The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Who is afraid of Crocodile Smile 4?

    Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI writes on the Nigerian Army Exercise Crocodile Smile 4 and those who think there is more to the military exercise.

     

    The outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, who assumed office at the Division’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital in August 2018, was on October 29 this year transferred to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna as the Commandant.

    The 6 division’s incoming GOC, according to the Army headquarters in Abuja, is Maj.-Gen. Felix Agugo, the erstwhile Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham is eager to resume at NDA, Kaduna, but the retiring Commandant of the Academy, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, only bowed out of service on November 14, while the handing over is yet to be done, thereby making the outgoing GOC of 6 division to still stay back in Port Harcourt.

    6 division covers Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta States in the hitherto volatile crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, which is still notorious for militancy, sea piracy, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, kidnapping, illegal refining of stolen crude oil, cultism and other criminal activities, despite the determined efforts by security agencies.

    The GOC, who is also the Land Component Commander of Operation Delta Safe (ODS), on October 25, 2019, while kicking off Exercise Crocodile Smile 4 and medical outreach at Rumuokoro-Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and later at Bolo in Ogu/Bolo LGA, both of Rivers State, declared that criminal activities would not be allowed in the Niger Delta, while assuring that soldiers would not molest or inconvenience law-abiding citizens.

    The GOC, who was accompanied by heads of sister security agencies, said: “The exercise is meant to combat emerging threats in the Niger Delta region. Emphasis during the exercise will be on military operations and familiarising troops with the peculiar contemporary security terrain and logistic challenges.

    “Since the inception of the exercise about three years ago, it has achieved significant successes in protection of oil and gas infrastructure, and checkmating crimes. This is as a result of very good synergy involving the Nigerian Army,  Navy, Air Force and other security agencies, in carrying out these onerous tasks of ensuring peace and stability in the 6 Division’s Area of Responsibility (Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta States).

    “This year’s exercise also witnessed collaboration and joint efforts between the Nigerian Army and other sister security agencies. The exercise will be a precursor to the real operation meant to checkmate multifarious security challenges prevalent in the Niger Delta region, which include militancy, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and refining, cultism and kidnapping, among others.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Nigeria Army, Police extremely Ill-equipped, says ex-US Marine

     

    “The Nigerian Army, being a professionally-responsive organisation, will not molest or inconvenience any law-abiding citizen. Consequently, all are enjoined to go about their legitimate affairs, without any fear. At the same time, all criminal activities must be reported and prevented in the Niger Delta, in order to forestall threat to economic activities in the region.”

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham acknowledged the support of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and other eminent personalities in ensuring the success of the exercise.

    The GOC promised to leverage on the support of the stakeholders to ensure peace and tranquillity in the Niger Delta, in order to improve the economy and wellbeing of the citizenry.

    The exercise crocodile smile 4 was also kicked off in the three other states (Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom) of 6 division’s area of responsibility.

    Exercise crocodile smile 4 was kicked off by the 16 Brigade in Bayelsa State at Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA on October 25, 2019 by the state’s Commissioner for Health, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Inodu Akpoku Nathaniel.

    The Commander of 16 Brigade, Yenagoa, Brig.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, had earlier communicated the commencement of the exercise and medical outreach to Bayelsa Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, while the kick off was well attended by eminent personalities, including the Chairman of Ogbia local government council, Ebinyo Turner, and the paramount ruler of Otuokpoti, King A.C.T. Wongo.

    The government officials, who attended the kick-off, were full of praises for 16 brigade and the Nigerian army for conducting the timely exercise and impactful medical outreach, while urging the residents to cooperate with the brigade and army.

    The kick-off of exercise crocodile smile 4 in Bayelsa state was followed on October 30 by army’s educational support and donation of educational materials to select schools in the state, which was also attended by monarchs and government officials, including the Chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government council, Dengiye Ubarugu, and the representative of Ogbia constituency 3 in the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Mrs. Naomi Igoli, who hailed the 16 brigade for the initiative and kind gesture.

    Surprisingly, a top official of Bayelsa State government (name withheld), some days ago, fired a strongly-worded petition to the Chief of Army Staff, alleging that the outgoing GOC of 6 division decided to stay back in Port Harcourt, to support the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon, to emerge victorious at the poll, thereby working against the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri.

    The top Bayelsa government official, who is a chieftain  of the PDP, alleged resentment from various quarters about the ongoing exercise crocodile smile 4 and requested that the exercise be temporarily halted, until after the November 16 governorship poll, with the petition specifically mentioning Nembe, Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs, the strongholds of APC, the most populated and likely battlegrounds during the poll, as areas where the army’s exercise intended to compromise the crucial election, but a top army officer of 6 division, who spoke in confidence, described the petition as politically motivated and it should be ignored.

    The senior army officer also stated that no kinetic operation had so far been conducted in the three mentioned LGAs (Nembe, Brass and Southern Ijaw) of Bayelsa state, under the exercise crocodile smile 4, while declaring that, according to credible intelligence, unscrupulous politicians were actually stockpiling weapons in the areas, for use during the election, with information gathering efforts being intensified to raid the areas to recover the arms and ammunition.

    The top officer of 6 division said: “The purported resentment (as alleged by Bayelsa State Government’s senior official) is likely part of efforts to stop the raid to recover the illegal arms, ammunition and allow the weapons to be in the hands of politicians to intimidate the electorate during the election.

    “The petition is also most likely an attempt to prevent troops from responding in aid of civil authority during the governorship election in Bayelsa State, should the need arises.”

    Bayelsa Chairman of the PDP, Moses Cleopas, also alleged that he had uncovered plan by the leadership of APC to use the Nigerian army to undermine the governorship election in the state.

    Cleopas further alleged that the plan had been perfected and  confirmed in secret meetings between APC leaders in Bayelsa state and the outgoing GOC, which sources at 6 division insisted was a tissue of lies, with Maj.-Gen. Sarham described as professional military officer, who would not dabble in political activities.

    With the exercise crocodile smile 4 being described as successful by the stakeholders, politicians should avoid heating up the polity and to give peace a chance before, during and after Saturday’s election in Bayelsa State.

     

    The exercise will be a precursor to the real operation meant to checkmate multifarious security challenges prevalent in the Niger Delta region, which include militancy, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and refining, cultism and kidnapping, among others

  • Sowore…Day of drama at DSS Headquarters

    It was all drama on Tuesday, when a human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju led a group of protesters to the Abuja headquarters on the Department of State Services (DSS) to secure the release of Omoyele Sowore.

    Sowore had been in the custody of the DSS despite an order of an Abuja High Court that granted him bail a few days ago. Sowore is being charged with treason for calling for a revolution in the county.

    The protesters started gathering outside the DSS headquarters from 11.30 am. Reporters, who had come to cover the development, were hanging around, waiting for a possible scoop. At about 1 pm, more protesters had gathered and Adeyanju led them on a march towards the main entrance of the DSS headquarters. There, they sat on the ground as they chanted solidarity songs as they displayed various placards.

    While Adeyanju was addressing jreporters who had gathered around the group, some DSS operatives who had earlier maintained their peace, started showing signs of hostility. They ordered the crowd to disperse. The crowd ignored the order. One of the operatives got into a standby van, kick-started the vehicle and drove menacingly towards the crowd. There was pandemonium as the crowd momentarily scampered for safety.

    While this was going on, some of the operatives started shooting sporadically in the air. It was followed by tear gas was, then power bikes joined the van in the chase. The crowd scattered in different directions, spilling to the adjoining dual carriage motorway. The crowd was forced to move to a safe distance but continued the agitation.

     

    Bribe allegation

    Adeyanju alleged that some people he did not name, had offered the protesters N1 million “at gunpoint” to abandon the protest for Sowore. Showing wads of N500 notes as part of the bribe money, Adeyanju said the money would be returned to the people that gave it.

    He said: “We are here at the DSS headquarters. When we said we were going to come and stand in as physical surety for Sowore, many Nigerians said we like to take a risk. But true to our word, we came here on Saturday because they had by themselves told us the reason they did not release him was that there was nobody to receive him and they played all kinds of pranks with us. We gave a promise that we would come here today and that we would come and tell them to release our property and our friend and brother and comrade. Since that day we have received all kinds of threats.

    “We would never compromise. They said we should not come out today. They made all kinds of promises to us at gunpoint. But we would not be deterred. We have come here to say that the money they gave us, we do not want because it was given to us at gunpoint. We don’t want the money. They should take their money. If they don’t take their money by the end of today, we are going to give it to Femi Falana so he can use it to augment some of the legal bills of Sowore. For us, our hearts are always true to the cause.

    “Some people have said they would kill me. If they kill me, would I be the first Nigerian to be killed? Would I be the last? I am not mentioning any names. But we are waiting for them to say what we have said is a lie. If they like they should kill us. I have given my life to Christ. God remains my eternal hope. In Him alone do I put all my trust and we would never be cowed.

    “The people that gave us the money, they know themselves and they know the circumstances under which they gave us the money. So the people that gave the money know themselves and we that they gave the money, we also know those that gave the money. We have chosen not to say anything now. Everything would always unravel.”

    The DSS had, on Friday, November 8, 2019, confirmed receiving a court order for the release of the Revolution Now convener, Omoyele Sowore and one of his associates, Olawale Bakare.

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, released in Abuja that day, said however that nobody had come for Sowore.

    The DSS statement had said, “It is important that the public notes that since the receipt of the Order, no person has turned up at the DSS to take delivery of him. This becomes imperative for reasons of accountability.

    “However, the Court has been properly briefed on this development and the steps being taken to ensure compliance with its Order.

    “The Service, under the leadership of Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc), as the Director-General, is not a lawless organization and will never obstruct justice or disobey Court Orders. It, therefore, affirms that it will do all that is needful once the appropriate processes have been concluded.”

    But human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), faulted the claim, saying the DSS decided not to release his two clients to their lawyers who waited in vain for about four hours at the DSS headquarters on Thursday.

    Falana said: “On November 6, 2019, the bailiff of the Federal High Court in Abuja wanted to serve the reproduction warrants issued by the court on the Director-General of the State Security Service. But the SSS asked the bailiff to call back at 10.00 am on November 7, 2019. The bailiff did and served the reproduction warrants on the DG of the SSS. Upon acknowledging the service of the reproduction warrants, the SSS assured the bailiff and lawyers from the defence team that our clients would be released yesterday (Thursday).

    “But the SSS decided not to release our clients to our lawyers who waited in vain for not less than four hours. It is pertinent to point out that the meaning of the reproduction warrant issued by a trial court is that the defendants be produced for the purpose of releasing them having met their bail conditions.

    “In the instant case, the Federal High Court did not order the SSS to hand over Messrs Sowore and Bakare to any person but to produce them for the purpose of releasing them having met the suffocating bail conditions imposed on them by the trial court.

    Read Also: We’ll release Sowore to appropriate persons – DSS

     

    “Even though the SSS disobeyed the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo for the release of Mr. Sowore on September 24, 2019, it has announced its readiness to comply with the order of Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu for the release of Sowore and Bakare from illegal custody.

    “While thanking the Nigerian people for demanding for unconditional compliance with the orders of the Federal High Court, we have directed two lawyers from our law firm to contact the management of the SSS for the release of our clients at 10.00 am on November 9, 2019.”

    The following day, Saturday, Deji Adeyanju, in company with Sowore’s lawyers and others, were said to have visited the DSS headquarters to claim Sowore. They were not successful as according to Adeyanju, they were asked to come back on a workday.

     

    ‘Why we have not

    released Sowore yet’

    DSS said Sowore was yet to be released because the “appropriate persons have still not turned up to take delivery of Sowore.”

    The agency also said it did not open fire on protesters who were at their headquarters in Abuja to demand his release.

    A statement by DSS Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, read: ” The Department of State Services wishes to state that its operatives did not open fire on alleged protesters who had stormed its facility on 12th November 2019.

    “As a normal global security practice, the operatives stood in defence of their facility when some group of persons made unruly attempts to forcefully break into the place and effect the release of Omoloye Sowore.

    “Despite serial and unwarranted provocations, the Service, as a professional and responsible Organisation, did not shoot at the so-called protesters. It could not have done so.

    “For emphasis, the Service reiterates its avowed readiness to release SOWORE once the processes are concluded. It maintains that the appropriate persons have still not turned up to take delivery of Sowore.

    “While all those that have so far shown up are not directly concerned with the matter and therefore unqualified, many others have either chosen to grandstand or politicise it to achieve hidden interests.

    “In the last few days, the Service has continued to witness deliberate campaigns of calumny, threats, and aspersions against it. It will not, for any reason, join issues with its mudslingers. The media is called upon to be neutral and remain champions of the truth.

    “It is only appropriate that those who stood surety for Sowore present themselves and have him released to them. It is even more disappointing that Femi Falana, who is a senior lawyer, would wrongly guide his client and supporters. He is rather playing to the gallery and mobilizing miscreants to subvert the Service and other state authorities. He has an excellent relationship with the DGSS. But in the circumstance, he has refused to reach out to him over the case like he had on previously related ones.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Service restates its commitment to the rule of law and particularly respect to the Court. It, therefore, calls for calm but states that it will not be intimidated or harassed into hasty actions.

    “It reassures the public that it will not waste a second to release Sowore if the proper processes are followed. And Falana, sure, knows what these are,” the statement read.

     

    We would never compromise. They said we should not come out today. They made all kinds of promises to us at gunpoint. But we would not be deterred

  • NBC in information and culture ministry, grave misplacement

    By Kayode Ahmadu

     

    All players in the broadcasting value chain from equipment manufacturers to content providers are being affected by the impact of rapid evolution of broadcast technology and the growth of broadband internet access. These developments demand higher technical quality with improved coverage and improved efficient utilization of spectrum from regulators, who have to be strong and efficient in their drive to deliver bespoke first in class broadcast services. The need, therefore, of commensurate technical capacity and know how cannot be over emphasized.

    Regulation both on international and regional levels require high technical skills and knowledge in order to manage frequency spectrum and in particular decisions adopted at high levels of ITU (International Telecommunications Union), which is a United Nations specialized agency formed to “facilitate international connectivity in communications networks”. Frequency spectrum is allocated globally by ITU and it also develops technical standards to ensure standardization in the ICT world.

    As we are now in the age of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), it is apposite to take a close look at the meaning of the term ICT. The term ICT is made up of Information Technology (IT) which relates to computer hardware, software and peripherals; and Communications Technology which involves telecommunications and broadcasting. The current use of the term ICT is firmly established and it implies corresponding physical moves towards the convergence of service and technologies. In particular telecommunications and broadcasting can today use the same technology for transmission e.g. Information Protocol (IP) Technology, Fibre Optic Cable, Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and Radio.

    Furthermore, transmission and frequency control are coordinated using information technology hardware and software like computers and software programmes.

    In line with the above, governments the world over are also ‘getting with the programme’ by making their policies and administration fit into an ICT or convergence model; whereby the Broadcasting, Information Communications and Postal Services are under the same ministry and or, are regulated by the same super-regulatory body, albeit called by varying names.

    Let’s look at the ICT industry supervising structure of some countries that pioneered the development of ICT as well as countries with comparable levels of development to Nigeria.

    In the United States of America, Federal Communications Commission – FCC, regulates both international and local communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable and is responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations. It is an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress.

    The United Kingdom has it’s Office of Communications – Ofcom established in 2003 to replace organizations, namely Oftel, the ITC, the Radio Authority, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Broadcasting Standards Commission. This includes spectrum management and auctioning. In addition, since 2011 it took over Postcomm’s functions to include regulation of postal services. Along with 45 other public bodies, Ofcom supports the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

    In Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regulates the communications and multimedia industries based on the powers provided in the Malaysian Act 1998 and Strategic Trade Act 2010. Apart from pursuing the government’s policy objectives for the sectors,

    MCMC oversees the new regulatory framework for the converging telecommunication and broadcasting industries and online activities. In 2001, postal services and licensing under the 1991 Act and the certification authorities under the Digital Signature Act 1997 were added.

    Nearer home, under its Ministry of Communication and Technology, Ghana has its National Communications Authority (NCA), which has the responsibility of regulating telecommunications, frequency spectrum, broadcasting authorization, amateur radio licencing, numbering, standards and clearance, schedule of fees amongst others.

    South Africa has its Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICSA). It was established in July 2000 by merging the telecommunications regulator, the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). In 2005, the postal regulator was included.

    This trend enables countries to fully take advantage of convergence and its underlying concomitant benefits. A single knowledgeable and agile agency is ideal and more likely to bring about policies, activities, infrastructure and an enabling environment such as shared media and spectrum or facilitate

    services in underserved and unserved areas to bridge the digital divide.

    In Nigeria we still have separate regulators for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries. Worse still, they are under separate ministries. Again, we need to ask the nagging question: “why is Nigeria still lagging behind”? Why are we not conforming to this obvious global trend?

    Read Also: NCC reassures customers of protection

    Thankfully though, our visionary President Muhammadu Buhari has gone one step towards convergence by renaming the communications ministry as the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. A development that is quite commendable and apt.

    Government needs to however take the next bold step of moving the NBC from its current misfit stead, into a single super regulatory body for broadcasting and telecommunications sectors under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

    This would automatically put Nigeria in step with universal best practices and prevailing trends, as we have seen in the examples mentioned above. The move would also position the NBC in a better environment than it is presently, to tackle the challenges of ongoing Digital Switch Over (DSO).

    It is imperative to note that Nigeria has significant deadlines issues with this exercise and thus must take steps to ensure success this time around. The success of the DSO is not negotiable as it would be of enormous economic benefit to the country and would also be greatly impactful on the quality of broadcasting services made available to the citizens at large; not to mention its job creation potentials.

    In conclusion, domiciling NBC and its activities, especially the ongoing DSO, in the Information and Culture Ministry is a gross misplacement. It portends danger that could be of grave consequences if the needful is not done immediately.

     

    • Ahmadu is a telecommunications analyst.

  • Blame game over bad Bwari, Kubwa roads

    Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory and the Bwari Area Council have resorted to blame-game over the terrible state of roads in the area council. FRANCA OCHIGBO reports

     

    As it is in many other council areas and satellite settlements in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) feeder roads in major towns in the Bwari Area Council have remained death traps over the years. In Bwari and Kubwa, the two major towns, residents are subjected to through harrowing terrible experiences commuting from their homes to their various workplaces. And when questions are asked as to whose responsibility it is to fix the roads, officials of the council and the FCT resort to blame-game.

    Officials of the council blamed the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and a construction firm, Arab Contractors for the deplorable state of the roads. The councilmen said the Minister of the FCT had, through the FCDA, awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the roads to Arab Contractors and that it would amount to a “criminal offence” for the council to embark on repair work on such roads. While Bwari is the headquarters of the council, Kubwa is the business and commercial hub. Bwari hosts federal institutions like the Nigerian Law School and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) among others.

    The major road that links Bwari town to the main market, through JAMB office to the Law School is an eyesore even though every year, dignitaries from different parts of the country troop to Bwari for Law School graduation ceremonies.

     

    The Kubwa-Arab road area is our job; it has not been completed as it is an ongoing contract. The Zebeced quarry behind the Arab road market is not within our project. As for Kubwa town, a lot of roads are being rehabilitated. There are Maitama and Katamkpe, these are the areas where indigenes who are resettled are being rehabilitated

     

    The JAMB office is always a beehive of activities with candidates coming from all parts of Abuja, yet nobody seems to bother about the terrible state of the roads.

    The road network in Kubwa competes with the ones in Bwari in terms of dilapidation thereby providing the needed environment for robbers and other criminal elements to operate freely, particularly at night. Armed robbers and car snatchers waylay motorists at will, robbing them of valuables and inflicting injuries on them when they slow down to meander through the many potholes and gullies on the roads.

    A resident of Kubwa, Mrs Tewor Jack, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed disappointment with all the previous rehabilitation work done on the roads by the FCT authorities. Mrs Jack said the repairs and rehabilitation work on the roads hardly last for six months before potholes spring up everywhere. She added that apart from shoddy work done on the roads, heavy-duty vehicles that ply the roads do not help the matter.

    The Chairman of Bwari Local Area Council, John Gabaya was not available for comments when our correspondent called at the council secretariat. Mr. Ishiaku Emmanuel, who spoke on his behalf, said it was not the responsibility of the council to fix the roads. According to him, the construction, repairs, and rehabilitation of the reads are the responsibilities of the FCT, presided over by the Minister. Emmanuel however, said despite being outside its purview, the council has continued to make interventions on the road from time to time.

    Emmanuel said: “In spite of all the challenges, our chairman is still very concerned because this is his place. The existing financial regulation Act does not allow the council to award for roads being constructed or rehabilitated within the same council.

    “But the chairman still went ahead to remedy the situation temporarily by contacting some companies for intervention. However, the heavy rains this year have affected the little effort the chairman made. Sometime in August, the Bwari area council remedied some parts with gravel but the heavy rains washed everything off again.

    “Also, the road in Bwari town leading to the Federal Girls College and the Nigerian Law School are all to be handled by the FCT and not the council. The road from the Bwari market down to Law School is supposed to be done by Arab Contractors. Major road networks in Bwari local government have been award to Arab Contractors. The Bwari chairman cannot go-ahead to do the roads because they are already awarded. If he does it then it is criminal. Local government chairmen have come and gone, they met these roads, the contracts had been awarded by the FCDA so it is beyond all of them”. According to Emmanuel, the immediate past chairman, Musa Dikko, wrote several memos to the Minister informing him about the terrible state of the roads but he got no response.

     

    Road contracts under

    review, says Arab Contractors

    The spokesman for Arab Contractors, Mr. Ofem Ibiam, said not all the bad roads in Bwari local government was being done by Arab contractors. According to him, the roads are all under review by the FCDA. When asked what he meant by “under review”, he said Arab Contractors had quoted for the roads but has not been awarded the contracts. He referred our correspondent to the Executive Secretary of the FCDA and the Engineering department of the FCDA for answers. “We are not the right people to come to. The roads you have seen in Bwari are not our roads. Our company is not in the right position to answer your questions. We did some work there but we have finished with them. There are so many bad roads there but they are not our projects. We have not abandoned any job so far. If you go to FCDA they will give you details of the contract that are being worked on, the money disbursed for the contract so far and if contractors are mobilised to site and are working. Arab contractors do not have any job in Bwari right now”, Ibiam said.

    Read Also: Most bad roads belong to states, says Federal Govt

     

    Work in progress on

    Bwari-Law School road

    The Director Satellite Town Development, Mr. Felix Obiora Nwankwo, said that the FCDA was working on the Law School road from Bwari town, going to Garang and the Law School. Nwankwo said, “We have started three kilometers, remaining 1.5kilometres. It is an ongoing contract right now. The only portion we left out which is part of the infrastructure, is from the junction near the market, which is to be handled by Arab Contractors.

    “The Kubwa-Arab road area is our job; it has not been completed as it is an ongoing contract. The Zebeced quarry behind the Arab road market is not within our project. As for Kubwa town, a lot of roads are being rehabilitated. There are Maitama and Katamkpe, these are the areas where indigenes who are resettled are being rehabilitated.

    “We are looking at funding, so we are picking them one after the other. There are some aspects of Kubwa roads that will be included in the budget. These are among the roads to be rehabilitated. We have facility maintenance units, but we are rehabilitating a lot of roads. Some are presently undergoing procurement. We have about two to three contracts ongoing. FCC is handling Kubwa 4 and 5. They are not there now but they will come back, it also includes the Arab road.

    “I want to let you know that Kubwa is not in the master plan, it is an aberration. It was just a resettlement site that turned into a very big settlement area. The roads are not even what they are expected to be because the connecting road is supposed to be a dual carriageway, which is not. The road one is a connecting road. It is supposed to be dual carriageway but people have even built along the corridor, you cannot take away the traffic, there is so much traffic inside Kubwa.

    “Kubwa, according to the master plan, is a resettlement site. People came in there and through the area council, they started getting land. The government has been putting money in Kubwa. We have ongoing contracts in Kubwa and we are procuring more contracts but the problem is funding.

    “Arab Contractors just did a contract for us. They only did their own, though we extended to FCC so FCC is now doing the work. There is a bridge over that stream that FCC will come and do so that the road can link Dawaki area to Arab road as a bypass very soon.”

     

  • New home for football

    Six years after the completion and handing over of a befitting edifice named, Sunday Dankaro House, to the Nigeria Football Federation to serve as its secretariat, Sports Minister Sunday Dare has issued an ultimatum to the leadership of the football house to move there next month, writes SEGUN OGUNJIMI

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will start operating from its new secretariat by next month if the wish of Sports Minister Sunday Dare comes through.

    The edifice was built by an indigenous company, Messers Paul-B Nigeria PLC and was inaugurated with fanfare on July 18, 2013, and handed over to the NFF by former Vice-President Namadi Sambo. The building was named after a former NFA chairman, Sunday Dankaro.

    The Sunday Dankaro House is a two-storey building, which boasts a helipad, a courtyard, a penthouse, and a manicured park. The ground floor of the building has a conference room and 12 self-contained offices with conveniences while the first floor has 14 of such facilities. It also has a big conference hall and the office of the Secretary-General.

    The second floor is a penthouse, which accommodates the office of the NFF President with two conference halls. At the time it was handed over, the new NFF secretariat had a functional 200KVA generator, a borehole with the ground and overhead tanks for 20,000 litres capacity and a parking space for 110 vehicles.

    Going by the profile of Nigeria in global football, the need to give the Nigeria Football Federation a befitting secretariat informed the decision by the Presidential Task Force on Super Eagles to build for the NFF a new secretariat in Abuja.

     

    The location of the new secretariat is good and we also have our Goal Project field there for our national teams to use for training and preparations for events and competitions

     

    When the Super Eagles qualified for the first World Cup on African soil; the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua constituted the Presidential Taskforce for the 2010 World Cup that was to be held in South Africa.

    With the support of the government, the Task Force, headed by a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as at that time, mobilised funds from philanthropic individuals and corporate bodies to support the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. At the end of the World Cup, the Task Force declared a surplus of N350million, which it immediately channeled into what is now the new NFF secretariat located inside the Package B of the MKO Abiola national stadium in Abuja.

    The NFF had cited a lack of furniture and structural defects as some of the reasons the building is still unoccupied. While retiring the 2014 World Cup funds, the present NFF said it had expended $150,000 on procurement of furniture for the new secretariat.

    Furthermore, it was reported that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabnio had donated N50million to the NFF to assist the football federation in furnishing their new office.

    But this time around, everything seems to be working in tandem with plans to relocate. In a chat with the Minister shortly after his meeting with the leadership of the NFF a few days ago, he said the relocation to the secretariat would boost the image of the football house.

    Dare said: “I am glad to see a renewed commitment to completing and moving into the prestigious and well-conceived Dankaro House. The NFF will boost its image in this respect. It is a benefitting edifice to Nigeria’s status as a football nation. It will be a plus to the ongoing effort to bring the Moshood Abiola Stadium back in full swing. But NFF ought to have done this sooner than later.”

    Nigeria Football Federation General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi expressed the readiness of the body to relocate its secretariat, as directed by the Minister. “I want to tell you that in less than two months by the grace of God, we will move to Dankaro House. We are working with the contractors to make sure that everything is done. They (the contractors) have already brought in the furniture, internal and external work that is delaying the installation of the furniture will be completed very soon.

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    “We are not happy that we have not moved, but we are working round the clock to make sure in less than two months we pack in into Dankaro House. The location of the new secretariat is good and we also have our Goal Project field there to make for our various national teams to use for training and preparations for events and competitions. We also have elite athletes hostel owned by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and other facilities. So we are not complaining or talking about the new secretariat.

    “By the time we move to the office, you will see that the office will bring more life to that place.”

    Sanusi declined to disclose the source of funding for the renovation and furnishing of the secretariat.

    “If you have a house and you are either building a house or renovating it, it is not about where the source of funding comes from but it’s about when you are finishing it or moving there. It is not for public consumption of how your house is being built. I think our concern should be when you are moving there.

    “The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Minister is interested in seeing us move to Dankaro House. He has charged us as a father to do everything humanly possible to make sure that we move into our new office. You know when you have an edifice that is like this one if you don’t move it will continue to dilapidate. It wasn’t our intention to stay this long here without moving, but we try as much as possible to give it touches. That was why it was not just renovation; there was serious reconstruction that we have done inside that place. Just like the minister has charged us, we are looking towards making sure that we move in there,” he said.

    Barring unforeseen exigencies, the NFF will be operating from its new secretariat any time soon.

     

  • United Nations House rises from the rubble

    The United Nations House, Abuja, which was bombed by the Boko Haram insurgents in 2011, has received a facelift eight years after. VINCENT IKUOMOLA reports

     

    It was a period when bombing became a common incident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria’s seat of power. Fear became the order of the day. Nowhere seemed safe or exempted from attacks by the rampaging Boko Haram terrorists.

    First, it was the Niger Delta militants who detonated two bombs at intervals on an auspicious day when the country was celebrating its 50th Independence anniversary. The occasion, which was held at the Eagle Square, had the then President, Goodluck Jonathan and other top dignitaries, including some past leaders on stand.

    Then in two quick successions, two bombs were detonated, leaving behind sorrow, tears, and blood. No fewer than ten lives were lost on a day that was supposed to be joyous. It turned out that the bombings were carried out by members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

    This was followed by the bombing of the Louis Edet House, the Police Headquarters, where the then Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim escaped death by the whiskers. He seemed to be the prime target, as the suicide bombers, on June 16, 2011, drove a bomb-laden car behind his convoy to gain access to the building.

    That marked the beginning of suicide bombings in parts of the country by the Boko Haram insurgent. The bloody attack claimed several lives and destroyed property worth millions of Naira.

    Fear gripped residents of the capital city at the time as one bomb explosion followed the other as residents started avoiding nightlife.

    The fragile peace was shattered two months after, when the UN building came under bomb attack on Friday, August 26, 2011. The building, located in the central area of the city housed 26 humanitarian and development agencies under the UN.

    An explosive-laden vehicle had approached the security post pretending to be on a legitimate mission. Suddenly, the driver, who was on a suicide mission, rammed through two security barriers and hit a section of the building.

    And the entire place went up in flame and smoke. Again, it was Boko Haram.

    Twenty-three bodies were retrieved from the rubble and about 60 persons suffered varying degrees of injury.

    The Federal Government offered to reconstruct the structure and a $15 million budget was drawn for the project in 2012. The construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria got the job.

    And on October 24, the UN building in Nigeria got back its groove, coinciding with the commemoration of the International Day of the UN.

     

    The reopening of the UN House in Abuja demonstrates our collective commitment to continue addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria, West Africa, and the whole world

     

    The new-look UN House boasts three police posts, body and baggage scanners and closed-circuit television cameras in strategic locations. Movements in and around the area have also been restricted, except for those having legitimate business to do in any of the agencies in the building.

    During the handover ceremony, the UN representative in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, captured the tragic occurrence on a fateful day.

    Kallon said: “What started as a normal working day at the U.N. house on Friday 26th of August, 2011 quickly turned into a disaster to the United Nations staff, families and some of our partners. It was indeed a dark day for the United Nations.”

    Mark Lowcock, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said: “The Nigerian Government handing over this building to the UN is a symbol of our shared commitment to continue supporting the people and Government of Nigeria.”

    Lowcock, who represented the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres at the event, noted that the attack was the first to be carried out on UN building in the country.

    “This was the first attack against a UN facility in Nigeria; the building has since been rehabilitated by the Nigerian Government,” adding that Nigeria has been a key factor since it became a member of the United Nations in 1960.

    Lowcock added: “Today’s reopening of the UN House in Abuja demonstrates our collective commitment to continue addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria, West Africa, and the whole world”.

    According to him, the opening of the UN House was a show of refusal to be cowed in the face of terror. “We stand together to say that we will not be cowed by violence. We will continue to support the Nigerian people to fulfill their dreams of a future of prosperity and security”, he said.

    Read Also: Insurgence: United Nation must help West Africa now

     

    Lowcock also paid tribute to the fallen 23 UN colleagues, contractors, and visitors who lost their lives that day, and many others who were injured, saying that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. “My thoughts today are above all with the families and friends they left behind.

    Today, I want to dedicate this official handover of the UN House to all whose those lives were irreversibly changed on that fateful day in 2011.”

    “Dayo, an OCHA driver who I spoke to yesterday, was only a few meters away from the explosion. He told me that he does not know how he survived the blast and he still has to undergo regular treatment.

    “Baby Fesse was not even working for the UN. As a student, she had come to do some research and to visit her mother who was working here. Her life was forever changed when she lost her leg in the explosion.

    “The UN House security guards who continue to devote their lives to protect others every day. And there are many others to whom we pay tribute today.”

    The re-opening of the UN House, Lowcock said, “is one small way we can honour them. But today is not only about the past. Today we must also look to the future.”

     

  • AbdulRazaq congratulates PDP candidate

     

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has congratulated the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the House of Assembly in Ilorin South Constituency Jimoh AbdulRaheem Agboola over the Appeal Court judgment that ordered his swearing in for the legislative seat.

    The governor said: “What has happened today is one of the beauties of democracy. As respecters of the rule of law and decorum, we submit to the position of their Lordships and congratulate our brother from the opposition party.

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    “Lessons have been learnt on all sides. The development will no doubt enrich our democracy and constitutional development as a country.

    On behalf of the Kwara State Government and leaders of our party, the All Progressives Congress, we call on Hon. Jimoh AbdulRaheem Agboola to join us in the patriotic duty to rebuild Kwara State that all of us can be proud of. We urge him to see issues beyond partisan lens.”

     

  • Fears over NIN ahead of 2020 UTME registration

    The National Identification Number (NIN) is now more important than ever to candidates planning to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as they would not be able to register without it. However, enrolling for the NIN is not a tea party, reports KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE and DAMOLA KOLA-DARE.

     

    Registration for next year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would be different. The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has informed intending candidates that registration for the examination would only be possible with their National Identification Number (NIN).

    Its spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, urged prospective candidates to get their NIN to avoid missing out on the 2020 UTME, which would open for registration in January.

    He said: “We want to further appeal and remind prospective candidates on the need to get themselves registered centrally under the NIN scheme.

    “They must consider this as compulsory, if they intend to participate in the examination when the time comes. There is no other means of acquiring our registration documents for the examination except through the NIN and that is why we are calling on them now to intensify efforts in getting registered to avoid ‘Had I Known’.

    “No excuses will be entertained and that is the essence of this constant reminder so that nobody will be left out.”

    According to the NIMC website, the NIN “is a set of numbers assigned to an individual upon successful enrolment. Enrolment consists of the recording of an individual’s demographic data and capture of the 10 fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture and digital signature, which are all used to cross-check data in the National Identity Database to confirm that there is no previous entry of the same data.”

    JAMB’s interest in the NIN is in its usefulness in managing logistics and checking fraud.

    The NIN would help JAMB harmonise the data of candidates for the UTME to address the challenges of underage registration, examination malpractice, multiple registration, and reduce registration costs.

    On underage registration for the UTME, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, is particularly interested in how the NIN would help weed out candidates not up to 15.

    During a meeting of JAMB, NIMC, and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja, Oloyede said: “So, for me, if we have 15 years as they have agreed, nobody who is below 15 years should register; and anybody who is below 15 let’s come and address that person specifically.”

     

    Registration journey ahead

    of candidates

    The NIMC began registering Nigerians for the NIN in September 2010 and had registered over 36.6 million and legal citizens aged zero and above as at last September.

    On the average, about 1.6 million candidates register for the UTME yearly. It means about that number of candidates may need to get the NIN if they have not already done so before they can attempt registering for next year’s examination for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    However, enrolment for the NIN is not without hassles. Though no deadline has been announced for the NIN, since last year, the Federal Government made it mandatory for anyone seeking to obtain the international passport to get the NIN before processing the travel document. So, candidates registering for the UTME are not the only group of people in need of the NIN for official use.

    Registration for the NIN entails the enrollee visiting designated NIMC centres or local government area secretariats to fill forms, do biometrics (photographs and fingerprints).  Once done, the enrollee is asked to return, usually after two weeks, for the NIN.

    However, the process is not that straight forward and involves long waits and delays – at a time no national deadline has been announced.  Some people even bribe to shorten their wait time at the centre.

    A mother of three told The Nation  she had to pay N1,500 to do her biometrics at the NIMC, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos when she needed to renew her international passport.

    ‘’At first, I wanted to wait but when I realised I would save time, I just paid the N1,500.  I observed that the NIMC workers have their customers who pay them. So, while others on the queue are waiting to be captured, one official would just come to the person capturing and say, ‘after the one you’re doing, do this, this, and this people.’ Another official would come and tell the person to do ‘these 1,2,3, 4 for me.’ All this while, people who did not pay were on the queue and the queue would not move,” she said.

    Sunday, a resident of Ikotun, Lagos lamented that when he attempted to register for his National ID Card, it was a daunting task because the centre was crowded and not only that, there was shortage of manpower to attend to the large crowd.

    He queried why the NIN would be made mandatory for candidates seeking to write UTME because it is not always easy getting enrolled at NIMC centres.

    He said: “I do not know why young prospective candidates would be made to undergo the stress of registering for NIN. Even those of us who are old did not find it easy to register let alone getting the National ID card.  I just hope the NIMC will make sure the candidates are enrolled in time for the examination.”

    A prospective UTME candidate who spoke to The Nation at a tutorial centre in Lagos appealed to the NIMC to ensure there were enough personnel to attend to those who want to enrol because, according to her, when she got a centre around Ikola, a Lagos suburb, to register, there was only one agent attending to a large number of people.

    “When I got to an enrolment centre around Ikola, there was only one agent attending to a large number of people. It was frustrating, so I had to leave. Even a friend who had got there early told me she could not register for the NIN,” said the candidate who simply called herself Rose.

     

    Awareness still low

    Though JAMB has made its stand on NIN clear since September, awareness is still low among prospective candidates.

    Most of the prospective candidates interviewed by The Nation said they did not know about NIN being mandatory for the UTME.

    A candidate, who simply called himself Timileyin, noted that he had not registered for NIN. He decried the lack of awareness.  He said he did not hear of it not until his friend who saw it on JAMB’s Twitter handle called his attention to it.

    Read Also: JAMB urges 2020 UTME prospective candidates acquire NIN

    He said: “The awareness generated on the rule is not enough. I did not hear it on radio or television.  A friend called my attention to it, and all efforts to register have been fruitless because many candidates are trying to register at the same time.  Nobody wants to be left out because the examination is fast approaching.”

    A parent approached by The Nation, who did not want to be named, said she had not hear anything concerning NIN enrolment for UTME registration.  She wondered when such pronouncement was made.

    She said: “I have not heard about this. When was it announced?  I don’t know our children now have to get NIN compulsorily before they are eligible to write the exam. I just hope this will not cause panic because registration centres will now be overcrowded with candidates since it is compulsory to have it.”

    A father, who simply identified as Mr Olushola, expressed his dissatisfaction with the NIN rule.

    Questioning the rationale behind using NIN as a prerequisite for UTME, he said: “I do not really understand what is going in this country.  Those in power just create rules in arbitrary fashion without considering the implications.You just wake up one day and you are told without enrolling for NIN, you won’t be allowed to sit for UTME. I recall some years back when a certain Minister of Education introduced Post-UTME, which still operates till today. Everything we do in this country we claim it is to eradicate corruption.  The Post-UTME, for me, is needless. In advanced countries, admission into tertiary institutions is not as stringent as ours. We like making things difficult for ourselves and that is why our students seek admission in foreign countries.

    “It is hard to understand if malpractice has been reduced or eradicated now that the exam is computer-based.”

    Some tutorial centre managers, who prepare candidates for public examinations, are however aware.They spoke of sensitising their students to the importance of the NIN registration before registration begins in January.

    On his part, Mr. Johnson, a teacher at a tutorial centre in Ayobo area of Lagos, called on the NIMC to expedite action on the registration so that candidates would be duly registered before the UTME portal opens.

    “Time was when gaining admission into our tertiary institutions was very easy.Then, once you passed your West African School Certificate (WASC) exam and UTME (then UME), you would be admitted into the university of your choice.  Now that NIN has been made compulsory for candidates, in the next five years, nobody can tell what the new rule would be. My appeal to NIMC is to work relentlessly to make sure all candidates are registered.”

    Another teacher, Mr Olufemi, said he had plans to take all candidates in his study centre to an enrollment office to be registered once and for all.

    He said:” I heard about the rule just recently.  My plan is to contact an agent friend of mine to assist in enrolling my candidates because very soon registration for the examination would commence.

    Then even if the government wants to curb malpractice and underage registration, there should have been a sensitisation campaign for all intending candidates through the media before making the pronouncement, not when the examination is almost here.”

     

    JAMB/NIMC’s plans for 2020 UTME

    Going by previous registration exercises in Nigeria – like that of the Bank Verification Number (BVN); and the SIM registration for all mobile phone users, deadlines usually cause a lot of problems for enrollees. With candidates already facing issues trying to enrol, there are concerns the situation would worsen as the examination approaches.

    When The Nation visited the NIMC Office in Alausa, an official, who refused to give her name because she was not authorised to talk, said the Commission would address the issues in the NIN registration.

    “I am not in a position to talk.  It is the duty of the Commission’s PRO to talk on the issue. But no matter the challenges encountered by candidates, we are working to address and make sure everyone gets registered before UTME registration commences,” she said.

    However, JAMB Spokesman, Dr Benjamin, said the board would work something out with NIMC.

    He said: “We are talking with NIMC about the registration.  We have not come up with anything yet.  But we are looking at a situation whereby we can do the registration for the candidates. We are hoping we will come up with something that can be of mutual benefit to the candidates, NIMC and every other person involved.”

     

    There is no other means of acquiring our registration documents for the examination except through the NIN and that is why we are calling on them now to intensify efforts in getting registered to avoid ‘Had I Known

  • McPHERSON varsity to graduate 92 Saturday

    McPherson University, Abeokuta, will graduate its fourth set of 92 students on Saturday.

    Speaking at a pre-convocation Press Conference on Tuesday, its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade said 15 of the 92 students made First class; 38 second class upper; 31 second class lower and eight, third class.

    The event would feature the Convocation lecture titled: “Saving Capitalism from The Capitalists” by Professor of Political Economy and Entrepreneurship, Pat Utomi.

    Speaking on the institution’s strides, Agubiade said all its academic programmes were fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

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    He added that a new programme, Nursing Science, would undergo resource verification in two weeks, while others like Political Science, Software Engineering, and Information Technology, were yet to be scheduled.

    Next year, the VC said the university would begin it postgraduate programmes.

     

    “And before next year’s convocation exercise, our post graduate programmes would have kicked off with Master’s in Accounting, Computer Science, Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, Management, Diplomacy and Strategic Studies, PGD computer science, PGD Finance, PGD Management Studies and Masters in Business Administration(MBA),” he said.

     

  • Be open minded, Sanwo-Olu tells corps members

    By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie and Adegunle Olugbamila

     

    Corps members posted to Lagos State have been told to make their service year a learning period by being open minded.

    They got the advice from the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the opening of the three week orientation camp for Batch C Stream 1 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) corps members last Thursday at the Iyana Ipaja Orientation camp.

    Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Dr. Yusuf Jimoh, said: “The NYSC scheme was founded primarily on the vision of promoting the peas and sustaining unity owing to the heterogeneous composition of our nation.  It provides you with a unique opportunity to get to know your country more and appreciate the diversity in the culture, language, customs and beliefs of the people.

    “This three weeks orientation programme and the regimented life here on camp have been specifically planned for you to imbibe core values such as discipline, tolerance, perseverance, and time consciousness.  Although these values are meant to guide your conduce during the orientation course, they will be of great benefit to you beyond the service year.”

    In his speech, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Sunday Aroni, urged the corps members to participate fully in all camp activities.

    “The activities are packaged for your mental, emotional and physical development.  I therefore encourage you to be actively involved in all camp activities for your present and future benefits,” he said.

    Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba, represented by Justice Bukola Adebiyi, administered the oath of allegiance on the corps members – made up of 998 males and 1,446 females from tertiary institutions across the country.

    At the Ogun State NYSC camp in Sagamu, Governor Dapo Abiodun, assured the new corps members deployed to the state that of ‘absolute security.’

    The Governor, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment Mr Olalekan Olude, added that they would be well received in the state:

    Read Also: Why we evicted Corps Members from Ebonyi Camp- NYSC

     

    “The people of Ogun State are peace loving and hospitable. Rest assured that you are all home away from home. I enjoin you to take advantage of this opportunity to fire your imaginative and creative instincts and leave bold imprints on the sands of time.”

    NYSC Coordinator, Ogun State, Dr. Belinda Faniyi, said the scheme’s partnership on the Ogun State Skills Acquisition Village was yielding results.

    “There have been deliberate and bold strides to ensure its existence as plans have reached advanced stage to cultivate variety of crops such as plantains, vegetables, and cassava.  We are collaborating with IITA Ibadan, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in the areas of plantain suckers,” she said.

    She thanked the host state for ensuring maintenance of the camp describing the gesture as a ‘show of concern to the welfare of youths in the state.

    Chief Judge of Ogun State Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, represented by Justice M.I. Agbelu, conducted the oath.