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Tag: reduced

  • Pirates’ attack has reduced, says Defence minister

    Pirate attacks in the coast of Nigeria reduced significantly in the first half of thi year following some measures adopted by the Federal Government, Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali has said.

    Dan-Ali stated this yesterday in Rome at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of representatives of Government of G7++ Friends of Gulf of Guinea and representatives of Gulf of Guinea States.

    A copy of the minister’s speech was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja by his spokesman, Col. Tukur Gusau.

    He said only four successful attacks were recorded out of 16 of such attempted attacks during the period.

    The minister said when compared to same period in 2016, there were more attacks as 36 successful attacks were recorded out of 55 attempted attacks.

    “As we may be aware in recent years, the socio-economic agitations in the Niger Delta have elicited significant maritime security challenges such as attacks on shipping, kidnapping, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and refining have remained challenging.

    “Nevertheless, the combination of infrastructure development programmes, engagements with local communities, sustenance of the Amnesty Programme for repentant ex-militants and improved maritime policing activities have proved effective in stemming the tide of insecurity around the coast of Nigeria.”

  • ‘Rate of heart attacks can be reduced’

    ‘Rate of heart attacks can be reduced’

    Concerned with the rise in sudden deaths caused by heart diseases in the country, a United States-based cardilogist, Dr Kamar Adeleke, has resolved to reduce the figure.

    He is partnering the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and the Babcock University, Ilisan to train cardiologists. He has also  established a cath-lab in Lagos.

    Heart disorders include arrhythmia, angina, heart aneurysms, heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects and rheumatic heart disease.

    Adeleke, who left the country at age seven, said having trained as a cardiologist in Wilmington, Daleware, US, he was ready for the task at home.

    He said he resolved to help based on his experience in 2014, when he came to Nigeria on a medical mission with 68 clinicians for one week and treated about 5, 000 people.

    Then he  sampled eight people for  heart screening. Of the number, six had  heart  blockade. Yet, nobody knew. He was alarmed and said something must be done about it.

    Adeleke agreed to collaborate with the UCH. An agreement was signed to manage the UCH Cath-lab for 10 years. “We have been there for six months. We have done 42 open-heart surgeries, and interventions,” he said.

    “The beauty of it is that, we did them for free because the poor are the mostly affected. Of the 42, 70 percent were children. And of this, 75 percent cannot pay and we are compelled to do it for free. This is not sustainable at all. With government things, there are a lot of issues but we’ve not packed it up. But this experience afforded us to train 15 nurses in critical care, because none has done it before. I brought in all those sub-specialists with me from the US during the medical mission. So, when the six months of the 10 years picked up, the open heart transplants are being done by Nigerians. Tristate aims to train local capacity.

    ‘’Cardio-vascular disease is the number one non-communicable disease in the world. Unfortunately for Nigeria, we do not have enough capacity to checkmate all that,” he added.

    He explained that at Babcock University, “we established Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre. It costs about $10million. We had to engage cardiologists who are already there through Fellowship programme in interventional training. We set out to make open heart surgery affordable and accessible. We want to take heart care and treatment to the grassroots.

    “At the moment, we have a N20 million project in Lagos. Nigeria is a very tough country to do business. We are trying to woo people and investors, who will be part of the kick-off of the noble thing we are doing, so that people do not die needlessly. We do hope that Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre in Lagos and Abuja will be ready before the end of the year. We will stand out in training and clinical care. We are going to aggressively train Nigerians.”

    Adeleke said for Nigerians to have a reduction in the escalating cardiac arrest cases, people should know their numbers. “You must know your Blood Pressure (Bp). High blood pressure is defined as anything over 140/90. Low blood pressure is 130/85. Pre-hypertension is in-between. The only way to know the number is not through ‘babalawo’, church or mosque, but through a medical doctor.

    “Know your blood sugar levels, i.e, fasting blood sugar. Sleep all night. Wake up in the morning, which means 10 hours of not eating, draw your blood and put on stripe … your blood sugar should be less than 100mlg/dc. If it is more than that, the person is prediabetic. In that case, another test called HeamoglobinAYC will be done, to know how good the blood is and how best to prevent diabetes.”

    He said cholesterol level and obesity are the others. People should know their ideal body weight. All these must be closely monitored from age 30. “From age 50, get coloroscopy done. From age 50, if male, do prostate cancer screening, if female do mammogram. If there are family histories, those cancer screenings must be done from 30 years.

    “Prostate cancer is a big thing for men. It is sky rocketing. BSA screening is adding a lot of cost. The man that invented the BSA screening invented it to manage people who already have cancer. But since it was a money-spinning thing due to its sensitivity, it was being used for screening,” he stated.

    Adeleke said he would handle the clinical aspect. “The average life expectancy for Nigerians is now 50. In US, it is 78.9 years. In Cuba, it is 80 years. That is a huge difference of 30 years comparatively. People are dying in their most productive age. And the number one cause of death in Nigeria is heart attack. The second is by stroke. The availability of services is what makes the difference between the casualty figures. When heart attack happens, we have 90 minutes to get to the heart to open the artery that is causing the blockage and save the sufferer or else death results. Can you then imagine taking a patient from Lagos to Babcock or from Babcock to Ibadan/ There has to be a facility within the reach of our people.

    “We have done 132 open heart surgeries with success rate of 98.5 percent. So also a 100 percent at the Cath-Lab. We charge from $5,000 to $6, 000 but in the US, it costs $75 to $100, yet we are using the same equipment. As a matter of fact, the equipment here are better than those I have in the US. We know now that we can provide the services at affordable cost. Per the training, I can attest to the fact that Nigerians are very brilliant. What we don’t have is the opportunity to have first-class equipment to train with back home here. Those that were trained in cardiology, local and in Diaspora are already consultants. We need to prepare younger hands. Those two ladies I trained in open heart surgery at Babcock were aggressively prepared and trained in the last two years. They are already close, they have less than 50 percent gap to catch up with their counterparts in the US and Europe. We won’t be running the services free so as to make it sustainable. Unfortunately, there is no help from the government.”

    On ways to reduce sudden death Adeleke said: “I will also talk of preventive medicine. I asked why there is a huge figure of heart attack here in Nigeria and I realised that there are so many risk factors. Nigerians have imported and imbibed a life style of the Western World. In the US, seven out of 10 Americans will die of stroke because of the risk factors.  One is heart pressure, diabetes (high sugar in blood), high cholesterol, lack of exercise, and stress. Once you have two or more risk factors, you are in. A sub-Sahara African who is above 18 will have a high heart pressure. Not realising this, you see everybody going for fast foods, not minding that those are the kind of food that is killing Americans. As a nation we cannot lie to one another. Same thing with cigarette smoking. In the US, cigarette is properly labelled, unlike here. The government should take care of its people. It should embark on what on how to avoid what can kill people and what cannot.

    “Like telling people: ‘If you are able to control your blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, avoid extreme stress and sedimentary life, you are better off because prevention is better than cure. No cardiologist is happy receiving patients with heart attack when it can be prevented.

    The Chief Operating officer (COO), Tristate Cardio-vascular, Olukunle Iyanda, said the vision is to make cardiac healthcare delivery system in Nigeria to become one of the best that exists in the world. “It is doable”, he said.

    Dr Iyanda said: “Cardiologists want people free of stroke. Compared with America, Nigeria has no facility where cardiologists can practise, hence my resolve to put up top-notch facilities across Tristates in Nigeria. In US, people have been attacked but didn’t die because they have facilities to go to when attacked.

    “Look at Cuba, with life expectancy of 80 percent, which is better than that of US. It has no kind of money the US have, yet has better quality lifestyle. The reason is simple, primary healthcare. It is a preventive organ of medical care.

    “Through that, the Federal Government can reach out to its people on nutrition- avoiding fast or junk foods, do not gain weight.”

    He said: “Research is the arsenal for preventive medicine, what is good for the goose may not be good for the gander. What we use in treating Caucasians may not be too ok for treating black people. For now, we must first treat arrest and then maintain a preventive care. Nigeria should learn not to put the cart before the horse. Before resolving to do a high-end OBGY for instance there must be a sound obstetrician who can deliver the baby, a qualified pediatrician to handle the baby with the help of incubator, oxygen, suction machine etc. Man power is better acquired before equipment.

    “Nigeria should learn not to put the cart before the horse. Before resolving to do a high-end OBGY for instance there must be a sound obstetrician who can deliver the baby, a qualified pediatrician to handle the baby with the help of incubator, oxygen, suction machine etc. Man power is better acquired before equipment.”

  • Reduced piracy in Onne: Investors praise Fed Govt, OGFZA

    Investors have commended the Federal Government and the leadership of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) on the decline in pirate attacks around the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zones.

    They said the huge scale back in the incidence of piracy followed representations to the federal authorities by OGFZA on security concerns in the area.

    In February, the Managing Director of OGFZA, Umana Okon Umana,   had written  to the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen.Babagana Monguno (rtd), to draw attention to deteriorating security around the seaport, marked by increase in the incidence of piracy and its consequential impact on investments in the area, particularly in the oil and gas free zones.

    The initiative by Umana led to a security meeting with the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, and a subsequent deployment of several warships and patrol boats to secure the region and provide safe passage for commercial shipping.

    The better protection for shipping in the region’s waterways has helped to significantly bring down the rate of pirate attacks on shipping, as well as sabotage of oil and gas facilities in the area, Oluwole said at an interaction with the management of OGFZA.

    Also, the Terminal Operator of Indorama/Eleme Petrochemicals Limited at Onne Free Zone, Manjunath Gowdara said: “Security has improved since the Umana administration came into office. For about three months now, there’s zero incidence of attacks both on land and at sea.”

    Port security report states that Indorama security alert level has been lowered from level two to level one in the wake of the significant improvement in security around the free zone.

    The Operations Manager of Brawal Oil Services Limited, Michael Agha and the Commercial Manager of the company, Ifeanyi Odili-Nwamana, made similar remarks, stating that the new management of OGFZA, has helped to improve security in the zone.

    “There has been improved security and reduced militancy in the port,” Agha said, adding that the management of Brawal is pleased with OGFZA chief for his efforts at addressing security challenges in the port,, especially the issue of abandoned vessels at the quayside.

    Both managers said Brawal has complemented the efforts of government by putting many measures in place to improve security in the free zone.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-General Enobong Udoh,  also assured Umana  of adequate security when the OGFZA chief visited the GOC  in his office at Bori Camp in Port Harcourt.

    “We have made specific security arrangements to protect lives and property, as well as oil and gas assets in the region. I want to assure you that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army will always support OGFZA,” Gen. Udoh said, adding that the 6 Division was established and headquartered in Port Harcourt to regularise and perfect all the previous ad hoc security arrangements set up to address security challenges in the Niger Delta.

  • When human life is reduced to figures

    SIR: My journalism professor once taught us that in news writing and reporting, premium must be placed on human life especially in time of natural and human disaster. This perhaps informs why so much death reporting is seen in our contemporary media reportage in conflict prone areas. The idea behind laying emphasis on human life is that those in authority should take action and avoid future occurrences of avoidable deaths.

    In the recent past, a lot of killings and wasting of human lives have taken place across Nigeria. Majority of these were deliberately done in the most gruesome manner devoid of any civility. One of such human cruelty still very fresh on our minds was the attack on some farming communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State where over 300 persons including women and children were reportedly killed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The mainstream as well as social media were flooded with graphic pictures of this catastrophe. As it is typical with the Nigeria state, the response to this crisis was extremely slow.

    Unlike elsewhere in the world where matters relating to unwarranted killing of human beings is taken seriously, same cannot be said of Nigeria. Weeks after the Agatu massacre, the governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom could only afford to send his deputy to assess the situation and give him feedback. The President only issued a statement about setting up an investigative panel. There was a clear lack of interest by leaders at all levels (national and state) regarding the plight of the victims of this unwarranted human crime. The few leaders who visited Agatu did so to simply score a political point.

    The Inspector General of the Nigeria Police visited the area to “have first hand information” of what actually happened. The community gave account of the situation on ground and the casualty figure of around 300. The police boss promised to investigate and punish those who perpetrated the heinous act. Hope was rekindled and the Agatu communities were optimistic that justice will take its course. Weeks later, the IG was quoted to have said that the killings in Agatu were blown out of proportion. No one including the IG himself however denied the fact that innocent lives were destroyed in Agatu. The police boss did not give any detail of his investigation stating whether any arrest was made, or what strategy he has put in place to forestall future occurrence of violence of that magnitude.

    The herdsmen were quoted to have confessed that they attacked Agatu communities in retaliation to the killing of their cows; a clear indication that they were judges onto themselves. This high level of impunity only encourages lawlessness and promotes bitterness and division. It thus appears some groups are above the law, untouchable, un-punishable and indeed invisible.

    The Nigerian state has for long failed to protect the lives of the most vulnerable in society. The Fulani herdsmen have continually inflicted havoc on farming communities in most of Nigeria’s central states of Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba and Southern Kaduna. These attacks usually happened during farming seasons, thus destroying both lives and farmlands. Till date, there is no known conviction for any Fulani herdsman for the killing of defenceless farmers who try to protect their crops from destruction by cattle rearers.

    The value for every single life should be a motivating factor for all concerned to ensure that the apparent neglect to issues that leads to killing and destruction of property is taken more seriously. Some people have argued that Nigerians are gradually accepting violence to humans as an unnecessary evil. But again no society ever accepts deliberate destruction of innocent lives as a norm.

     

    • Hangeior Degarr,

    Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

     

  • Idolatory reduced under ex-Olubadan, says CAC President

    President of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide Pastor Abraham Olukunle Akinosun has said idol worshipping reduced in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during the reign of the late Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele, who was the Olubadan between 1955 and 1964.

    The CAC president spoke at the  weekend during the 50th memorial anniversary of the late monarch, who was the first president of the CAC worldwide, a position he held from 1936 to 1964, when he died.

    The ceremony was held at the headquarters of the church in Bashorun, Ibadan.

    According to the Pastor Akinosun, Akinyele’s dual feat as a monarch and head of a church, two positions that traditionally conflicted each other, was a blessing to the CAC and a vessel of liberation for the people of Ibadan.

    He said: “Oba Akinyele is the only President in the history of the church who also became the monarch of a large city like Ibadan. He combined the two responsibilities successfully and fought hard to liberate Ibadan from the then Oyo empire. During his time, idolatry diminished. Idol worshipping became infamous and countless souls were won for Christ.”

    Pastor Akinosun said the late monarch bequeathed over   75 per cent of his landed property to the church, one of which is the land on which the church’s headquarters  stands.

    The guest lecturer, Prof. Olubunmi Oshun, a former Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), said the late Oba Akinyele was an ideal leader.

    He said: ”He resisted high-handedness and remained upright, impartial and incorruptible.”

    In his lecture, titled: “Oba Pastor Isaac Babalola Akinyele (1882 – 1964), An example of integrity in Service”, Oshun took the congregation on a journey through the life and times of the late king, including his relationship with the founder of the CAC, the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.

    The don said Oba Akinyele’s time as king and church leader was worthy of study and emulation by leaders in the church and government circles.

    Oshun added: ”Baba (Oba Akinyele) was a man of influence and great power, yet he was God fearing. As a farmer who farmed in various site, he built CAC churches on the farms. That way he ensured that he encouraged everyone around him to tow the line of Christ. He was tested and trusted in his 30 years as leader of the church and 50 years in public glare.”

  • ‘Federal allocation should be reduced to 25 per cent’

    ‘Federal allocation should be reduced to 25 per cent’

    In this interview, Elder statesman Alhaji Femi Okunnu submits that the 1999 Constitution is an impediment to true federalism. The legal luminary faults the constitutional provisions on power structure, derivation and resource control, revenue sharing, judicial system, local government, and the validity of military decrees in a democratic setting. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN met him.

    Nigeria has operated different constitutions yet we keep searching for a perfect one. Is the problem that of the documents or the operators?

    The problem of Nigeria, in terms of our constitutions, is not in the constitutions themselves, not those who interpret the constitutions, but the operators. In my view, as regards the 1999 and 1979 constitutions, the problem is not due to those two documents, but by and large the problems were created by those who operated them.

    Both the 1960 Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution are the same. One was a constitution for Nigeria under the British Crown. The other (the1963 Constitution) was for the Republic of Nigeria. The contents of the two constitutions are basically the same Section by section. However, there has been significant departure from the two constitutions, compared to 1979 and 1999 constitutions. The main departure in terms of the system of government, is the change from the parliamentary to the presidential system of government. If we are to be honest to ourselves, parliamentary system ceased to exist from January 1966. The presidential system in effect started with the military coup in January 1966. Indeed, under various military regimes from 1966 to 1979 (Ironsi, Gowon, Murtala/Obasanjo) a presidential system of government was in vogue and we are still operating the presidential system till today.

    If you compare the two systems, the Prime Minister is more powerful than the President because the Prime Minister, until January 1966, was the Head of both the executive arm of government and  the head of legislature because he commanded majority in the parliament. The power of the executive and the legislature centres revolved round the Prime Minister. Under the presidential system, the President heads the executive branch. The legislature is not under him. If he doesn’t have the majority in the legislature, he has to negotiate with the leadership of the legislative arm as President Shehu  Shagari did between 1979 and 1983. In United States, President Obama now faces the Republican Congress. He can’t control them. He lobbies them. At present, the executive and the legislature are in conflict in America.

    Nigerians are calling for the devolution of powers to the states. what do you think the National Conference should do in this regard?

    The major issue, which the National Conference should examine, is the Exclusive Legislative List, which defines the exclusive powers the President wields or the exclusive powers conferred on the president by the constitution. In my opinion, police should be on the Concurrent legislative list. So also is the issue of marriage. Marriage under the Act is a relic of colonialism. The Federal government should allow the states to operate exclusively whatever form of marriage is suitable for Nigerians within the state. On aviation, apart from the maintenance of the airports, safety of aircraft and adherence to international conventions on aviation, issues like construction of airport and carriage of passengers and goods should be in the concurrent legislative list. Census, registration of birth and death should be in concurrent list as well.

    Revenue allocation has remained a contentious issue.  what would you suggest as enduring solutions?

    We are not fair to the oil-producing states. The retention of 13 per cent of the profit from sales of petroleum and agricultural products to state of origin under the 1999 Constitution is grossly unfair to the states of origin of minerals and agricultural products. There are minerals in different parts of Nigeria, which are yet to be tapped. There is criminal neglect of agriculture. We see no more of Kano groundnut pyramids and cotton. No more huge production of palm oil and palm kernels where Nigeria led in the production as number one and three in the world 40 years ago. We have reduced ourselves to marginal world production of cocoa, timber and rubber. Each state is blessed with minerals and agricultural products.

    On revenue allocation, we are not ready to face the historical truth about the basis of the revenue allocation; the reasons why in the colonial era and, until 1979, why the Federal Government was assigned only 20 per cent of the revenue allocation, instead of the 54 per cent the Federal Government now takes for running the central government.

    Section 134 (1) of the 1960 Constitution stipulates: (a) “There shall be paid by the Federation to each region a sum equal to 50 per cent of the proceeds of any royalty received by the federation, in respect of any mineral extracted in that region and ay mining rents derived by the federation during that year from within that region.

    “The federation shall credit to the Distributable Pool Account a sum equal to 30 per cent of the proceeds of any royalty received by the federation, in respect of the mineral extraction in any region and any mining rents derived by the federation from any region.”

    So, the remaining 20 per cent is kept by the Federal Government as its own share. Under the colonial rule, the revenue allocation was fashioned in such a way that regions will derive revenue from the federation account according to the functions and powers which the regions would carry out under the constitution.

    Were the functions of the regional governments in those days different from what the states are performing today?

    No, they are not different. All functions listed in the Concurrent Legislative List and Residual Powers or functions that are not listed in the Exclusive Legislative List like primary healthcare, education (primary and secondary), land, housing, water supply and agriculture are mainly the basic functions of the region. These are the areas through which the people feel the impact of government every day and they require huge capital outlay to accomplish, compared with the Federal Government’s functions, which include currency, banking, archives, and copy right which do not consume much money.

    Before independence, the colonial government, with the consent of the regional governments appointed the Fiscal Commission to look into the functions and powers of the legislative list and determine the percentage of revenue the regional government will need to carry out their functions and the percentage that will go to the Federal Government; to determine how much the Federal government would spend to service its own functions. That was how government at independence  up to the time of Murtala/Obasanjo  followed the fixed constitutional formula  of 20 per cent to the Federal Government, 50 per cent to state of origin and the remaining 30 per  cent to distributive pool to be shared among the regions or states.

    But today, the Federal Government takes 54 per cent to discharge its own functions. The functions as listed in the 1999 Constitution include Weights and Measures, Traffic on the federal roads, Declaration of Waterways, Stamp duties, Quarantine, Designation of professional occupation, Passport and Visa, Insurance, Law of Evidence, Awards of National Honour, Law on Copy Right and such other functions which do not require a great deal of expenditure. Rather some of them like stamp duty and passport generate income for the Federal Government. There are some functions, which the government itself is selling to the private sector, which require little expenditure e.g. post and telecommunication. Why should the Federal Government’s share of the Federation Account jump from 20 per cent to 54 per cent when the functions of the states are getting bigger?

    So, the Federal Government should go down to 25 per cent, if not 20 per cent as before; state of origin at least 25 per cent, if not 35 per cent and the remainder should go into distributive pool. It is the federal government that is cheating all the states in revenue allocation. That is why revenue accruable to the Federal Government should go down from 54 to 25 per cent.

    There are those advocating full autonomy for the local government. What is your view?

    We should expunge all references to local government in the constitution, including creation or adjustment of boundaries and financing. We may leave only Section 7 which enshrines “democratically elected Local Government System” established under a law enacted by the State House of Assembly.

    The reason for this is that Local Governments are not federating units. They are entirely a matter for each state to determine its own Local Government administration structure. It is not the business of the Federal Government to determine for the state as it has been from time immemorial until centralisation of Local government system came under Gen Murtala Muhammed. The culture of the people also determines the type of local government required in a state.

    Some people are suggesting that we should revert to the regional system of government that fostered in accelerated development under the colonial regime and in the First Republic. Do you agree?

    Federalism is a system of government in which the federating units surrender some of their functions or powers to the central government. Under our system, the states in the federation have collectively surrendered certain functions to the Federal Government, which come either under the exclusive legislative list or in the concurrent legislative list. In good sense and in common parlance, there is no other set of federating units. There is no place for any other federating units like zones. It is either we have zones or regions. Under the 1999 Constitution, we have states. Federalism cannot harbour both states and regions or zones. The days of regions are over; their place has been taken over by states.

    A multiplicity of states has come to stay.  We have too many states now; there should be no more. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1948 advocated eight states for Nigeria. General Yakubu Gowon created 12 states out of the four regions in 1967. To me, the ideal number was the 12 states structure created in 1967.

    The 1999 Constitution does not allow independent candidates from contesting elections. Do you agree with the provision?

    To say as laid down in the constitution that I must belong to a political party, if I want to contest for elective position like the President, governor or a member o the National Assembly or even as a member of local government council, deprives me of my fundamental right to be elected into any of these offices. If I don’t believe in any of the manifestoes or the programmes of any of the existing political parties, why should you force me to join one, if I want to stand for election? Why do you deprive me as a voter the right to vote for an independent candidate whom I believe is the best person to deliver the goods or the best person to govern but does not belong to any political party. The clause that made it impossible for independent candidates to contest elections should be expunged from the constitution because it deprives the Nigerian citizens the right to choose for themselves.

    Would you say the centralisation of appointment of judges conforms with the principle of federalism?

    The judiciary under the constitution does not conform to the principle of federalism. The National Judicial Council (NJC) is the only body to appoint, discipline or dismiss judges of the State  High Courts. Even salaries of the State High Court judges are paid in part from the Federal Government’s purse. That does not conform to federalism as it was practised even in Nigeria under the 1954, 1960 and 1963 Constitutions. Under each of those constitutions, the Judicial Service Commission of each region was responsible for the appointment, discipline or dismissal of State High Court Judges. What we have today is a hybrid judicial structure. The power of the NJC must be limited only to Federal Courts and High Court of Abuja, if we must practice true federalism.

    What is your view on the validity of military decrees by the 1999  constitution?

    Section 6(6)(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as in 1979 constitution must be expunged from the constitution as it is an invitation to military rule. It reads: “Shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after January 15, 1966, for determining any issue or question as to competence of any authority or person to make any such law.” What it means is that the decrees promulgated by the military cannot be challenged in the court. Those whose rights were infringed by the military can’t seek redress in the law court. Yet, we are in democracy. This section should be expunged from the constitution.

     

     

     

  • Govt: Okada robberies, accidents have reduced

    Robberies and accidents on commercial motorcycles have reduced following the coming of the Road Traffic Law, the Lagos State Security Council (LSSC) has said.

    Briefing reporters after its meeting on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Mr Tunde Sobulo said the law’s enforcement has curtailed crime.

    Sobulo, who spoke at Lagos House, Marina, said there had been a drop in people taking an Okada for N3000 from Iyana -Ipaja to go and rob in Lekki or Victoria Island.

    He thanked the public for its understanding, adding that the security agencies are enjoying the people’s cooperation on the law’s enforcement.

    Sobulo said there was no going back on the restriction order because “it is meant to promote safety and security on the roads.

    “There are only a few ones left and they are the ones that do not belong to any union. They are operating on their own. Besides robbery, Okada accident is reducing by the day.

    “The accidents involving Okada is going to zero, using Okadas to rob in hold ups, or during closing hours have been reduced. Following people from banks to their houses to snatch their money has also disappeared.”

    He said by the end of the year, the crime rate would have reduced significantly as there is no society without crime, adding that the security agencies will keep on doing what they should do to protect law-abiding citizens.

    With Sobulo during the briefing were Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Navy Commodore Martins Njoku; Commander, 9th Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Brig-Gen. Pat Akem; Commander, 435 Base Services Group, Nigeria Airforce, Air Commodore Tony Omenyi and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Major Tunde Panox.