy making is concern.

What is your advice for Ni-geria and African policy mak-ers in terms of bio-technologydriven agriculture?

I think my advice to policymakers of Africa is that it's impor-tant to be open-minded and to beready to examine the system verycarefully because policy is basedon understanding of what we do


Nigeria and the fight against tuberculosis

The World Tuberculosis Day wasmarked on Sunday, March 24, tostimulate public awareness

about the menace of tuberculosis andglobal efforts to eliminate the disease.

The day, which is observed everyyear, commemorates the day in 1882when Dr Robert Koch dazzled thescientific community with hisdiscovery of TB bacillus -- the germ thatcauses tuberculosis.

Prior to Koch's announcement ofthe discovery in Berlin, tuberculosishad been raging through Europe andthe Americas, causing deaths.

Koch's discovery opened thechannel for the diagnosis and therapyof tuberculosis.

However, in spite of the global anti-tuberculosis efforts, the disease stillcauses the death of not less than 1.7million people each year, particularlyin the developing countries.

In 1982, the 100th anniversary ofthe proclamation of Robert Koch'sdiscovery, the International UnionAgainst Tuberculosis and Lung Disease(IUATLD) proposed that March 24 ofevery year should be officiallydesignated as the World TuberculosisDay.

In 1996, the World HealthOrganisation partnered with theIUATLD and some concernedorganisations to increase the globalimpact of World Tuberculosis Day.

Medical experts say thattuberculosis is a common, infectiousand, in many cases, lethal disease thatis caused by various strains ofmycobacteria, usuallymycobacterium tuberculosis.

The bacterium typically attacks aperson's lungs but it can also affect otherparts of the body. It is spread throughthe air when people with TB infectioncough or sneeze.

However, the cheery news is thattuberculosis can be cured, if isdiagnosed early and treated with aregimen of drugs.

For instance, Mr Yusuf Saddiq, acivil servant, who was suffering fromtuberculosis some months ago, saysthat he is now hale and hearty.

Saddiq recalls that he once visitedthe Directly Observed TreatmentCentre, Maitama General Hospital,Abuja, with some complaints of fever,cough, fatigue and loss of appetite,which lasted for about five weeks.

He says that his sputum wascollected and tested, while it waseventually confirmed that he wassuffering from tuberculosis.

Saddiq says that he later underwenta six-month therapy, in which follow-up sputum tests were carried out twiceto gauge his response to treatment.

``Finally, I was declared cured oftuberculosis and all my treatment wasfree of charge.

`Ì advise all those with persistentcough that lasted more than two weeksto get their sputum specimens testedso as to ascertain if they are sufferingfrom tuberculosis or not,'' he adds.

Saddiq's advice is very muchdesirable, as experts insist that in spiteof being a curable disease; tuberculosisis still a major health problem indeveloping countries, Nigeria

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health

By Abiemwense Moru andKabiru Ibrahim

“A specialist in veterinary public health,warns that the consumption of raw milk

from cow could cause a variant oftuberculosis known as bovine

tuberculosis.

inclusive, causing the death of manypeople each year.

Dr Saddiq Abdurrahman, theCoordinator of Tuberculosis andLeprosy Control Programme at thePublic Health Department of the FCTAdministration (FCTA), insists that thegovernment and all stakeholdersshould make collective efforts to fighttuberculosis.

``The theme for this year's WorldTB Day, just like that of last year, is ̀ Callfor a world free of TB; Stop TB in mylifetime'.

`Ìt is a call on government at alllevels, development partners,individuals, philanthropists, families,communities and infested persons tomake concerted efforts to stop TB herein FCT and in Nigeria as a whole.

``The World TB Day also means aworldwide call to mobilise political willand ensure social commitment.

``This annual event, however,offers an unparalleled opportunity toraise awareness about the burden of TB,with the view to improving TBtreatment and prevention as well asongoing efforts by the government in

that regard,'' he says.Abdurrahman says that increased

public awareness of the disease couldbring about a change in the people'sperception, attitudes and practiceswith regard to TB prevention andtherapy.

He, nonetheless, underscores theneed for all the stakeholders tostrengthen community participation inthe TB control programme so as toachieve the programme's set targetsand ensure its sustainability.

`Ìn FCT, as we are aware,treatment for TB is free; everythingabout TB treatment right from thephase of the disease's diagnosis up tothe disease's curative stage isabsolutely free.

``The disease, which is an airbornedisease, is caused by a germ calledmycobacterium tuberculosis; it isspread via coughing and sneezing andit is transmitted by a person sufferingfrom the disease to others within thevicinity.

``The signs and symptoms varyfrom persistent cough for more thantwo weeks to other conditions such as

low-grade fever, weight loss, loss ofappetite, restlessness and so on.

``Besides, TB is known to be one ofthe most important opportunisticinfections afflicting HIV-positivepersons; so, it is one of the diseases thatmust be dealt with immediately whendetected among persons living withHIV because it is like a death sentence,''he says.

Abdurrahman says that TBtreatment is free and available in mostof the health facilities across the FCT,particularly at designated treatmentcentres known as Directly ObservedTreatment (DOT) Centres.

``These centres cut across bothpublic and private health facilities inthe FCT and they are located in all thesix area councils of the FCT,'' he adds.

He says that the FCTA has been ableto acquire a TB-testing machine whichwas approved in December 2010 bythe WHO.

The machine, according to him, iscapable of processing a sputum samplefor results within two hours.

Abdurrahman, however, advisespersons with persistent cough andfeverish conditions to visit any of thetreatment centres for TB diagnosis andtreatment.

Nevertheless, Dr Wesley Nafarnda,a specialist in veterinary public health,warns that the consumption of raw milkfrom cow could cause a variant oftuberculosis known as bovinetuberculosis.

He says that the form oftuberculosis, which is caused bymycobacterium bovis, is transmittedfrom cattle to humans primarilythrough the consumption ofunpasteurised (raw) milk or milkproducts containing the bacteria.

``Pasteurisation is the process ofheating liquids or foods to destroy allbacteria that are harmful to health andthe process ensures that milk and milkproducts are safe for humanconsumption,'' he adds.

Nafarda reiterates that bovinetuberculosis could be contacted fromcattle, adding, therefore, that milk fromcattle should first be pasteurised beforedrinking it.

He argues that raw milk and milkproducts should be adequatelypasteurised so as to ensure their safetyfor human consumption.

Conceding that milk has severalnutritional benefits, Nafarda,nonetheless, insists that tangible effortsshould be made to sensitise the peopleto the potential health hazards ofingesting raw, unprocessed milk.

``Considering the innumerablehealth benefits of cow milk and the highlevel of its consumption in Nigeria, Ithink efforts to increase the publicawareness of the possible healthhazards of ingesting raw milk will behighly beneficial,'' he adds.

Medical experts, nonetheless, insistthat the government and otherstakeholders should make concertedefforts to tackle the menace oftuberculosis, using variousapproaches.

``For a disease that continues tosurvive, even 130 years after RobertKoch's historic breakthrough, greaterefforts ought to be made to stamp itout,'' some of the experts add.Source: NAN


Transcript:Briefing on Mali by U.S. Ambassador tothe Republic of Mali, Mary Beth Leonard and U.S.Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley. (II)

My name is OghoghoObayuwana, I amwith the Guardian of

Abuja. While the French forcesare out of Mali, nobody is sure[words unclear] of theprobability of [word unclear].[Words unclear] the role ofAFRICOM, the U.S. highcommand will play in post-crisis Mali. [Question unclear].

[Ambassador McCulley] Letme take part of that and see ifAmbassador Leonard in Bamakowants to add on. In the first place,the French forces remain in Maliand remain actively engaged inso far I can tell from reading thenews reports. With regards to U.S.support to AFISMA, we areproviding training through ourAfrica contingency operationstraining, which is ourpeacekeeping package, which ismanaged by the Department ofState. Traditionally we areproviding lifts to the some of thetroop-contributing countries.Certainly we do not envisagehaving U.S. forces on the ground.We are looking at training in-country, whether it be in Togo orNiger. The Nigerian contingentthat is part of AFISMA, the 333rd,has just finished the training in Jajiup in Kaduna, before they weredeployed to Mali. So from the U.S.side we very much look at this as atrain and equip package and asustainment package, which willprovide life support to the troopson the ground in Mali and pre-deployment training. I don'tknow, Ambassador, if there isanything you would like to add?

(Ambassador Leonard) Ithink I got the gist of the question.Indeed the French forces are stillhere. You speak of the departureof French forces and I thinkobviously there are sort of timelinequestions that are best addressedto the French government. I thinkit is clear that they have acommitment to making sure thattheir departure does notundermine the successes thathave been already realized in thenorth of Mali. I think the broaderanswer to your question is thatthere has been some very goodwork done by French and Nigerianand Chadian and AFISMA andMalian forces in re-establishingthe territorial integrity of Mali andcontrol of its north. That is not ashort term process. Ultimately, asFrance is no longer in a leadingrole, there is a great deal of work tobe done, both in the re-establishment of the Malianmilitary and the continued workof AFISMA forces, and ultimatelyit comes down to the same, in someways the same questions that wehave all looked at for several years.At the end of the day it will be Mali

and its neighbors and its partnersin the region, who together withinternational support, must be ableto address and to solve the securityforce threats that it faces in theNorth of Mali. And I think thatinternational support, U.S. supportto that longer term effort ofregional coordination, in supportof regional security, will continue.

I am SekuTanyada [ph]from Afri-Cable TV [ph]. Iwould like to know if we canestablish a link between themilitary operation here in Maliand the terrorist activity ofBoko Haram. Can we say themilitary operation in Mali hasreduced the terrorist activitiesfor Bokoo Haram in Nigeria?

(Ambassador McCulley) Iwould say that, as my colleaguepointed out, this issue has aregional dimension. And clearlythe government of Nigeria is veryconcerned about the situation innorthern Mali. We are allconcerned with the influx after thefall of Muammar Gaddafi ofweapons and extremists. We haveseen reports for years of BokoHaram extremists travelling tonorthern Mali for training andthen returning to Nigeria. TheBoko Haram phenomena has notstopped as a result of the operationsgoing on in northern Mali, I dobelieve the Nigerians feel there is alink between terrorist activity inthe Sahel and their internalextremist insurgency. Thegovernment of Nigeria clearlyneeds to address this issue withwhat we called for, a multi-prongedapproach that focuses generally onthe security threat that BokoHaram represents, but also inaddressing the economic and socialconditions that exist in the north.Communicating to northernpopulations in [words unclear]from the depredations of theseextremist attacks. 2,000 peoplekilled since 2009. Acomprehensive strategy that goesafter extremists without injuringinnocent civilians, without killinginnocent civilians, respectinghuman rights and respecting therule of law. But clearly the crisisaffecting Mali and the region ingeneral has an effect upon theinsurgency in northern Nigeria.

( Q u e s t i o n ] J o h nGambrell,Associated Press. Goodafternoon. This is a question for

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley.

Ambassador McCulley. I was inKanu last week and speaking theleaders there, they have a greatconcern about the U.S. opening adrone base in Niger. Does the U.S.have any plans for these drones tobe used in Nigeria? Have Nigerianauthorities asked any questionsdiplomatically about the use ofthese drones and how do youaddress mounting concerns aboutthe U.S. opening a drone base hereafter some drone strikes have killedcivilians in other parts of the world.

(Ambassador McCulley)John, hello. I think that questionis probably best addressed by theDepartment of Defense or mycolleague Ambassador BisaWilliams. The issue will still comeup in the Nigerian press and it hasbeen addressed by the Departmentof Defense. I don't really think thisis an appropriate forum tocomment on that. The Nigerianshave not raised this issue with usformally.

I am Abdulkadir Isa, I writefor People's Daily newspaper.Talking of a permanentsolution, the landmark of Maliis too wide for 7,000 troops and

before AmadouToure wasousted, we saw the claims bySanogo of widespreadcorruption. Because in 2011 thetransparency index, was thatMali was 78th on thetransparency index, anddramatically dropped to 105.What is the UN and all the otherparties doing to check this?Have they verified the claimsand what are they doing tosolve this

(Ambassador Leonard) I askthat the question be rephrased, Ididn't follow the second half so well.

(Ambassador McCulley)The question relates to, the firstpart of it was, refers to the hugesize of Mali and the relative sizeof AFISMA and associatedtroops, which are about 7,000.He stepped into asking how theUnited States are going toaddress the problem ofcorruption in Mali. He referredto a Transparency Internationalranking of 78 before the coupand dropping to 105 recently,and what is the United Statesand the UN going to do toaddress this issue?

ANALYSIS (Ambassador Leonard) Yesokay, thank you for that question.The north of Mali is a very largeplace and I think there is anunderstanding that merelyclearing or evacuating extremistsfrom their ability to control the keynorthern cities, as they have done,is not the only task at hand. And itwill be a longer term issue, as Ireferred to earlier, of working withbordering nations, how do theycontrol their borders, how do theyparticipate with Mali and otherforces in the region in that longerterm effort of territorial control.There has been a terrorist presencein the north of Mali since 2006 andwon't be gone in 2 weeks. So it's nota question merely of 7,000 AFISMAtroops, but a longer term effort ofsupport to reform and reconstituteMali's own armed forces and towork with all the neighbors in theregion as well as internationalsupport to address that issue. It isnot a short term task. On the issueof corruption, I think that goes verymuch to the comment I madeearlier about the inter-relatednature of the crisis in Mali. Thereis a problem of rebellion, there is aproblem of governance. Then inthe period after the coup, manypolitical and civil society actorshave identified areas of the way inwhich the government of Maliinteracted with its citizens, thedegree to which Malian politicalactors and civil society perhapsfailed to challenge things that theysaw that were not right, and thatin a culture which puts a great dealof emphasis on consensus anddialogue, that perhaps that hasundermined the very importanthabit in a democracy ofchallenging activities by yourgovernment or by your neighborsand fellow citizens. I think thatis part of the longer termconversation. Mali'sgovernance crisis or politicalcrisis wil l not be solved byelections. It is the importantf irst step towards solvingthat. But I think in the periodafter e lect ions thatconversat ion about Mali 'sdemocratic culture needs tocontinue and I frequentlyhave conversations with thejournalists in this room withme here, with Malianpol i t ical part ies and withcivil society about needing totake that role of a fa i thfulopposition or of a critic or ofa someone who requiresthings more seriously. Therole of a responsible citizenwithin a democracy is tointeract with one'sgovernment and if one seessomething that is lacking oris at fault, to act peacefully andwork with other Malian voices forchange. That is going to be aconversation in Mali for some timeto come.

(Moderator) Thank you.That concludes today's call.

Concluded

By Abdulkadir Isa

On the other hand, while the Chinese leader toil underthe African sun to deepen engagement and co-operationwith the continent in first ever foreign tour as president,Washington's middle cadre African policy minder, Mr.Johnnie Carson issues threats and rebuttals to the

continent from his cool sanctuary in Washington through

“


Central African Republic rebel chiefto name power-sharing government

EU easesZimbabwesanctions afterreferendum

Zambia's ex-PresidentRupiah Banda arrested

The leader of rebels inCentral African Republichas pledged to name a power-

sharing government in a bid todefuse international criticism ofSunday's coup that killed 13 SouthAfrican soldiers and plunged themineral-rich nation into chaos.

The Seleka rebel coalition'sseizure of power was swiftlycondemned by the United Nationsand the African Union. But in a signof pragmatism, the United States,France and regional powerbrokerChad called on the insurgents torespect the terms of a recent peacedeal.

The Seleka fighters seized poweron Sunday after a lightningoffensive in which they fought theirway from the far north to thepresidential palace in just four daysafter a January power-sharingagreement signed in the Gabonesecapital Libreville collapsed.

Neighboring Cameroonconfirmed on Monday that oustedPresident Francois Bozize hadarrived there.

The removal of Bozize, whohimself seized power in a 2003 coupbacked by Chad, was just the latestin a series of rebellions since the poor,landlocked country wonindependence from France in 1960.

French military forces reportedlooting was continuing for a secondday in parts of the riverside capitalBangui and water and electricityhad not yet been switched back on.

Other parts of the city appeared

Michel Djotodia (L), has been named president to replace theousted Bozize(R). (file photo)

calm, with regional forcescooperating with Seleka fighters totry to restore order after chaosgripped the city of 600,000inhabitants during the rebeltakeover. Small contingents oftroops from Chad, Gabon and thetwo Congos are there.

"We will respect the Librevilleaccord: a political transition of 2 to3 years before elections," Selekaspokesman Eric Massi said bytelephone, referring to theagreement reached after the rebelsbesieged the capital in December.

The deal had created agovernment drawn from Bozizeloyalists, rebel leaders and thecivilian opposition.

A Seleka leader, Michel

Djotodia, has been named presidentto replace the ousted Bozize. Civilianopposition member NicolasTiangaye would retain the primeminister's post he was given in theJanuary power sharing deal, Massisaid.

"The current prime ministerremains in place and the cabinet willbe slightly reshuffled," Massi added.

Seleka, a loose coalition of fiverebel groups whose name means"alliance" in the Songo language,accused Bozize of breaking theJanuary agreement by failing tointegrate their fighters into thearmy.

With France's militarycontingent in Bangui refusing tointervene, two heavily armed

China President Xi Jinping hails ties with AfricaNew President Xi Jinping

has hailed the strengthof China's ties with

African nations.Mr Xi described Africa as "a

continent of hope and promise".He was speaking in Tanzania

- the second country he hasvisited since taking power 11days ago.

Addressing leaders at aconference hall built by Chinain Dar es Salaam, he said tradebetween China and Africa topped$200bn (£130bn) last year.

Mr Xi and his Tanzaniancounterpart JakayaKikwetesigned 16 different tradeagreements includingimprovements to Tanzania'shospitals and ports, and the

The EU has eased sanctionson Zimbabwean firms andofficials after a referendum

approved a new constitution thatwill curb presidential powers.

The bloc said on Monday that itwould immediately suspend travelbans and asset freezes on dozens ofofficials and companies, however,President Robert Mugabe willremain on the sanctions list.

"The EU ... has today agreed toimmediately suspend theapplication of measures against 81individuals and eight entities,"Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policychief, said in a statement.

Ten people, including Mugabe,remain on the list, an EU sourcesaid.

Two companies, including state-run diamond miner, the ZimbabweMining Development Corporation,will also remain on the sanctionslist.

The EU has been graduallyeasing its sanctions againstZimbabwe as part of a strategy toencourage political reform after 33years of Mugabe's rule.

In a March 16 referendum,nearly 95 percent of votersapproved the new constitution,bringing the southern African statecloser to an election.

Ashton said the "peaceful,successful and credible" vote was asignificant step in theimplementation of an agreementthat created an uneasy coalitionbetween Mugabe and PrimeMinister Morgan Tsvangiraifollowing violent and disputedelections in 2008.

Presidential elections areexpected to take place later thisyear.

The decision comes on a day thecountry's high court releasedprominent human rights lawyerBeatrice Mtetwa on $500 bail, aftermore than a week in prison in a casethat has renewed criticism ofPresident Mugabe's security forces.

High court judge JosephMusakwa set aside an earlierdecision by a magistrate to denyMtetwa bail.

Mtetwa was arrested last weektogether with four aides of Mugaberival prime minister MorganTsvangirai. Mtetwa was accused ofshouting at and taking pictures ofpolice officers who were conductinga search at the home of one of theaides.

But Tsvangirai and civic rightsgroups fear Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party are already underminingthe chances of a free and fair election.

The bail hearing for the fourTsvangirai aides is expected onTuesday.

building of a Chinese culturalcentre.

The Chinese leader is expectedto arrive in South Africa onTuesday to take part in a summitof the emerging economies,known as Brics (Brazil, Russia,India, China and South Africa).

He will wrap up his Africantour with a visit to Congo-Brazzaville.

Outlining China's policy onAfrica, Mr Xi pledged to helpthe continent achieve"independent and sustainabledevelopment"

He said Beijing is "not onlyinterested in shipping out rawmaterials but wants arelationship of equals that wouldhelp the country develop",

columns of insurgents in pick uptrucks swept into the capital onSunday, brushing aside a SouthAfrican force of 400 troops whichattempted to defend Bangui.

South Africa's President JacobZuma said at least 13 soldiers werekilled and 27 others wounded in thefighting, the worst military setbackfor Pretoria since the end ofapartheid and an embarrassingsetback to its efforts to projectits power in the resource-richheart of Africa.

"It is a sad moment for ourcountry," Zuma said, addingthat another soldier was stillmissing. "The actions of thesebandits will not deter us fromour responsibility of workingfor peace and stability inAfrica."

Despite rich deposits of gold,diamonds and uranium,Central African Republicremains one of the world'sleast developed and mostunstable nations. In recentyears, Bozize's government hadhosted U.S. Special Forces helpingregional armies hunt down theLord's Resistance Army rebels, ledby a Ugandan warlord, who havekilled thousands of civilians duringdecades of conflict.

Zuma said South Africa had notdecided yet whether or not towithdraw its forces, who he said hadinflicted heavy casualties on therebels during a 9-hour attack ontheir base.

Reuters reports.China has become one of

Africa's biggest trading partners

Zambia's former PresidentRupiah Banda has beenarrested in connection with

a Nigerian oil deal, officials say.He is accused of stealing more

than $11m (£7m) during histhree years in office, Reutersnews agency reports.

Mr Banda, who was stripped ofpresidential immunity earlier thismonth, was questioned for nearlythree hours before being freed onbail.

The former president denies thecharges and says he is the victim of

a witch-hunt. He is due in court onTuesday.

Shortly after being released, MrBanda addressed his supporters,telling them to remain calm andthat he would win the case in court.

The former leader lost 2011elections to Michael Sata, whosegovernment is investigatingseveral high-profile deals made byMr Banda's administration amidaccusations of corruption.

Mr Banda led Africa's topcopper producer from 2008 to2011 .Rupiah Banda

Chinese leader Xi Jinping(R) and Tanzanian PresidentJakayaKikwete have signed various trade agreements.

in recent years, largely based onthe trade in mineral products,including oil.


Syria opposition refuses leader's resignation

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister has urged MrKhatib to recon-sider his decision.

The Syrian National Coalitionhas rejected the resignationof Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib just

hours after the former leaderannounced he was stepping down outof frustration.

In a statement released on his

Asia andMiddle East

Palestinians have been protesting over the economic relationship with Israel.

Israel to resume transferof PA tax revenueIsrael says it is to resume the transfer of tax revenues it collects on

behalf of the Palestinian Authority.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the decision in co-

ordination with the security cabinet, his office said.Mr Netanyahu froze the transfers last year after the Palestinians

gained non-member observer state status at the UN.The retaliatory move forced the PA to delay the payment of

salaries to 150,000 government employees, further weakening thePalestinian economy.

In January, Mr Netanyahu authorised a "one-off" payment of$100m (£66m) because of the PA's financial situation. The gesturewas dismissed by Palestinian officials, however, who described thewithholding of tax revenues as "piracy".

The statement issued by Mr Netanyahu's office on Monday saidFinance Minister YairLapid would instruct officials to transferoutstanding funds.

It did not say how much money will be transferred in the comingdays.

Israel collects about $100m a month in duties on behalf of thePA, but the previous Israeli finance minister, Yuval Steinitz, said inDecember that some money would be used to pay the Israel ElectricCorporation and other Israeli public bodies owed money by the PA.

The resumption of revenue transfers comes days after BarackObama's first visit as US president to Israel and the West Bank, andfollow-up meetings by his Secretary of State John Kerry.

Ahead of the three-day trip, a leaked PA report for internationaldonors urged them to pressure the Israeli government to release itsrevenues, warning of a "possible slide into institutional and politicalcollapse".

Facebook page on Sunday, Khatibconfirmed his resignation from thedissident group recognised by dozensof states and organisations as alegitimate representative of theSyrian people.

"I announce my resignation fromthe National Coalition, so that I canwork with a freedom that cannotpossibly be had in an official

institution," Khatib said in thestatement.

"For the past two years, we havebeen slaughtered by anunprecedentedly vicious regime,while the world has looked on," Khatibsaid.

"All the destruction of Syria'sinfrastructure, the detention of tensof thousands of people, the forced flightof hundreds of thousands and otherforms of suffering have beeninsufficient for the internationalcommunity to take a decision to allowthe people to defend themselves," headded.

His statement came hours afterthe Arab League extended aninvitation to the opposition coalition

to attend a summit in Qatar nextweek.

The pan-Arab bloc has suspendedAssad's membership and recognisedthe coalition as the legitimaterepresentative of the people of Syriawhere a two-year conflict has killedmore than 70,000 people.

Khatib is a former imam andmoderate Islamist who rose fromindependent ranks as a respectedfigure of dissent against theDamascus regime.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim AlThani, the Qatari prime minister,said that he regretted Khatib'sdecision and urged him toreconsider.

Meanwhile, the armed Syrian

opposition said that it refused toacknowledge the authority ofGhassanHitto, the coalition-appointed prime minister for rebel-held areas in Syria.

"We in the Free Syrian Army donot recognise GhassanHitto asprime minister because the NationalCoalition did not reach a consensus,"at the March 18 vote, said FSApolitical and media coordinatorLouayMuqdad.

"I speak on behalf of the [rebel]Military Councils and the Chief ofStaff when I say that we cannotrecognise a prime minister who wasforced on the National Coalition,rather than chosen by consensus,"Muqdad said.

Burma communal riotingspreads outside MeiktilaMosques and houses have

been ransacked incentral Burma, the

latest in a series of incidents sincesectarian violence broke out inMeiktila town.

About 300 people attacked amosque and destroyed Muslim-owned shops and houses in OhTheKone town, about 50km (31miles) from Rangoon, reportssay.

This comes after more troopsarrived in Meiktila, where atleast 30 people have reportedlydied since Wednesday.

An argument sparkedviolence between Buddhists andMuslims in the town.

Aside from Oh TheKone, itwas also reported that a mosquewas torched in Tatkone town,80km from Meiktila, over theweekend. A mosque and 50houses were also said to havebeen torched in nearbyYamenthin town.

It was not immediately clearwho was behind the violence. Nocasualties have been reportedfrom these towns so far.

The violence in Meiktila,triggered by what reports saywas an argument that started ina gold shop, has displaced at least9,000 residents, according toreports.

A local lawmaker told BBCBurmese on Friday that scores ofmostly Buddhist people accusedof being involved in the violence

John Kerry makes anothersurprise visit to Kabul

The US secretary of state has arrived in Kabulon an unannounced visit, and will hold talkswith the Afghan president, an official has said.

John Kerry arrived in Kabul on Monday for a 24-hour visit, and will discuss a host of issues with AfghanPresident Hamid Karzai, including reconciliation talkswith insurgent groups, according to the official.

"He will make clear that the US will have anenduring commitment in Afghanistan that will lastbeyond transition and that there were always be bumpson the road," said the official.

They will also discuss upcoming elections and thetransfer of security responsibility to Afghan forces asforeign troops prepare to leave.

His visit coincides with the handover of a majordetention centre to Afghan officialsAfghan president Hamid Kharzai

had been arrested by police.President TheinSein,

opposition leader Aung SanSuuKyi and the speaker ofparliament's lower house onSunday issued a jointdeclaration in the face of thedeadly communal violence.

The declaration calls for therule of law to be restored inMeiktila, the rapid returnhome of thousands of displacedpeople and seminars andworkshops on how to preventfurther communal violencein the country.

The UN secretary-general's special adviser onBurma, Vijay Nambiar,visited villagers displaced bythe conflict on Sunday.

Buddhist and Muslimreligious leaders also spoke outon Sunday, urging respect forthe law and communityharmony.

This incident is the worstsectarian conflict since theviolence that hit Rakhinestate last year, where nearly200 people were killed andtens of thousands forced fromtheir homes.

The conflict that eruptedin Rakhine involved Buddhistsand Rohingya Muslims, who arenot recognised as Burmesecitizens. Scores of Rohingyashave fled what they say ispersecution in Burma in recentmonths.


Guy turns his Mohawk hairdo intoan artistic advertising billboardBy design, the

"Mohawk" hairdo isreally hard to miss, but

someone found a way to actuallymake it even more of anattention grabber. Floridanative Mohawk Gaz uses spraypaint to turn his head into atruly unmissable advertisingbillboards for friends andbusinesses.

31-year-old Mohawk Gaz -real name Gasmy Joseph - fromPompano Beach, Florida, hasbeen a fan of the Mohawk formany years, but it was only ayear ago that he discovered thetrue potential of his outrageoushairdo. A buddy had asked Gazto spread the word about hisbirthday party, and suddenly alight bulb went off in his head -

Irish town legalizesdrinking and driving

The Irish town of Kilgarvanpassed a law this winterthat allows members of its community to

drink and drive.Proposed by local pub owner and politician

Danny Healy-Rae, the motion allows people wholive in country areas to have a few beers before theydrive home. Healy-Rae told The New York Timeshe thinks the measure will help preserve pubculture, lower the risk of suicide and attack isolationin the small town.

Amid governmental and local backlash, Healy-Rae says the law isn't supposed to apply to everyone.

"I am talking about mainly elderly people wholive in very remote places who come to town to geta bit of shopping, enjoy a couple of pints and a chatwith friends and then drive home at less than 30miles an hour," Healy-Rae told The Times.

why not advertise the event onhis hairdo for everyone to see?The idea was a huge success, andhe has been spray-painting hisMohawk with all kinds of designsever since. He has been offeringhis head as advertising space tofriends who needed promotion,and has even been contacted bysmall businesses. A health-foodcatering company called DeliverLean send Mohawk Gaz to MiamiHeat and Florida Panthers gameswith its logo painted on his hairand was very pleased with theresults. "It's been tremendousmarketing," the company'sfounder said. "It's great exposure,and it's never been done before."

To get his unusual business offthe ground, Mohawk Gaz set up awebsite featuring photos of hisbest works, and created colorfulflyers he hands out everywhere

By Spooky

he goes. But it isn't just aboutthe money with this guy. Infact, most of his hair ads havebeen pro bono for friends, andoften times he wears purelyartistic designs, like portraits ofMarilyn Monroe, the Mona Lisaor Kimbo Slice. His most impressivehairdos so far include a basketballboard with a real hoop attached tohis head, and a studded Miami Heatlogo he wore at an NBA game, whichhe says has attracted the mostattention so far.

Gasmy says he gets his hair doneat least once a week, but he canchange the designs up to three timesper week, if has different clients. He'llgo to clubs, parties, charity eventsand pretty much anywhere else toget as much exposure to his Mohawkas possible. "I'll do Bar Mitzvahs if youneed me to," the young entrepreneursays. "You never know where you'llfind me, and that's the mostimportant thing about it."

Mohawk Gaz isn't the first one touse his head for advertising purposes.Last November, Austinentrepreneur Brandon

PUBLIC NOTICE

CORRIGENDUMKANO STATE GOVERNMENT

MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THATTHE ABOVE ADVERT CARRIED IN PEOPLESDAILY ON PAGE 18 OF 18TH MARCH, 2013,WRONGLY PUBLISHED 2012 CAPITAL PROJECTSINSTEAD OF 2013 CAPITAL PROJECTS. THEERROR IS HIGHLY REGRETTED.

SIGNED:PERMANENT SECRETARY

FOR-HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERMINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND

TRANSPORTKANO STATE.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MARC H 26, 2013

2015: NASS urges Nigerians to shun money politics

Imposition of candidates,root of PDP crisis, says TukurNational Chairman of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), AlhajiBamanga Tukur, yesterdaydisclosed that the tradition ofimposition of candidates and lackof internal democracy in the partyare the twin causes of misgivingsin the party.

Tukur in an interaction withnewsmen yesterday said theparty’s National WorkingCommittee (NWC) in the cause ofits nationwide reconciliatory andconsolidation tours of the countrydiscovered that most enstrangedmembers of the party feltaggrieved because they weredisenfranchised.

According to him, the partyhas therefore fashioned outagenda to promote internal

democracy and transparency infuture elections as a means ofearning the confidence of allmembers. Tukur said the need totransform PDP into an agenda-setting and issues based party morefrom election winning alone, hasbeen the reason it entered intobilateral relationship with theAfrican National Congress (ANC)in South-Africa, the ruling partiesin Ghana, Sierra Leone and otherAfrican countries.

Responding to the report thatthe grand finale of national peacetours in Abuja was shunned bymajority of the governors on theplatform of the party, Tukur saidsuch was untrue and misleading.

According to him, many of thePDP governors were absent fromthe rally mainly because theywere part of the reconciliation

meetings in their respective zones,and had made usefulcontributions during the visit bythe National Working Committeemembers, a reason it was nevercompelling for them to be inAbuja.

The PDP National Chairmanof PDP said some of the governorswere not in Nigeria during theweekend event, while others,according to him, contacted theNational Headquarters abouttheir inability to be in Abuja forthe rally with stated reasons. “Wewere in the south-east zone andthe governors turned out. Whenwe visited the south-south, theGovernor Uduaghan, Akpabioand Amaechi came to welcome usand made useful suggestions.Indeed, the Rivers state governorspoke to us on behalf of all PDP

governors. Bayelsa stategovernor, I reckoned was busywith a special task, while the samestory of success trailed our visit tothe north”, said Tukur.

He further stressed that thereconciliation meetings across thezones and Abuja were meant formembers, most especially thosewho were estranged, and notnecessarily for state governorswho he said had played their partsmeaningfully in the party’sreconciliation agenda at the zonallevel. Tukur who describedreconciliation initiative by PDPacross the zone and Abuja as a hugesuccess appealed to the media toshow deeper understanding in theparty’s efforts amid at promotingdemocracy, inclusiveness and a senseof harmony among members, asaccording to him, the party

remained the best politicalinstrument for deepeningdemocracy in Nigeria.

He said PDP would always beready to partner with the media inthe task of nation building, a reasonhe said the media in the countryshould never give a chance to thosehe described as pseudo-democratswhose sole agenda was to pull downthe PDP while having nothingtangible to offer Nigeria. ”This is thefirst time in the history of democracyin Nigeria that the NWC of a partywould embark on a nationwide touron reconciliation drive. This is thefirst time that the leadership of theparty went out of comfort to have afeel of what has been happening toour members at the grassroots. Thisis the first time that we are makingconscious efforts to return the partyto the owners; the ordinarymembers,” he stressed.

By Lawrence Olaoye

Ahead of 2015 generalelections, the leadershipof National Assembly

Committees on Information,Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe andHon. Zakari Mohammed,yesterday urged Nigerians to shunmaterialism, especially from thelawmakers, saying their role isonly to make laws to better theirlots rather than giving materialincentives.

Speaking yesterday during aworkshop on Pro-poor reportage ofthe National Assembly, organisedby the Policy and Legal AdvocacyCentre (PLAC) in Abuja, thelawmakers lamented thatpoverty has made the people to

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi misunderstand the main role of thelawmakers.

According to the Chairman ofthe Senate Committee onInformation and Communication,Abaribe, the lawmakers has themandate to make laws that willreduce poverty.

He added that their duty alsoincludes ensuring that theexecutive comply with such laws,observing that poverty affectsevery Nigerians irrespective ofsocial status.

He disclose that owing to theinability of the executive toperform its duties, the other armsof government has become affected,pointing out that in recent times,the lawmakers have been forced todo what the executive arm is

supposed to be doing.“if lawmakers fail to provide

infrastructures for the people,they are seen to have failed.” hesaid.

In his speech, the chairman ofHouse of RepresentativesCommittee on Information andCommunication, MohammedZakari, said disclosed that theannual budget of the NationalAssembly is less that N150million, representing 2.5 percentof the national budget.

He regretted that the commonimpression is that lawmakers haveall the money in Nigeria at theirdisposal, adding that the moneyappropriated to them is far belowwhat the people in the executivegets from allocation.

In addition, he said that thelegislature should be anindependent arm of government,whose resolutions must be obeyedby the executives.

He regretted that the executiveshave formed the habit of choosingwhich resolutions to obey,especially when it favours them.

Mohammed noted that theenvelop system does not work inNigeria, hence it createsuncompleted projects, especiallyin executing constituencyprojects.

“We have no option now thanto put our personal funds intoproviding infrastructure for thepeople. Last years budget was afailure,” he said.

Other resource persons who

spoke at the workshop enjoinedthe reporters to always prioritisethe news that will better the livesof Nigerians.

According to Prof. KateOmenugha, who deliveredlectures on the topic, “Philosophyof reporting National Assembly”, the priority of journalists in thelaw making arm of governmentshould be to hold themaccountable.

She enjoined the reporters tocreate a media space for dialoguebetween the lawmakers and thepeople who elected them, addingthat journalists should alsoendeavour to use the media tomainstream the marginalisedgroups in the society throughdevelopment communication.

L-R: PDP Boardof Trustees(BOT)Secretary,Senator WaliJibrin, BOTChairman,Chief TonyAnenih, Kanostate Governor,Engineer RabiuMusaKwankwaso,former SenatePresident KenNnamani,SenatorBarnabasGemade, andother BOTmembers,during their visitto the governor,yesterday atGovernmentHouse, in Kano.


Senate determined to ensureproject funds are utilized — Ndume

Contiuned from page 37

The Senate will work toensure governmentfunded projects that will

stand the test of time, Sen. AliNdume (PDP-Borno) said in aninterview with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ndume, the Chairman,Senate Committee onMillennium DevelopmentGoals (MDGs), made thestatement in Port Harcourtyesterday.

“We are not the people’sparliament for nothing, weare not there to oversee thewastages of resources onprojects.

“We are there to run acommon government that

would be pro-people, for peopleand that would stand the testof time,” he said.

Ndume said as part of thecommittee’s oversightfunction, it embarked on a tourof Okrika Local GovernmentArea of Rivers to supervise anongoing land reclamationproject.

“We were in Rivers State tosee the physical project becausemoney had been appropriated,released and spent on theproject,” he said.

The committee chairmansaid his team was satisfied withthe rate of work so far done onthe project.

“According to the

contractor, 70 per cent of thejob has been completed and bywhat we saw on ground becausethe job is still ongoing and verysoon the people would smile.

“The people of the area werevery glad that the FederalGovernment was waving alight on them.

“They were very glad thatvery soon, they would havesomewhere to put roofs overtheir heads and that is theessence of government,” hesaid.

Ndume also said that anyproject of the FederalGovernment that was eitherabandoned or not executed, thecommittee on MDGs would

revisit them and ask questionson delayed jobs.

He said the committeewould ensure that necessarysteps were taken to complete Federal Government projectsacross the country.

“As far as the Niger Deltaarea is concerned, it is theresolve of the senate to takeevery step necessary toappropriate and fund projectsthat are around the Niger Deltaregion,’’ the senator said.

He said the Niger Delta asthe base of the wealth of thenation would be kept “intact,so we can get more forcollective development’’. (NAN)

The Akwa Ibom StateCommissioner forInformation and

Communications, Mr. AniekanUmana, has refuted allegationsthat Governor Godswill Akpabioclaimed to have rigged senatorialelections in favour of the senatorrepresenting the Ikot EkpeneSenatorial district, Sen. AloysiusEtok, who is also the Chairman,Senate Committee on Pensionand Establishment.

According to reports in somemedia, governor Akpabio wasquoted to have said during theTown Hall meeting to round offthe Good Governance Tour, thathe personally struck off the nameof the winner of the primaries forthe ticket of the Senatorial seat inIkot Ekpene Senatorial district inthe 2007 elections to favourAloysius Etok.

But the Commissioner inrefuting the report in a pressstatement said that theleadership of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, whichincludes the governor presentedSenator Aloysius Etok as the bestcandidate for 2007 Ikot EkpeneSenatorial District election.

Giving further explanation,Umana pointed out that Ini andIkono axis, where the Senatorhails from, had never produced aSenator and in the spirit farnessand inclusiveness the partyhierarchy in the state supportedthe candidacy of Aloysius Etok forthe election.

Defending the governor’sstance on the matter, thecommissioner emphasized thatGovernor Akpabio wasmisunderstood in a video postedon some website and in the socialmedia. He enjoined all wellmeaning individuals and groupsto ignore the attempt of mischiefmakers to malign the person andoffice of the governor.

According to thecommissioner, the video posted onsome websites were inconclusiveand stated the governorcomment to read thus: “When Isaid I made Alloy to becomeSenator in 2007, I need toexplain, so that you don’t thinkthat I wrote his name and hebecame a Senator, no. during theprimaries of the PDP, we zoned theSenate to his federal constituencyand from his federalconstituency, he emerged first inthe primaries. That was whathappened in the PDP. So we saidsince he was the first among thelist of people who came from hisfederal constituency for theprimaries, then he must be theone to become the Senator. Andafter that we presented himbefore the public in the generalelection and he won. And in 2011,with my support, he had thehighest votes in the entiredistrict.”

A/IbomInformationComm. deniesreport thatGov. Akpabiorigged electionFrom Mike Etim, Uyo

APGA crisis: Appeal Court to rule on Umeh’s application on April 8

The Court of Appeal sittingin Enugu yesterday fixedApril 8 for the ruling in

an application filed by theformer National Chairman ofAPGA, Chief Victor Umeh.

In the application datedFeb. 28, Umeh prayed theappellate court to stay theexecution of the order of anEnugu High Court whichscuttled his position asnational chairman of theparty .

He also prayed the court togrant an accelerated hearingto the appeal.

Counsel to the appellant,Mr Patrick Ikwueto (SAN),

pleaded that a preservativeorder be given by the superiorcourt to preserve the statusquo of the former chairmanfrom being taken over bystrangers.

He argued that somemembers of the party hadscheduled its nationalconvention for April 8, addingthat a temporary deferment ofthe judgment of the trial courtwas in the interest of justice.

“The defendant at the trialcourt who is now the appellantwas restrained from paradinghimself as the nationalchairman of the party. Thequestion is what will be the fate

of the party without a nationalchairman.

“I plead with the court to givea preservative order to protectthe status quo of the appellantand temporarily defer thejudgment of the trial court,especially now that they havefixed a date for the nationalconvention of the party,’’ he said.

Mr Jude Okuli, therespondent in the case, told thecourt that he was not aware ofthe appeal because he was notserved by the appellant.

“We will wait for the judge todecide on this matter because wewere not duly served before thiscourt sitting,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that APGA isseeking a joinder as co-respondent to the applicationfiled by Umeh.

In his argument, counsel tothe party, Mr S.T. Abe, prayedthe court to accept theapplication seeking the joinder,noting that the judgment of thelower court affected othermembers of the party apart fromUmeh.

Justice Paul Galinje, whochaired the panel of judges,adjourned the ruling on theapplication, adding that it wasfor the respondent to be dulyserved. (NAN)

L-R: Legal Counsel to APGA Factional Chairman, Mr Patrick Ikweto, APGA factional Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh, and FactionalSecretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, during Umeh's appeal case, yesterday at the Appeal Court, in Enugu. Photo: NAN


Katsina politician allegesintimidation by Gov. ShemaPiqued by the incessant

harassments andintimidations by the

Katsina state government, aprominent politician andphilanthropist in the state,Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Tsaurihas decried what he describedas a gang-up against himregarding his support for theneedy.

Tsauri, who intends tocontest the governorship of thestate in 2015, stated that manypeople, particularly those fromthe government side haveerroneously been convincedthat he is fighting theincumbent governor IbrahimShehu Shema because of hisambition.

He indicated that instead ofthe governor to see hisassistance to the poor and needyas a kind gesture that does nothave any political coloration, he

By Mohammed Umar-Puma always interpret it to suit thegovernor that he (Tsauri) isfighting him.

According to him “Anythingthat attracts gratitude is anti-Shema, and such a thing is adirect attack on the Governor.All of them believe this and thatis what is annoying. How can abunch of educated people,commissioners, advisers,permanent secretaries, directorsand local governmentadministrators all believe inone thing simply because itmeets the folly of their master?If I build a mosque, it is tofightShema. If I buildIslamiyya it is to fight Shema.If I sink a borehole it is to fightShema. If I buy a land forgraveyard expansion it is tofight Shema. If I build aprimary school it is to fightShema. If I attend a wedding,it is to fight Shema.”

Tsauri posited that recentlythe Divisional Police Officer

(DPO) of Danmusa incurredthe wrath of the governor forsimply granting himpermission to commission aschool he constructed for acommunity inthe area.Similarly, the DPO of Kankarawho was in Danmusa on theday of the commissioning wasalso victimized by thegovernor, who had himremoved from his post andposted out of the state.

“What kind of tyranny isthis? I was invited to an appealfund launching by ourChristian brothers in Funtua.All the roads were blocked on theday of the launching with agovernment directive thatIshould not be allowed to getanywhere near the venue,” hefurther lamented.

He said this intimidation ledto “the launching being heldwithout me and it was a flopsimply because the governmentwas not willing to help nor was

it willing to allow other peoplehelp. What kind of tyranny isthat?,” he queried.

He further gave anotherexample of the intolerance of thegovernor and his lackeys “I wasasked by the Mashi communityto come to their aid over a streamthat passes through the townand floods their houses duringrainy season. I went and westarted building anembankment. The governmentcame and arrested everybodyworking there simply becausemy name was associated withthe project! What kind oftyranny is this? he wondered.

He cited another case wherehe was invited to a launching fororphans in Malumfashi localgovernment and he was orderednot to come by the DPO of thelocal government, simplybecause his presence will irritatethe government and “someonewould sit in one corner and sayI am fighting Shema!”

Governor BabatundeFashola of Lagos Stateyesterday inaugurated

two new permanentsecretaries in the state‘s publicservice.

The News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) reports thatMrs Helen Deile was sworn-inas the new Auditor-General ofthe state, while MrOgunbambi Adeniyi took an

Fashola inaugurates Perm. Sec., Auditor-Generaloath of office as PermanentSecretary, Ministry ofEnvironment.

Fashola urged them to seetheir new positions as a hugeresponsibility, charging themto perform their duties withoutlet or hinderance.

The governorexpressed happinness that theprocess that produced themwas transparent and merit-

based.He advised them to use

their privileged positions tofurther move the state‘s publicservice forward.

“The government iscommitted to improvingservice delivery to residentsand a service charter hasrecently been launched toachieve that objective,” hesaid.

Responding, Deile thankedthe governor for theirelevation and promised to workaccording to the charter ofservice.

She also assured thegovernor that they would givetheir best to improve theservice and justify theconfidence reposed in them.(NAN)

The Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) says it hasset up a Tactical

Committee saddled with theresponsibility of wooing theopposition Governors into the itsfold.

Gov. Godswill Akpabio ofAkwa Ibom said this whilefielding questions fromnewsmen in Abuja on Monday.

He dismissed theinsinuation that some PDPGovernors were making movesto defect to other parties, sayingit was rather the PDP Governorswho were poised to bring theircolleagues into the PDP.

“And we as PDP Governorsare poised to bring in our othercolleagues (Governors) fromother parties to join us, that iswhat we are trying to do now.

“We have set up a tacticalcommittee to also reach out tothe “opposition” so that we canalso attract people because wewant to be more than what weare.

“When we started, we weremore than 30 Governors sothere was no need for PDPGovernors’ Forum . now that wehave been reduced to 23, thereis now need for us to cometogether and ask ourselvesw h y .

“We should get back to thenumber. We should be over 30after the next election. That iswhy we are coming togetherand this seems to have rattledthe opposition and I amassuring them that they shouldchallenge us on issues andchallenge us on developmentalissues.”

Akpabio also debunked theinsinuation that the crisis in thePDP had become intractablefollowing the absence of most ofhis colleagues and other partystalwarts at the party’sreconciliation rally in Abuja onSunday.

Akpabio, who was one of thetwo governors that attendedthe event at the InternationalConference Centre, Abuja,chaired by Vice PresidentNamadi Sambo, blamed thepoor attendance on lateinvitation sent out to the party’sstalwarts.

According to him, oppositionparties are in the habit ofmaking a mountain out of amolehill in any matterconcerning him or the PDPbecause they are afraid of theruling party.

He particularly cited therecent Calabar incident wherethe opposition raisedunnecessary dust when hedonated a “paltry” N1 millionto state chapters of the party inthe South-South, whichtranslated “to no more thatabout N2,000 per delegate”.(NAN)

PDP sets uptactical c’tteeto woooppositiongovs.– Akpabio

L-R: Adamawa state Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) and Rivers state Governor, MrRotimi Amaechi, and Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, during the NGF's meeting, recently at Rivers Lodge, in Asokoro,Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa


Nigeria will not disintegrate due toBoko Haram’s insurgency-ClericA cleric with African

Episcopal MethodistZion Church (AEMZC),

Mr Franklin Ihemefor, has saidthat Nigeria will notdisintegrate as a result of theBoko Haram’s activities.

Ihemefor made this knownwhile speaking with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inPort Harcourt yesterday on thespate of bombings in NorthernNigeria.

He said that the unity ofthe country had beenapproved by God Almightyand the unity had come tostay.

‘’God has a hand in the1914 amalgamation, he just

used Lord Lugard to manifestit, I believe that theamalgamation is a divine idea,’’he said.

Ihemefor explained thatNigeria would still remainindivisible in spite of theseeming threats ofdisintegration.

The clergyman said that itwas necessary to play up thosethings that united the nationthan those things that seemedto divide it.

He urged Nigerians not to beswayed by the presentinsecurity threat in thecountry, assuring that Godwould not allow it todegenerate to disintegration.

Ihemefor emphasised theneed for Nigerians to alwayspray and work for the unity ofthe country.

The cleric advisedNigerians to continue to co-exist as a formidable nation,saying that the insecuritysituation would soon become ahistory.

He advised the FederalGovernment to see the situationas a trying time in the processof nation building.

According to him, in afamily of many, there is boundto be cool-headed children anddeviants, all of them make upthe family, none should bekilled.

Ihemefor said that it wasimportant for the leadership toexplore avenues of findinglasting solutions to the unrestrather than using force.

He said that force should bethe last resort, arguing thatunless dialogue had failed inthe first instance.

The cleric said that peaceshould be non-negotiable forthe harmonious existence of aunited Nigeria whereprosperity was possible.

Ihemefor, however,predicted a more united andindivisible country in futurewhere peace and brotherly lovewould be everybody’s priority.(NAN)

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo Stateyesterday announced

the re-appointment of Dr KolaAdemujimi as his Chief of Staff.

Mimiko said in a statement issued in Akure by his ChiefPress Secretary, Mr EniAkinsola, that theappointment took immediateeffect.

The statement saidAdemujimi, a medical doctorand politician from Idanre, returned to the post hevacated a month ago after thedissolution of the StateExecutive Council.

“A graduate of theUniversity of Ibadan,Ademujimi has been involvedin politics since he left privatemedical practice.

“ He was a member of theOndo State House of Assembly;Chairman, Ondo StateHousing Corporation and wasa foundation member ofLabour Party.

“Popularly called “ Igwe of Idanre politics,’ ’ he bringsback to the office years ofexperience in the politicalterrain and a deep knowledgeof the people of the state,’’ the statement said. (NAN)

LG distributesmaterials towatchmen,messengers

The Birniwa LocalGovernment Areai n J i g a w a

yesterday distributed clothingmaterials worth N700,000 towatchmen and messengers toenhance their operations.

The Director of PersonnelManagement of the council,Alhaji ZubairuDanfaruwa, told the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inBirniwa that other items givento the guards include rainboots, umbrella, torchlightsand caps.

Danfaruwa said 240bundles of the materialswere shared to 38 watchmenand 25 messengers

The director urged them toreciprocate the council’s effortthrough hard worka n d d e d i c a t i o n t o t h e i rresponsibilities.

The Head of the Guards,Malam Kura Kadai, whilefielding questionsfrom NAN, thanked thecouncil for the gesture andassured that the affectedworkers would discharge theirduties according to the laiddown rules of the council.(NAN)

Mimiko re-appointsAdemujimi asChief of Staff

Achebe:Anambra opens condolence registerThe Anambra Government

yesterday opened acondolence register in

honour of the late literary icon,Prof. Chinua Achebe.

In a brief ceremony held atthe Government House, Awka,the Deputy Governor, MrEmeka Sibeudu, led othergovernment officials, includingcommissioners, to sign theregister.

Sibeudu said that the stategovernment would be fullyinvolved in the burial.

He said Gov. Peter Obi wasabsent because he had travelledto join in the preparations for theburial, which had yet to beannounced.

“As you all know, on Friday,March 22, we lost a rare icon, itis a great loss to the governmentand people of Anambra where hehailed from.

”So, today, on behalf of theHis Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, weare opening the condolenceregister to mourn our departedhero.

“The governor isunavoidably absent herebecause since Friday when he gotthe news, he had to leaveeverything and rush down to theUnited States to meet the familyand see things for himself.

“The burial will be made openwhen his family are throughwith that, but let me

categorically state here that thegovernment of Anambra will befully involved in the burialceremony of late ChinuaAchebe,” Sibeudu said.

He said that registers had alsobeen opened at Anambra liaisonoffices in Lagos and Abuja.

The Secretary to theAnambra Government, MrObaze Oseloka, said he wasprivileged to have been called afamily friend of Achebe.

Oseloka described Achebe asa very exceptional, gentle,humble person, who refused tokeep quiet in the face of injustice.

“Despite his quiet demeanor,he was resolved in pursuingtruth, he spoke power to the

truth in his books, his teachings.“He dedicated himself and

history will judge him right assomebody who spoke up atcritical times of this nation,’’ hesaid.

Oseloka said“ evil thingshappened when good men keptquiet and Chinua never keptquiet on issues about thiscountry.

“We are happy that hepublished his last book ‘ThereWas a Country’, before he died.And now people of Nigeria, theworld, generations yet unbornnow have the opportunity ofknowing the history of this greatcountry and his people,NdiIgbo.” (NAN)

L-R: Secretary, Southern Kaduna Elders Forum, Mr. Peter Buba, Senator Nenadi Usman, and Chairman of the Southern Kaduna EldersForum, Major- General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House,in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye


Abduljeleel Ajagun Aminu Umar Mahmoud Monem of Egypt

in a 70 for a 13-under-partotal, his third PGA victory of2013. England’s worldnumber five Justin Rose alsocarded a 70 to finish second.

It was a sixth title in his last20 starts on the PGA Tour forWoods, his 77th in total andthe eighth time he has won theBay Hill tournament.

Rickie Fowler moved towithin two shots of Woods withfour holes remaining butdropped four strokes in thenext two holes, including atriple-bogey eight at the 16th,when he put two shots into thewater.

Woods, who leaked severaltee shots to the right, was in

the large fairway bunker atthe 16th, from where he foundthe water on Friday, butstruck a majestic escape intothe heart of the green andcalmly two-putted for a birdie.

Rose, who was at the top ofthe leaderboard on the firsttwo rounds before droppingback with a 72 on Saturday,

Tiger Woods returned to thetop of the world rankingsfor the first time since

October 2010 after winningthe Arnold Palmer Invitationalby two strokes.

The 37-year-old had playedtwo holes of his final roundwhen a torrential storm endedproceedings in Floridayesterday.

Resuming with a three-stroke lead he added four morebirdies and dropped three shots

Tiger Woods regains World No 1 spotresumed four shots adrift with16 holes of his final roundremaining.

He dropped a shot at his firsthole of the day and at the third,but recorded four birdies,ensuring sole possession ofsecond with an assured up anddown from the greensidebunker at the par-three 17th.

NSC to set up foundation for sports personnelThe Minister of Sports,

Malam Bolaji Abdullahihas urged sportsmen and

women to always invest in theirhealth through the healthinsurance scheme as a protectionagainst the rainy days.

The minister, who revealedthat the National SportsCommission (NSC) would soon setup a foundation to cater for thewelfare of ex-sports personnel in

the country, gave the advice overthe weekend when he visitedailing former Super Falcon’sCoach, Mr Joseph Ladipo.

The former Super Falcons and3SC coach is currently receivingtreatment at the UniversityCollege Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan.The coach has been on lifesupport at the UCH for someweeks now.

According to him, the

increased deterioration in thehealth of ex-sports persons inrecent times was alarming andadded that investment in healthinsurance scheme was thereforea matter of priority for sportsmenand women.

The minister said that Ladipo,popularly known as Josilad,contributed a lot to sportsdevelopment, adding that the visitwas to show him love and care.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls thatsome members of the Oyo StateFootball Association led by LeyeAdepoju had only last weekvisisted the Josilad and promisedto draw the attention of theNigeria Football Federation(NFF) to the deteriorating healthcondition of the coach.

Speaking on the state of theObafemi Awolowo and NationalStadia, he said that it was

disheartening to see them in suchstate.

Abdullahi said that theministry would look into therenovation of the edifice whichwere built many years back bythe country’s great leaders.

He said that the ministry wasalso putting together aprogramme that wouldencourage development of sportsat the grassroots, adding thatefforts were being made to ensurethat the feat recorded at theAFCON 2013 remains.

Having successfully secured a berth in FIFA U-20 World Championship in Turkey, the FlyingEagles have turned attention to the task of

retaining the African Youth Championship (AYC)trophy they won two years ago in South Africa.

Today in Ain Temouchent, Algeria, the Flying Eagleswill trade tackles with their Egyptian counterpartsfor a place in the final of the fiesta.

To get to this stage the Eagles had struggled: theylost the opening game to Mali 0-1, beat Gabon withsame margin and then whacked fine-playing DR Congo3-1 in what was arguably their best performance sincethe tournament started on March 16.

Not so the Egyptians. Theirs was a clean sweepposing a hundred percent record to top Group A andthus remain at Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran.

LIke the Super Eagles in South Africa at the NationsCup who struggled through the preliminary roundsonly to pick the pieces in a stunning manner, the

junior Eagles had been less impressive.Coach John Obuh had repeatedly said the target

was to secure FIFA U-20 qualification and havingachieved just that he said yesterday that the targetnow is to retain the trophy. He remains upbeat thebunch he is parading ahve the depth and sternerquality to bring that about.

Albeit Obuh’s present squad lacks the zest and flairof their 2011 predecessors, it could rely on theexperience of skipper Abduljeleel Ajagun, EgbediEdafe, Kayode Olarenwaju and Dami Paul, to pushfor the podium honours.

Add the sterling quality of Aminu Umar or thevision of Abdullahi Shehu, then you have a squadcapable of inflicting serious injury on theiropponents.

But the Junior Pharoahs are craftily organisedside; well knitted in defence, in fact mean, sleek inthe build-up and punchy in the offensive. They havethe knack and depth to repress pompous oppositionand would be wary of a Nigerian side replete in talents

and ambitious.Striker Mahmoud Monem, Bassam Mohammed

Omar, Hamad Hassan, Samir Mohammed andHisham Abdelaziz have been outstanding and couldprove quite a handful for the Nigerian side.

Meanwhile, the Black Statellite of Ghana and theJunior Eagles of Mali will compete for the secondticket for the finals. Mali sealed a spot in the semi-final just after two matches while Ghana edgedAlgeria in the final group game.

Mali U-20 side might have surrendered the 100%record in the 2013 Orange CAF YouthChampionship finals after a 2-0 loss to Gabon butthat has not stopped their Coach, Moussa Keita isupbeat the Malians will lift the trophy and so donot see Ghana as posing any serious obstacles ontheir path to realising the objective.

But Coach Sellas Tetteh has played down hisside’s tactical superiority even as he has insistedGhana won’t succumb to Mali, which makes theencounter a tasty one.

AYC semi-finals: Flying Eagles,Junior Pharaohs in battleBy Patrick Andrew


Referee issuing a red card to a player

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

Oladimeji Omoniyi, Chief Coach, ImmigrationFC of Ibadan, says he will end Shooting StarsClub (3SC’s) dominance of the Federation Cup

in the state when they meet in the competition.Omoniyi spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) after the Draws for the competition at theLekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Friday.

The draws pitted the Immigration team against3SC in round two of the elimination series.

“When we meet with 3SC in the Federation Cup,Immigration FC is prepared to end 3SC’s dominancein the state,” he said.

NAN reports that both 3SC and Immigration willnot be playing in the first round of the Federation Cupbecause they were drawn bye.

Omoniyi, who said that he had the joker to stop 3SCin the knock-out series, added that the defendingchampions would be under pressure in the game.

“Although we are the underdogs in the tournament,I have a player like Olukunle Ishola who has so farscored 12 goals in the Ibadan Football Association (IFA)competition.

“He also scored two goals in the Afe BabalolaChampions League,” he said.

The Immigration Officer said that his team hadnothing to lose playing 3SC, but would haveeverything to gain if they beat the defendingchampions.

The coach said that whatever result was at the end,it would be a plus for the team.

“Who knows Immigration in football history? So,playing 3SC at all will earn us great popularity,” hesaid.

No fewer than 44 teams have registered for theFederation Cup in Oyo State.

Federation Cup:Immigration coachvows to end 3SC’sdomination

Christopher Nwadei, a weightlifting coach, hasurged the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation(NWF) to ensure that athletes being invited for

international competitions are invited in time forthorough assessment.

Nwadei told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)yesterday in Lagos on telephone that by so doing, themedical committee would be able to ascertain the truehealth status of the athletes.

“The early camping of athletes for competitions,especially international competitions, is veryimportant; because it will give the authorities theopportunity to monitor the athletes.

“Some of them might unconsciously take bannedsubstances, but when they are under the guidance ofhealth experts in a camp setting, such could beavoided.

“It is also important to make sure that athletes arein sound health condition by certifying their healthstatus, to make sure that they are fit for thecompetition,’’ he said.

He said that the International WeightliftingFederation (IWF) usually carries out random dopetests for athletes in all its competitions.

The coach added that athletes that failed such testswere usually disqualified and their countriespenalised.

Nwadei advised athletes, who are opportune torepresent the country in international competitions,to represent the country well and avoid anything thatcould embarrass the nation.

He urged coaches to foster good relationships withtheir athletes, so that they will be able to relate well,in order to help them to understand their trainingprogrammes adequately.

Weightlifting coachemphasises earlycamping for athletes

The NigeriaW h e e l c h a i rB a s k e t b a l l

Federation (NWBF) haspostponed the departure ofthe national U-23 team toSouth Africa for the AfricaU-23 Championships,

slated to begin on March2 9 .

The federation’sTechnical Director, AdokiObereilene, said on theweekend that the initialplan had been for the teamto leave the country today

Visa delay forces wheelchair b’ballplayers’ departure to South Africa

in order to acclamatise,but would now leave onMarch 28.

Obereilene confirmedthat the delay in theissuance of travellingdocuments to South Africahas been the main reasonfor the change in theiritinerary.

“We filed our papers tothe South African HighCommission since Feb. 2,so the issue of lateapplication does not hold.

“It is a mere officialdelay that has been ourbane all this while. Thereis hope that the visas willbe made available to usbefore the commencementof the competition,” hesaid.

Obereilene, who is alsothe team’s head coach,expressed unhappinessover the situation but said

that participating in theteam would expose hisplayers to high levelcompetition.

“My players have got allthat is needed for thischampionship.

“The last championshipwe had, the 2nd VictorOchei’s InternationalChampionship providedmy players with aninternational platformbecause foreign playerswere involved.

“In spite of the problem,the players are in perfectform to defeat anyopponent, if theyeventually secure visas tothe competition,” thecoach said.

The continentalcompetition is the qualifierfor the World U-23Championship in Turkeyin September.

Tunde Disu, a former Flying Eagles Coach, has urgedthe National Sports Commission to rethink sportsdevelopment through viable grassroots

p r o g r a m m e s .According to him, such programmes would help the

authorities to ascertain the actual age of playersfeaturing in cadet competitions as well as monitor theirprogress.

Disu, who said complaints of age falsification havebeen rampant and embarrassing to the country, hasremained because there is no true grassroots sportsdevelopment programmes.

He stressed that the most reliable place to scout forgenuine budding talents was in the schools.

“A good coach should endeavour to scout for playersin schools and in the football academies.

“It is a matter of necessity to involve schools, becausethat is the only place you can get a players correct data,’’he said.

Disu, who is also the Technical Director of the LagosJunior League, said by returning to the schools fortalents, the country would never run short of wellgrounded budding talents.

On Stephen Keshi’s rebuilding process of the SuperEagles, Disu applauded the efforts stressing that thecountry would be the better of subsequently.

“As much as I applaud the dogged steps he had takento enhance the profile of our national team, I will alsourge him to stay the course.

“Through this approach, the national team willcontinue to have an abundance of talents at its disposalfor competitions,’’ Disu added.

Disu canvasses restructuredgrassroots development programme

Referees’ boss wants independent body toassess performance

Adesegun Kosoko,Chairman, LagosState Football

Referees Association, hascalled on the NigeriaProfessional FootballLeague (NPFL) toinaugurate anindependent body toassess the performance of

referees.Kosoko said poor

assessment had left manyreferees disenchantedeven as clubs have takenadvantage to berate themunnecessarily with nolittle consequences ontheir psyche.

He spoke against the

backdrop of the recurringaccusation by football fansthat referees wereresponsible for poorofficiating of matches inthe competition.

“Although the NPFL isstill rated as one of the bestin Africa, there is need forus to install measures thatwill sustain the currentstandard and improve onit from this 2012/2013

season.“The dissatisfaction of

stakeholders with theleague should be curtailedby having an ad-hoccommittee which will goround the match venuesto assess the performancesof referees

“As an independentbody, they will have thepower to call to order anyerring referee and bringsanity into the game ofsoccer,’’ Kosoko said.

The referees’ boss calledfor regular training ofreferees to acquaint themwith the ever-evolvingrules of the game by FIFA.

“Ordinarily, thereshould be training forcoaches and referees to beat par with FIFAstandards, because manyof them have not attendedtraining for years,’’ hesa id .

According to him, thefootball coaches thatcomplain about badofficiating only try todrum up sentiments tocover their incompetence,after losing a match.

He urged referees to bemindful of the people’sexpectations from them,advising them to alwaysmake fair judgments.


Steven Gerrard, Three Lions skipper

Spain’s goal machine, David Villa

2014 World Cup Euopean qualifiers

So far it’s five over five for Germany. The Germansare in a fine vein of form only dropping two pointsagainst Sweden. That game was particularly

painful because they squandered 4-0 lead to allow theSwedes to level 4-4.

The Germans, 3-0 winners in Astana, and a slip-upby Group C rivals Sweden have drift five clear of thelater and are cruising towards 2014 World Cupqualification. Last Friday, gthey and even a suspensionto Bastian Schweinsteiger looks unlikely to stop themfrom notching their fifth win in six group games.

Germany are top of Group C with 13 points from fivegames, five ahead of Sweden, who drew 0-0 with Irelandand have a match in hand.

Germany will be without suspended midfielderBastian Schweinsteiger when they meet Kazakhstanagain on Tuesday in World Cup qualifying, but theymay have a true striker in the line-up for the first timesince last year.

Schweinsteiger picked up his second yellow card ofthe campaign during Germany’s 3-0 win in AstanaFriday, in which he scored the opening goal, and willmiss the Nuremberg game.Mario Gomez

Coach Joachim Loew must now decide whether toreplace him with Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Guendoganas in last month’s friendly in France.

Loew is aware of the gap in quality between the world’ssecond best team and a side ranked 139 but he also sawthe Kazakhs trying to battle back at 2-0 down in thefirst game and having two clear chances as Germanytook their foot off the gas.

He also has the option of Sven Bender to replaceSchweinsteiger with the Borussia Dortmund midfieldereager to notch his first win if he makes his fourthinternational appearance having missed the first matchwith flu. Besides, injured Mario Gomez could be availablefor selection.

Loew opted not to play with an out-and-out striker inthe first game but could revert back to his tested 4-2-3-1 system that would offer more pace and entertainmentfor the fans.

For Kazakhstan, still looking for their maiden victoryin this qualification, it will be an even harder task withthe Germans back home on natural grass and with anearly evening kick off time as opposed to Friday’smidnight game on an artificial pitch.

German Machine seek Kazakhstan’s scalp again

With four games stillto come in GroupH, it is too soon to

cast the England versusMontenegro game as amake-or-break encounter,but the ramifications forsuccess and failure arevastly different.

Win, and England will gotop of the group, ahead of a kindrun-in of fixtures that will seethem play three of their finalfour matches at home.

Lose, and they will allowMontenegro to streak fivepoints clear in the contest forthe one and only automaticqualifying berth.

Montenegro, 28th in theFIFA ranking, avoideddefeat in their twoencounters with England inqualifying for Euro 2012and their Podgorica CityStadium is expected to

provide a hostile setting.England manager Roy

Hodgson, is expected tomake as many as sixchanges to the side thatdemolished San Marino,although centre-back GaryCahill and forward TheoWalcott will both miss thegame through injury.

The England managerhas also revealed thatLiverpool right-back GlenJohnson should be fit to play,having been excused fromduty in Serravalle to rest atoe injury, although hemay need a pain-killinginjection.

On England’s last visit toPodgorica, 17 months ago,they recorded a 2-2 drawthat allowed them to securea place at Euro 2012, wherethey reached thequarterfinals.

However, the game wasmarred by the dismissal ofstriker Wayne Rooney forrecklessly kicking out atMontenegro defenderMiodrag Dzudovic.

In anticipation thatHodgson’s men will onceagain face an intimidatingatmosphere in theMontenegrin capital,England captain StevenGerrard has urged histeammates to keep theirheads.

Montenegro are bidding toqualify for a majortournament for the firsttime since gainingindependence from Serbia in2006 and they preservedtheir grip on first place inthe group by winning 1-0at Moldova on Friday.

Mirko Vucinic, whoclaimed the game’s only

goal, says England’s need forvictory today could playinto the hosts’ hands, despitetheir opponents’ status aspre-match favourites.

Montenegro could bemissing two of the fourmidfielders who startedagainst Moldova, withMilorad Pekovic suspendedand Filip Kasalica a bigdoubt after beingstretchered off in Chisinau.

Today’s matchesWales v Croatia

Montenegro v EnglandArmenia v Czech Rep.Azerbaijan v Portugal

Estonia v AndorraTurkey v HungaryUkraine v Moldova

Denmark v BulgariaNetherlands v Romania

Serbia v Scotland Belgium v Macedonia

Germany v Kazakhstan

Three Lions set for Montenegro war

Spain face France in no margin for error clash

World and European champions were shockedlast Friday by Finland who forced them to 1-1draw in one of the 2014 World Cup finals

European qualifiers.Today, as the ‘tiki taki’ playing side tackle Les Bleus at

the Stade de France, it is a showdown that will have nomargin for error for both, especially La Rojas.

Against France, the ebullient side will surely beplaying catch-up. Trust them. They are the masters oftheir destiny and are as so often expected to bounce backfrom negative display such as was the case on Friday toa superlative performance.

But it’s against France, one team that seems to be onits own peculiar revival. Anything but victory wouldsee the reigning champions dependent on an unexpectedslip-up by the French to avoid the embarrassment of apotentially awkward playoff in November.

There may be no need for such playoff going theirintimidating perdigree. Since the shocking 0-1 loss toSwitzerland in their opening game of the 2010 WorldCup in South Africa, the European champions haveremain unbeaten in 24 competitive games.

After the initial loss at the World Cup finals, VicenteDel Bosque’s troops reeled off six straight victories enrout their first global title that culminated with victoryover the Netherlands in Johannesburg.

The story was no different in their defence of theEuropean title in 2012. It began with a nervy 1-1 drawagainst Italy before a confident march to the final and a4-0 thrashing over the same opponents for their third

straight major crown.Spain and France last met at Euro 2012 when Spain

easily beat Laurent Blanc’s uninspired team 2-0 in thequarterfinals before beating Portugal in the last-four.That may need be repeated if they must stamp theirauthority on the group.

It’s possible. True, Cesc Fabregas played the centralstriking role with a fitter David Villa operating fromthe left. That did not quite yield the result. But thatmay change.

Now with Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer back fit andfiring in recent weeks at club level, it seems logical that heshould return to playing through the middle in Paris.

For clinical result, he must revert to the old order andwith the return of the magnificent midfielder duo, XabiAlonso and Xavi Hernandez, the upfront should haveenough armoury to vanguish Les Bleus.

But it won’t be a stroll in the park. Didier Deschamps’Les Bleus have grown in stature since their 1-1 draw inMadrid last October. Also, they have deepened theirresources as well, with Raphael Varane impressing indefence and Paul Pogba displaying many of the qualitiesof former France great Patrick Vieira.

If Karim Benzema can find the net after 929 goallessinternational minutes, and MathieuValbuena continues to make an impact, France couldyet add to the woes of a legendary Spanish team hungryto prove they are not in decline.

It will be yet another opportunity to assess the pressingand ball possession and the likely of making little of it.This seems to haunt Barcelona as was the case againstAC Milan at the San Siro before they routed them in amore forceful display at the Nou Camp.

By Patrick Andrew with agency report


Bora Milutinoviæ, formerSuper Eagles’ technicaladviser, was full of praise

for the Nigeria FootballFederation (NFF) fororganising a training camp forthe Golden Eaglets.

The Eaglets are at the AspireAcademy for Sports Excellencein Doha preparing ahead of theCAF U-17 Championship inApril.

The Serbian, who guidedNigeria to the France ’98 WorldCup, said the foreign trainingcamp would expose theyoungsters to quality trainingfacility, noting that such

The Coach of El-KanemiWarriors FC of Maiduguri,Zachary Baraje, has said

that he was satisfied with hisplayers in spite of losing 2-0 toEnyimba FC of Aba on Sunday.

“I came for a win and that iswhy I left only one person upfront, they were only careful tohave been able to take care ofhim, if not only that person canbreak their defence.

“They were only lucky to havesucceeded in holding him down,my formation worked,’’ Barajesaid after the game.

He said he was satisfied thathis players played toinstructions but that he was notimpressed with the officiating.

“What do you say about thereferees, what they were doing?We don’t make comments onwhat they have done or aredoing because it is sacrilege, butthe game has been won and lost.

“I am satisfied with my boys,they played to my instructions,and they played exactly as Iasked them to. Enyimba will

come to my ground; I have learntall their tricks, whatever theyhave done, when they come tomy ground I will do the same, itis football,’’ Baraje said.

Also reacting, Enyimba’sChairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwusaid that he least expected El-Kanemi to hold up Enyimba tillthe 84th minute when hisplayers broke their resistance.

“Every game is different,sometimes you play well andyou find it difficult to score a goalor even you can never expect El-Kanemi to come here and holdtheir ground up to 80-85minutes.

“I thank our players for thespirit they exhibited, thefighting spirit, never say die, tokeep pushing until the first goalcame,” he said.

Enyimba’s Michael Okoyescored the opener in the 84minute, while ChimezieAmanfor sealed victory for theAba side in the 90th minute ofthe match dominated by thevisitors.

the teams. Sunshine has beengood and now settling at homewith a good pitch and someplayers who had played underme in some clubs,” he said.

The Gombe United coach wassent into the stands by thereferee for remonstration duringthe second half of the match. Hehad protested one of the goalsscored by Sunshine.

Coach Samuel Abimbola ofSunshine Stars of Akure said thatscoring three goals in the matchshowed the team was improvingand was already planning for itsnext fixture against Dolphins ofPort Harcourt.

Sunshine Stars are on top ofthe league table with sevenpoints after three matches andwill be playing its next matchagainst Dolphin FC of PortHarcourt.

Maurice Cooreman,Gombe United chief-coach, has conceded

superior depth to Sunshine Starssaying that the defeat his teamsuffered in the hands of theformer CAF Confederation semi-finalists was well deserved.

The match ended 3-2 onSunday with Sunshine Starsextending their unbeaten run inthe 2012/2013 NPFL at theAkure Township Stadium.Sunshine Stars had in theirseason’s opening game defeatedKwara United 1-0 and got a 1-1draw against Kwara United inIlorin in Week 2.

Cooreman told newsmen thatit was good seeing Sunshine Starssettling at home with aformidable team, adding thatboth teams played a good match.

“We saw a good match from

Sunshine were better thanGombe Utd, Cooreman admits

Vincent Enyeama isconfident the SuperEagles will return in full

force the dose of shock that theHarambee Stars gave the Eaglesin Calabar in the 2014 WorldCup qualifier. The Eagles had torely on a late rally to snatch adraw in front of teeming soccerfans.

Enyeama, beaten by a terrificfree-kick by the forward, rue thecountless chances the Eaglesfailed to convert and noted thatthe team are capable of makingup for the flop in the return legin Nairobi, Kenya on June 5.

“We tried all we could inCalabar, but it was simply oneof those days when you can’texplain what really went wrong.We did all the playing and all thepossession but they scored a

shock goal and made us chase thegame.

“That’s football for you. Butthe promise we will giveNigerians is that in the returnleg we will pay them back witha better result. We cannot letthem slip through our fingers forthe second time.”

Enyeama, who wore thecaptain’s armband on theevening in the absence of JosephYobo, also praised the SuperEagles for their fight back spirit.

“Some teams, would havegiven up in the second half butour players kept fighting andeventually the goal came. I trustthat if we had a few moreminutes we would have won thegame but we have a return legto play and we would be readyfor them.

Former Super Eagles coach,Samson Siasia has chargedthe Flying Eagles to bury

their chances at goal against theJunior Pharaohs of Egypt.

The title holders are poised fora daunting challenge against theNorth Africans in the semifinalsof the ongoing Africa YouthChampionship (AYC) in Algeriain Ain Temouchent today.

The Egyptians amassed ninepoints to finish top of their groupwhile the Nigerians wererunners-up in Group B behindleaders, the Junior Eagles of Mali.

Siasia said the nation’scampaigners must be clinical atgoal and avoid trailing the NorthAfricans as a comeback will betough.

“The Flying Eagles mustexpect a difficult game againstthe Egyptians. It will be reallytough. The Flying Eagles havenot been convincing, theystruggled during the groupgames unlike their opponentswho dominated group’sopponents.

“I know the tournament getstougher as it progresses we expectthe team to raise their game ifthey will defend the title andmeet Nigerians expectations.

They’ve not been fortunateusing their chances but againstEgypt they can’t afford to wasteany of the chances.

“Of course, they must createchances and must score first andmust avoid trailing theopponents as a comeback maybevery hard.

“The North Africans are ahighly tactical and skilful side,the Flying Eagles’ backline mustbe careful around the 18-yardarea to avoid committing foulsbecause the Egyptians are dead-ball specialists.

“With a disciplined approach,I see the Flying Eagles overcomethe Egyptians’ hurdle.

“Of Course, you don’t go tobattle believing you’ll lose, thetarget is to win. The FlyingEagles look good defending theAYC title,” said the formerFlying Eagles coach tosupersport.com.

The semifinalists, Egypt,Nigeria, Mali and Ghana willrepresent the continent at theforthcoming FIFA Under-20World Cup in Turkey starting inJune this year.

Siasia tasks Flying Eagles against Pharaohs

development of youth wouldeventually have long termeffect at the senior level.

“I’m happy to hear that theNigerian Under-17 team is hereat Aspire for training,” said theSerbian while on a short visitto the Aspire’s administrativeblock on Monday.

“There is no better place tobe than Aspire and I’m happythat the Nigerian Federationhas brought these boys herebecause it is good for Aspire andNFF,” he reasoned. “I had otherengagements and that was whyi was not at Aspire to see thematch.”

Bora, Global Ambassador toQatar 2022 World Cup andTechnical Advisor at Aspire,said it was imperative toprepare youth teams ahead ofcompetitions.

“It is important to developand prepare young playersparticularly for achampionship and it is good forNigeria to be here.”

The 68-year- old Bora whoalong with Brazilian CarlosParreira, had taken fivecountries to FIFA World Cup,said he has good memoriesabout his brief stint withNigeria.

Milutinovic lauds NFFover Eaglets’ training tour

Enyeama confident Eagles willmake up in Kenya

Warriors’ coachhappy in defeat

Golden Eaglets

The 2013 AYC championshave been drawn in arelatively easier group

than the other African teams atthe U20 World Cup in Turkey.

In a draw staged in Istanbulon Monday evening, theeventual champions of the AYC,which is in the semi-final stage,are drawn in Group E alongsideChile, England and Iraq.

The three other African flag

AYC champions drawfair World Cup group

bearers are drawn in tougher-looking groups.

These groups are Group A,which has France, USA and Spain,while Group B has Cuba, KoreaRepublic and Portugal. Group Dhas Mexico, Greece and Paraguay.

The U20 World Cup will kickoff on June 21 with an openingmatch between Cuba and KoreaRepublic. The tournament willsee a brand new trophy at stake.


Chief Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC

Coach Dan Otakpo of CoalCity Queens basketballteam of Enugu has

expressed satisfaction at histeam’s performance at the on-going 9th Zenith Bank Women’sBasketball League.

He expressed his delight inspite of losing their openingmatch at the competition 36-58to GT-2000 adding that it wasencouraging because it was theteam’s maiden appearance atany championship of thatmagnitude.

“It was a nice game for us,because this is the first time myplayers will be playing a

championship. We summonedup the courage to face the old-timers because we are new to thisas far as competitions areconcerned,’’ Otakpo said.

The competition began onMarch 23 at the Indoor SportsHall of the Abuja NationalStadium with 16 teams,comprising 10 regular teamsand six new entrants.

“Our opponents were at the

last National Sports Festival inLagos, but we were not there andthey are more conversant withthe rules of the game anddifferent styles of play, which weare also bereft of,’’ the coach said.

Otakpo said his players alsotried their best due to thechallenges they had before theleague started.

“They tried their best going bythe challenges we faced before this

competition. Raising resources forus to be here was not easy. ‘Wehad problems of funding, but wethank God we were able toovercome them and put thembehind us,’’ the coach said.

On his part, coach Oche Omuhof GT-2000 said determinationearned his team the first win inspite of being new also in theleague.

“It was our first game and wewon’t describe it as a fair but agood one. Winning our first gamewith a margin of over 20 pointsis encouraging. I told them toplay like determined players,that we have nothing to losebecause no one expects so muchfrom them,’’ he said.

Omuh added that the team

would correct its wrongs and takeeach game as it comes. “We havenoticed our mistakes and rightthere we tried to correct some.But every team comes with adifferent pattern, so we can’tcorrect all our mistakes at once.

“We will take one game at atime and correct the mistakes asthey come because we can’t usea team’s pattern to play othermatches,” he said.

Both teams are among the sixnew entrants who joined the 10regulars in the league. Thecompetition is presently in its firstphase and will end on March 31.

The league’s second and thirdphases will come up in Asaba,Delta and Lagos respectivelylater in the year.

Adedotun Omoniyi, thecoach of the Nigeria TableTennis Federation (NTTF)

junior team, has assured thatNigeria will do well at theInternational Table TennisFederation (ITTF) and AfricaJunior/Cadet OpenChampionship.

The team of nine players andofficials are scheduled to departtheir Lagos State training campon Friday ahead of the tourneybilled to serves off from March28 through to April 7 inHammanet, Tunisia.

He confirmed on telephoneyesterday in Akure that thechampionships would be used toidentify new talents.

He said that the talents

identified would be groomed torepresent the country in thefuture in the next few years andwould be used for the qualifiersfor major internationaltournaments.

“The federation is trying togroom and expose young talentsto international competitions soas to have a quality team that willreplace the old players.

“So, the championships inTunisia are a right developmentalprogramme to really improve thestandard of our players.

“The players have beentraining before now and we aresure of good results in Tunisia.We will not let the countrydown,” the Ondo State tabletennis head coach added.

Players depart for ITTF/Africa Junior,Cadet Championships Friday

9th Zenith league: Coal City coach pleasedwith team’s performance in spite of defeat

Dambe game in action

John Gana, the National Coordinator of Dambe,(Traditional Boxing), says the sport has beenaccorded international status and recognition

and would soon be competed for at that level.Gana, who revealed this in Lagos on Sunday,

said that the discipline has now been modernised,and embraced in competitions across the countryadding that it has been a significant crowd pullerat national games, which contributed to itsacceptability.

“Dambe is an indigenous sport with a veryinteresting history in the country. We expect it tobe introduced on a demonstrational basis in theCommonwealth and Olympic Games.

“Some innovations have been infused to make itacceptable. The standard of the sport is high andfits into International Olympic Committee’sitinerary (IOC) which they will find acceptable.

“If Dambe is given more attention locally, it willcertainly go beyond our continent as Nigeria’scontribution to global sports,’’ Gana said.

The coordinator said further that the sport hadbeen developed to compete favourably withprofessional boxing, and urged the authorities tointroduce it in schools.

“Traditional sport is a discipline that can beintroduced in schools to popularise it, and thecountry’s culture as well,’’ he added.

Gana urged the sports administrators topopularise indigenous African sports in order touphold the continent’s cultural identity.

‘Dambe’ nowan internationalsport, says Gana

Deborah Pam of the NigeriaSecurity and Civil DefenceCorps (NSCDC), Plateau

Command, has won the femalecategory of the ICPC/Splash FMMarathon race in Ibadan.

Pam, who says she is 19 yearsold, alongside Harris Ismail fromPlateau won both categories of the5th edition of the 42km racehaving completed the event in3hrs, 06mins, 51secs and 2hrs,39min, 58secs respectively.

Pam emerged in the femalecategory with Aderonke Olumudiand Elizabeth Nuhu came second

Ismail wins ICPC/Splash FM Marathonand third respectively, whilePhilip Shaburutu and DanjumaGyang lined up behind Ismail.

Pam and Ismail later toldnewsmen that their success in therace stemmed from theircommitment towards the event.

Olumudi, who hailed from Oyo,appealed to the government forassistance, adding that it wouldhelp her a lot in pursuing herinternational career in marathonrace.

The runner-up in the femalecategory also emerged the2nd overall best in the Obudumountain race held in November2012 hintted that she could betempted to swift nationality ifforeign offers come. “I will drop thecountry for any other if I find helpthere.’’

Chief Adebayo Akande, theChief Executive Officer of SplashFM, told newsmen that it was agood performance from theathletes that participated.

“It was a better performance,though; it is yet to meet up withthe world record of 2hrs, 10minsfor the 42km race. I hope with

commitment and constanttraining, we will get there,’’hesaid.

Akande also disclosed that thenext edition would be aninternational event, adding thatit would feature notableinternational athletes.

Meanwhile the Minister ofSports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi,has commended Chief AdebayoAkande for initiating such anepochal event, adding that itwould further uplift sports in thecountry.

Abdullahi said according itinternational status would addglamour to it, adding that he waselated at seeing young Nigeriansparticipating in the event.

“I am happy to see the youngones participating in this eventand I will speak with Chief Akandebecause making it internationalwill add more glamour and attractsponsorships,’’ he said.

The 5th edition of the marathonrace was flagged-off at theObafemi Awolowo Stadium by theMinister of Sports, Malam BolajiAbdullahi.


Photographer: Graham McGeorge sits touching an alligator at the St Augustine Alligator Farm,Florida USA Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Say what?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Some Interesting FactsSome Interesting Facts

Last edition’s solution

SUDOKUSUDOKU

•You can only create with the tools youhave so don't hesitate to add more toyour toolbox.43. Some days are going to suck life isnot perfect.44. You never get it wrong you only learnanother way that doesn't work.45. It is people not things which give lifemeaning.46. You can't take it with you when yougo no one has ever slipped a Mercedespast the pearly gates.47. The world will not fall apart if youare not there to hold it all together.48. Its okay to say no people do it all thetime.49. There are some things you will neverknow the answer too.50. The future does not exist nor doesthe past you only have this moment.51. Relatives don't always know better.52. Skeletons in family closets willalways be there to haunt you.53. Standing in your truth meansrespecting the right of others to theirs.54. You cannot hear anyone if you aretalking.55. You don't have to live life with thehand you were dealt you can alwaysshuffle the deck.56. Potatoes won't grow out of your earsif you fail to wash them.57. Adult eyes have a tendency to makethe world small, yet are always lookingfor the big things, child eyes make theworld big and yet are fascinated by thesmall things.58. We should try to see not how peoplewith disadvantages are different from usbut how they are the same.59. It is easy to be a big fish when youlive in a small pond.60. Adults should not let children takeresponsibility for their life choices.61. No matter how shitty a job your

parents did eventually you have to takeresponsibility for your own choices.62. Those who seek enlightenment willnever find it.63. If you need to say it say it now if youneed to do it do it now.64. The biggest regret of those whosetime is cut short is all the things theynever said and all the things they neverdid.65. We only have the moment we are in.66. You don't need an inner critic youneed to be your own best friend.67. Change requires action.68. Misery likes company.We have to be careful that helping doesn'tturn into enabling.70. Not everyone isgoing to like youand you are notgoing to likeeveryone.71. Stuff happensthat's just life.72. Everyoneshould grow fairywings and splash inthe puddlesoccasionally.73. If you keepdoing for peoplethey will neverlearn to do it forthemselves.74. Please andthank you arehighly underrated.75. Nothing is morecontagious than asmile.76. The best giftyou give anyone is

your time and patience.77. Patience is the ability to understand itis not always about you.78. There are many rivers which lead tothe same ocean you just have to bewilling to look for them.79. True beauty is not determined by alook but by a thought and a deed.80. Times stands still for those who are inthe moment not rushing by it.81. Having knowledge does not make youwise this requires a knowing as well.82. Meditation does not require whalemusic and contortions just the ability togo to your happy place.. You are not going to see the biggerpicture until you have all of the pieces.

84. No matter which way you plate tofuturkey is not turkey.85. It is wise to take a moment before youtake a step that way you get a chance tosee where your feet are going to land.86. You may have a seed of greatnesswithin you but you still have to nurtureit.87. Everyone has to find their ownpathway.88. You are not limited to one act ofgreatness in your lifetime.89. The only way to stop an argument isto find a solution.90. Every thing you do or say will comeback to you eventually it just may not bein a form you are expecting.91. Asking for help means you are smartenough to get the things you need tocreate the life you want.

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Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako,Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office:No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 805 727 9862.e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] ISSN: 2141– 6141

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTTTTTABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETEYou can see, by inflicting undue and artificialsuffering on talented (young) people we may

be preparing them for terrorists to use.— Former IGP Ibrahim Coomassie on

failure of intelligence in Nigeria

Former Nigeria captain,Augustine Eguavoen hasreturned to the Sharks dug

out, after missing out on theclub's opening two games of theseason.

The former Enyimba trainerwas conspicuously missing onthe Sharks' bench when the clubfaced Warri Wolves in theiropening game of the 2012/13NPFL season

Speaking on the reason forEguavoen's absence, GeneralManager of Sharks, OkeyKpalukwu said "Eguavoen askedfor a documented form of hiscontract and we don't have thatready at this moment as thatusually takes time to complete."

It is believed that Eguavoenhad threatened to walk awayfrom Sharks unless he receivedwritten documentation of hiscontract. With the papers notforthcoming, Eguavoen stayedaway from the first two games ofthe club against Warri Wolvesand Kaduna United.

In Eguavoens absence, Chiefcoach, Daboere Dokubo led theclub to a 2-1 victory over Wolveson Sunday as efforts bysupersport.com to get the viewsof Eguavoen proved abortivesince he neither took his calls norreplied text messages sent to him

The issues now seem to havebeen sorted out as the coachreturned to the dugout for theclub's week three fixture againstKwara United on Sunday.

Secretary of the club, JerryAbrede confirmed that the issueshave "been sorted out."

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

Eguavoenback to Sharks

In its issue of yesterday (24/03/2013), this paper carriedas its front page second lead a

report to the effect that PresidentJonathan has turned the AsoPresidential Villa into the newheadquarters of his party, thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP),where all sorts of party meetingsand events take place on a regularbasis. The report, which cited someinstances of such meetings andactivities, said the developmenthas caused outrage among somesections of Nigerians.

My own checks reveal than inthe almost three months since thebeginning of this year alone, the AsoRock Presidential Villa has been thevenue of over 10 meetings andevents of the ruling PDP. All the fourmeetings between January andFebruary concerning thecontroversial selection of the party'sBoard of Trustees (BOT) chairmanwere held at the Villa. On January9, President Jonathan convened apeace meeting at the Villa over theprotracted crisis in the Adamawastate chapter of the party. OnFebruary 14, Vice PresidentNamadi Sambo, and later thepresident himself along with thePDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur,held separate meetings with themembers of G.84, a group withinthe PDP, at the Villa. On February25, a drama-filled meeting atwhich Chief Tony Anenih re-emerged as B0T chairman tookplace at the Villa. On February 27,the president and party chieftainsmet with the PDP governors, in astormy session at which the latterwere urged to remove River StateGovernor, Rotimi Amaechi, aschairman of the Nigeria Governors'Forum (NGF). On March 17, thePDP B0T, chaired by Anenih, helda meeting at the Villa.

There might have been othermeetings that went unreported.And there will certainly be manymore in the coming weeks andmonths, most of which will betaking place, as usual, in theBanquet Hall of the Villa wherethere is usually a ceaseless flow offoods and drinks and all sorts ofentertainment.

To be sure, this practice of theruling party turning the Villa intoits preferred venue for many of itsmeetings isn't an entirely new one.As was pointed out by thisnewspaper itself in its story, thepractice certainly didn't start withthe Jonathan administration. Ithas a fairly long history datingback to the First Republic when theruling National Party of Nigeria(NPN) used to hold its caucus andtrustees meetings at the StateHouse in Dodan Barracks. Underboth Obasanjo and the latePresident Yar'adua, such was thecase too. And it isn't only at thefederal level in Abuja that this isthe practice. In perhaps every stateof the federation, many of themeetings and events of the party

there is always a tendency amongthose in power to abuse it, unlessthere are strong institutions in thesociety to check their excesses, andhigh standards of conduct in publiclife to set limit on their behaviourand define what is acceptable andwhat is not in the society. InNigeria, we lack both. We lack thewell-rooted institutions by whichthe excesses of our leaders can bechecked, and through which thepeople can enforce accountabilityon the leaders. And we lack thehigh standards of conduct whichmoderate the behaviour of ourpublic officials. These twoshortcomings- which find practicalexpression, here in brigandage,there in impunity and everywherein acts of dishonour andshamelessness by our leaders- areat the root of the problem of theinability of our leaders todistinguish between proper andimproper behaviour in public life.It certainly is at the root of whathas now become the customamong leaders, at both the centreand in the states, and chieftains ofthe ruling parties to treat and usethe Villa, the Government Housesand public institutions andproperty as their own personalpossessions.

And it most certainly explainsthe PDP Publicity Secretary, OlisaMetuh's response to a question onthis matter by this newspaper'sreporter. Hear him: "Being theparty in power, it is not out of placefor the party to hold itsBoT's,(sic)the highest advisorybody, meeting in the Villa. It wouldbe awkward for the party leader,especially the president, who maybe exposed to insecurity, to holdmeetings at the PDP secretariat".Nonsense! It would have beenmuch better if the PDP mouthpiecehad given the reporter a curt, "nocomment" response, to savehimself, his party and thepresident from moreembarrassments over the matter.As it is, his response has opened thedoor upon many huge questionsthat cast serious doubts on thepresident's ability to do his job.

First, if the argument is thatholding such meetings in the Villais now the custom, why can't thecustom be changed-especially asJonathan's is, as he keeps remindingus, a transformational regime?What is transformation if it does notinvolve changing bad customs and

in control there are held at theGovernment House, and at publicexpense. But under Jonathan, themeetings have become much morefrequent, in part, perhaps, becauseof the many unsettling politicalproblems that the man faces: thedeep divisions within PDP, the openrebellion of some of the PDPgovernors, the threat from theopposition and the manyuncertainties that define thepolitical atmosphere. This,combined with the brazenness withwhich the president and the PDPchieftains go about things, hasgiven the practice a new garb thatseems to prettify and legitimize it,in the eyes of many, as anestablished custom that isperfectly alright and offends no oneand breaches no Iaw.

It seems, in fact, that beforenow, many Nigerians have boughtthis lie. Not from the oppositionpolitical parties, who could easilyhave made a political capital outof it; not from the rights activists,for whom this should be a goodenough reason for bashing theJonathan regime; not from theBar Association, which couldeasily have built a good case ofabuse of power against Jonathan;and not even from the media,which could have made headlinesand sold copies with the story, hasthere been even as much as asqueal of protests over this on-goingattempt to turn the Villa, ourcommon heritage, into theproperty of a political party.

It may be that even theenlightened and vocal Nigerianshave too many problems of theirown things on their plates, and theunenlightened are too poor, toopowerless, too voiceless and toohungry to bother too much aboutsuch things. But what ishappening is an act of impunity,a glaring case of abuse and misuseof power by the president and hisparty. The PDP won-how, ishardly the issue now-thepresidency, and, with it, the rightto have their man staying as atenant in the Villa and runningthe country's affairs for a specifiednumber of years. It is a tenancy,not an outright purchase thatgives the president and his partyownership title and the right todo whatever they wish in andwith the Villa.

Power, it is said, in anaphrodisiac. It intoxicates. And

traditions to make for a bettersociety? Second, if the issue is one ofthe president's personal security,why and what is the problem thatthe security agencies, of whichthere are many, cannot arrangethe president's security and securehis safety, even within Abuja? Iswhat Metuh said an open admissionby the ruling party's spokesmanthat the security services can't betrusted or relied upon to provide thesecurity he needs to move aroundand attend party meetings even inhis seat of power? And, clearly, ifsecurity is the issue, thenJonathan's legitimacy is in seriousdoubt. For, if he can't secure himself,how can he secure us as his dutyrequires of him to do?

Insecurity is a world-wideproblem. But in no decent countryis the fact of insecurity used as anexcuse or a justification forimpropriety. In no decentdemocracy are party meetingselections and other events held inthe State House.

What all this points to is theneed for us as a people to work tobuild institutions and to set veryhigh standards for those in publicoffice. It will take time and a lot ofhardwork, but it is what must bedone in order not to leave ourcountry a little stupider than wemet it for future generations. It is apity that the Jonathanadministration seems completelyuninterested in this aspect ofgovernance, even when just a littlepeep into our history will show thatthere has been an established andrecorded body of traditions onwhich we can build.

Over a hundred years ago,Shehu Uthman Dan Fodio,founder and inspiration leader ofthe Sokoto caliphate, kept a veryrigid regime of making, in all hedid, a very clear distinctionbetween what is public and whatis private. He had lanterns for hiswork and studies in the night. Thepublic one he used for state duties.The private one he used for hisprivate studies and writings.

Those were different days,which are now gone. But even theBritish colonialists tried hard tomake such clear distinctionsbetween what they considered theirprivate affairs and what was officialproperty or duty. This distinctionwas, unfortunately, among theother benign legacies of Britishcolonialism, like independentcourts and relatively uncorruptedcivil services, that became the firstcasualties in the hands of the newmen that took over from thedeparting colonial officers. But inmany countries around the world,the struggle today is to enforce sucha distinction, and progress ismeasured by how well a countrydoes this.

Is this too much for us to tryhere? And when will the PDPmove its secretariat back toWadata House where it belongs?

Rangers playgoalless withWarri Wolves

Rangers International FCof Enugu yesterday failedto take a clear lead in the

Nigeria Football Premier Leaguewhen they drew goalless withWarri Wolves.

Rangers looked good for thelead after keeping a clean slatewith two matches so far playedbut lacked the bite to threatenthe visitors at the NnamdiAzikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Not even their recentimpressive outing in the AfricanChampions League and awayvictory against Nembe CityUnited on Friday could spur theWhite Antelopes into action.

After the match, angry fansthreatened to unleash terror onthe match officials but thetimely intervention of policemenchecked the action.

FOR THEFOR THEFOR THEFOR THEFOR THEMASSESMASSESMASSESMASSESMASSES

[email protected]

By Rufa’i Ibrahim

Villa as new Wadata House

Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 26, March, 2013

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Transcript of Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 26, March, 2013