The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Pipeline explosion in Ibadan

    A pipeline explosion has occurred at Apete area of Ibadan, Oyo State on Saturday evening.

    The National Emergency Management Authority has urge NNPC to shut down supplies to curb the intensity of the fire.

  • Market Association leader, Abibat Mogaji is dead

    Market Association leader, Abibat Mogaji is dead

    President-General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji is dead.

    She was  died on Saturday evening   in her home in Ikeja, Lagos. She was 96 years, and will be buried on Sunday at Vaults and garden, Ikoyi, Lagos at 11am.

  • Sam Omatseye @ 52

    Sam Omatseye @ 52

    It was a typical day in the weekend newsroom of The Nation Newspaper sometime in 2009. Editors, Reporters, Graphic artistes and other categories of people breezed in and out. I was seated in a corner of the room with my headphones plugged into my ears and my eyes riveted on the computer screen. Immersed in whatever it was I was doing, the noise and other distractions in the newsroom didn’t bother me.

    Some minutes later the clatter became unbearable and I had to look up. A decently dressed man with a hectoring stature had walked in and was talking to no one in particular. I couldn’t make out what exactly he was saying but from the reaction of the people around, he must have cracked a joke or said something outrageous which was a regular occurrence in the newsroom. Curious to find out what this fellow had said to elicit such hearty laughter, I hurriedly unplugged the headphones and waited with bated breath to hear him speak again. As if he could read my mind, he walked out without saying a word. I was not disappointed.

    I didn’t get to see him again until about two weeks later. This time he walked into the office in the peak of production with aplomb and it was as if the whole world paused for a minute to welcome him. People who had been on their seats for hours as though nothing in the world could make them move, were standing and smiling to register their presence. In a moment, shouts of ‘welcome sir’, ‘how was your trip?’ and ‘what did you bring for us?’ rented the air. The mystery man was radiant with smiles and just as he did the previous time, walked out before I could register my presence. Later that day, a lady came into the newsroom with packs of chocolate and other goodies. Even though I had no idea what was going on, I got a bar of chocolate and a bottle of soft drink.

    Eager to know who was celebrating, I turned to a senior colleague. He told me it was Mr. Sam Omatseye, Editorial Board Chairman. He had just returned from a trip abroad and this is what he does every time he comes back.

    The moment the name dropped from his lip, it registered but the face still eluded me. Having being an intern on the Sunday desk for more than three months, I knew Sam Omatseye as the back page columnist on Monday and the writer of prologues for some stories published in the weekend titles.

    I was familiar with the name Sam Omatseye long before I came to The Nation. I was an avid reader of his weekly column in The Sun newspapers. It was his maverick style, language, depth of analysis and boldness to write about the most controversial issues that first attracted me to his writings. He was a master of his game and he was always on point on any he chose to write about. You may not agree with his conclusions but it was hard to fault his argument and fecundity of thought. As a budding writer, I admired him because there was a cornucopia of words and quotes to learn from his column every week. Many a times when I read them, I would mark new words, find out their meanings and learn how to use them. He was a teacher and mentor I never saw.

    I finally got an opportunity to meet Mr. Sam as many love to call him few weeks after enjoying his chocolates and soft drink and our relationship has blossomed ever since. Without any intention to flatter, I can affirm anywhere that he is one the best human beings I have seen or met.

    Mr. Sam is a rare being and you don’t find his kind every day in a country like ours where good neighbourliness, love and kindness is preached but not practiced. In a society where your position and wealth determines who you relate with, it is hard to find a man in his class with no airs around him; he is a bonhomie who just loves to see everyone around him happy.  It is an unusual sight in this clime to find someone of his ilk discussing soccer and music with a reporter let alone an intern. But he does that regularly without apologies.

    A jolly good fellow, Mr. Sam epitomizes what the Yoruba’s describe as ‘Afenifere’. He helps you succeed and is never intimated by that success. He is also a very generous man who will give his last kobo to anyone who needs it even when he doesn’t need to.

    Knowing him has been a blessing to me in all ramifications. Whatever I have achieved academically, professionally and financially in the last four years of my life would have been almost impossible without his support. He has persistently fanned my writing and journalistic embers through his wise counsels, large collection of books and writings. He has been a father, mentor and inspiration to me.

    As he clocks 52, I can only wish him the best. It is my prayer that God will reward him and keep alive to see many more years.

  • What June 12 means to students

    What June 12 means to students

    The Nation recently visited some schools in Lagos to get student’s view on the June 12, 1993 Presidential election . Sampson Unamka presents their views

    Jessica Dougherty a JSS student of Turning Point College Isolo said:

    “To my own understanding June 12 reminds me of a philanthropist, a great patriot and a politician M.K.O Abiola who fought and died for Democracy of Nigeria.”

     

    Shola Ayanlere, SS 2 student said:   “June 12 is a day that is declared public holiday and meant for children to celebrate.”
    Akintunde omokehinde, SS2 student of Queen’s college Akoka Lagos, said:  “June 12 is being recognized in Lagos state as a public holiday in remembrance of the late mogul chief MKO Abiola.”
    Adeyemi Dare, 17 years old student of Government College Lagos, said:
    “June 12 to my understanding came into being as a result of the struggle for democracy under military. The election held on that day was described as the best and most free election in the country up to
    date which Chief MKO Abiola won. June 12 is seen as a remembrance day for Abiola and democracy in Nigeria.”
    Abubakar Olawale, 20 years old student said:

    “June 12 is a day we were supposed to be celebrating democracy but turned sour because the election was annulled. It should not be celebrated because it’s a day we ought not to remember. Many lives were lost, many houses were burnt, we had to revert to army things, and Nigeria had to wait another 6 years to experience democracy under those who know nothing about ruling.”
    Obah Raymond Azubuike,  20,  applicant said:

    “June 12 is the true democracy day, but a legend MKO ABIOLA is being celebrated instead, because he offered his money, name and subsequently paid the supreme price for the entire nation to have a democracy.”
    Okolo Juliet, 19 years old student and ND holder said:

    “June 12 was the day that MKO Abiola ran for the position of the president in
    1993 and was presumed winner but was denied the position and the
    election I think was the first democratic election Nigeria ever had, I
    read it in a book.”
    Ohenhen Iyosayi, 17 years old student of Soundmind Group of schools, Iyana Ipaja, said:

    “June12, 1993 was the only election that has ever been conducted in Nigeria were all Nigerians picked Abiola of SDP, as winner of the elections And Abiola who was the winner was denied his mandate because Babaginda refused to declare the election result. The following year, Abiola fought for his right but still didn’t get it; then Shonekan later became the Head of State in 1994. From my own understanding June 12 was the only election ever that Nigerians came together as one and
    pick a Head of state. My teacher told us about June 12.”
    Rasheed Ojelab20 years old student of TASUED, said

    “June 12 was the day presidential election held between Abiola of SDP and Tofa of NRC. MKO Abiola of Social Democratic Party defeated Basiru Tofa of National Republican Convention. Surprisingly, the elections were later annulled by military government, Ibrahim Babangida, leading to a crisis that ended with Sani Abacha heading a coup later in the year. June 12 is a memorable day.”
    Opakunbi Rachel, 400 level student of Bowen University said

    “It is the freest and fairest election ever conducted in the history of this nation because the two contestants from NRC and SDP were both Muslim and nobody complained about it but
    went out en-mass to vote for their candidate of choice which happens to be Chief MKO Abiola.  Nigeria would have moved from where it is now to a greater height if Chief MKO had won, but because of the annulment we are still crawling. June 12 is like a plague on us in this country, it is a truthful thing that has ever happened but we tried to wave it off just because of certain reasons best known to those who did it.”
    Olojede Seyi Ebenezer, student of UNILAG said:

    “June 12 to the best of my knowledge is a day set aside for the remembrance of the winner of the 1993 election. A man who is nationally recognize as a democrat and a sport man. He is known as the father of democracy in Nigeria because he fought for true democracy, this man is no other
    person than late chief MKO Abiola.”
    Olayiwola Feyisayo, student of Lagos State Senior Model College Igbokuta said

    “On June 12 1993, millions of Nigerians voted in the best election ever conducted in the history of the
    country between Chief M.K.O Abiola and Alhaji Tofa. Nigerians voted massively in favour of Moshood Abiola and also Bashir Tofa (the opponent) was said to have sent congratulatory message to Chief MKO
    Abiola. There was happiness all over Nigeria, there was hope that a new damn had come. I heard of a story of a tailor during that period that refused to be paid for the services he rendered. He was so
    overjoyed that at last hope has come to the people and also bus conductor and driver were offering free ride, you didn’t have to pay for anything. That was the spirit and mood until Nigerians received a
    rude shock from the military led by Ibrahim Babagida. He announced the annulment of the result of the election without reasons. The fact was that MKO Abiola was supposed to win the election.”

  • ‘It’s a dream come true’

    ‘It’s a dream come true’

    I grew up appreciating the value of hard work, and that through hard work, perseverance and determination you can accomplish anything you set your heart to do. I am very passionate about what I do in the bank, which is very demanding, am also passionate about art. I discovered a few years ago that out of my busy scheduled I needed to create time to paint. And what I am doing today is a product of passion, determination and tenacity.”

    There was the response of Mrs Ronke Aina-Scott on how she manages her busy job schedule at Fidelity Bank and studio practice to produce paintings for her debut solo art exhibition, Colours on my mind’ holding at MyDrim Gallery on Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi Lagos on June 22.
    For Mrs Aina-Scott, a graduate of Fine Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, the solo exhibition featuring 50 paintings is a big deal. She said: “It is for me a like a dream come true.” Since her childhood days being an artist was what appealed to her. Spoke to art writers at a preview session last week in Lagos.
    She said her choice of theme for the exhibition,   Colour on my mind, is a reflection of her mood and fascination by colours and a way to encourage other women to show their talent and admiration for couor. She said although she had participated in two other group exhibitions her solo was a way of serving as a touchstone for other women to come out of their ‘self-imposed limitations’ and show their creativity. According to Aina-Scott “As a little girl, my colour pencils were the most prized of my earthly possessions and whenever they got missing, which was very often, I was usually reduced to tears. Painting fills me with a sense of accomplishment and I am most at peace with myself when I am at work on my canvas. Art for me has proven a most amenable vehicle for translating inner vision to outer reality.”
    Asked how she copes as a banker, she said: “I feel joy working on canvas. It is not as if I am not fulfilled working in the banking hall. However, I feel my other side as a creative artist should not be sacrificed. I work long hours in the office and get back home and still get to my pastel and paint. That is the level of my devotion and commitment to painting and my canvas. “
    She confessed that it has not been easy to cope with her family (she is married with a set of twins- a boy and girl), playing a mother, wife and bank worker and artist, at the same time. Among the exhibits for display include Where are the trees? And there are none… Iya ni Wura & Iya mi, Aje o! Aje ni ya Amokoko, “ Egwu Umu-agbohor, Ariya,  Agogoro Eyo, African Masks,  Mo yo fun e,  and mo yo fun ra mi,
    Mrs Aina-Scott said she struggled to divide her time well to manage all the “stakeholders” that she has to take care of. “I give credit to God and the understanding of my employers (Fidelity Bank) for the understanding to cope with my job.”   My art is to emphasise the contribution of women to building the society.
    The Special Guest of Honour and Chairman of the event is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi. Other dignitaries expected at the opening ceremony are IK Mbagwu; Onome Olaolu; John Obi; Chijioke Ugochukwu; Nnamdi Okonkwo and Mohammed Balarabe, the Executive Directors of Fidelity Bank.
     On the event, the Group Head, Marketing  and Communications Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Emma Esinnah said: “I have had the privilege of seeing some of Ronke’s works and can confidently attest that her strokes are as strong as her character and the diligence she shows in the office iscarried over to her paintings. The colours are vibrant and the images speak to issues of our time”.
    The collection of art works are rendered in various arts forms of pointillism, acrylic, pastel and pen and ink, mostly abstracts, is an expression of various aspects of African culture.
    Mrs Aina-Scott was born in the 70s and encouraged by her mother to take interest in art. She began drawing with colour pencils and crayon as a young girl at home. Her talent blossomed in primary school and while in secondary school, she won many awards in Art.
    She participated in other exhibitions such as Best of Ife ’95, MinajTV Exhibition (1997) and Naija Woman Exhibition by Tourshop (2007).
    Before she joined the corporate world, Aina-Scott was one of the founding graphic artists at the Daily Independent Newspaper, from where she moved to FSB International Bank. She currently heads the Design and Production Unit of the Marketing and Communication Group, Fidelity Bank.
    She is a prolific artist whose works, inspired by the role of the African woman in society, tend to be simple, yet diversified. As an artist, Aina-Scott is very versatile, she is able to exhibit dexterity in the use of oil paints, pastel, acrylic, gouache and even pen and ink as a medium and her technique leans towards the abstract.
    On why she is coming up with a solo after years of leaving school, she said:
     “I have actually been painting. Back then, shortly after leaving school, as a struggling artist needing to make ends meet, I ended having to sell my paintings. I was never really able to have a large collection of works to exhibit, so having a solo exhibition back then seemed a daunting task. I participated in a few group exhibitions and I have quite a large number of paintings in private collections both here in Nigeria and abroad. I have actually been able to sell quite a lot of my artworks online”.
    Continuing she said: The demand on my time got more intense when I got married in 2005 and had a lot on my hands; I had the home front to take care- off coupled with the demands of a banking job. I had my hands full to the brim when I had my twin babies! I had lots of things battling for my attention and I had to put off the idea of going back to the canvas. My passion had always being in the creative industry and I knew it was just a matter of time before return to the canvas.”
  • Which is the most preffered mobile network?

    Which is the most preffered mobile network?

    Telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria has emerged the preferred mobile
    telephone network in a recent poll conducted by The Nation newspaper.

    The poll was conducted via question posted on the company’s website,
    www.staging.thenationonlineng.net.

    The poll ran for almost a period of three weeks with 2, 342 participants. MTN emerged favourite with 756 votes, representing 32.28 per cent, followed by Etisalat with 511 votes (21.82 per cent).

    Globacom had 506 votes, representing 21.61 per cent to place third while 498 (21.26 per cent) voted for Airtel as the preferred mobile network to place fourth. There were 71 votes (3 per cent) for other  networks.

  • ‘Villains’ of June 12 struggle

    ‘Villains’ of June 12 struggle

    Nigerians on Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the most credible election ever conducted in the history of the country.

    The June 12, 1993 presidential election that was controversially annulled by Ibrahim Babangida –led military junta pitched the billionaire business mogul -turned politician – the late Chief M.K.O Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party against Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, who contested the election on the platform of the proscribed National Republican Convention.

    Abiola, who died in prison on July 8, 1998, was coasting to a landslide victory in the poll until the Armed Forces Ruling Council announced its cancellation via a terse statement on June 21, 1993.

    The protests that followed the controversial decision pushed the country closer to another civil war until the former military president was forced to step aside on August 26, 2003. That development ushered in the Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan, who was also ousted in a palace coup by the late Gen. Sani Abacha in November 17, 2003.

    Gen. Abacha died on June 8, 1998 in a mysterious circumstance.

    While many Nigerians genuinely laid claims to the sobriquet of “heroes and heroines of June 12 struggle and albeit democracy.” There are others whose roles in the “extermination” of the June 12 dream would never be forgotten even by generations unborn.

    They played varying roles in extinguishing the collective hope and aspirations of millions of Nigeria who came out on that historical day to elect the candidate of their choice.

    To many Nigerians these people are “Judas Iscariot” of our time because they sold their conscience for “a piece of silver.” Ironically many of them are now major beneficiaries of the present democratic experiment, occupying public offices both at state and national level.

    HAMED SHOBIYE, Assistant Editor, Online looks at some of the “perceived villains” of the June 12 struggle.

     

    Ibrahim Babangida:

    Babangida was the head of the military government that controversially annulled Nigeria’s most credible election. He was forced to step aside after nationwide protests pushed Nigeria closer to another civil war.

    Sani Abacha:

    The late head of state was a frontline member of AFRC, the military council that annulled the election.

    He allegedly played pivotal roles in the annulment and also controversially incarcerated the presumed winner of the poll who later died in detention.

    His government pushed Nigeria closer to civil war. But he died mysteriously and paved way for Nigeria’s return to civil rule.

    Arthur Nzeribe:

    The controversial former senator also played huge roles in the annulment of that historic election.

    He founded the controversial Association for Better Nigeria alongside one Abimbola Davies. The ABN obtained an interim court injunction to stop the election, a development that paved ways for the poll eventual annulment.

    Nzeribe later became a senator when Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

    Uche Chukwumerije:

    A senator in the current National Assembly was a strong member of Abacha’s kitchen cabinet and campaign vigorously against the election within and outside the country.

    Walter Ofonagoro:

    Another very vocal opponent of the June 12 struggle. He was the unofficial spokesman of Abacha’s government.

    Lamidi Adedibu:

    The late strongman of Ibadan politics was a very visible opponent of the June 12 struggle. He wined and dined with the military authorities. He also provided useful information on the activities of the National Democratic Coalition, a pro-democracy group that was in the fore-front of the struggle, to the late Abacha and his hatchet men.

    Ironically, the late Ibadan high chief was one of the major beneficiaries of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule until his demise few years ago.

    Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao:

    The Ibadan-based businessman would never forget the treatment he received from students of University of Ibadan when he visited the institution for a convocation programme in November 1998. He came to the university campus with the then head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who had just taken over as Nigeria’s leader after the mysterious death of Abacha, ostensibly to placate the students for frolicking with the military during the June 12 struggle.

    But he was oblivious of the harsh treatment awaiting him in the hands of the angry students who pounced on him, seized his posh cars, set them ablaze and forced him to escape from the campus through one of the police pick up vans.

     

     

  • Fatai Rolling Dollar buried

    Late legendary high life maestro, Fatai Rolling Dollar, who died on Wednesday has been buried.

    The burial on Thursday started with a procession of mourners’  who trooped to his Millennium Estate, Oko-Oba residence on the outskirt of Lagos for the lying-in-state.

    His immediate family, colleagues and several dignitaries attended the burial  which was conducted according to Muslim rites. His remains was finally moved from  to his uncompleted property situated at N0 4 Unity Street, Maya Village, Ikorodu where he was  buried.

    Chairman of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Hon Oloruntoba Oke, former PMAN president, Admiral Dele Abiodun, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Stella Monye and a representative of Lagos State Governor were among the personalities present at the burial.

    It was not an atmosphere of wailing but sober faces as the  late musician  according to his eldest daughter, Jumoke Badmus, had urged his family not cry shortly before his demise.

    The 85 year old  late highlife music maestro is survived by  sixteen children and wives.  He was very famous for his evergreen classic, Won Kere Si Number Wa.

  • UNIUYO: NANS Senate President, four others die on peace mission

    The crisis that led to the killing of four students of  University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom  and the subsequent closure of the institution has claimed the life of the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students [NANS], Donald Onukaogu and four others in a  motor accident.
    Seven others survived with injuries in the accident which occurred at Ariam in Ikwuano local government area of Abia state along the Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene federal highway when the  Hiace bus the students were traveling collided with  a trailer  from Akwa Ibom state which lost control before ramming in to them.
    The students leaders were said to be on their way to Uyo to mediate in the crisis that erupted in the university two days ago.
    The corpses have been reportedly  deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment.
    Sources at the Federal Medical Centre confirmed to our reporter that twelve persons were brought to the hospital after an accident with five confirmed dead and six in critical condition.
    Earlier, while conducting the governor round the doctor on duty at the casualty ward, Dr Kalu said that the accident victims were brought in that morning and were said to have had a head on collision with a lorry at Ikwuano on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
    .s.
  • 2014 World Cup will be the best – Brazilian minister

    2014 World Cup will be the best – Brazilian minister

    The Brazil Minister of Sports, Aldo Rebelo on Monday, June 10 held a media teleconference to brief the media on preparations for the Confederations and World Cup in Brazil.

    Below is the text of the question and answers at the conference. The Nation Online Editor, Lekan Otufodunrin (@lotufodunrin) participated in the conference

    Minister Rebelo: Good afternoon, all. I am very happy to be here to speak to my friends from the international press and I would like to say that we are about to open the Confederations Cup in Brazil and that we believe we’ll be holding this event with the success expected not only by the country, but also by the world. All the stadiums are ready and we are now only awaiting the opening match with Brazil versus Japan on June 15 here in Brasilia.

     

    There’s a debate in Brazil about the cost of all the stadiums and how it’s leading to really high ticket prices not just for the Cup, but for events afterwards, the whole elitization of football, and I’d love to get the Minister’s thoughts on this debate and whether he thinks the people who really make up the bulk of the sports fan base in Brazil are being priced out of not just these games, but everything afterwards.

     

    Regarding the costs of the World Cup in general and the cost of the stadiums, the cost of those stadiums has changed due to a varied number of reasons. We can now assess the case of the stadium of the Corinthians team. The estimated cost for the stadium was R$ 400 million because it was initially presented as a stadium to host only national or domestic football/soccer events. When it was repurposed to be used as a World Cup stadium, the price practically doubled to R$ 800 million, due to the demand the stadium has to fulfill in order to host the FIFA event. It required, for instance, 20,000 additional seats, more room for guests, more areas for the press, more security, particularly because it will receive heads of state and foreign delegations, and this is an example of how many times the costs changed due to the demand of a World Cup stadium that wasn’t foreseen before. In other cases, the costs varied because the stadium bid only the renovation of its internal part and not of its external part initially, and then subsequently did the bid for its external part, which then increased costs.

    The price of the tickets for the World Cup is expensive and way beyond the means of many of our poorer citizens. Due to that, we asked that FIFA take that into account and take into account the popularity of football in Brazil, and as a result, they donated 50,000 tickets for indigenous and Amazon population and for beneficiaries of the Bolsa Famila grant. Of course, this may help solve the World Cup issue, but we do worry that the elitization of soccer in Brazil may happen due to the price of the tickets that will be charged after the events are over in the new arenas being built.

     

    The general consensus seems to be that not only for the Confederations Cup, but also for the World Cup, that the football stadiums will indeed be ready, and that’s probably the most important part of the story, but also there’s been quite a bit of skepticism in relation to urban mobility and public transport. From the Sports Ministry, do you think it’s a bit of a lost opportunity to advance in this crucial area of public transport and urban mobility?

     

     We have been monitoring transportation and urban mobility on a daily basis. Those two areas are part of what we call our responsibility matrix or responsibility framework, which is in fact a project that establishes the anticipation of previously foreseen works on several areas, in coordination with the federal government, the state government and the host cities. For the federal government, the state government and for the host cities, these works will be delivered in time, together with the next six stadiums, which are also set to be delivered in December 2013. From our part, there is no doubt that these works will be ready. Airport, security, telecommunications and urban mobility will be ready and compatible with the expectations held by the country and by the world of having a great celebration of football in Brazil in 2014.

     

    On the issue of the stadiums, in South Africa, they’re currently debating the fact that many stadiums no longer have uses after the World Cup and have become “white elephants.” Is the Minister worried about this happening in Brazil, particularly in stadiums in areas such as Manaus and Brasilia that don’t have top-class sides?

     

    The people who question the Brasilia Stadium, the Manaus Stadium, the Cuiabá Stadium, and the Natal Stadium usually do so without any idea of what those metropolises actually are. They don’t know these cities. They don’t know that those are actually relevant metropolises in their respective regions of the country, and that they’re also important tourist destinations, many towns with century-old sports teams, as well. The important thing to add is that these stadiums, which have been conceived as multi-purpose arenas, can hold major sporting and non-sporting events, football or otherwise, including fairs, congresses, concerts, etc., as well as exhibitions and others, and are already having their areas successfully marketed. Some of the stadiums have already sold their name right for very high amounts in their respective markets. So, there is no chance that these stadiums will become “white elephants.” They will be much more than football fields. They will be multi-purposes spaces that the cities have lacked before and now will have to use for several different purposes.

     

    I have some rather practical questions, which is reported from my colleagues, as well, and I can confirm that, as well, that there are some problems. I know that it’s not part of your Ministry, but it’s problems of the organizations, with tickets, with the quality of transmission and parking spots, like really practical things, infrastructure for press. Are you somehow concerned, or to what extent are you concerned, that the press infrastructure will probably not be as perfect as it could be during the Confederations Cup?

     

    The press infrastructure will be the best the world press can expect for an event of this size. We will have high-speed broadband internet access in all the host cities of the World Cup 2014, and we will also have 4G connectivity in all of the host cities of the World Cup 2014, and we may probably have the same issues that these forms of connectivity show in countries like the U.S., France and England. As an example, I was in New York for a United Nations conference last week and despite the fact that my phone signal has 4G access, it was very difficult to make calls or use data. The same happened in the London Olympics, as well. During the Olympic Games in London, it was very hard to get Internet access or even make calls between 11:00am and 3:00pm. Of course, we will work hard for these international problems not to repeat themselves in Brazil and to make sure that we have the best possible service for journalists, tourists and the local population, as well. This is the effort we are undertaking, and we are also making large investments in that area both from the government and together with the private sector. FIFA will have a media center in Brazil, the government will also have a media center in Rio, and we are getting ready to serve not only the 20,000 accredited journalists that have already registered for the World Cup, but also for the independent non-FIFA accredited journalists, as well, and we are doing our best to be ready to serve all of them the best way possible.

     

    Given the focus on the Confederations Cup and the World Cup, isn’t there a danger that Olympic preparations will slip behind over the next year? The IOC has already given warnings about this delay. What assurances can you give the IOC about preparations for Rio 2016, and that this will not happen?

     

    Brazil has offered all assurances required by the IOC and, in fact, has fulfilled all commitments undertaken with the International Olympics Committee. The infrastructure works for the Olympic Games all have their schedules well defined and, in fact, the works for the Olympic Games have the advantage of being fulfilled all within a single city, rather than spread throughout 12 host cities, as is the case for the World Cup. There is a Ministry of Sports team which is coordinating the Olympic Executive Group, which is an inter-Ministerial group coordinated by the Ministry of Sports and with participation of several other Ministries of the government, and we are also working in perfect synchrony with the city of Rio de Janeiro and the government of the state of Rio de Janeiro, and as well with the Rio 2016, which is the body created by the International Olympic Committee specifically to prepare the Rio Games.

     

    The issue of security became a major issue again recently after a British journalist was attacked in Rio de Janeiro following the friendly between England and Brazil at Maracana stadium. What additional security checks is the LOC putting in place to guarantee the safety of life and property of foreigners, especially players and officials, football fans, tourists and journalists, attending the competition?

    The Brazilian government is investing more than R$ 1.8 billion in security and defense measures for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. To guarantee the safety of fans, public security agencies such as the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police and state police, in addition to the Armed Forces, will be working conjointly. We are strengthening infrastructure at the points of entry into the country and have acquired state-of-the-art technology to centralize security operations and implement solutions for radio communication between state institutions and federal agencies.

    Each host city will have Integrated Command Control Centers, which  will be both stationary and mobile. The mobile Centers will entail trucks equipped with state-of-the-art computers, cameras, audio pick-up devices and software capable of integrating the databases of the Civil, Military and Federal Police, firefighters and emergency care services, and be able to activate them quickly. Twelve mobile Centers will be used during the Confederations Cup and 27 will be used for the World Cup.

    Investments also include training, drills, inspections, aerospace defense and airspace control, use of helicopters, cyber defense, defense against terrorism and inspection of explosives, among other preventative activities.

     

    We are particularly concerned with safety and security, not only for the public safety of our citizens, but also for the safety of the delegations, tourists and for heads of state particularly related to crimes of political nature. Special attention is given to this matter particularly in light of tragedies that have already been seen, such as the ones that led to the murder of athletes in Munich in 1972, of terrorist attempts that passed in the U.S., of attempts, such as the one that has been in the Boston Marathon, and others. Thus, we are strongly concerned with ensuring safety and security to all our athletes, tourists, heads of state and delegations. And the resources we are investing to make sure that security is assured include the purchase of equipment to train security forces all over the country, including the army, the navy, the air force, the federal police, the civil police and the military police in each state, as well as the Brazilian Intelligence Agency. We are also working in strong cooperation with our neighbors and have deployed command control centers in each host city. All of these initiatives have the aim to reduce the exposure to risk for both the local population and for guests and tourists during this event.

     

    With the start of the Copa Confederaciones just a few days away, what mark out of 10 would you give to Brazil for its preparations so far; and if you could do anything differently, what would you do differently?

     

    From zero to 10, I will give it a nine. We have been able to deliver all stadiums, but I do believe we could have delivered them sooner to allow for the realization of more test events, as we call them, which could have anticipated some of the problems that arose during those test events. Apart from that, I believe that all requirements were executed in accordance with expectations and that we will have a Confederations Cup that will be held as expected and will be the main event before the World Cup 2014.

     

    Over the past three years, we saw close cooperation between FIFA and Brazil, and at the same time, unfortunately, we also saw misunderstandings and arguments between the different sides. For example, last year, the FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, once said that “Brazil should be kicked in the arse to move forward,” and that, what he said obviously irritated you. So, now I would like to know, before the opening of FIFA Confederations Cup, how will you describe the relationship of today between FIFA and the several parts in Brazil, like the Brazilian government and the local organizing committees?

     

    We consider that the cooperation between the responsible parties for the World Cup 2014 to be very good. The Brazilian government has a representative in the local organizing committee and FIFA has manifested and reiterated its satisfaction with that cooperation. The Brazilian government takes care to protect the national and public interests of Brazil in the World Cup, but at the same time respects FIFA’s assignment and the interest of its sponsors. We believe that the institutional relationship between the parties should be very good and that any difficulties have been resolved through dialogue.

     

    I would like to ask a question about languages, because in Brazil, unlike the last two host countries, South Africa and Germany, not many people in Brazil speak fluent English and this could become a problem for tourists especially coming from countries who speak very little English themselves. What plans do you have to solve this problem?

     

    There is a training program coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Tourism specifically targeted at the people who work directly with the tourists in this event, including staff from hotels, bars, restaurants, taxi drivers and others. These are all being trained to serve foreign tourists, and I believe that the tourists who come will have the work force attending to them at least minimally trained to serve them well, and I don’t believe that this will be a problem for tourists in Brazil.

     

    FIFA this week announced that less than three percent of the tickets for the Confederations Cup were sold to foreigners, people from other countries, and the majority of the people in the stadiums will be locals, between I think 60 and 80 percent. Is this disappointing for the government, did the government expect more tourists during the Confederations Cup, and can it really be a test for airports, hotels and other things during the Confederations Cup with such a little presence of foreign people?

     

    There was no expectation for foreign supporter presence in the Confederations Cup. Despite being an important sports event, the Confederations Cup fails to have the appeal of a World Cup. We, in fact, had expectations of around two percent foreign participation for the Cup, which was what actually took place. We consider it to be, however, an important test event not only for the stadiums themselves, but also for transportation, urban mobility, safety and telecommunications. Of course, to the extent of what the Confederations Cup represents, it is test event for us, and as a test event, yes, we do consider it to be a successful one.

     

    How confident are you that the six other stadiums for the World Cup will be completed by the FIFA deadline of December 31, and are you at all concerned with the preparations of the new stadium in Sao Paulo?

     

    The stadiums that started being built, all 12 of them, almost simultaneously, of those 12, six have already been delivered, and this first delivery was actually the hardest deadline to meet. The other stadiums to be delivered are still subject to daily monitoring by the government and we have data that estimates how the construction work in each stadium has evolved month over month, and with that data we can forecast whether they will be ready or not by the deadline. And the evolution of the construction work of these stadiums since their inception, and the month-over-month data that we collected, indicate that, yes, they can and will be delivered in December. We have been in close contact with the responsible parties for these stadiums to make sure that those deadlines are fulfilled.

    Regarding the Sao Paulo stadium, the stadium owned by the Corinthians team, that particular construction work ended in May with a 76 percent completion rate for the construction work. We had a meeting with the responsible party for the stadium and we were assured of its delivery in December.

     

    You were recently quoted to have said that you do not think the Caxirola would be a security problem during the Confederations Cup and the World Cup – what is the Ministry’s official stance on the banning of this instrument?

    The Ministry of Justice has issued a technical assessment through the Special Secretariat for Major Events (SESGE) related to various items, including the Caxirola. In the assessment, the Ministry of Justice notes that allowing the Caxirola in the stadiums could compromise the course of the match and jeopardize the safety of fans. However, it should be noted that it is up to FIFA to decide who and what is allowed into the stadiums.

    The opinion of the Ministry of Justice is intended to serve only as guidance and requires approval by FIFA.