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L-R: Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, widow of the late Hon. Justice Michael Ekundayo Ogundare, Chief (Mrs.) Tunde, and his son, Jide, Executive Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, at a funeral service for the late jurist in Ikere, Ekiti State... weekend
Photo: Godwin Omoigui
Photo: Godwin Omoigui
| Warri: 7 Die in Fresh Violence From Onwuka Nzeshi in Warri Seven persons were feared killed at the weekend in fresh outbreak of violence in riverine parts of Warri, Delta State. The clash involving Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic militia groups was said to have begun with a midnight ambush on Ogbeh Ijoh, the stronghold of the Ijaws. After the ambush on Ogbeh Ijoh, the Ijaws reportedly mobilised and marched down to Ode Itsekiri and occupied the place. While this was going on, the Itsekiris also mobilised from another base in three speed boats and reattacked Ogbeh-Ijoh. In the process, about seven lives were said to have been lost. The commander of the joint military task force "Operation Return Hope," Brigadier-General Elias Zamani, confirmed the clash but was silent on casualty figures. He, however, said that his men have started intensive patrols of the riverine areas but assured that the situation has been brought under control. Security sources, however, told THISDAY that those who began the latest skirmish are the youths that kidnapped 18 workers of US oil major, ChevronTexaco early this month. The youths who demanded N260 million ransom to release the hostages, were said to be unhappy with government for forcefully setting the hostages free. A Nigerian Navy ship had in rescuring the hostages killed one of the kidnappers. Only last week, Governor James Ibori had told the press after the state security council meeting that peace was in sight. According to him, the various ethnic groups have been meeting with a special committee appointed by the state government to design a lasting solution to the problem of Warri. He said the committee had made appreciable progress. Meanwhile, the Okpe Traditional Council in Delta State has condemned the recent outbreak of communal hostilities between Okpe indigenes and the Itsekiri people in Sapele local government area during which 17 people reportedly lost their lives. Briefing newsmen on the attack on Ugbukurusu, Ugbor-hen, Ikeresan and Igbeku the elders of Okpe Kingdom described the invasion as "a pre-meditated, unprovoked and calculated" attempt by the Itsekiri to extend the ethnic feud plaguing Warri into other parts of the state in order to attract undue attention in their quest to reclaim some "imaginary homelands." The senior Okakuro of Okpe Kingdom who spoke on behalf of the traditional council, Chief Patrick Gbinije recalled that although Okpe Kingdom and the Itsekiri people do not share common land boundaires, many Itsekiri families have lived in Okpeland for generations without major incidents of conflict. "More than five decades ago, when Itsekiris made spurious claims to Sapele and Ugbukurusu territories including the so-called Obotie settlement, the court cases were settled and rested by Supreme Court judgments. "There are Itsekiri residents in Okpe and Sapele local government areas of Okpe Kingdom. We want, however, for now, to restate that there are no 'Itsekiri homelands' in Okpe Kingdom and they should therefore keep off Okpe Kingdom in their search for homelands," Gbinije warned. In a statement Okpe Traditional Council, alleged that the Itsekiris in recent times have adopted various measures to provoke crisis in Okpeland. Such measures include writing quit notices to various towns and villages announcing that these communities were part of Itsekiri homeland and threatening to forcefully possess them. |
Fuel Tax
NBA President Leads NLC Defence
From Lillian Okenwa in Abuja
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), will today lead the defence of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as
the Court of Appeal, Abuja division resumes hearing in the suit filed by the Federal Government challenging labour's decision to protest the collection of the fuel tax.
The Appellate Court last week ordered the Federal Government to suspend the contentious N1.50 fuel tax on every litre of fuel. The court also directed the NLC to suspend its proposed nationwide industrial action initially scheduled to commence last Wednesday, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court presided by Justice Isa Ayo Salami explained that failure by parties in the suit to reach an agreement to maintain the status quo prompted the court's interim order.
"We have carefully considered the arguments of the learned counsel. Since the counsel have failed to come to an agreement to maintain the status quo, we have to make the following interim orders. The Federal Government should suspend the fuel tax of N1.50 and the Nigeria Labour Congress should put the planned strike on hold.
"The orders will last till January 26, 2004 when this court will hear the appeal. On this merit the parties are directed to effect services of processes latest by (last) Friday," said Justice Salami, who led Justices Zainab Bulkachuwa and Albert Oduyemi.
During the last hearing, counsel to NLC, Mr. Femi Falana had said organised labour will only agree to suspend the strike if the Federal Government is willing to suspend the fuel tax.
The NLC had suspended the strike after the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) had issued a directive to oil marketers to suspend the collection of the N1.50 fuel tax. Labour leaders also went round some petrol stations in Lagos and Abuja to monitor compliance with the directive.
Also, the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had been closing down some fuel stations on account of their non-compliance with the PPPRA directive. The NLC had vowed to resume the strike without notice if the government resumes collection of the fuel tax.
the Court of Appeal, Abuja division resumes hearing in the suit filed by the Federal Government challenging labour's decision to protest the collection of the fuel tax.
The Appellate Court last week ordered the Federal Government to suspend the contentious N1.50 fuel tax on every litre of fuel. The court also directed the NLC to suspend its proposed nationwide industrial action initially scheduled to commence last Wednesday, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court presided by Justice Isa Ayo Salami explained that failure by parties in the suit to reach an agreement to maintain the status quo prompted the court's interim order.
"We have carefully considered the arguments of the learned counsel. Since the counsel have failed to come to an agreement to maintain the status quo, we have to make the following interim orders. The Federal Government should suspend the fuel tax of N1.50 and the Nigeria Labour Congress should put the planned strike on hold.
"The orders will last till January 26, 2004 when this court will hear the appeal. On this merit the parties are directed to effect services of processes latest by (last) Friday," said Justice Salami, who led Justices Zainab Bulkachuwa and Albert Oduyemi.
During the last hearing, counsel to NLC, Mr. Femi Falana had said organised labour will only agree to suspend the strike if the Federal Government is willing to suspend the fuel tax.
The NLC had suspended the strike after the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) had issued a directive to oil marketers to suspend the collection of the N1.50 fuel tax. Labour leaders also went round some petrol stations in Lagos and Abuja to monitor compliance with the directive.
Also, the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had been closing down some fuel stations on account of their non-compliance with the PPPRA directive. The NLC had vowed to resume the strike without notice if the government resumes collection of the fuel tax.
| Nigeria Has Highest Rate of Illiteracy-UNESCO From Chuka Odittah in Owerri The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has rated Nigeria among the nine countries with the highest rate of illiteracy in the World. Education Minister, Professor Fabian Osuji, dropped the hint at a press conference in Owerri at the weekend. The minister who was in the state to pay condolence to the widow of late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, said that Nigeria was unfortunately among the E-9 group (educationally disadvantaged) of the world. He said that the grouping was done by UNESCO after its investigations. He noted that Egypt and Nigeria were the African countries on the list, while Brazil, Bangladesh, India, Indonosia and China were also among the E-9. Osuji stressed the UNESCO a United Nations organ had been involved in making strategic contributions to the development of academic in the E-9 countries. He said that the objective of UNESCO had been the attainment of the Dakar agreement which is that the girl-child and the boy-child should be given equal opportunity to have good education. Speaking on the new University calendar year starting from September to June, Osuji said that plans are underway to effect the change. He noted that when operational, Universities would reopen for the new academic year in September and close by June of the following year. Osuji stressed that the policy which was currently receiving government attention would take off soon. He however said that the resumption dates might be a little different in some other Institution of the senate of each University. |
| FG Raises Oil Production Target By Mike Oduniyi The Federal Government has reviewed upwards, Nigeria's crude oil production target to 4.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2010. The earlier set target was 4 million bpd production capacity, and hydrocarbon reserve levels of 40 billion barrels. However, under the revised oil and gas production targets circulated among Nigeria's joint venture partners last week, the Federal Government said it had set a new national aspiration for the industry. The new targets envisioned that Nigeria's oil reserves should hit 36 billion barrels and a production capacity of 4.0 million bpd by 2007. "Year 2010 aspiration is to achieve 40 billion barrels reserves and 4.5 million bpd production," the government said. Official figures put Nigeria's hydrocarbon reserves at 34 billion barrels and production capacity at around 3.0 million bpd as at the end of 2003. THISDAY checks revealed that multinational oil companies spent a cumulative sum of $4.6 billion over the last 10 years on crude oil exploration in the deep offshore. The expenditure, which covered seismic survey, exploration and appraisal drilling and development of wells discovered in the deep offshore blocs, added about 6.0 billion barrels to the country's reserves. Under the new industry targets, the Federal Government projects that annual revenue from oil will hit some $22 billion by 2006 at a projected oil price of $24 per barrel. Crude prices are presently well over $30 per barrel, while the Federal Government has fixed $23 a barrel as the official selling price for the nation's crude for 2004. Total capital investment in Nigeria's upstream oil sector has grown steadily from $4.5 billion in 1998 to about $10 billion in 2002. This had shot the country's production capacity from around 2.0 million bpd to some 2.5 million bpd during the same period. For the natural gas sector, the Federal Government said it was aiming at developing the domestic gas market rapidly and ending flaring, as well as capturing economic value and generating as much revenue from gas as oil within the targeted period. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Funso Kupolokun, confirmed the review in the country's oil targets. "The new target of 4.5 million bpd is achievable. We have checked the figures and we know we can meet it," Kupolokun told THISDAY at the weekend. The NNPC boss said to achieve the new production target, government is banking on such factors including, the vast unexplored basins and new frontiers, undeveloped marginal fields, poorly explored oil blocs and highly prospective deep and ultra-deep offshore blocs. Government's ambitious oil production target has been at the heart of calls from some quarters for Nigeria to review its membership of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), because of the group's tight production quota. President Olusegun Obasanjo at the weekend in London, called on OPEC to raise production in order to bring down oil prices. Analysts, however, viewed the call as part of the moves to get a higher production quota for Nigeria. Nigeria's current OPEC quota is fixed at 2.018 million bpd, representing 67 percent of the country's output capacity. On gas, Kupolokun said the country was losing $2.5 billion yearly to the flaring of 45 percent of the gas produced in the country. To check the waste, he said the government was raising capital and operating expenditures on natural gas to about $3 billion by 2005. Five major gas projects are under way to boost gas utilisation, Kupolokun said. These are the West African Gas Pipeline project, the ChevronTexaco Escravos Gas Pipeline Phase 3, the Brass LNG project and the Shell/Statoil Nwadoro Floating LNG project. |
| Space Craft Lands On Mars Science recorded another major breakthrough at the weekend as a Space craft named Opportunity Rover successfully landed on Mars sending signals to Earth. Opportunity Rover landed gracefully according to a document published by the United States' National Space Agency (NASA) after it came to rest on one of the three side petals of its four-sided lander. Mission engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California received the first signal from Opportunity on the ground at 9:05 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Saturday via the NASA Deep Space Network, which was listening with antennas in California and Australia. "We're on Mars, everybody!" JPL's Rob Manning, manager for development of the landing system, announced in ecstasy to the cheering flight team. NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said at a subsequent press briefing, "This was a tremendous testament to how NASA, when really focused on an objective, can put every ounce of effort, energy, emotion and talent to an important task. This team is the best in the world, no doubt about it." Opportunity landed in a region called Meridiani Planum, halfway around the planet from the Gusev Crater site where its twin rover, Spirit, landed three weeks ago. Earlier on Saturday, mission managers reported progress in understanding and dealing with communications and computer problems on Spirit. "In the last 48 hours, we've been on a roller coaster," said Dr. Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for space science at the weekend. "We resurrected one rover and saw the birth of another." JPL's Pete Theisinger, project manager for the rovers, said, "We are two for two. Here we are tonight with Spirit on a path to recovery and with Opportunity on Mars." By initial estimates, Opportunity landed about 24 kilometers (15 miles) down range from the center of the target landing area. That is well within an outcropping of a mineral called gray hematite, which usually forms in the presence of water. "We're going to have a good place to do science," said JPL's Richard Cook, deputy project manager for the rovers. Once it pushed itself upright by opening the petals of the lander, Opportunity was expected to be facing east. The main task for both rovers in coming months is to explore the areas around their landing sites for evidence in rocks and soils about whether those areas ever had environments that were watery and possibly suitable for sustaining life. |
| Pro-IBB Campaigners Locked Out of Hilltop From Jide Orintunsin in Minna Efforts by a group operating under the name "IBB Vision 2007" to seek approval as the sole campaign organ for the actualisation of the 2007 presidential ambition of General Ibrahim Babangida hit the rocks at the weekend as the former military leader locked the gates of his Hilltop Villa against them. Members of the group who had been in Minna the Niger State capital for a two-day convention since Friday were surprised on Saturday when the gates of Babangida residence were closed against them. Sources close to the former military leader said the gates were closed against the campaigners following intelligence reports that members of the group were only in Minna to extort money from Babangida. THISDAY gathered that no sooner had the group concluded its convention at the U.K. Bello Arts Theatre, than members led by its executive national chairman, Alhaji Hameed Makama, drove to Babangida's house in a Lincoln Navigator Jeep with registration BD 12 ABC at about 4.30 p.m. in company of five other cars. The group, however, were told by the security officers at the two gates that the former military leader has directed them not to allow the members in, despite the presence of a Minna-based IBB loyalist in the team. We further gathered that members of the group which stood unattended to at the main gate of the General's residence for over 30 minutes were surprised when they saw the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Salihu Ibrahim (rtd.) emerging from the house after having audience with Babangida. The development gave a clear signal to the campaigners that the earlier information that Babangida was not prepared to receive any visitor was only a decoy to turn them back. THISDAY learnt that the cold reception by General Babangida was informed by his decision to keep his 2007 presidential ambition under wrap for now so as to give the Obasanjo administration condusive political atmosphere. Earlier on Friday, indication that the members of the "IBB Vision 2007" will be shunned by the former president came to the fore, when the group led by a Minna-based IBB loyalist led a team to seek audience with the leader, only for him to delegate former military Governor of Niger State, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe (rtd) to meet with them. It was also gathered that the convention of the group nearly ran into a hitch, as most of the expected personalities failed to show up, while those that arrived on Thursday night sneaked out of the town on Friday morning. The convention which was mostly populated by delegates from the South-west zone, was designed by its conveners to fashion programme for the campaign and actualisation of Babangida's 2007 presidential ambition. |
Adamawa Labour Leaders Are Ingrates - Gov
From Abel Orih in Yola
Governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa State has described the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state as ungrateful lots who do not appreciate the efforts of his administration to better the lots of workers in the state.
He said this at the weekend while reacting to the ultimatum issued to the government by the state chapter of NLC.
Describing the ultimatum as "injurious, malicious and unfortunate," Haruna said the position of the Labour leaders who described his administration as "nonchalant" towards the welfare of workers could have made the government to contemplate reviewing some of its earlier decision to better the welfare of workers and public office holders in the state.
He noted that his administration had extended its olive branch to the workers by providing them with owner-occupier housing scheme, an exclusive opportunity for only the workers among other incentives and wondered why the Labour leaders have remained ungrateful after government's efforts to better the lives of workers in the state.
The governor who was visibly angry with the Labour's ultimatum said his administration had on a second thought decided to forget recalling 3,000 retrenched workers, cancel leave and leave grants to all workers, including public office holders, stop teachers' car revolving loan scheme and as well join the league of states that enjoys irregular payment of workers' salaries.
According to him, "Leave and leave grants in civil service is not a right and government could afford to be irregular in payment of salaries so that such funds can be used to provide services prioritized by Labour in the state"
Wabara Inaugurates Owerri Accord Implementation Panel
From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja
'Unity of Purpose, Panacea for Success'
From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
He said this at the weekend while reacting to the ultimatum issued to the government by the state chapter of NLC.
Describing the ultimatum as "injurious, malicious and unfortunate," Haruna said the position of the Labour leaders who described his administration as "nonchalant" towards the welfare of workers could have made the government to contemplate reviewing some of its earlier decision to better the welfare of workers and public office holders in the state.
He noted that his administration had extended its olive branch to the workers by providing them with owner-occupier housing scheme, an exclusive opportunity for only the workers among other incentives and wondered why the Labour leaders have remained ungrateful after government's efforts to better the lives of workers in the state.
The governor who was visibly angry with the Labour's ultimatum said his administration had on a second thought decided to forget recalling 3,000 retrenched workers, cancel leave and leave grants to all workers, including public office holders, stop teachers' car revolving loan scheme and as well join the league of states that enjoys irregular payment of workers' salaries.
According to him, "Leave and leave grants in civil service is not a right and government could afford to be irregular in payment of salaries so that such funds can be used to provide services prioritized by Labour in the state"
| Medical Workers Poised for Showdown with Plateau Govt From Jide Orintunsin in Minna An industrial face-off is brewing between Plateau State government and the National Medical and Health Workers Union (NMHWU) over non-payment of salary of local government health workers. Rising from the North Central Zonal meeting of the union in Minna, NMHWU gave Governor Joshua Dariye, up till March 1, to pay up all the arrears or all health workers in the state will go on strike. The Zonal Secretary of the union, Comrade Daniel Bisallah, said that members in 11 local government councils are being owed salaries of between three to 17 months, while those in the state employment are owed three months. Describing the state as one with worst industrial relations, the labour leader said that efforts in the past to make the government to meet its obligation to the workers have failed to yield results. Citing Bassa Local Government as the highest debtor where workers are owed 17 months salary, he also gave the debt profile of Mant, Jos South and Barkinladi councils at 15, 14 and 11 months respectively. Bisallah who visited Plateau State last month lamented that most of his 5,000 strong members are shadow of themselves, due to non-payment of salary and allowances. He told THISDAY that the non-payment of salary to health workers in the state was traceable to improper use of the state Joint Local Government accounts and the councils have no direct control over their allocation. "It is what the state releases to the councils that they (councils) can make use of," he said. The labour leader then called on the Federal Government to impress on all local governments not to dip hands into local government joint account, thereby denying the grassroot government funds to meet her obligations. "We have tried our best. We have reached out to the Plateau State government, we have even tried to seek for audience with the state governor, but to no avail. If by March, no positive step is taking to offset all the debts owe us, we may go on strike," Bisallah declared. He further said, "our people are dying on a daily basis, our children are suffering for non-payment of salaries. If the state failed to redeem the 2002 and 2003 salary arrears of our members both at local and state levels, we shall embark on an industrial action." The secretary noted that "what we are asking for now is the salary and we are yet to ask for the leave grant, promotion and other benefits." On other states in the zone, the secretary gave Niger State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) clean slate while Nassarawa, Benue, Kogi and Kwara are owing between two and three months. He noted that the states have shown some commitment to pay the arrears. |
| Senate May Get Code of Conduct From Kola Ologbondiyan and Chuks Okocha in Abuja Smarting from the second bribery scandal this term, the Senate is making efforts to establish a code of conduct through which the actions and inactions of its members would be assessed. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, who disclosed this at the weekend said his committee is perfecting the code of conduct that would serve the Senate. He said his committee would be relying on Order 96 (4c) empowering it to "recommend to the Senate from time to time such administrative actions as it may deem appropriate to establish and enforce standards of official conduct for the senators." According to him, "we should have code of conduct for senators through which the actions and inactions of senators would be assessed and judged but before it would become effective, it has to be presented to the Senate and adopted so that it will be part of our rules." Mamora, who examined the explanation of Senator Uche Chukwumerije's bribery allegation against Senator Arthur Nzeribe, maintained that the latter's procedure was faulty. "We talk of rights and we talk of privileges but it is not without procedure. Chukwumerije's procedure was faulty. "He had three options. One was to use the South-east caucus where he is a member by asking for the meeting of the members from that zone to trash the matter. He could also come to request for executive session and say this is happening but we should not allow this while the third option is for him to even allow the so-called motion to come and he would now lobby senators. "But since he put words on paper, it is cowardly that he did not mention names. I find it amusing that some of our colleagues were congratulating him for his courage. If he was courageous, what prevented him from mentioning names until he was harassed and forced to give names. Why didn't he address the letter to Nzeribe?" Asked if he was making case for Nzeribe, Mamora said, "without being immodest, I was the first to call Nzeribe to order in this Senate when he called the Senate President a sell out. "I think Chukwumerije was just playing to the gallery. He manoeuvred himself to pull out of a cul-de-sac by saying that he was trying to alert the Senate. This was depressing to me because it may mean that senators don't have the mind to assess issues. It's like a slap on the intelligence of each senator or the whole Senate as a whole. "Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution is clear and if the motion (state of emergency) was brought to the floor, it would have been unconstitutional ab-initio and some of us would have raised that. What Chukwumerije did is to try to abort a pregnancy that had not been established," he said. Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Chukwumerije's bribery allegation against Nzeribe. In a statement by the CNPP Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the coalition of opposition parties challenged the ICPC to investigate the allegation that Nzeribe attempted to bribe the senators to support the motion whenever it is presented. The statement said the CNPP has clearly examined all the process of imposing a state of emergency in a troubled state and found that none of the conditions exist in Anambra state. "CNPP accordingly is at a loss, where the mischief and perfidy of the senators involved emanated from, as there was neither request from the Governor of Anambra state to the President nor proclamation from the President, unless anticipatory," the group said adding, "this calls for investigation." The coalition of opposition parties said that the ICPC "on no account should allow this scandal to be swept under the carpet as usual, because its image is highly threatened in public court. It is imperative of the ICPC to purge corrupt officials in order to save democracy, restore its image and fulfill its mission." Noting that the real threat to democracy is corruption, the CNPP said the probe has become necessary to save democracy in the country and enthrone transparency in the affairs of governance. Chukwumerije had last week in a letter to his colleagues (senators) named Nzeribe as the conspirator who offered senators bribe to pave way for the declaration of a state of emergency in Anambra state. Chukwumerije said, "Senator Arthur Nzeribe actually attempted to entice senators with money to support the motion for a state of emergency...and most of you know that am saying the truth, if the anger is that I said the truth, then I am sorry." |
| FG to Clampdown on E-mail Fraudsters - Okonjo-Iweala From Iyefu Adoba in Abuja with agency reports As part of the reforms to build investors confidence in Nigeria, the nation's envoys, as well as trained law enforcement agents are to be co-opted into the war against e-mail scams. Theh e-mail scam is one method used to defraud victims by luring them with promises of business deals running into millions of Naira. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaking in Switzerland also said a global advertising campaign would soon be launched by the Federal Government to warn potential victims of conmen who rip people off via e-mails. "As Nigeria's Minister of Finance, I am extremely angry at these people who conduct fraud by e-mail. We will no longer allow them ruin our country's reputation," Iweala was quoted as saying. While Nigerian Ambassa-dors have been asked to raise the issue of Advance fee fraud popularly known as 419 with the governments of their host countries, other reforms, according to the Minister include the establishment of a financial intelligence unit and new legislation to stop money laundering, which is expected to be passed into law this year by the National Assembly. Reiterating government's commitment to come down hard on conmen, the Minister disclosed that three people have been arrested for running an e-mail fraud ring. She, however, condemned victims of e-mail scams whom she described as people driven by greed. "Most of the letters offer access to money stolen from the Nigerian government. Those responding are driven by simple greed to join a criminal activity. In Nigeria, we are always amazed that anyone could be so stupid as to respond to such an offer. People do not deserve to lose their money, but you do have to be extremely greedy and stupid to respond. "These messages are written in such poor English with bad spelling. Don't they realise that Nigeria was a British colony and anyone with an education speaks English?" she asked. Meanwhile, Nigerian and Italian officials have signed a Memorandum of Understan-ding to formalize their joint commitment to fighting human trafficking in Rome. The agreement is expected to put a stop to the trafficking of women and children into Italy for sexual exploitation by organised crime groups and also to assist victims. An action programme that will focus on co-operation between judicial and law enforcement agents of both countries is to be finalized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, while the Italian government is to fund the programme. A public awareness campaign is also being planned. |
| FG Raises Panel to Reposition Customs By Francis Ugwoke A Presidential Committee to reform the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been set up by the Federal Government. The Committee which is headed by the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Esther Usman, has the former Justice Minister, Mr. Kanu Agabi, Chairman of the Financial Crime Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman, Presidential Committee on Trade Malpractices, Mr. Waziri Mohammed, and two unidentified persons as members. The Committee meets tomorrow in the Finance Ministry, Abuja. Last week the six-man committee sent out letters inviting maritime industry stakeholders for position papers on how best to reform the Customs Service. In one of the letters signed by a Director in the Ministry, Mr. J. I. Zarewa, the Comm-ittee's terms of reference includes total restructuring of the Customs, which involves, "reforming, refocusing and repositioning for greater efficiency and effectiveness". A source close to the Ministry told THISDAY that the government is bitter over deteriorating conditions in the Service and is poised for drastic changes. The Committee, our source said, is expected to address the problem of corruption in the service, redundancy and poor working condition. It was gathered that the Service is saturated at the top with very senior officers remaining in one rank for over 15 years. The Service has not recruited officers for the past 13 years, a development that is described as not good for the economy. Equally, there are problems of non-functional zonal and command offices, a situation that has been described as a drain on the resources of the Service. The Committee, according to our source, is expected to carry out the reform programme side by side with the appointment of the Customs Comptroller-General. President Olusegun Obasanjo had recently bemoaned the decay the Customs Service, stating that if he had his way, he would do without it. "We just have to beg them. Customs. I think other than begging, I do not know what else I can do. If it is possible to run a nation without Customs, I will do it", he had said, while responding to complaints from manufacturers who visited him. |
| Reception, Not a Political Event - Minister By Bukola Olatunji Minister of Education, Prof. Fabian Osuji has denied media insinuations that the recent reception organised by his friends in his honour at the Owerri Township Stadium was a disguised flag-off of either a gubernatorial or presidential campaign come 2007. Osuji, who today flags off the students' orientation programme of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Kaduna told THISDAY in an exclusive chat that "the Owerri reception was a perfectly harmless reception by a group of friends. The kinds of persons that it attracted were not even politicians. I did not make any political statements, neither did anybody make any on my behalf." The Minister added that, "it was even difficult to get that date for me to attend because I don't have the time. The matter of education is taking the whole of my time. I have not attended any political meeting. I can't attend one, I can't call any. "Somebody is talking about 2007 because that is where his own interest is. I am still battling with 2004 education for Nigeria. In any case, if I want to run for Governorship in Imo State in 2007, do I need a reception in 2003? Of course not." Asked to confirm if he plans to run for any elective office in 2007 Osuji said, "I am not talking about politics now. I am not talking about elections, not even Local Government chairmanship. If I want anything in 2007, I will emerge then not now. "Those who are interested in 2007 can go on talking about it. I do not have time now. I have enough to keep me busy 24 hours a day, seven days a week", he concluded. On the 2004 budget for education, Osuji said, "one guarantee that Mr. President and the Minister of Finance have given is that any money budgetted would be spent. In other words, whatever is approved for any ministry or department in the 2004 budget will actually be applied to that ministry or department's programmes to ensure that Nigerians get the full value of that budget. Since the National Assembly is going through the budget, Osuji said it was not possible to pronounce actual figures. The present administration's position is that adequate funds should be provided for recurrent spending, administration of education and capital projects. According to him, "capital grants have been increased across board for the Unity Schools, the Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and the Universities. |
| PDP Protests Piecemeal Dissolution of Boards From Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will this week meet President Olusegun Obasanjo to protest what it said is piecemeal dissolution of boards of government parastatals and appointment of non-members of the party into government boards. The decision to protest the non-appointment of its members into government boards was one of the highpoints of the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) last week in Abuja. According to an NWC source at the meeting, the ruling party "took exceptions to the piecemeal dissolution of boards of government parastatals." The source added that "the way, it is being dissolved points at vendetta by the President. So, we decided at the meeting that we should seek audience with the President to explain our position and how to use the board appointments to enhance the fortunes of the party." The source noted that the President recently dissolved the boards of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). "The NWC also protested the appointment of non-politicians and non-PDP members into some of the recently reconstituted boards of government parastatals," the source said. He noted that the idea of appointing non-PDP members into the board negates the party policy and programmes. The source also disclosed that the NWC of the PDP at its last Wednesday meeting condemned the reconstitution of the Nigeria Telecommuni-cation Limited (NITEL) board and the subsequent appointment of non-members of the party into its board. "It is on account of these two issues that the NWC is planning to meet the President this week," the source said. Last year, President Obasanjo reconstituted the NITEL board and named Chief Vincent Maduka as the new chairman. Also, this week, the NWC will meet the 28 governors of the party over the need to conduct a uniform local government election and ensure that it takes place only in the 774 local government councils recognised by the 1999 Constitution. The party at last Wednesday's meeting insisted that the newly created councils were not done in consonance with the constitution. |
| 'Presidential Fleet: 11 Jets Enough' From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja As opposition to the request by President Olusegun Obasanjo for N10 billion in the 2004 budget for the purchase of a Presidential jet continues to mount, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon Hadi Sirika has said that with 11 jets in the Presidential fleet, another plane was not a priority and therefore should not be approved. Sirika said that unless there were shady deals about being struck with the aircraft in the fleet, the President could transparently swap some of the aircraft in its fleet for brand new and more sophisticated jets without spending any money. Also condemning the request, Hon Usman Bugaje, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs said such an approval would be reckless and a nod for the President to fly over the poverty- stricken populace, which he said would be unfair to the suffering masses. He suggested that such funds should be ploughed into agriculture so that the nation would have food security and alleviate poverty through enhancing agriculture on which over 75 percent of the public rely. Sirika said that in normal circumstances, such a request was not out of place but that for a prostrate economy like Nigeria's, such huge sum should be channeled into productive sector, as there were enough in the fleet for his purpose. The lawmaker contested the submission from some quarters that the aircraft has outlived its mechanical given days since it was recently refitted to the extent it was tagged a "Super 727", the first to be so tagged in the word, thereby bringing the life span to a zero point or infinity. "But dear Speaker and Honourbale members, the big problem is that the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has as many as eleven aircraft. You will agree with me that six may be necessity but certainly eleven is absolute luxury for an economy like ours for a 'reformist' regime. Point of note here is that two other arms of government function without a single aircraft. To commit N10 billion for a luxury item is not only insensitive but callous," he contended. Sirika, who was a pilot for many years described as misleading, the contention that the boeing 727 the President uses was 22 years and therefore not airworthy. He argued that the aircraft in question was better than some of the Air Force One on the American Presidential fleet where some aircraft are more than 50 years old and still flying with passenger and cargo. The lawmaker said the lifespan of an aircraft cannot be predicated on such factors as the Presidency was bandying "since one can truly put the life of an aircraft back to zero through series of non-destructive tests (NDTs), checks, repairs, modifications, overhauls, replacements, and by complying with bulletins." He contended that what mattered was how well-maintained an aircraft was, recalling that government just spent colossal amount on the 727 which saw the installation of brand new engines, change in "avionics" as well as a brand new interior and winglet. He added that the jet now carries a noise reduction device called "hush kit" which makes it meet European requirement contrary to the explanations being given to Nigerians. "Infact, these changes earned it the name Super 727, the first to earn such an envious status in the whole world. Was this a sheer waste or was it on purpose for some unpatriotic parasites to turn round and acquire this Presidential treasure?" he asked. He suggested the use of the money to install Radar that would cover the whole of the nation's airspace and help in positioning of planes to avoid disasters adding if the President desired another plane, he should go into negotiations and get same without any payments as in trade-offs. |
| Lagos 'll Not Succumb to Blackmail, Says Alake By Joseph Ushigiale Lagos State government has stated that irrespective of the controversies that trail its position on both the newly introduced, but later withdrawn, fuel tax by the Federal Government and its newly created local government councils, "no amount of blackmail will deter the Alliance for Democracy-controlled government of Lagos State from its focused programme." The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Oladele Alake, said Governor Bola Tinubu should rather be commended for "consistently mirroring the views of the vast majority of Nigerians and articulating the correct constitutional position on the matter". Speaking on why Tinubu should not be vilified by the South-West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alake stated that "the tacit withdrawal of the fuel tax from the 2004 budget by Mr. President is a vindication of the governor's insistence that it is the State Houses of Assembly and not the Federal Government that has jurisdiction to legislate on any consumption tax." He accused the South-West PDP of chasing shadows and choosing to resort to the media to bash Tinubu rather than articulating and gauging public opinion on key policies that are to be implemented by a government controlled by it. According to Alake, "we are of the firm view that the President would not need to engage in so many embarrassing policy somersaults if the South-West PDP as his primary constituency within the party offered a viable platform for critical internal policy brainstorming rather than playing to the gallery". He pointed out that "it is scandalous, to say the least, that a party which is supposed to help articulate and aggregate public interest should take a position so diametrically opposed to the public mood on fuel tax as the South-West PDP does," adding: "who can then blame the President if he does not have accurate reflection of public perception of issues?" On the PDP's version of why local councils created by Alhaji Lateef Jakande's administration were scrapped, Alake pointed out that "Jakande's administration created additional nine councils. However, following the Abacha/IBB military coup, the new military administration reversed this popular decision." Alake described as baseless and unfounded the allegation that the Tinubu administration was engaged in political vendetta against its perceived enemies asking "why would anyone waste valuable time and resources victimizing a party that hardly exists on the ground and does not constitute any meaningful threat?" He restated that "our campaign against Indiscipline (KAI) has no party label, wears no religious garb and has no tribal marks. No undisciplined party leader who runs foul of the law will be allowed to go scot-free by resorting to partisan blackmail." |
| Polio Vaccine: FG Team, Experts Disagree From Agaju Madugba in Kaduna A delegation from the Federal Government and medical experts representing islamic groups in the country have expressed divergent views on recent foreign tests conducted on the controversial Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). A section of muslim groups in the country had alleged that the OPV administred to children contains certain substances which induce infertility, among other negative side effects. At a meeting with the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna weekend and chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, the various stakeholders comprising states, the Federal Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's), rose in sharp disagreement even as the JNI insisted that the vaccines are contaminated. A pharmacist from the Ahmadu Belo University (ABU), Zaria, Dr Haruna Kaita, who the JNI sent to India to conduct tests on samples of the OPV, told reporters that "the tests have confirmed our fears." He said that samples of the OPV were taken from Sokoto, Zamfara and Kaduna States, adding that, "the vaccines contain undeclared contaminants which can cause malfunctioning of the testes and cause infertility in women, and we also found some toxic substances. "Polio controversy started long ago. If you find one batch defective, you should condemn the whole batches. What these people are saying is unethical, illegal and criminal and they know that these things are contaminated and they have the potential to cause human hazards, they should be banned rather than cause diseases on innocent children. Kaita demanded the criminal prosecution of those who aided the importation into Nigeria of what he described as the offensive vaccines. Meanwhile Professor Umaru Shehu, who conducted a similar test in South Africa on behalf of the Federal Government dismissed Kaita's claims on the OPV, stressing: "The best methods and equipment were used and no such thing as Dr Kaita described were found in the OPVs." He recalled that the ABU and the National Hospital, Abuja, had earlier conducted tests which did not find any foreign substances in the OPV. |
| Bugaje Wants Nigeria's Debts Probed From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Usman Bugaje has called for a probe of the Nigerian debt profile said to stand at about $39 billion.This, the lawmaker suggested shoud be done through a public hearing to be conducted by the National Assembly where those who borrowed the money on behalf of the nation would be made to account for what they used the money for. Bugaje said it was not morally right for the country to be enslaved by debts it was not sure of its origin and most of which the creditors connived with public officials to siphon back to their countries. He suggested that since most of those in government when the debts were accumulated are still alive, they should be invited to appear at such a public hearing to either explain or defend their roles, so as to enable the country ascertain which of the debts are genuine.. "You know that even if the people come and offer explanations, whether it is tenable or not, at least Nigerians would feel they have been carried along, and that their leaders are responsible to them since they will say what they borrowed and the conditions as well as what the money was used for. The lawmaker also expressed concern over some provisions in the 2004 budget, especially the allocation of 30 percent of the budget for repayment of external debts, saying it was capable of perpetually enslaving Nigerians and the economy. While addressing newsmen weekend in Abuja Bugaje stressed that allocating meager amount for the repayment of the debts has the implication of spreading the debt almost over a lifetime with the attendant effect that the economy will remain stultified "No country in the world can sustain using 30 percent of its budget to service debts. There are two issues here that if you extrapolate this amount for the next 20 years, given the debt profile we will not be able to finish paying this debt especialy given the fact that every year you can only have about 22 percent capital budget. "It is the capital budget that really develops an economy. The productive capacity of any economy is a measure of how much you have to give in the capital budget. It also determines the level of activity of the private sector, so I am really worried that Nigeria has this debt, which is strangulating us. The questions here are whether we can sustain the payment at that percentage. |
| SON to Meet Stakeholders on Quality of Condoms By Ndubuisi Francis The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) disclosed at the weekend that it will soon convene a meeting of stakeholders including the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA), manufacturers, distributors and health institutions, to brainstorm on the draft document on the quality of condoms in the country. SON said the proposed meeting was sequel to laboratory investigations it carried out on samples of different brands of condom in the country following public outcry. SON Director-General, Dr. John Ndanusa Akanya who spoke at a forum with airport correspondents in Lagos stated that many Nigerians had complained that some of the condoms in circulation were leaking, resulting in unwanted pregnancies and in some cases, people contracting sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). "Yes there were complaints by Nigerians that some of the condoms are leaking and some women get pregnant and some contract HIV/AIDS. Scientifically, we keep telling you that condom does not prevent AIDS. We took samples of all condoms leaking and we are going to call on stakeholders to come and deliberate on the standards for condoms", he said. Akanya noted that since SON began the registration of condoms in the country, the quality has improved stressing that although the issue of legislation was very dynamic, users must be sure of what they are paying for. He disclosed that SON was planning to sponsor a bill in the National Assembly to ensure that people get value for products or services rendered to them, adding that a consumer advocacy standard was being put in place to facilitate consumers' complain to the suppliers. The SON boss who expressed concern over the rise in the cases of collapsed buildings wondered why there should be such occurrences when a regulatory body for engineers, Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN) exists. Describing the problem of collapsed buildings as worse than the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Akanya noted that while the former kills en masse, the latter kills individuals gradually. He affirmed that the nature of SON made its mandate cut across all segments of the society, adding that the organisation was unrelenting in performing its duties to ensure that Nigerians get the best of everything. Akanya disclosed that about N10 billion was needed by SON to set up at least two laboratories of international standard to enable the organisation make more meaningful impact in the society, stressing that its fight against sub-standard products led to the destruction of N8.3 billion worth of electrical cables last year. |
Wabara Inaugurates Owerri Accord Implementation Panel
From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja
To ensure compliance with the Owerri Peace Accord reached between Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige and Chief Chris Uba, the Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara will tomorrow inaugurate the implementation committee on the accord.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to the Senate President on Special Duties, Prince Obinna Okwuaka, the committee is expected to see to the implementation of the Owerri Accord to the letter and report back within two weeks of its inauguration.
Those expected to be present at the Apo Mansion residence of the Senate President for the inauguration are His Royal Highness, Igwe Alex Nwokedi (chairman), His Royal Highness Igwe P. N. Anugwu, Chief Joseph Okonkwo, Sir Chris Atuegwu, Chief Dan Ulasi, Chief Ifeatu Obi Okoye, Dr. Okey Udeh, Senator Ikechukwu Abana and Dr. Ugochukwu Uba
According to a statement by Special Adviser to the Senate President on Special Duties, Prince Obinna Okwuaka, the committee is expected to see to the implementation of the Owerri Accord to the letter and report back within two weeks of its inauguration.
Those expected to be present at the Apo Mansion residence of the Senate President for the inauguration are His Royal Highness, Igwe Alex Nwokedi (chairman), His Royal Highness Igwe P. N. Anugwu, Chief Joseph Okonkwo, Sir Chris Atuegwu, Chief Dan Ulasi, Chief Ifeatu Obi Okoye, Dr. Okey Udeh, Senator Ikechukwu Abana and Dr. Ugochukwu Uba
| Obasanjo's Foreign Trips Fruitless, Says Nas From Agaju Madugba in Kaduna Former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Wada Nas, has described President Olusegun Obasanjo's trips abroad, in the quest for foreign investments in Nigeria, as an exercise in futility. In a press statement in Kaduna, Nas regretted that economic policies of government make foreign investments in Nigeria unattractive. Nas urged the President "to sit down at home," and address a number of socio-economic problems plaguing the nation. He noted however that "it is now clear tha the president has no solution to our economic problems except auctioning of public property and increasing fuel price, without appreciating that the auctioning programme is an indication of our incapacity to manage our affairs, while the fuel price increases have forced many companies to close shop." According to the statement, "who will invest in a country where its leaders are corrupt, the environment violence-prone, arising from poor economic policies, infrastructure decaying. "If (President Obasanjo) is sincere about attracting foreign investments, he must address these and other issues rather than wasting public funds, travelling abroad in the name of attracting foreign investments which wehave not seen since he came to power in 1999. "No foreign investor will patronise a country where rules are not obeyed, where agreements are violated by government and where people have to bribe their ways to engage even in small scale economic enterprises." Nas asked the National Assembly to use proceeds from the aborted N1.50 fuel tax as well as other levies which the Federal Government illegally imposed on Nigerians. "The nation should also be told if these monies were paid into the Federation Account as required by law and shared according to the existing revenue formula." |
| 'Ogun Indigenes in Leadership Positions by Accident' From Toba Suleiman in Abeokuta President Olusegun Obasanjo at the weekend said leadership roles of Ogun State indigenes in the history of Nigeria have been accidental, but always having positive effect on nation building. He statedthis in Abeokuta at the National Merit Award for winners from the state and old students of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta following allegations from a quarter that Ogun State indigenes are trouble makers. Speaking at theValley View Hall of Government House, Abeokuta, venue of the ceremony, Obasanjo debunked the allegations, explaining that if the accident that brought him and other kinsmen into power is anything to write home about, he prayed for further accidents. Citing the likes of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Chief MKO Abiola, Professor Eyitayo Lambo and Professor Wole Soyinka and a host of others, the President, emphasised that the accident that brought them into limelight contributed immensely to the nation building. His words "God does not make mistakes but allow accident to happen for a purpose, if success of Ogun State indigenes is by accident, then it is designed for a purpose." Obasanjo added "The accident that has produced likes of Chief Awolowo, Professor Lambo, Professor Wole Soyinka, Prince Bola Ajibola that accident is hardwork," may we continue to have that accident. Speaking further, the President however called on Nigerians to work hard for the country to get to her dream land. However, the chairman of the joint occasion Justice J.A.O. Sofolahan in his speech likened Obasanjo to Moses, who led the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. While praying that Obasanjo shall lead the country to the promised land, the legal luminary, however, appealed to the President to do more towards nation development. Recipients of the honours include Chief H.I.D. Awolowo, Chief Kehinde Sofola (SAN), Oba Michael Sonariwo, Reverend Peter Akinola and Dr Sunny Kuku. Others were Chief Segun Osunkeye, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, Major Jonathan Dipeolu and Oye Hassan-Odukale. Seven persons were feared dead at the weekend in fresh outbreak of violence in riverine parts of Warri, Delta State. The clash involving Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic militia groups was said to have begun with a midnight ambush on Ogbeh Ijoh, the stronghold of the Ijaws. After the ambush on Ogbeh Ijoh, the Ijaws reportedly mobilised and marched down to Ode Itsekiri and occupied the place. While this was going on, the Itsekiris also mobilised from another base in three speed boats and reattacked Ogbeh-Ijoh. In the process, about seven lives were said to have been lost. The commander of the joint military task force "Operation Return Hope," Brigadier-General Elias Zamani confirmed the clash but was sieltn on casualty figures. He, however, said that his men have started intensive patrols of the riverine areas but assured that the situation has been brought under control. Only last week, Governor James Ibori had told the press after the state security council meetin gthat peace was in sight. According to him, the various ethnic groups have been meeting with a special committee appointed by the state government to design a lasting solution to the problem of Warri. He said the committee had made appreciable progress. However, the weekend's mayhem may have dealt a heavy blow on that peace plan. |
| Kwara NSE Boss Crushed to Death From Tunde Sanni in Ilorin The Ilorin branch Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Alhaji Abdulrafiu Raji, was at the weekend at Eyenkorin, one of the entry points into the Kwara State capital, crushed to death by a hit and run trailer. Raji was at the Ilorin outpost at the head of a team rehabilitating federal roads that have become death traps in recent times. Sources told THISDAY that the NSE boss, who was supervising the project was rounding up for the day and pointing out some fresh spots to his site workers when a trailer coming from behind crushed him. According to the sources, "We had almost concluded the day's job but Engineer Raji being a meticulous person wanted to point out some new potholes for us that needed to be filled the next day." Because it was dark, around 7.30 p.m, the engineer got into his car and was using his car's headlight to direct our attention to it when this trailer merged from nowhere and rammed into the engineer's car from the front. He died instantly. Raji emerged the new chairman of the NSE in a keenly contested election last month. He was buried on Saturday while the fidau in a solemn way came up in Offa on Sunday. His immediate past predecessor in office, Engineer Bashir Lawal lamented his death which he described as gruesome and shocking. Interestingly, Lawal and Raji belonged to the Project Comittee of the Ilorin branch of NASFAT. The NSE chairman's father, Alhaji Sheikh Raji who is the Noibi (Deputy) Imam of Offa said he has taken his son death philosophically. The deputy chief missioner of NASFAT in Ilorin, Alhaji Toyin Salati remarked at the fidau that death is an inevitable end of all creatures and enjoined muslims to get prepared for the ultimate end. He prayed for the repose of Raji. |
| ' No Plan to Boycott LG Polls' From Chuka Odittah i n Owerri The coalition of registered political parties in Owerri in Imo State, has said that it had no plan to boycott the local government elections scheduled to hold in the 27 local governments of the state, in March. According to a statement signed in Owerri by the coalition and made available to THISDAY, the parties comprised eight political parties called on the state electoral commission to be a fair umpire. The coalition parties however said that should the PDP state machinery, State Government, or ISIEC manipulate election figures, it would fearlessly, bluntly, candidly and patriotically resist same. The parties also demanded that law enforcement agencies, state governments and state electoral commission, be non-committal. The coalition called on the electorate, not to lose hope but to come out enmess to vote in credible candidates to man the administration of their various LGAs. An appeal was also made to the media to give adequate coverage to the all important election. The communiqu_ was jointly signed by Dr. EJK Onyebuchi (ANNP) Chief Benji Duru (APGA) Dr. Mon Ibe (NCP), others are Prof. F.C. Dike (UNPP) Dr. Mrs. Mercy Mere (AD), Mr. Nnamdi Ugochuikwu (NAC) Chief Goddy Ejiogu (MDJ) and Eng. Anyiam M.O. (JP). |
| Italy, Nigeria to Fight Human Trafficking Italy and Nigeria have signed an agreement to work together on a United Nations-sponsored programme against the practice of human trafficking between the two countries. In a ceremony in Rome yesterday, Italy's chief anti-Mafia prosecutor Piero Luigi Vigna and Nigeria's Attorney-General and Justice Minister Akinlolu Olujinmi signed a memorandum which is designed to stem the flow of Nigerians into Italy for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Set up by the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the programme outlines greater judicial cooperation between Nigeria and Italy, public awareness-raising activities in both countries, and measures to strengthen Nigeria's law enforcement, prosecution and criminal justice agencies. |
| Commissioners Sent to Farm in Rivers From Okon Bassey in Port Harcourt To demonstrate government's commitment towards agriculture and food production, Commissioners in Rivers State have been directed to start their own farmlands at their respective homes. The State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, issued the directive when a delegation of Comissioners of Agriculture from Niger Delta States, led by Edo State Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Chris Agbonwanegbe visited him at Brick House. "Every commissioner is under instruction to start his own farm at home so that our people will see that despite their careers and professions, there is every reason to be involved in agriculture." In a few days time, the state cabinet will be accompanying me to flag off my own farm, after which the Deputy Governor will be taking us to his own farm as well," Odili announced. According to him, "that way, our objective in growing more food for ourselves will be practically achieved." He advised agriculture commissioners from the Niger Delta States to identify specific staple and cash crops that abound naturally in their areas, to enable states concentrate on what can be maximised in terms of gestational period and availability. The governor insisted that when this is done, states in the Niger Delta area can feed their people and export to other parts of the country and abroad which will earn them foreign exchange from their own farm produce. He revealed that in Rivers State, "Our focus is on oil palm development and our plantation is measuring 17,000 hectares, the largest in the country adding that it is our plan to double that capacity as we are clearing more land in every local government area." He said that God had blessed the Niger Delta area in so many ways other than oil and gas, and commended the commissioners of agriculture for their initiative in pooling their resources together in pursuit of food security. The leader of the delegation, Mr Chris Agbonwanegbe had earlier said the commissioners came together to jointly address problems of agriculture as they affect the Niger Delta. |
| FG Urged to Imbibe Management Discipline By Ndubuisi Ugah In a bid to achieve management excellence, the Federal Government has been urged to ensure that management discipline and professionalism forms the hallmark of government policies aimed at improving the rather parlous state of the economy. Speaking at the Members' Day ceremony organised by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Lagos State branch yesterday, the NIM President, Chief LEA Aimiuwu, said the country's past administrations failure to learn from the past was largely the reason why "tempestous storms threatening" the growth of the economy still persists. He added that management was all about defining potentials, establishing target positioning, transforming potentials to performance, ensuring process discipline, and shaping performance for desired outcomes. "Our dilemma is further complicated by the unrelenting surge of globalisation", adding that "even our leadership position in Africa is under severe threat". The NIM President maintained that Nigerians could not afford to be complacent by thinking that "We are Giants of Africa, given the harsh realities of globalisation", when management is all about adding value. Aimiuwu, who was an awardee, noted that the institute has been repositioned to be 'the source and symbol of management excellence, as a major re-orientation within the institute has been put in place to help refocus and redirect efforts that will help achieve some fundamental 'house-keeping'. He stressed that as managers of the economy, it behoves on Nigerians to "think management, speak, write, project the logic of management, display values, personify management discipline and radiate management knowledge" as virtues that would enhance the management profile of the country. In a related development, the Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Ayo Oni, said that "Nigeria occupies 5% of the African continent but only acquires just only 20% of the natural resourses yet we groan under cloak of poverty.What it means is that we are giant in mismanagement", he declared. Oni reasoned that Nigeria, given her personality profile backed up by a result-oriented management philosophy, could afford to "feed some nations in the continent, especially when the country has the largest Bitumen deposits in the world". He said Nigerians should have it as a responsibility to evolve means of wrestling the country out of the current economic crisis facing it as the corporate integrity of the country was of paramount importance to the unity of the country. |
| 'Bayelsa Volunteers, a Government Outfit' From John Iwori in Yenagoa The Special Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Youth, Government House, Transport and Logistics, Chief Abel Ebifemowei has said that the outfit, Bayelsa Volunteers, is purely a government outfit aimed at safeguarding the state waterways. Ebifemowei who was speaking to newsmen in his office at Government House, Yenagoa said the state government established the outfit to complement the efforts of the police in the hinterland. He described as erroneous the thinking in certain quarters that the Bayelsa Volunteers was an outfit meant to actualise political dreams in the next general election. According to him, "govern-ment is very disturbed about the menace of sea pirates whose victims are usually traders returning from markets." The Special Adviser who regretted the loss of lives of policemen, during pirates' attacks, said the volunteers would work with the police under the headship of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). The outfit has 28 operational camps and eleven Special Assistants who are in constant touch with his office. Commenting on the threat letters written by some volunteers, Ebifemowei said, the culprits have already been handed over to the police and the full weight of the law would take its course. He appealed for support from Bayelsans pointing out that this is only way the menace of sea piracy could be checked in the waterways in the state. Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government says it will not relent in its effort in improving the fortunes of the transport sector of the state's economy. The State Governor, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha made the remark during his unscheduled inspection of facilities at the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa. Alamieyeseigha said arrangements have been concluded to inject new life into marine transportation, as government would soon take delivery of ferryboats. Stating that the boats would not only improve marine transportation in the state but would also open up the hinterland to socio-economic development. The governor stressed the need for a reorganisation of priorities and renovation of facilities in the sub-sector, including the MV Epie Creek, a marine vessel which needed to be refurbished. Alamieyeseigha expressed optimism that with the renewed vigour and determination of the team at the helm of affairs in the ministry, it would only be a matter of time for the sector to be placed on a sound footing. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Tonye Anthony said that the ministry was doing its best to justify its establishment, pointing out that the arrival of the ferryboats would no doubt be a cheering development. |
| Only Police Can Find Don's Killers From Chuka Odittah in Owerri Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji has stated that the police is the only constituted authority that can determine those behind the recent dastardly murder of Dr. George Okide of the University of Nigeria (UNN). The minister stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Owerri at the weekend. Until his murder by unknown persons on Wednesday 14th of January this year, Dr Okide, was the acting Dean, faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Osuji said that although the murder of Okide was condemnable, it could amount to prejudice to conclude that the University don was killed by cultists or as a result of their prevalence in the Institution. He said rather than speculating, the police which has since begun investigation into the matter should be allowed to conclude and make public its findings, while not foreclosing the possibility of cultists or assassins being behind the murder. Meanwhile, the murder on Wednesday 14th January of Dr. George Okide, has again increased the number of lecturers lost in what seems like a serial killing at the premier University. Exactly two months earlier, a similar incident occurred at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) involving the Head of Department of Minning and Geology, Dr. Tony Iloegbunam. |
| Ministry of Defence Commended Over Promotions From Onwuka Nzeshi in Warri The recent elevation of military officers to higher ranks and positions of greater responsibilities in the Nigerian Armed Forces has been applauded by the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, the Operation Restore Hope. Brigadier General Elias Zamani, Commander of the task force, hailed the exercise at the weekend while presiding over the decoration of three officers serving with Operation Restore Hope who benefitted from the exercise. The officers, namely Colonel Olakunle Akinyemi (now Brig.-Gen. Akinyemi); Lt-Col Albehu Dauda Gora (now Col Albehu Gora) and Squadron Leader, Omoyugbo Benson Adeniyi (now Wing Commander Adeniyi) were decorated with their new ranks at a ceremony held at the Senior Officers Mess, 7th Battalion, Nigeria Army, Effurun in Delta State. According to Zamani, the promotion of the officers was more or less an affirmation of the track record of these persons whom he described as "very fine officers." He remarked that the Ministry of Defence had so far given the task force its own fair share of promotions since Operation Restore Hope came into being last year. While commending the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Army Staff for the gesture and recognition of the contribution of the task force towards national security. The General advised the newly elevated officers to see their promotions as a challenge, a call to duty and an act of God. He admonished the officers to endeavour to work harder in their present positions as that was the surest way to benefit from the next phase of promotions, adding that they must avoid resting on their oars but serve as inpisiration to the younger officers. |
'Unity of Purpose, Panacea for Success'
From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
A Clergy, Pastor Ufot U. Nta has urged Nigerians to adopt a united front in tackling most of developmental issues facing the country rather than indulging in criticizing one another.
Preaching at a special church service to mark the symbolic laying of foundation stone of its church building at its permanent site in Darki Biu, Jabi, Abuja, yesterday, Nta noted, "Without unity of purpose no meaningful success can be achieved in any endeavour".
He added that God is always ready to assist us if we direct our energies right.
Appealing to members of the church to come together with love and work towards erecting a befitting place of worship for the Lord as part of their contribution to the beautification of the capital city.
Commenting on the decision of the Apostolic Church to relocate from its present base, a Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ufot A. Inyang, stated that as a law-abiding institution, the church is vacating the place in obedience to government's directive.
He said that what the church had been using is a temporary structure at Wuse zone 4, it built ten years ago on a place designated as a green area adding it is now ready to quit without any prodding.
He revealed that the group had acquired, land measuring more than 3,400 hectares on which it plans to build a new structure that would seat an estimated 2000 worshippers.
Some of the highlights of the two-day event included the ordination of six pastors namely; Pastors P.D. Magaji, Joseph Raphael Akpan, Enobong Dan, Sam Udoinyang, Samuel Brown and Akpan Udoh. The church used the occasion to raise funds for execution of the project.
There were also special renditions of melodious songs by choristers from various branches of the church under the FCT 'Field'.
(Message over 64k, truncated.)
Preaching at a special church service to mark the symbolic laying of foundation stone of its church building at its permanent site in Darki Biu, Jabi, Abuja, yesterday, Nta noted, "Without unity of purpose no meaningful success can be achieved in any endeavour".
He added that God is always ready to assist us if we direct our energies right.
Appealing to members of the church to come together with love and work towards erecting a befitting place of worship for the Lord as part of their contribution to the beautification of the capital city.
Commenting on the decision of the Apostolic Church to relocate from its present base, a Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ufot A. Inyang, stated that as a law-abiding institution, the church is vacating the place in obedience to government's directive.
He said that what the church had been using is a temporary structure at Wuse zone 4, it built ten years ago on a place designated as a green area adding it is now ready to quit without any prodding.
He revealed that the group had acquired, land measuring more than 3,400 hectares on which it plans to build a new structure that would seat an estimated 2000 worshippers.
Some of the highlights of the two-day event included the ordination of six pastors namely; Pastors P.D. Magaji, Joseph Raphael Akpan, Enobong Dan, Sam Udoinyang, Samuel Brown and Akpan Udoh. The church used the occasion to raise funds for execution of the project.
There were also special renditions of melodious songs by choristers from various branches of the church under the FCT 'Field'.
| Sea Piracy: Gov's Wife Advises Mothers From John Iwori in Yenagoa The wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs Margaret Alamieyeseigha has renewed her call on mothers in the state to prevail on their children and wards to desist from acts such as sea piracy, cultism and hostage taking that has created image problems for the people of the area. Mrs Alamieyeseigha gave this charge when Ogbia Daughters, a socio-cultural organisation of Ogbia women called on her at Government House in Yenagoa. She noted that Bayelsa as a state has all the natural endowments of a great state, but has failed to realise its full potentials, because of the unrepentant disposition of successive governments in the country. According to her, in as much as the youths of the state were aggrieved over the undue lip service by the Federal Government and the multinational oil companies operating in the area to the plight of the people, dialogue should be seen as the most potent means of addressing the issues at stake. In her words: "Mothers have a very crucial role to play in curbing these negative vices that are prevalent in the youths and implore them to engage themselves more meaningfully." She noted that, as a young state blessed with so much natural resources, what Bayelsa needed most was unity of purpose, sacrifice and hardwork from all sections of its society to transform it to the glory of all lands. She called on the women of the state to rally round her in the crusade to make Bayelsa a safe haven for local and foreign investors. The wife of the state governor also urged the Ogbia Daughters to focus their attention on the education of the girl child, stressing that it was one very sure way of advancing the course of women and society at large. |
| 'Rule of Law Abuse, Threat to Democracy' By Ibrahim Sule The non-observance of the basic tenets of the rule of law has been described as constituting a great threat to stable and sustainable democracy in the country. This observation was made by the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, in a communique issued at the end of an interactive forum with journalists on the Rule of Law and the Crisis of Democracy in Nigeria, held recently in Lagos. The communique signed by Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo stated that the arms of government and their agencies are the principal abusers of the rule of law, through uneven handedness in the application of the laws of the land on different classes and grades of citizens. The forum noted that the hallmark of the rule of law is justice, fairness and equity. It pointed out that the greatest threat to sustanable democracy is injustice, inequity and favouritism in policy making, legislative formulation, interpretation and enforcement. It also lamented the widespread illiteracy and poverty in the country aided and unmitigated by government policies, contribute substantially to the subversion of the rule of law. This it said was being encouraged substantially as the citizenry lacks awareness and the capacity to demand that the authorities discharge their duties with fairness and impartiality toward the governed. The participants at the one day forum recommended that the Federal Government and the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have a duty to give effect to the doctrines of the rule of law by obeying court orders. The forum also recommended that the government must ensure the independence of the judiciary by providing it with the wherewithal to discharge its constitutional responsibilities. It also enjoined the high command of the Nigeria Police to treat all political parties equally in law enforcement and extend the same principle to the various ethnic groups, social classes and individuals. |
| Mu'azu Calls for Prayers From Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Bauchi State Governor, Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu has charged Nigerians, irrespective of their religious and political affiliations to pray fervently for the nation to overcome the many problems confronting her, so as to forge ahead as one nation unified by common destiny. Giving the charge in Bauchi yesterday, the governor said that the nation needed prayers for the intervention of God in her affair, especially for the sustenance and survival of democracy in Nigeria, adding that anything short of peace and stability at the moment in the country could spell doom for the Nation's festering Democracy. Mu'azu also maintained that the presence of God was needed in the midst of Nigerians to enable them see the need to accept fellow Nigerians as brothers and sisters with whom they must work together to secure the forereight and territorial integrity of the nation, promote the well being of its people and children. The governor also pointed out that the success of the present administration and democracy, in general, was a collective responsibility of all and sundry, therefore called for prayers for the consolidation of the current democratic experiment in the country. While stating that his administration was more determined to execute more people-oriented programmes and projects towards enhancing the living conditions of the people of the state, he however enjoined them to embrace peace, harmony and unity, with out which development of the state would remain an illusion. |
| Govt Alerts On Threat to Violence Over Dubious Deals in Oil Firm By Oke Epia The Delta state government has raised an alert over a brewing crisis in an oil servicing company, Hydril TDPS, based in Effurun-Warri, where some management staff are alleged to have involved themselves in dubious deals. The government has also requested the appropriate authorities to urgently intervene in the matter, warning that if the situation was not brought under control, it could result in the break-down of law and order in the area. Meanwhile protesting workers of the firm have called for the immediate deportation of the expatriate staff said to have been neck-deep in the scandal as well as the sack of their Nigerian accomplices failing which, they would forcefully deny them entrance to the company's premises. The crisis currently brewing in the company was said to have been triggered by revelations from an investigative probe ordered by the Board of Directors, into the financial activities of the company, which indicted some top management staff of the company including the former General Manager, Chief Austin Ejaife and the company's accountant, Mr. Vincent Atomatofa. The other issue in contention centres on alleged imposition of one Mr. Kenny Jack, a retiree of the company as General Manager and Ejaife as a consultant to the company. |
| Petroleum Task Force Arrests 26 Dealers in Ondo From Funso Muraina in Akure About 26 dealers of petroleum products have been arrested by the Ondo State Petroleum Products Moni-toring Committee (OSSPMC) over hoarding and selling above regulated pump price. This was disclosed by the chairman of the committee, Mr Jaiyeola Olusegun in a chat with newsmen in Akure over the weekend. He said that apart from the arrest of the dealers, the affected filling stations have also been sealed off in line with the directive of the state government. He cautioned those selling the products above the pump price, especially those petrol stations operating after 7 p.m. in the state, saying some of them tamper with the dispensing pumps to cheat on the public. Jaiyeola who frowned at the practice, described the perpetrators as saboteurs who conspired with independent marketers to exploit the masses. Any major marketers caught in the act, he warned, would risk revocation of his licence to sell in the state. The state government, he said, has considered it necessary to peg the price to N45 per litre for the independent marketers in the state, based on the fact that Ore depot is not operating at present. He lamented that most independent marketers have misconstrued deregulation policy of the downstream sector of oil as a licence to sell at any price, saying that was against the welfarism policy of the government. "It is, however, worthy of note that there is a limit to the maximum any marketers could sell as the Federal Government would not embark on any policy that will contradict its welfarism policy." He said that Governor Olusegun Agagu had, on the inauguration of the committee, insisted that there should be a pegged price for the petroleum products. Jaiyeola, therefore, appealed to the marketers to take the order of the state government very serious, saying that government would not tolerate undue hardship unleashed on the public through exorbitant price of petroleum products in the state. |
| Bauchi Issues Ultimatum on Computer Literacy From Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Top government functionaries in Bauchi State have been given up to the end of this year to be computer literate or be shown the way out. Governor Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu of Bauchi State issued the warning while flagging off the State Information and communication Technology Initiative at a two-week workshop held at the Resource centre, Bauchi on over the weekend. Mu'azu, who disclosed that less than 50 percent of the four million citizens of the state were computer literate, pointed out that with this initiative about 160 civil servants would be trained on monthly basis. The governor explained that the state would abandon the manual system of preparing state accounts and financial systems to a computerized system while all departments of government ministries and parastatals would be hooked up to the computer center at the state Treasury to ensure that the conduct of its services are on line. He said that already, 95 residents of the state had received training in various areas of Information Technology, adding that similar training was in the offing for elected officials in the state. The governor then warned that any senior civil servant or public office holder that fails to avail himself of the computer training would have to find another government to serve, saying that the training would provide a more efficient government that would in return provide unprecedent access to all of its citizens. Earlier, the state commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr.Shuaibu Ahmed expressed delight that the state government Reform Committee would lay a solid foundation for good governance in the state. Ahmed stated that through access to information and communication technology, youths would become effective partners in sustainable economic, political and social development of the state, and commended Governor Mu'azu for the unflinching support and cooperation towards the success of the committee's assignment. Also, the centre's Director, Malam E. B.Umar said that the duration of the training was two weeks, and solicited for a bus from the government to enable the centre reach out in the discharge of its functions. |
| 'Obasanjo Still at War with Igbo' By Clementina Olomu The Federal Government has been accused of manipulating the on going crisis in Anambra State in its favour, due to president Olusegun ObasanjoĦs silence. This was stated by Engineer Obi Timothy, the Principal Consultant of Chester Mead Associates in an interview with THISDAY. He alleged that the golden silence by the President while the state boils shows that heĦs still annoyed and has taken position against the Igbos thirty-four years after the civil war. Nwasike noted that the nascent democracy in Anambra, a PeopleĦs Democratic Party [PDP] controlled state has been subjected to several critical situations, which has threatened the survival of the state. This is considering the fact that the last four years were wasted due to the political feud in the last dispensation which he foresees would persist if not curbed in the next four years. He said those in authorities are manipulating the judiciary for personal gain. This he added does not encourage those who know the right thing to come out and actively participate thus putting the state on the right path of progress. |
| Experts Want Mass Comm Curriculum Reviewed By Ibrahim Sule Given the important role journalism and mass communication play in the development of the society, scholars and experts in the twin-fields recently called for an urgent review of their curricular to meet changing societal needs. The call was made at the end of a 3-day National Workshop on Curriculum Review of Mass Communication Training Institutions, organised by the Commonwealth Association for Education in Journalism and Communication, which took place in Abeokuta, Ogun State recently. The workshop called for the setting up of a body of academics and professionals to agree on areas of the proposed curriculum review. The workshop clamoured for the extension of mass communication courses in the universities to a five-year programme, in order to stem the production of half-baked graduates who are now doing a great disservice to the discipline. In a communique jointly signed by Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye and Mr Innocent Okoye of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, the workshop noted with dismay the inability of the average mass communication graduate to communicate effectively in spoken and written English. It called for the teaching of functional English from the first year to the final year to improve the standards. |
| Mu'azu Commissions 26 Tractors The Bauchi State Governor, Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu, has commissioned 26 units of the State's new steyr assembled tractors recently ordered by the Federal Government for states in the country, saying that the tractors would be used to revolutionize agriculture in the state to boost its food production capacity. Commissioning the tractors at a colourful ceremony at the secretariat, Bauchi, Mu'azu commended the federal government for re-focusing its attention on the Agricultural sector in view of its relevance in assessing a nation's greatness in food security Mu'azu who emphasized that the services of the tractors be made available to the peasant farmers across the state pointed out that Agriculture remained the mainstay of the state's economy. He disclosed that the 26 units of Steyr ursus tractors were offered to the Bauchi State Government at a subsidized rate of about N 44 million while spare parts and other implements cost the state government over N 60 million. The governor noted that since the inception of his administration efforts had been made to revitalize traditional farming methods into a more efficient large scale mechanized system, pointing out that this had prompted the government to invest N 106 million for the purchase of these tractors and other implements. |
| Elders Wade into Chieftaincy Crisis From Funso Muraina in Akure The royal battle of Olugbo of Ugboland in the oil-producing area of Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State which has caused a lot of tension has been doused by the elders of community who declared that the stool was not vacant. In a statement signed on their behalf and the people of Ugbo Kingdom by Otunba Mallon Omagbemi in Akure, the elders said that the stool occupied by Oba Adebanjo Mafimisebi IV was massively voted for by the kingmakers and the entire people of Ugboland since 1987. Omagbemi said the issue of Olugbo stool had been settled several years back and wondered if anything could be done to change the will of the people. "We want to say clearly that the election that produced the present Olugbo was between the Olugbo, Oba Adebanjo Mafimisebi IV and the Ojomo of Ugbo Kingdom and Chief Macaulay Ehuwa who had after the election been fully assimilated into the Ugbo Kingdom Traditional Council," he said. Omagbemi said that those who are agitating for the removal of the Olugbo never contested the stool with him in 1987 and advised them to stop the move which may cause crisis in the town. According to him, it was a sacrilegious move to seek the removal of the Olugbo after 13-years on the throne, adding that those people should be treated with suspicion. He further said elders have advised those interested inthe stool to follow laid down procedure after the incumbent oba might have passed on. "The acts of the perpetrators are considered in all its ramifications as satanic, disruptive and tended towards provoking anarchy" adding that it is against the culture to instal another Olugbo when the incumbent is alive. Omagbemi urged the people not to get disturbed by the news of the tussle and should go about their normal business. |
| LGs Now to Pay Traditional Rulers From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City The Federal Executive Council has directed that henceforth the stipends of traditional rulers be paid by Local Government Councils. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, made this disclosure while briefing members of Government House Press at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar shortly on arrival from a two-day National Council of State Mecting in Abuja. Obong Attah explained that it was the responsibility of Local Government Councils to pay salary of Primary Schools Teachers and Traditional Rulers, noting that most of them have failed in this direction. The state governor disclosed that the National Council of State also recognized the 774 Local Governments Areas as a bench marks for the sharing of Federal Revenue. Obong Attah who said the recognition of these local governments do not stop states from creating more Local Governments provided the follow constitutional procedure, also disclosed that the meeting discussed ways of making local government more effective and stable. The governor praised local government councils in Akwa Ibom State for living up to their responsibilities in caring for the welfare of traditional rulers, which he attributed to the way the Joint Account is administered in the state. On the Onshore/Offshore issue before the National Assembly, Attah said though it was not discussed at the Meeting, he expressed optimism that the outcome will be in favour of Akwa Ibom, the Niger Delta and in the interest of the entire country. |
| Lagos to Boost Rice Production, Says Pedro By Shaka Momodu Lagos State Deputy Gover-nor, Mr Femi Pedro, has hinted of plans by the state government to improve local production of rice a n d benefit maximally from the proposed rice growing and milling project being organised by the Federal Ministries of Agricul-ture and Industries in collaboration with a London-based Indian rice milling company. Pedro disclosed this to newsmen at Otta over the weekend after a meeting convened by President Olusegun Obasanjo to deliberate on how to develop and implement plans for local growing of rice in large quantities and producing same into variants similar to imported ones. He added that Lagos State already stands at an advantage over the participating nine states because the London-based Indian rice milling company has sited its technology and plant at Isolo area of the state. He declared that the project will not only empower Lagos rice farmers but also provide employment opportunities to many unemployed youth. Pedro cited the rice milling plant at Ito-Ikin in Epe Local Government as one of the sites which the state government would develop and standardise so that enough quantum of rice can be grown and sold from there. He declared that when fully operational, the company would save the country scarce foreign, which is used annually in importing rice as the variants would compete favourably with foreign brands. The meeting with the President had in attendance the Governors of Ondo and Ogun States while Deputy Governors of Lagos and Kwara represented their states. Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Edo and Niger states sent representatives. Ministers of Agriculture and Industries with representatives of the Indian Rice Milling company were also in attendance. |
| Charity Organisation Donates $15,000 to Motherless Home A US-based charity organiza-tion has donated a cheque of $15,000.00 for the purchase of beds and computers for the children of Ijamido Motherless Home at Otta, Ogun State. Mrs. Mary of Durban, North Carolina, made the donation when the proprietor of the home, Mr. Daniel Obakoya visited her in her home at Durban, and lamented the poor state of the inmates of the home. He told the philanthropist that almost 90 per cent of the children at the home slept on the floor. This, she frowned at, and made the donation of $15,000.00 which she said, she sourced from another rich American philanthropist after she showed her the pictures of the children in the Otta home. She said the money is meant for the purchase of good quality beds for the motherless children and computers for their use. Mrs Mary also made another cheque of $1,800.00 (one thousand eight hundred dollars) to enable Mr Obakoya fly to the United State of America and purchase the computers himself. However, Mr. Obakoya acknowledged the receipt of the said amounts and promised to judiciously put into use the money. |
| 15 Jostle for ATBU's VC From Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Capacity to deliver as well as competence in university administration would inform who will clinch the job of the Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi which becomes vacant soon, THISDAY can authoritatively reveal. Jostlings have begun for the office of the Vice Chancellor of the university, which becomes vacant soon at the expiration of the second term tenure of the out-going Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo who has served for nine years. Investigations by our correspondent revealed that already over 15 professors have filled in their credentials in which nine (9) have been shortlisted for screening, among who three names would be selected by the selection committee and forwarded to the visitor to the university, President Olusegun Obasanjo for final selection. THISDAY reliably gathered that two of the contestants are from Bauchi State while five of them are outsiders presently holding important offices in the university with the remaining four contenders coming from outside ATBU. A source close to the office of the Vice Chancellor who confided in our correspondent disclosed that "capacity to deliver, competence and maturity as well as track record and integrity, is all that is needed for the job," adding that "the selection committee and President Olusegun Obasanjo will be guided by these factors rather than ethnic, religious or the son-of-the soil syndrome". Checks revealed the names of the contenders to include Professors M.M. Abubakar of the Animal Production of ATBU; M. I. Onogu, Mechanical Enginee-ring; G. A. Babaji, Crop Produc-tion and immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration); R.D. Olarinoye who is the Dean of the New Technical Education School and Saidu Na' Allah, current Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) who is from Nassara-wa State, considered as the backbone of the university administration. Those contending from outside ATBU are the present Commis-sioner of Health in Governor Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu's Gove-rnment, Prof. Mohammed Ilyasu; Prof. Lamido Zaria, a veterinary surgeon; Prof S. Disso of the Mechanical Engineering, Bayero University (BUK), Kano and Prof Adegoke of the Obafemi Awolo-wo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
FG Told to Resolve Niger Delta Crisis Cross River From Amby Uneze in Calabar The Federal Government has been urged to take pragmatic steps in resolving the ethnic crisis in the Niger Delta Region. The Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said this in a communique issued at the end of its monthly congress and signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Samuel Egbala and Vitalis Ugoh respectively.
The union observed that eruption of new waves of violence in Warri calls for serious attention, it, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to rise above tribal interest of small communities and move fast to bring solution to the crisis which had in recent times taken a new dimension. The union also commended the Federal Government for the scrapping of toll gates from highways and suggested that only its maintenance would justify the action. It noted that a great percentage of the nation's population are suffering untold hardship in the daily struggle to stay alive, because of the high level of poverty in the country and called on government to redress this ugly development. The NUJ called on government to initiate policies that would stimulate the economy as well as provide jobs for the unemployed youths in our society in order to reduce the dependency ratio on workers. The communique, however, expressed disappointment on the conflicting orders from the judiciary over the ongoing crisis between Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State and his estranged godfather, Chris Uba. President Olusegun Obasanjo, it said, should intervene, in order to find lasting solutions to the problem 
Advertisers Pay $2.25 Million for 30-Second Ad The average price of a 30-second spot on the Super Bowl has jumped 7% to a record-breaking $2.25 million, solidifying the game's role as the centre-piece of the marketing year, even as grumbling grows about the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of network TV. CBS has sold 54 in-game spots for the February 1, 2004 game to marketers such as Anheuser-Busch Cos., Frito- Lay, Pepsi Cola Co. and Procter & Gamble Co. Eight slots remain, according to mediabuyers. Those last spots, as usual, are available for significantly less than the spots already sold, although the network is shuffling inventory in a bid to keep the value high. The fourth quarter is now selling for as low as $1.8 million, media buyers reported. "CBS is trying to entice advertisers," said -one top media buyer who has not bought the game yet, but is being heavily courted. "Prices are negotiable, but they're not diving yet. They're freeing up other quarters to attract buyers." The game sell-off had been moving at a fine clip until several weeks ago when it stalled at 85% of inventory sold out. Now media buyers are saying the game is slowly inching toward a hair's breadth of 90% sold as a result of some aggressive moves by the network. Two media buyers said it's likely CBS is shifting its promotions for its own shows to later in the game in order to cut loose the premium inventory in the first and second quarters. " |
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