Jul 17, 2012 - Nigeria World News

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Unilever aims to touch 1bn lives by 2020

Unilever Nigeria Plc through its Foundation, Unilever Foundation, is aiming to reach out to over one billion people all over the world by 2020 and transform their lives positively.

This disclosure was made by the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Thabo Mabe during the formal of Employee Volunteering Scheme at Olusesun Primary School Oregun recently.

Unilever Foundation is a key action Unilever is using globally to meet its goal of helping more than 1billion people improve their health and well-being, and in turn, create a sustainable future.

Speaking on the Unilever Connect initiative, Mabe said, “making a difference every day sits at the heart of all we do, and that is why we launched the Unilever Foundation earlier in the year to make our CSR actions touch more lives, with the aim of reaching 1 billion people all over the world by 2020.”

He said the foundation is the global platform through which the company wants to continue to improve quality of life through the provision of hygiene, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition and enhancing self-esteem.

“As a company, helping children get more out of life is a passion, and we believe that to make a real and lasting difference in our educational system, parents and schools should not be left to fend for themselves. We believe that the private sector should partner the government, as it takes meaningful and practical steps to build a solid educational system that will equip our children for the challenges of this age and the future,” Mabe said.

He however said in keeping with this passion, last year we launched Unilever Connect initiative as a platform to our company and especially Unilever employees, to also give back to the society. Through this initiative, it was humbling to see my fellow colleagues visit Olusesun Primary School and build out the school playground, through which the future generation can develop the physical and social skills needed to survive in the world.

Vanguard news

Tonye assures on judicious utilisation of funds by DESOPADEC

7:01 PM News No Comments

Asaba—DELTA State Commissioner for Special Duties in charge of State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Timi Tonye, has assured Deltans that 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation fund allocated to the Commission was being judiciously used. He noted that it was a new dawn for the oil producing communities of the state.

Tonye, who addressed newsmen in Asaba, said that to ensure the implementation of the commission’s mandate of executing relevant projects, people-oriented projects were conceptualised, designed and executed based on extensive consultations with the oil-producing areas and input from stakeholders.

He said the commissionawarded 1664 projects in the 19 local government areas which form its areas of jurisdiction between 2007 till date, adding that out of these projects, 347 were sited in Itsekiri, 424 in Ijaw, 455 in Urhobo, 305 in Isoko and 115 in Ndokwa areas.

He pointed out that the projects were executed in accordance with the production quantum of the various ethnic nationalities under its purview.

He highlighted some of the challenges of the commission to include slow response by stakeholders to attend town hall meetings and youth restiveness.

By Austin Ogwuda

How VW plans to become world biggest carmaker

5:16 PM Technology No Comments

WHEN Ferdinand Piëch arrived as Volkswagen’s chief executive in 1993, things looked dire. The carmaker was overspending, overmanned and inefficient, and had lost its reputation for quality. How things have changed: last year the VW group’s profits more than doubled, to a record €18.9 billion ($23.8 billion).As other European volume carmakers seek to close factories and cut jobs, VW is seizing market share in Europe, booming in China and staging a comeback in America. It plans to spend €76 billion on new models and new factories by 2016. Its global workforce is more than half a million, and growing.

It took years for Mr Piëch—now chairman, but still with his hands firmly on the wheel—to tame VW’s menagerie of semi-independent brands and get to grips with its global empire of factories. He has been a ruthless hirer and firer of executives: only last month Karl-Thomas Neumann was removed as head of VW’s Chinese operations, supposedly for his disappointing performance, despite the juicy profits VW is making in China. Mr Neumann had been talked of as a possible successor to the chief executive, Martin Winterkorn.

Mr Piëch is a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who founded VW after Hitler called in 1934 for the creation of a cheap “people’s car”, a Volkswagen. The Piëch-Porsche clan controls both VW and Porsche, a sports-car maker that is now being folded into VW after the failure of an overambitious and highly leveraged reverse takeover.

On July 4th VW agreed to buy the 50.1% of Porsche it does not yet own for €4.46 billion. VW is also buying Ducati, a maker of fancy motorbikes, and consolidating MAN and Scania, two lorrymakers, into its commercial-vehicles division. Yet still the firm remains hungry. It has long coveted Alfa Romeo, a premium-car division of Fiat; and is rumoured to be eyeing up Navistar, an American lorrymaker. Mr Winterkorn nevertheless dismisses the suggestion that the group is getting unmanageably big.

Mr Piëch’s plan was for VW to become the world’s biggest carmaker by volume by 2018. Last year, however, as Toyota struggled with the aftermath of Japan’s tsunami and GM floundered in Europe, VW reached its goal seven years early (see chart), if you do not count Subaru, Toyota’s distant affiliate, or GM’s Wuling joint venture in China, which mainly makes Chinese-branded cars.

The 8.5m vehicles VW made last year cover all corners: Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT in the mass market; Audi in premium cars; Porsche, Bugatti and Lamborghini in sports cars; Bentley at the luxury end; plus various commercial-vehicle brands. Most (SEAT excepted) are firing on all cylinders. IHS Automotive, a forecaster, expects VW easily to beat its target of 11m sales by 2018.

Fierce competition and regulatory pressure to develop alternative-fuel cars are forcing other makers to seek cost-sharing partnerships. Toyota and BMW are teaming up on low-carbon technologies. GM’s Opel division in Europe is joining Peugeot-Citroën to make smaller cars. Daimler is edging towards a threesome with the Renault-Nissan alliance. Sergio Marchionne, the boss of Fiat and Chrysler, recently suggested merging several European makers to create “another Volkswagen”.

Volkswagen has been better than its rivals at reducing the number of common “platforms” that its cars are built on. This allows it to offer a fabulous variety of brands and styles while slashing manufacturing costs. The next stage, launched this year, is a versatile platform codenamed MQB, which will underpin the VW Golf, Audi A3, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon, in all their variations.

By Theodore Opara

Picanto: Beyond a budget car

4:40 PM Technology No Comments

IT was not surprising that Kia Picanto was crowned ‘Budget Car of the Year’ by The Nigerian Auto Awards. The Picanto beats other contenders to grab the award and the audience lauded the decision of the organisers. No doubt, the award was one of those that the audience felt was well deserved and Kia representatives in Nigeria, Dana Motors should be proud of it.

The Picanto has shown what a small car should be with its trendy design, comfortable interior and good road holding.

The Kia’s smallest car owes this award largely to its good design as there is hardly any car in its class that could boast of such outstanding design.

Don’t forget that it was the same person that designed the Audi T T that was responsible for Picanto design.

A critical look at the Picanto tell you that the car’s biggest attraction is the design. But you will not be disappointed when you step into the car. There is enough room to take the driver and his four passengers and luggage for a city ride. Also, Kia did not compromise in the finishing of the car as it used quality materials and trim in the car.

The seats are comfortable and sporty. Maybe the only budget materials in the car could be the horn and audio system though IPOD, Aux and USB connectivity make your stay in the car very interesting. You can plug in your mobile music storage device and enjoy your tunes while on the move.

Depending on one’s taste, one can settle for the Picanto with full option including multi-function steering wheels, automatic transmission, electric folding outside mirrors, bluethooth hand free, sunvisor illumination lamp etc.

Three engine lineup are available in the Picanto range including Kappa 1.2 MPI, Kappa 1.0 MPI, and Kappa 1.0 FFV engines, but Dana at inception introduced only the 1.0 MPI engine as the Nigerian specification. The engine delivers a maximum 69 PS at 6,200 rpm.

This highlight engine is fuel efficient with reduced vibration and noise. The engines are marched with either a five-speed manual or four speed automatic transmission. Each of the transmission work harmoniously with all engine and offer smooth, noiseless gear shifting.

Safety-wise, the Picanto is small but mighty. Kia has built in the latest class leading safety measures such as seatbelt pretensioners, hill start assist control (HAC), airbags, vehicle stability management (VSM) and electronic stability control (ESC) among others. But some of these features come as option that are available on demand.

Though a small car, the on board versatility of the Picanto is class-leading. For instance, the 60:40 split rear seat back is ideal when you need to carry unusual shaped items while still letting you carry three people. But when it comes to sizeable loads, you can fold down both rear seats and make use of the extra space.

Under the tailgate, there is 200 litres of luggage space too. The fun in the Picanto is all round as there are many storage space to keep the car neat at all times. With all these features, the Kia Picanto sets standard as a small car. It is beyond a budget car or rightly put, a budget car with a difference.

By Theodore Opara

Abia: From war-war to jaw-jaw in Lagos

4:06 PM News No Comments

The cool atmosphere of Victoria Island Lagos came alive when indigenes of Abia State resident in Lagos State rolled out the drums in their numbers to welcome their governor, Chief Theodore Orji.

The event was specially planned to offer the Governor n opportunity to render an account of his stewardship and to seek the inputs of his hosts on how to take Abia State to an enviable height.

Different Abia communities and cultural groups took their turns to entertain the Governor, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and other top political leaders in the company of the governor.

It was also an opportunity for most of those present to take turns ask various questions bordering on the welfare of Abians, just as they advised the Governor on how to move the state forward, assuring him of their total support.

In his address, the governor thanked all Abians who had contributed in different ways to liberate the state from the grip of what he called selfish politicians.

He said his administration was on transformation mission to restore Abia state back to its former glory, and urged all Abians to support his government actualize his vision.

The Governor said much could not be achieved in the state in terms of delivery of democracy dividends because the state was in captivity of the forces of darkness until he liberated it. He assured of his willingness to ensure prudent use of available resources to transform the state through the revamping of infrastructure.

Governor Orji also debunked rumours making around that his administration had not done enough, maintaining that he had done enough to justify the resources coming to the state and challenged the opposition to visit the state for confirmation.

Corroborating the Governor’s position, the former military governor of old Imo state and minister of external affairs, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd) appealed to all Abians to support the government to enable him achieve better results.

He also backed the call for enthronement of true federalism in the country, saying that such step would enable Nigeria attain its full potentials.

Gen. Nwachukwu said recent developments in the country had made it imperative for stakeholders in Nigerian to begin negotiation on how to enthrone fiscal federalism that would engender genuine democratic practice and speedy development in the country. “I support true federalism because that is the only way we can make progress. The importance of true federalism cannot be over-emphasized as it will bring in true democratic practice and development,” he said.

In his contribution, renowned scholar, Prof. Anya O Anya, lamented that the state had lost some years due to incidence of kidnapping, but commended the Governor for restoring peace in the state. Prof. Anya, while charging all Abians in diaspora to invest at home, pledged the readiness of Abia professionals to work with the Governor to transform the state.

By Emmanuel Elebeke

Insecurity: Immigration uncovers new illegal routes

3:43 PM News No Comments

ABUJA—Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has uncovered new illegal immigrant routes in Sokoto and Kastina states.
The new routes, according to NIS, may have been the result of the total closure of the nation’s borders in Borno and Yobe states.

The border routes were closed in January this year, as part of a partial emergency imposed on 15 local governments across Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger states by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In spite of the border closure, terrorists elements from neighbouring countries were reported to be actively involved in terrorists activities in the country.

Service Public Relation Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Joachim Olumba, told Vanguard: “It is because of the blocking of Borno-Yobe axis that the attention of illegal immigrants shifted to other axis such as Sokoto and Katsina.”

BY Victoria Ojeme

Attah of Igala, longest reigning monarch, dies at 102

3:42 PM News, Politics No Comments

Lokoja – Dr. Aliyu Ocheja Obaje, Attah of Igala, Nigeria’s longest reigning First Class traditional ruler, is dead, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State announced yesterday.

In the statement by Governor Wada, the Kogi State Government said Dr. Obaje died yesterday at the age of 102.
Obaje, who ascended the throne on November 2, 1956 was the paramount ruler of Igala, the dominant ethnic group in Kogi State and was chairman of Kogi State Traditional Council until death.

Dr. Obaje was honoured with the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR and was appointed a minister without Portfolio by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello in the First Republic . He was also a member of two Constitutional Conferences in London in the build-up to Nigeria’s independence.

According to the governor: “The Attah was renowned for his quiet but effective administration of the traditional institution in the state and for his humble and humane disposition to the affairs of his people.

“The late Attah of Igala who was highly revered by his people, enjoyed wide spreadrelationships in various parts of Nigeria. A devoted Muslim, the late Attah is survived by his widows and many children, among whom is Chief Abdullahi Obaje, a National Ex-Officio member of Peoples Democratic Party. The Kogi State Government is finalising burial arrangements with the family,” he disclosed yesterday.

BY Emmanuel Aziken

Russia names Fabio Capello new national coach

3:30 PM Sports No Comments

MOSCOW (AFP) – The Russian Football Union (RFU) on Monday appointed Italian coach Fabio Capello as new national manager to revive the flagging fortunes of the team after its flop at Euro 2012.

“Today we decided to appoint Capello as our national team’s new manager,” the RFU deputy president Nikita Simonyan told ITAR-TASS news agency. “We expect him to come to Moscow in the nearest future to finalise the details of his contract and sign it.”

“I think this will happen on Wednesday or Thursday,” said Simonyan, who is acting chief of the RFU after previous head Sergei Fursenko resigned last month.

The 66-year-old Capello will be the immediate successor to Dutchman Dick Advocaat whose side were disappointingly knocked out of the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine at the group stages.

The last days have seen frenzied rumours in Russia that Capello was the RFU’s first choice for taking over the country’s national squad and leading it into the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign after Advocaat’s resignation.

Capello has previously coached AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid during his managerial career, winning domestic titles with each one, before becoming England manager in 2007.

Under Capello, England qualified for Euro 2012 before the Italian resigned after falling out with Football Association chiefs after he stood by John Terry as skipper despite the Chelsea man being embroiled in a racism trial which ultimately saw the defender acquitted.

In a sometimes farcical selelction process which earned ridicule at home and abroad, the RFU last week announced a star-studded 13-man list of candidates.

The hugely-ambitious list included ex-Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, Italian veteran Marcello Lippi and Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa.

The list also contained the names of seven Russian coaches but also Capello, who in the end appeared to be the only serious candidate.

Last Thursday, Capello came to Moscow to hold talks with the RFU and his arrival caused a sensation in the Russian media.

However, the Italian came to Moscow in a hurry and was reportedly forced to stay in the airport on arrival waiting for several hours while RFU officials finalised formalities to grant Capello a Russian entry visa.

OFAB Seeks Agric Biotechnology Devt in Africa

2:17 PM News, Technology 1 Comment

farming-Tractors.jpg - farming-Tractors.jpg

Agric equipment, tractors

The Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) has said that it would continue to attract support that would help develop an enabling environment for agricultural biotechnology to help African farmers enhance their food security and create wealth for their families and nations.

OFAB made the remark when it announced that it had received a grant of $3 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to expand its work.

The announcement was made during the Forum's fifth anniversary celebrations in Accra, Ghana. The initiative set up in 2006, aims to enhance knowledge-sharing and awareness on biotechnology and to contribute to building an enabling environment for decision making on agricultural biotechnology in Africa.

“Biotechnology has delivered substantial benefits to farmers around the world but Africa still lags behind in exploiting its potential partly due to lack of an enabling environment for the development and use of agricultural biotechnology,” said Ghana's Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Hon Sherry Ayittey, in her address.

“Discussions over agricultural biotechnology and its application are surrounded by misperceptions due to lack of or conflicting information,” she continued. “This is a challenge that decision makers who must make the right decisions in the face of a rapidly growing population, declining agricultural productivity and reduced resources available for agricultural research continue to face,” she added.

She noted that over the past 20 years, agricultural biotechnology has made a positive impact on poverty reduction and hunger in the developing world, but mainly in Asia and Latin America.

Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated population of 800 million in 2007, continues to register low farm productivity even as two-thirds of its population lives in rural areas and depend on agriculture for survival.

She also said that the region has the world's largest concentration of people who go to bed hungry every day - estimated at a third of the population.

The principal areas of discussions during the meetings include those specific to understanding agricultural biotechnology in general and how it applies to sub-Saharan Africa, updating stakeholders on biotechnology project developments and discussing enabling factors such as intellectual property management, liability, seed systems and commercialisation.

OFAB was initiated by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and is currently being implemented in five African countries of Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana; in collaboration with like-minded partners.

Executive Director of AATF Dr. Denis Kyetere, said that OFAB has played, and will continue to play, a key role in improving public awareness on biotechnology in Africa.

“This funding will go a long way to support the current activities of OFAB and also enable the chapters to expand their activities outside their current monthly meetings to cover a wider geographical scope within the country and organise targeted biotech communication events for specific categories of stakeholders” he added.

He remarked that the expansion of OFAB activities would contribute to the attainment of the overall goal of creating an enabling environment for agricultural biotechnology.

“OFAB addresses the existing biotechnology information gaps and concerns by facilitating the interaction of scientists involved in biotechnology research with journalists, policymakers, civil society, farmers and other stakeholders,” he stated.

He also added that over the last five years, we have seen discussions held at OFAB making input into Africa's decision on how biotechnology can contribute to its food security and economic developmental goals, thus significantly contributing to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal of reducing extreme poverty and hunger by half by 2015.

He listed OFAB partners in the five nations, including Nigeria's National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA); International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA-Africentre) in Kenya; the Uganda Council of Science and Technology (UNCST), the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana.

Also speaking the OFAB-Nigeria chairman, Prof. Bamidele Solomon, noted that OFAB in Nigeria has grown and is recognised as a key awareness and information sharing forum with increased calls for its work to be expanded to cover the countryside.
“It has served as a key platform for informing various stakeholders on the importance, content, and impacts of the country's biosafety bill,” he said.

“We see OFAB continuing to play this role in the countries that are in the process of passing their bills and those that have already passed them to support the commercialisation and use of biotech crops,” he added.

He stated that there have been increased policy maker public pronouncements on the benefits of biotechnology, hosted by NABDA, stressing that OFAB has acted as the agricultural biotechnology stakeholders' convening body, bringing stakeholders together through provision of a discussion platform and sharing of updates on key developments.

He said that the Chapter continues to host high level government officials from key ministries such as agriculture, science and technology, environment, information and communications during presentation of topical issues relevant to their ministries.

By Crusoe Osagie

The Open 2012: Woods, Rose Grouped Together

2:15 PM Sports No Comments

160712T.Tiger-Woods-and.jpg - 160712T.Tiger-Woods-and.jpg

Woods has been paired with Rose

Tiger Woods and Justin Rose have been drawn together for the first two rounds of the Open for the fourth time.

They will be joined by Spain's Sergio Garcia, while defending champion Darren Clarke will tee off on Thursday morning alongside Ernie Els and Zach Johnson.

World number one Luke Donald has been drawn with Phil Mickelson, who tied for second last year, and Geoff Ogilvy, reports the BBC.

And Rory McIlroy will play his first two rounds with Louis Oosthuizen and Keegan Bradley.

Fourteen-time major champion Woods, who is bidding for a first major since 2008, also played the first two rounds of the Open in the company of Rose at Muirfield in 2002, Carnoustie in 2007 and St Andrews two years ago.

Clarke, who clinched his maiden major title at Sandwich 12 months ago, will be joined by 2002 winner Ernie Els and American Zach Johnson when his bid to retain the Claret Jug begins at 09:09 BST.

Lee Westwood is alongside Masters champion Bubba Watson and Japan's Yoshinori Fujimoto, taking to the first tee at 09:20 BST, while McIlroy's trio tee off at 14:21 BST.

A trio of former Open winners have been drawn together, with Sandy Lyle and Americans Todd Hamilton and Mark Calcavecchia getting their first round under way at 07:03 BST.

Thisday sports

Ekweremadu knocks Jonathan on unsigned bills

2:08 PM News No Comments

Senator Ike Ekweremadu
| credits: File copy

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has for the second time, criticised the executive for failing to sign certain bills passed by the National Assembly aimed at deepening good governance and democracy.

Speaking at a National Conference on Law Reform and Law Making Process organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies on Monday, Ekweremadu expressed concerns that too many bills were still awaiting presidential assent.

According to him, some of the bills pending before the President do not have any financial burdens on the Federal Government.

He also used the opportunity to call on the President to speedily sign the bills into law to entrench good governance.

He said, “It is regrettable that so many bills meant for the good governance of the nation have not been signed into law even when they have no financial implications to the purse of government.

“For instance, the State of the Nation Address Bill which was passed by both Houses of the National Assembly only seeks a more transparent, accountable and participatory democracy in which the President and the Commander-in-Chief is expected to address the nation on contemporary national issues annually at the National Assembly.

“This is the popular practice in both developed and emerging democracies around the world. I wish therefore to call on Mr. President to take the credit of being the first Nigerian President to put this instrument to use by signing the bill into law to enrich and deepen our democracy.”

Ekweremadu also noted that Nigerian rural dwellers were being left out in the process of lawmaking, asserting that the situation might deny them the dividends of democracy.

Punch news

Why $620,000 bribery scandal probe is stalled — Police

2:00 PM News No Comments

Mr. Femi Otedola, and a lawmaker, Farouk Lawan

The police on Monday said they would ensure a thorough investigation of the $620,000 bribery scandal involving the former chairman of the House of Representatives on Fuel Subsidy, Mr. Farouk Lawan.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Mr. Frank Mba, in a telephone interview with in our correspondent in Abuja, explained why the police had not concluded the investigation a month after it began.

“We do not want to conduct hurried investigation that will not help the course of justice. We will ensure a thorough investigation,” he said.

He stated that the investigation would be conducted in a way that would ensure justice.

Mba dismissed a claim that the police would hand over the case to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.

He said, “I don’t know where people got that information from. It is not fundamental to our investigation.”

The DFPPRO said the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba, who was interrogated by the Police Special Task Force on Tuesday, gave information that would assist in the investigation.

Jagaba had denied collecting the $620,000 bribe money from Lawan.

Also at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, he threatened to sue Lawan over his statement that he (Lawan) gave him the money.

Mba declined to comment on whether other members of the fuel subsidy committee would be invited but said the STF would soon round off its investigation.

He said, “It is difficult to put a time frame on it (when the investigation will be concluded). What I can assure you is that we will always balance what we give the media with what can assist the course of justice.”

Our correspondents learnt that members of the Lawan-led committee would be invited by the STF this week.

It was learnt that after the interrogation of the committee members, Lawan and the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Femi Otedola, might be invited again.

Investigations showed that the State Security Service would this week, hand over the original copy of video containing what transpired between Otedola and Lawan to the police.

BY NIYI ODEBODE, ABUJA

Severance pay: Labour vows to resist PHCN sale

12:51 PM News, Technology No Comments

Electricity workers have vowed that no private sector individual or group will take over the assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, unless the severance benefits and other entitlements were fully paid.

At a joint briefing in Lagos, under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, the workers also insisted that the PHCN’s assets are worth over N1.5 trillion.

They argued that anybody valuing such assets at N200billion is not only a rogue, but an enemy of the country.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the two unions, the President-General of SSAEAC, Mr Bede Opara, said, “The fourteen months (14) long Negotiations between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Labour Unions in PHCN ended recently without concluding the most important issues of severance payment, gratuity and pensions.

“Furthermore the request for the payment of 53.36% salary increase availed public servants in 2009, when government freezed salaries in PHCN and requested for negotiation on our expired collective agreement were turned down by government. In all, government turned down our requests because it claimed it has no money to pay.

On the vexed issue of gratuity and pensions, government proposed that a percentage of the two will be paid as severance, as government contended that gratuity is merged with pensions in the new Pensions Reform Act 2004.”

However, the unions disagreed with government, and argued that gratuity payment is exclusive of pensions, saying, “While gratuity is a one stop payment at the end of service which the Pension Reform Act never contemplated, or bordered with as it has nothing to do with pensions; pensions is for life and its mode of operation is adequately provided for in the Pension Reform Act.

“In paying our Pensions, Government posited that it will pay into RSA to be opened by all staff and it will calculate in accordance with our superannuation up to June, 2004 which takes into recognition 25% of our salaries deducted for that purpose and from June 2004 (effective date of the Pension Reform Act) it will calculate only 15% which is the minimum granted by the Pension Act.

The Unions contended that our pensions should be calculated based on the practice of our superannuation fund by calculating all Pensions to date on 25% deducted from staff salaries for that purpose.”

The workers, therefore, urged government to urgently offset its liabilities to them, failing which it would resist the privatisation programme for the power company.

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

NNRA to boost nuclear safety in Nigeria

12:39 PM News, Technology No Comments

THE Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA, has concluded plans to boost nuclear safety and radiological protection nationwide as it continues an awareness campaign via a scheduled training seminar for lawyers in the country.

The training, which was held in Lagos last week was the third of its kind to be organised by the Authority, and is aimed at enlightening lawyers on the basic factors that can shape the laws on nuclear safety.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who declared the event open, commended the management of the NNRA for its commitment to the capacity building programme for lawyers while urging the Agency to ensure the training moved to other states of the federation.

The Governor who was represented by the Solicitor General of the State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, stated that the development is commendable but prayed the Agency to sustain the momentum by institutionalising the NTC as an annual event.

“Nuclear matter is an issue that we cannot over-emphasize; it is a subject that affects all of us, irrespective of our tribe, religion, party affiliation or educational qualification. The effect of radioactive substance cuts across both geography and politics. If not properly managed, radioactive substances and allied products may compromise not only the lives of the present generation but also several generations yet unborn.

“It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that the statutory objective of the NNRA is achieved. As we are all aware, the primary obligation of the Authority is the control and regulation of the use of radioactive substances, material, equipment, emitting and generating ionizing radiation.

Also speaking at the event the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, said that nuclear safety and protection is important in view of the recent global events that have put into focus the imperatives of nuclear safety and radiological protection.

By Yemie Adeoye

Settlement in Ecuadorian case difficult – Chevron

12:36 PM Technology No Comments

Chevron Corp.’s spokesman for Latin America said last week that the U.S oil giant could have difficulty in reaching a settlement with Ecuadorian plaintiffs in a 19-year-old legal battle over environmental issues.

“I don’t want to close the door on any possibility of settlement,” said James Craig during a meeting with foreign journalists, but “it’s hard to agree with people who have committed a series of unlawful acts during the whole legal process.”

Representatives of Ecuadorian indigenous groups have sued Chevron, claiming that the company’s Texaco unit contaminated their land as a result of its operations in the Andean country. Chevron, which denies the allegations, inherited the lawsuit in 2001 when it acquired Texaco Inc. The unit had operations in Ecuador from 1964 to 1992.

During the trial, in which an Ecuadorian court ruled Chevron had to pay $18.2 billion in damages, plaintiffs and defendant traded accusations of fraud, corruption and misconduct.

Chevron doesn’t have any assets in Ecuador, but in a bid to force it to pay the judgment, the Ecuadorian plaintiffs have filed lawsuits in Canada and Brazil seeking to seize Chevron assets in those countries. Julio Prieto, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the plaintiffs plan to go to two or three dozen foreign countries as part of its strategy to try to enforce the Ecuadorian ruling.

He said a settlement, however, is “difficult but not impossible.”

“We are open. Our commitment is to collect the money for remediation and the main point for a settlement will be to ensure the $8.6 billion that the judge ordered Chevron to pay for this remediation,” Mr. Prieto added.

The original decision also ordered Chevron to pay the Amazon Defense Front, a coalition formed by the plaintiffs, $860 million in damages and an additional $8.6 billion if it refused to apologize for environmental damage, which the company has refused to do. The total payout ordered was $18.2 billion.

Vanguard news

US Group Wants More Seaports in Nigeria

12:09 PM Business 1 Comment

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Transport Minister, Idris Umar

United States-based organisation, Nzuko Igbo, USA (NI-USA) has called on the Federal Government to make more the seaports in Nigeria viable for business rather than focus all attention on Lagos seaports alone.

In a statement signed by its president, Mr. Vincent Erondu, the group said it remembers with nostalgia the 1970s and early 1980s, when all the seaports in the country were functioning and Port Harcourt and Lagos were put to optimum use.

“If our port facilities are aging or unable to handle modern shipping vessels why should Lagos alone benefit from ports facilities upgrade. If Port Harcourt and Calabar are upgraded, invariably Lagos will be decongested.” Nzuko Igbo said stressing that two are always better than one. “Other natural seaports in Nigeria should be equipped, upgraded and kept functional” the group’s statement added.

Making an illustration of what the group seeks from the government, NI-USA said that approaching cargo ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nigeria harbour can go in more than one direction either straight into the river Niger banks area comprising Port Harcourt, Wimpey, and Onne deep-water ports, on right toward Calabar port, or on left towards Warri, Sapele and Lagos ports or harbours.

“Many countries of the world do not have such luxuries, as they are landlocked. Fortunately, Nigeria is blessed with many natural harbors and ports.” the organisation said enthusing that Nigerian Ports will increase as a result of the Federal Governments inland water-way dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue for development of seaports to accommodate a growing economy.

“Such expansions and undertakings make good economic sense, especially when ports’ revenue is second to oil in Federal Government earnings.” NI-USA added.

The group lamented that no one, even the governments, remembers dredging of the Azumiri Blue River and the Imo River that empty into the Atlantic Ocean at Iwenga Ndoki historic Seaport.

“This Seaport has long been forgotten in spite of its historic, commercial and tourist attractions. It also needs to benefit from the recent inland water-way dredging and port development. The blue River needs restoration and the Imo River dredged.” said NI-USA.

NI-USA wondered why Lagos port remains the only all-time active of all these ports stressing that in the normal process of import and export, shipping cargo traffic in Nigeria is a big deal, compounded by thousands of its citizens overseas sending goods back to their homeland, on regular basis.

“Over the years, frustrations have become the norm for many shippers who sometimes wait for months in vain to have their goods cleared, due to congestions at the Lagos Port that often results in demurrage charges.” the statement continued noting that some importers even lose their goods due to complicated paper work and several trips from the hinterland to Lagos on dangerous and death-trap roads.

In conclusion, Nzuko Igbo, USA called on the Federal Government to end favoritism in the provision of facilities in the country underscoring the fact that rfforts should be geared toward modernizing Port Harcourt and Calabar seaports to attract more shipping activities.

“ Government owes it as a duty to provide equal economic growth policies and economic enabling environment to all regions of the country. The federal character provision enshrined in our constitution should and must be extended to infrastructure development” the group concluded.

Paul Ohia

London 2012: Athletes Arriving for Olympic Games

12:03 PM Sports No Comments

160712T.Athletes-arriving-london.jpg - 160712T.Athletes-arriving-london.jpg

Athletes and officials are arriving Heathrow Airport ahead of the Olympics

BBC

Athletes and officials are arriving at the Olympic Village, with 11 days to go until the London Games open, reports the BBC.

Heathrow Airport is expecting its busiest day on record and on the main route out - the M4 - the first priority "Games Lane" is in operation.

Work is also starting at the lab which will conduct some 6,000 drugs tests.

Meanwhile, it has emerged police have had to deploy extra officers from nine UK forces at short notice to help with security work for London 2012.

This follows the news last week that 3,500 troops had been drafted in to plug gaps after private security firm G4S failed to recruit enough guards for the Games.

Home Secretary Theresa May will face an urgent question about that in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison said: "Whilst some of the activity police officers are undertaking was not anticipated, plans were put in place to allow us to do this.

"Forces are making sure they make the best use of their resources locally to do all they can to minimise the impact on local policing."

The forces involved include Dorset, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Northumbria, South Wales, Strathclyde, West Midlands, Thames Valley Police, and Greater Manchester Police.

In Salford, only 17 of an expected 56 G4S staff turned up for work at an Olympic team hotel and front-line officers had been pulled in to cover, the chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority said.

Heathrow Airport is expecting to process as many as 236,955 passengers on Monday, which would surpass its previous record of 233,562 set on July 31 last year. This compares with 190,000 passengers through Heathrow on an average day.

Some 335 competitors are expected on Monday, as part of 1,027 so-called "Games Family" arrivals (including athletes and coaches) from more than 50 countries. Heathrow operator BAA expects the busiest day for arriving athletes to be July 24.

"Today heralds the start of Britain's biggest peacetime transport challenge and Heathrow's busiest ever period," said BAA's head of Olympic and Paralympic planning, Nick Cole.

Volunteers have been directing athletes to the coaches and trains taking many of them to the Olympic Village in Stratford, east London, which opened on Monday.

Two-time 400m hurdles world champion Kerron Clement claimed on the website Twitter that his coach to the village had become lost for four hours.

The American tweeted: "Um, so we've been lost on the road for 4hrs. Not a good first impression London."

The village will house 16,000 athletes and officials at its peak.

Those leaving the airport by road should benefit from the first of the Games Lanes, which at busy times will operate between Junction 3 and Junction 2 of the M4 motorway towards London.

The rest of the 30 miles of dedicated lanes in the Olympic Route Network (ORN) will be operational by the middle of next week, with heavy fines for those who misuse them.

All road users will be able to go into the lanes when they are not in use overnight.

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said the authorities had plans to lift the restrictions if they were causing gridlock.

Kevin Delaney, from the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said the lanes could exacerbate traffic problems in the capital.

"If anything goes wrong with the central and inner London transport network, we tend to get a wholly disproportionate amount of congestion - and so the Games lanes themselves will actually impose serious constraints on this already stretched network," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

The biggest anti-doping operation in the history of the Olympics is also beginning at the London 2012 laboratory.

Half of the competitors will be tested including every medallist at the Olympics and Paralympics.

G4S chief executive Nick Buckles is due to appear before the Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday to answer MPs' questions about the firm's failures over the Games.

The company has said it stands to lose up to £50m on the contract, worth a total of about £280m, after being unable to provide the 10,000 staff it had been contracted to deliver.

BBC political correspondent Robin Brant says Labour thinks there are "serious questions" for Mrs May over the extent to which the Home Office had oversight of the contract.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is also expected to deal with some of the implications for troops when he responds to MPs' questions in the Commons later.

Mrs May said she was only made aware of the scale of the problem at G4S on Wednesday.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the government had been monitoring potential Olympics problems since taking power in 2010.

"Obviously the G4S issue, the full extent of that didn't come to light until relatively recently as they were going through the final stages of hiring the temporary staff," he said.

Abia taskforce impounds 33,000 litres of unrefined petroleum products

11:36 AM News No Comments

UMUAHIA—THE Abia State Petroleum Monitoring Taskforce has impounded a truck loaded with 33,000 litres of substance suspected to be unrefined petroleum products at the premises of a private company in Ossa area of Umuahia.

According to the State Commissioner for Petroleum, Chief Don Ubani, the arrest of the truck was sequel to a petition by the Ossah Community alleging that the company had been operating illegal refinery.

On the strength of the petition, Ubani said he directed the taskforce chairman, Mr. Tony Anyanwu to investigate the case, “which he did and brought back a report that the suspected truck and the substance are at the said premises with a sample to attest to that effect”.

He said the truck marked, Abia XB 855 NGK which had been under surveillance for some days before the information that the truck was parked somewhere around Ossah Community.

Ubani said the company had been deceiving the public by claiming to be in a different business while inside the premises it had “been running an illegal refinery contrary to the state government laws”.

“There is no doubt that the contents in the truck is crude oil, but we are going to run a test on it to prove them wrong and once that is done we will move to the next step, which is invoking the laws of the state on the company and its owners.

Reacting, a staff of the company, Mr. Jonathan Anyanwu denied being involved in running any illegal refinery. According to him, the company was only engaged in vegetable oil, “where we crush palm kernel to extract vegetable oil which we sell”.

According to Anyanwu, the contents in the truck are not crude oil, “it is what they call LPFO which is used to fire the boiler for our production, and we are not running any illegal refinery as the present administration has made it nearly impossible for oil bunkering to take place in the state”.

By ANAYO OKOLI

APGA crisis deepens as Obi dumps Umeh

11:06 AM News, Politics No Comments

The crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance deepened on Monday after Anambra Governor Peter Obi dumped his kinsman and national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, to join forces with the faction led by Alhaji Saadiq Masalla.

The governor, who was represented by Chief Obinna Okafor at the National Executive Committee meeting convened by the Masalla group, said time had come “to move the party forward”.

Other top ranking members of the party who attended the meeting included a former Minister of Health, Dr. Tim Menakaya, who replaced the late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as the Leader of the party.

Obi explained that what was uppermost in the party was to plan how to win the governorship elections in Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Rivers, Delta, Lagos, Kano and Plateau states.

Okafor said, “Governor Obi would have been present at this meeting but he sends his apologies. He wants APGA to secure these states and move forward rather than retrogressing as we have all seen.

“He is of the opinion that if this party should make progress, we should review our constitution and open up the party so that new members could come in through massive registration of members throughout the country. He is firmly behind this move to reposition the party.”

Menakaya said APGA needed to change and prove to Nigerians that it had the capacity to move the country forward.

He said, “The party must open up, expand and be a party to be embraced by every Nigerian. The party must stop hiding and come out into the open.

“As one of the people who founded APGA and funded this party, we must not stop saying that out party must be able to accommodate everybody and not be a close-ended political party.

“Our leaders should be people who should have patient; who should have listening ear so that everybody will be contented. Change is natural in the affairs of men”.

Other personalities at the meeting included a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, who spoke on behalf of the governorship candidates of the party and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission led by its Director (political party monitoring), Mrs. Regina Omo-Agege, who observed the proceedings of the NEC in line with the party’s constitution and the extant powers of INEC.

BY FRIDAY OLOKOR, ABUJA

Dangote Sugar surpasses profit projections for first quarter

10:49 AM Business 1 Comment

Investors in Dangote Sugar Refining Plc (DSR) are in for a bumper harvest this year as the company has surpassed its performance projections for the first quarter, 2012.

The management said at the weekend that the minor fire incidence at its bagging store notwithstanding, would continue with its cutting edge business plans to achieve its set goals to the benefits of the stakeholders.

Managing Director of the Company, Engineer Abdulahi Sule, said that investors would have a good bargain this year as the company had surpassed its profit projection for the first quarter of the year and will likely sustain the trend in the second quarter despite the challenges and the inclement industrial climate.

According to him, Dangote Sugar controls over 70 per cent of the sugar market in Nigeria and with “a sugar refinery which is the second largest in the world, it wouldn’t be a bad business strategy to step up our foray into West African markets having dominated the local market, yet with more capacity for production.”

He, however, allayed fears being expressed in certain quarters that the recent fire that gutted a section of its Apapa refinery would lead to scarcity of Sugar, saying it is not true because the impact of the fire was minimal and besides, the refinery has strategic reserve which could last for two months even if it does not produce at all.

It was learnt that the foremost Sugar Company would also reap bountifully when it finally consummates its acquisition of Savannah Sugar company, from Dangote Industries Limited, a move that has been endorsed by the shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting of the company.

Already, in furtherance of its strategic action plan to consolidate the market expansion, Dangote Sugar has commenced export of the product to Ghana, Gambia, Sierra-Leone with plans already afoot to enter other African countries.

Engineer Sule said in an interview in Lagos that the leading sugar company had entered into an agreement with Dangote Industries limited on the acquisition process and that all hands were on deck to actualize the final acquisition of the firm thus making Dangote Sugar refinery the first fully integrated sugar manufacturing company in Africa.

According to Sule, “We have started exportation of Sugar into Ghana, Gambia and other countries after a pilot scheme. Over all, we are seeing a more positive prospect than we had envisaged because we had thought upon acquisition of Savannah Sugar our production would move up by 100, 000mt per annum within three years, but with what we have put on ground, we would achieve that within a reasonable time frames.

“The acquisition of Savannah sugar is very strategic, by the time we take off fully; we would be creating more jobs ten times we presently have.

BY PETER EGWUATU

Who becomes NBA Gen Sec?

10:44 AM Politics No Comments

THE position of General Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is one of the most prestigious offices in the association. In actual fact, it is the most important, second to the office of the President of the association.

Among candidates running for office in the association’s election slated for Tuesday in Abuja are Mr Emeka Obegolu, Mr Olumuyiwa Olowokure and Mr Emmanuel Haruna. These men are by all standrad, eminently qualified to occupy the said office. Whoever emerges therefore will not be for lack of qualification of others, but simply because only person can occupy the office

Mr Emeka Obegolu:
He is an active member of the association. Born to the family of Chief Charles and Chief Mary Obegolu, both legal practitioners, he read law at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State. He was called to the bar on September 28, 1999. He had his early practice experience with the firm of Adetokunbo Kayode & Co from 1999 and resigned in 2002 to set up Greenfield Chambers in partnership with a colleague, Agada John Elachi.

He is also an Arbitrator and Mediator by passion, a consummate and committed Bar Man. Urbane, erudite, dynamic and innovative, Emeka has meritoriously held positions that portrayed him as an outstanding team player and a detailed and resourceful person.

Mr. Emeka Obegolu and Mr. Olumuyiwa Olowokur

As modest as the above is, meeting Emeka one-on-one, you cannot but be amazed at his humility, transparent sincerity and generally amiable nature. None the less, he is a perfect description of a fair and firm person.

Disseminating of information

He noted that as Publicity Secretary, NBA Abuja Branch, he introduced the use of SMS/Text Message to disseminate information; collaborated with AIT, to use the programme Legalscope to propagate ideas of the Bar. And as Secretary, NBA Abuja Branch, he published the Abuja Branch Directory at no cost to the Branch after many years and introduced the circulation of Minutes of Meetings by e-mail at least two weeks before the meeting.

He added that as Publicity Secretary NBA, he introduced electronic newsletter; live coverage of opening ceremony of Annual General Conference; Bulk SMS of news real time; Photo coverage and reportage of branch activities; Facebook and Twitter social discussion platform for NBA and NBA Helplines, promising to do more, if voted Secretary General.

On why he is running for the position, he said: “The major point of my aspiration is to bridge the gap between NBA and its members. Having served as Publicity Secretary for close to two years, I had come to realise that members do not have a personal relationship with the NBA and I had traced the problem to non availability of direct membership benefits for members.

“Part of the things I would want to do differently upon assumption of office as General Secretary is to generate membership benefits for members such that will justify their membership of a professional association and make it beneficial for members to pay their Bar Practising fees.

“With the completion of the lawyers database verification exercise, each lawyer will have a space within our website where he/she can print his practice licence each year, access the NBA electronic library, which I will introduce as a membership benefit, register for conferences and print out receipt therefrom, and generally operate as an individual member of NBA.

“I will support branches through the creation of a Branch Support and Advisory Directorate within the secretariat to conduct compliance audit and engender peer review mechanism for branches,” he added.

Mr Olumuyiwa Olowokur:

He was called to Nigerian Bar in 1986 and had practised law in Kaduna, where he did his National Youths Service Corps, NYSC.

After four years of learning the ropes in the reputable law firm of Paul Usoro and Co, he established his firm in Kaduna, where he developed a reputable practice with emphasis on immigration, taxation, insurance, servicing international development organisations and more recently pre-election matters and election petitions.

His mission is to be in a position to, with due regard to the NBA Constitution, superintend a National Secretariat that is IT driven, operates in an efficient manner that accords with the best and modern practices and above all, caters for the membership needs of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria wherever they are, whether in Nigeria or abroad.

He had a highly successful tenure as Chairman of Kaduna Branch, as Chairman, he led the Branch to host one of the most successful and seamless conferences in the annals of NBA history. As the Kaduna State Coordinator of ‘Project Swift Count’ he represented NBA as State Coordinator in a coalition of civil society organisations that officially observed the 2011 general elections.

He said, if voted in as Sec Gen, he would maintain a dedicated telephone helpline and on-line help services to enable members get prompt answers to questions and complaints and generally make the secretariat more accessible; ensure capacity building programmes for members are professionalized so as to give value for money.

He added that in concert with the President, National Executive and the Branches, he would explore ways of reducing the incidence of the ever growing menace of fake lawyers and other professionals and individuals charging ‘legal fees,’ ensure advance copies of NEC minutes and other relevant documents reach NEC members promptly; prompt production and distribution of annual practice license reactivation of the NEC stamp and seal project.

Mr. Emmanuel Haruna:

He was born in Odolu, Igalanela/Odolu Local Government Area, Kogi State. He read law at Ahmadu Bello University, and was called to bar in July, 1983. After his NYSC as Legal Aid Counsel in Imo State, he did his pupilage with Dr. S.S. Ameh & Co in Jos. He worked with Benue State Ministry of Justice and rose to different levels before setting up his law firm, E.A .Haruna & Co.

If elected General Secretary, he said he intend to improve the National Secretariat progressively over the years. He said: “In pursuits of this progressive improvement, two key areas I will focus on are by ensuring that minutes of previous meeting and other critical NEC papers are transmitted to members of NEC in good time to elicit robust and informed deliberations and decisions and members of staff of the National Secretariat do not presently appreciate the fact that their employment depend on the membership of our great association.

“The aloofness with which some of our members are treated leaves much to be desired. As General Secretary, I will ensure a complete break from this state of affair. Staff and management will be persuaded to treat our members as their employers that we really are through due respect and warm reception that our members deserve. The pace of an Information Technology driven National Secretariat will be sustained and improved upon.

Economic hardship

“It is obvious that majority of our members are bitterly dissatisfied with the new BPF and AGP fees in the context of the present prevailing economic hardship. Whoever emerges as president will be constantly reminded of the need to fruitfully pursue the mandate for downward review of BPF through the General Council of the Bar. Of course, the downward review of AGC registration fees will be easier to handle by the new body of national officers after inauguration sometime in August 2012.

“For me, my bid to be General Secretary of NBA is all about offering myself for service predicated on maturity, experience and integrity. I cannot elect myself as General Secretary. So, I will be bound by the outcome of the election. I will accept it which ever way it goes. But I am confident that I will win.”

His agenda, includes cause to be produced and transmitted to members of NEC previous minutes of meeting and other critical NEC papers not later than seven days before any subsequent meeting of NEC to enhance quality contributions during meeting.

By Innocent Anaba

Shell loses 12.58m barrels of crude to illegal bunkering in 6 months

9:15 AM Business No Comments

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said it lost 12.58 million barrels of crude oil between December 2011 and June to illegal bunkering. Mr Mesh Maichibi, the Company’s Operation’s Manager, Swamp 1, East, gave the figure to newsmen on weekend during an over-flight of the Nembe Creek Trunk line (NCTL) in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Maichibi said that out of the number, 1.44 million barrels were deferred due to low pressure on the trunk line caused by trip-offs during the illegal bunkering activities.

He explained that when crude oil stayed under ground and did not come out for use, it was called deferment since there was a lost in production. The operation’s manager said the NCTL consisted of two major trunk lines, San Batholomew and Cawthorne Channel Junction Manifold, adding that crude oil theft on the facilities had increased recently.

Maichibi explained that the Trunk lines, re-commissioned in 2010, had not experienced any significant oil theft until Dec. 24, 2011 when a major spill of 245 barrels was reported on it.

He said that the spill was at the Tora manifold and was caused by two failed six inches bunkering connections. “The repairs required installation of coffer dams and took till Jan 23, at a total production deferment of 4.3 million barrels.

“Since the restart of production on Jan 23, there has been multiple facility trips caused by pressure drops, resulting from illegal off take. Once there are massive illegal bunkering activities, the pressure on the affected facility will drop and trip off,” Maichibi explained.

He said that after the commencement of production in Jan. 23, another trip-off occurred from Jan. 26, to Jan. 31 due to low pressure on the line.

Maichibi said that the situation reoccurred in February for 16 days, March for 10 days, and in April for 12 days all due to pressure trip-offs on export lines.

Vanguard news

Ministry intervenes in NUT, NTI N1.4bn fraud face-off

8:05 AM News No Comments

Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike

Federal Ministry of Education has intervened to end the frosty relationship between the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the National Teachers Institute, promising to pay N1.4bn allowances for teachers who participated in the 2011 Millennium Development Goals progamme.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, stated this in Abuja, while receving report of the committee set up to investigate allegations that the NTI defrauded the teachers.

The committee, however, absolved the NTI of the allegation levelled by the NUT.

Wike said the appropriate authorities would ensure the payment of the affected teachers.

The minister had set up a joint committee headed by the Director of Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate the allegations by the NUT that the money budgeted for the teachers’ allowances was diverted by some NTI officials.

But the Director- General of NTI, Dr. Ladan Sharehu, explained that institute paid the teachers N2,500 instead of N14,000 because of the non-release of fund for the project.

Wike, at an intervention meeting on Monday, confirmed that the institute could not pay the N1.437bn to the teachers that participated in the exercise because funds were not released as anticipated.

He said the money was not released due to the general cut in the last quarter disbursement of the 2011 budget by government.

Sharehu said the NTI was committed to the welfare of teachers, adding that it would not underrate them.

He said, “As the body charged with the responsibility of training and retraining of teachers, there is no reason the institute will ever underrate the worth and integrity of teachers, much less of causing them pains.

“We even wrote to the leadership of the NUT intimating them with the situation; this can be confirmed from them. Also, when their officers and my team met with the Minister of State for Education, in Abuja, at the instance of the minister, I still explained the matter clearly to them.”

BY NIYI ODEBODE, ABUJA

NSE partners NIBRRI on buildings collapse

7:25 AM News No Comments

The Nigerian Society of Engineers has lauded the efforts of the Nigerian Institute of Building and Road Research Institute, NIBRRI to stem the tide of buildings collapse in the country and promised to collaborate with the institute in that direction.

Speaking during a visit to the Director General of the Institute, Prof Danladi Matawal, an Engineer, in continuation of his visit to Engineers in key positions in government, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Mustafa Shehu said the society will work with NIBRRI to ensure that the recommendations from the stakeholder’s summit is implemented.

“I would like to commend your efforts so far on the job and the innovations you are bringing in, particularly, the technical workshop on “curbing the incidents of building collapse in Nigeria” which came out with far-reaching recommendations on how to stem the spate of failure of buildings in the country. I want to assure that the NSE will work with you to ensure that these recommendations are implemented”, he said.

The NSE President sought the partnership of the Institute in the area of research outcomes in local building and construction material; local construction, Ffundation and earth works for building and bridges; the design and construction of roads best suited for our environment; and all classes of engineering materials.

Such research outcomes, he observed, will help members of the Society in their day to day professional activities as they seek to provide the best engineering infrastructure for the country.

“There is no doubt that our members will be interested in using your innovative machines if they are commercialized, easier to maintain and efficient. We look forward to collaborating on this in a manner that would be beneficial to our members and the Institute”, he said.

In his remarks, Prof. Matawal welcomed the Nigerian Society of Engineers saying many of their staff were young engineers who needed the support of the society to build their careers.

He said on assumption of duties a year ago, he had set himself a target to revitalize the Institute and position to it to carry out useful research in building and roads construction.

By Favour Nnabugwu

Okobe petrol fire disaster death toll rises to 124 – FRSC

6:08 AM News No Comments

Abuja – The death toll from Okobe petrol tanker disaster rose to 124 on Monday, up from 95, the Rivers Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Kayode Olagunju, said.

Olagunju said that the number was arrived at, based on additional deaths from various hospitals.

“We are still battling with the actual injury figures as a lot of victims were transferred from one hospital to the other which could result in multiple counting.

“Some victims initially went home for traditional treatment while some headed for private clinics,’’ Olagunju said, adding that the commission would liaise with other agencies and the Rivers Government to collate a more realistic figure.

The Okobe tragedy occurred around 6.30 a.m on Thursday following the crash of a petrol-carrying tanker and three other vehicles on the Ahoda-Mbiama east-west road in Rivers.

People around thronged the scene scrambling for spilled petrol, resulting in the flame which consumed the dead and the injured, according to FRSC which added that 34 motor-cycles were also burnt during the incident.

The 87 bodies burnt beyond recognition were given mass burial at the scene of the disaster on the same day, while six identified bodies were released to family members. (NAN)

Senate collaborates with BPE on power privatisation

6:00 AM News, Technology No Comments

The Senate has promised to work with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, to ensure the successful conclusion of the privatisation of the successor companies created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, by the last quarter of 2012.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, made the pledge when he and his team made an oversight visit to the Egbin Power Plc in Lagos.

He allayed the fears of the workers that they would be shortchanged in the privatisation exercise, saying, “Your entitlements will be paid. Privatisation is not to witchhunt or shortchange the workers. When the investors buy the companies, we will make sure you smile to your homes. We are also looking at privatisation holistically. It will bring prosperity.”

On the workers’ agitation that the calculation of their severance benefits should not be guided by the Pension Act of 2004, a member of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Adamu Gumba, urged them to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the law.

“The fear of leaving should not be there because you are the custodians of experience. Those that will leave will have a smooth exit. On the other hand, there is a legal provision governing pension in the country. Take another look at it. I advise you to negotiate with your pension administrator to pay you a certain percentage as a lump sum,” said Gumba, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Labour. “Unless you change the law, what you are asking for is not possible. When negotiating, make sure you go with existing laws in the country. BPE must work in accordance with the law.”

In his remarks, the Chief Executive of Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Mike Uzoigwe, lamented the paucity of funds to address the challenges of the plant.

He revealed that five of the six turbines of the plant are operating. “We are not liquid. That is the bedrock of our problem. To overhaul a turbine, one will need about N5billion, yet our annual budget is about N1billion.”

By Clara Nwachukwu

Ajimobi sacks bridge contractor

5:55 AM News No Comments

RESIDENTS of the affected flood areas yesterday counted their losses as motorists and commuters groaned under heavy traffic snarl, which dominated the state capital following the collapse of many bridges in the Saturday night’s downpour.

This came as the state government sacked the contractor handling the reconstruction of Apete Bridge, which was washed away in the last August 26, 2011, flood disaster.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi had awarded contract for the reconstruction of Apete Bridge to KBP International alongside some others damaged during the flood disaster.

Also group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State again took on Governor Abiola Ajimobi over the last Saturday’s flood disaster, which ravaged the state capital and washed away many bridges, houses and churches.

The group, “PDP Synergy League” through its Spokesperson, Dotun Oyelade, accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led government of negligence and insensitivity in the handling of the flood disaster.

But the ACN, while faulting the group’s claim, described its members as ‘renegades and rouble rousers’ and should be ignored.

The PDP group demanded to know what Ajimobi has been doing for the past 11 months after last year’s flood disaster during which Federal and state governments, as well as corporate bodies, donated handsomely to bolster government purse to assist thousands of victims.

Although no life was lost in the latest flood disaster, many houses particularly around Odo-Ona Elewe/New Garage, Arulogun, Oluyole, UI-Ojoo, as well as Eleyele were affected.

Residents of Oluyole were stranded as the two bridges at 7-Up and Rhema end which serve as a link to the town, have been washed away.

This forced many to go through Apata road, also plied by trucks operating at the depot in the area, thus resulting in heavy traffic snarl.

The story was the same in Mokola and its environs as the bridge along Jemibewon/Celestial road also caved in during the heavy downpour.

Men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and policemen were deployed to major roads in the state capital to control traffic and prevent chaos.

While announcing the sack of KBP International, the state government assured that a new contractor would move to site in the next 24 hours after due process must have been observed.

The state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, at a press briefing stated that the bridge, as well as 15 others damaged across the state during the flood exercise that occurred on Saturday night would be reconstructed as soon as possible.

Apparently irked by the slow pace of work on the rehabilitation of Apete Bridge, the government said it had decided that a new contractor would take over the project within the next few hours.

Akintunde said the state executive council had mandated his ministry and that of Physical Planning and Urban Development to come up with a new proposal on the possible and urgent ways of putting all the damaged bridges back to use as soon as practicable.

“The council equally considered the Apete Bridge today and resolved that because of the current development and the heavy downpour that had suddenly occurred, there is the need to take a drastic action on the bridge construction so as to ameliorate the suffering of our people. In this wise, council decided that the drastic measure would have to be a reassessment and re-awarding of the bridge contract which should take place within the next 24 hours,” he said.

The commissioner explained that government was largely hampered from demolishing all the houses earlier red-marked for demolition because many of the owners had gone to courts to obtain injunctions against the planned demolition.

“The government is beginning soon the second phase of the removal of such structures (built on flood plains). However, we are inhibited by the activities of some landlords and landlords’ associations whose houses are located on flood plains who have taken government to court even for marking their structures for demolition. But we do plan to embark on the demolition exercise very soon. We have marked the structures and we are going to remove them but we may not cover them in totality due to these court injunctions.”

From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan

Nigeria, France trade volume hits $7.3bn – Envoy

5:00 AM Business, News 1 Comment

Trade between Nigeria and France has reached the $7.3 billion mark, according to French Ambassador to Nigeria. In his remarks at a ceremony to mark the 222nd French National Day in Abuja, de Labriolle said the figure was more than the GDP of 20 African nations combined, 10 of which are in West Africa.

He said the figure was also more than what France generated from all the French-speaking countries in West Africa annually.

French investment in the country cuts across all sectors of the economy but notably in oil and gas. “We, French, certainly believe that Nigeria is a country of extraordinary potential; it is already, and by far, our first partner in Africa, south of the Sahara,” he said.

“We believe in Nigeria’s potential, and we believe in the future of this nation; this country can be, and should be much higher ranking in the various international indexes of good governance of doing business and transparency.”

The ambassador said the cordial bilateral relations between Nigeria and France had further been boosted with the introduction of daily direct Air France flights from Abuja to Paris last month.

He also said that a new embassy complex, that will accommodate the chancery and residential quarters, would soon be built as an evidence of the excellent ties both nations enjoyed.

“The new French President Francois Hollande has made it clear, in a recent message to President Goodluck Jonathan, that he wishes to reinforce further the Franco-Nigerian partnership,” de Labriolle said.

De Labriolle, who is also French Ambassador to ECOWAS, also said France would work toward encouraging further regional integration in West Africa.

He said trans-border issues, such as food security, public health, migration as well as piracy and terrorism, were better handled through regional integration.

Vanguard news

Kwara community protest alleged planned acquisition of land

4:25 AM News No Comments

ALLEGING highhandedness, the people of Malete district in Moro Local Council Area of Kwara State yesterday staged a peaceful protest to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, over the alleged planned revocation of their land by the state government through its agency, Bureau of Land.

The placards-carrying protesters numbering over 100 yesterday stormed the palace of Gambari, pledging their loyalty to his leadership and that of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, but warned that if the Bureau did not shelve its alleged plan, they may have to resist the move.

According to the spokesman of the protesters, Toyin-Bello Alawaye, the proposed acquisition of the land measuring over 200,000 hectares would lead to the displacement of people of 13 villages in the district and deprive the villagers of the opportunity to farm.

Malete is the host community to the newly established Kwara State University. Alawaye said the people of the district had on two occasions “suffered the loss” of their lands to the state government.

According to him, the state government had allegedly taken over 500,000 hectares of their land for the establishment of both the state’s university and the state’s owned Youth Farm Settlement.

He added: “We have no other source of income than the farmland which has been bestowed on us by our forefathers and which your Royal Highness has equally blessed for us as our life saviour. It is to be noted that we had in the recent past released a large parcel of land for the establishment of the new KWASU as well as the state Mechanised Agricultural Institute, of which no compensation was paid by the state government and we conceded because of the developmental reasons given to us.

“Sir, if the proposed acquisition from Elemere, spanning to the left covering villages like Okonu, Olokonla, Galli, Bube, Okete Tuntun, Abeegba, Aladie, Ile Oke, Igbo, Ajia up to Gaa Malete and parts of Malete town are allowed, then many villagers would be displaced and rendered homeless, above all their economic lives would be paralysed.”

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

Igbinedion splashes millions on home video

3:39 AM Entertainment No Comments

As preparation peak for the September 11, 78th birthday of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, arrangement continues to ensure the Esama of Benin, Chief Igbinedion has a befitting birthday celebration.

Highlight of the surprise in this year edition of his birthday is a new Nollywood flick that will premiere at the cinemas and Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre in Benin City Edo State.

The story line is based on the humble beginning of Chief Igbinedion and how he survived against all odds to become a pathfinder and trailblazer in business world.

The event will also unveil a special birthday song composed by the Etsako Boys.

The new film which is untitled yet is directed by the President of Director Guide of Nigeria Andy Amenichi and is jointly produced by Nollywood Network International limited and Treasure Search Entertainment.

All the cast and crew were lodged at Guinness guest house in the heart of Benin City. The movie is bankrolled by the Esama.

Vanguard

Okorocha appoints 79 aides, Yuguda sacks 2,000

3:23 AM News No Comments

GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State at the weekend appointed 79 new aides while his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda, has sacked about 2,000 political appointees in the state.

Also, Okorocha has dissolved the board of Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, led by Celestine Nnajiofor.

The list indicated that the governor appointed 25 special advisers, 15 senior special assistants, 29 special assistants, seven executive assistants and two personal assistants.

According to a statement, a former House of Representatives member (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte), Independence Ogulewe, was named Special Adviser on Federal Projects, while Ugochukwu Nzekwe, a two-time member of the state House of Assembly, made the list as Special Adviser on Mobilisation.

It disclosed that the state secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Austin Chilakpu, is the new Special Assistant on Labour Matters.

In the list, Ebere Uzokwa retained his position as the Special Assistant on Media (Print), among others.

However, the position of the Senior Special Assistant, Media/Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, is still vacant.

His immediate past aide in that capacity, Chinedu Offor, was appointed the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, a few weeks ago.

According to sources, the hotel’s board may have failed to impress the governor in recent times. Recently, a top management of the board was said to have ordered the arrest of The Guardian’s reporter, who had gone there to do a story on the place.

Sources said that the governor was not happy with the manner the reporter was treated, among other alleged wrong-doings, by the management of the hotel.

A statement signed by Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Dandija, yesterday said the sack of Directors-General, Senior Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants II, Special Assistants and Senior Assistants II was with immediate effect.

The statement added that the disengagement of the appointees followed “complaints by stakeholders that the political appointments were lopsided and did not reflect the structure of the ruling party in the state, councils and ward levels.”

The statement indicated that political appointees not affected by the sack were those on essential services.

The Guardian news

Senate urges Lagos to pay education counterpart fund

3:20 AM News No Comments

IKEJA—Senate Committee on Education, yesterday, urged the Lagos State Government to urgently pay its 2012 counterpart funding on education, saying “it affects development of education.”

Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Responding, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the delay was because the state had not exhausted some parts of the fund meant for the previous year.

Fashola added that the style of structure recommended by Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, also contributed to the delay because some of the buildings could not stand the test of time, adding “many blocks of classroom collapsed after few months of construction.”

According to Fashola, “Due to this collapse cases, the state government decided to design its own style of classroom block. With this design, we will be able to build structures that can stand the test of time.”

The governor, however, advocated for an urgent increase in assistance to UBEB, especially in the supervision of contractors handling school projects.

Earlier, the state chairman of SUBEB, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, said Lagos paid N1.92 billion as its counterpart funding for education last year.

Daodu said: “Last Friday, we received a letter from the Universal Basic Education, UBE, informing us that we have N852.9 million accredited for the state in the first and second quarter of 2012. And they expect us to pay our counterpart funding from it which is 429.7 million. We are at par with all the states in the federation.”

By AMAKA ABAYOMI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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