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The Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) plans
to collaborate with the University of Ibadan in starting new programmes
at the institution, Olufemi Bamiro, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the
premier institution, has said.

Mr. Bamiro, who
spoke during the congregation of the awards of Post-Graduate Diploma
and Masters Degrees of the University, held at the Trenchard Hall
yesterday, also stressed the fatherly role played by the institution to
other universities across the country, noting that the University of
Kaduna has requested the University of Ibadan to help train its first
46 degree holders for Masters programmes.

He said the CBN
will be joining hand with the university, “to develop human capital in
three key related disciplines-Banking and Finance, Accountancy and
Economics’’, while NEMA will be sponsoring a programme in Disaster Risk
Management.

He said that the
university will accede to the request from Kaduna in accordance with
the stipulated requirements of the programmes the students applied for,
adding that the premier university must always be ready to play such a
leadership role each time it is necessary.

The university,
this year graduated a total 2,432 candidates, comprising eight M.Phil.
holders, 36 Masters holders in Public Health (MPH), 1,634 Academic
Master Degrees, 514 Professional Degree of Master and 240 candidates
for Post-Graduate Diplomas.

Expanding knowledge

Mr. Bamiro charged
them all to ensure that they impact positively on the various sectors
of the economy as they go out to apply the knowledge acquired in the
university.

“As agents of
development, contribute your own quota to the vital development issues
facing our nation state and the world. It is a known fact that Nigeria
is experiencing serious political and economic problems which is
further compounded by the on-going globalization of the world economy,”
the VC charged.

He noted that the
situation of Nigeria as a developing nation calls for partnership among
the university, government and the industry, saying the university has
the central responsibility of developing human resources on the needed
skills to achieve the developmental goal of the nation.

“The tripartite elements of knowledge, information, innovation
coupled with technical change are the drivers of economic development.
This implies a central role for our universities and in particular,
University of Ibadan as knowledge workers,” Mr Bamiro said, as he
pledged the readiness of the University to take up the challenge of
conducting basic researches to expand the frontier of knowledge and
applied researches for innovations in the industrial sector of Nigeria.

President Goodluck
Jonathan yesterday declared that indiscipline and corruption will no
longer be tolerated in the public civil service and that no institution
of government is above the law.

He also expressed
dissatisfaction with the acrimony between the office of the head of the
civil service of the federation and the federal civil service
commission, which he said has led to gross indiscipline.

The president made
this declaration during the swearing-in ceremony of the new head of
service, Oladapo Afolabi, and three new permanent secretaries, Mathilda
Nkechi Ejele, Taye Hassan Haruna, and Abdulkadir Musa.

“Let me reiterate
that no institution of government is above the law, and public servants
must appreciate the effect of their actions on the polity,” Mr.
Jonathan said.

“Our public
servants must learn to respect laws guiding their assignments and
eschew unproductive actions that will affect service delivery,” he
added.

Congratulating the
new HOS, Mr. Jonathan said Mr. Afolabi was one of the highly qualified
candidates who are part of the rich history of the Nigerian Civil
Service.

“I expect the
Nigerian Civil Service to cooperate with him. I urge the new head of
service to also work closely with his colleagues, while I implore the
new permanent secretaries, and indeed other permanent secretaries, to
assist their ministers,” he said.

He said the civil
service made considerable progress under the last head of service, and
that he expects to see the continuation of positive pursuit of same to
ensure that Nigeria has a service that is accountable, professional,
and effective.

“The civil service
is the engine room of government and is responsible for implementing
policies. Executing of government decisions and the quality of
governance is, therefore, as good as the quality of the civil service.

“This is why your
appointment is uniquely important to the progress and stability of
national development. I, and indeed all Nigerians, expect only the very
best from you. We are at a critical point in the development of this
country when we must improve the quality of our policies and efficiency
of implementation,” he said.

For allegedly
withholding over N274.2 billion of the Federal Government’s compulsory
contribution to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), an
indigene of the Niger Delta area has taken President Goodluck Jonathan
to the federal High Court in Abuja.

Onengiye Elekima,
an indigene of Bukuma, joined the Attorney General of the Federation
(AGF) and Minister of Justice, Adoke Bello and the NDDC as defendants.

He said he wants
the court to declare the president’s action as unlawful, unjustifiable
and ultra vires the provisions of the NDDC (establishment) Act.

The trial Judge,
Ibrahim Auta, who did not sit on the matter, adjourned hearing in the
matter, through the Registrar till December 1, 2010.

The plaintiff is
praying the court for a declaration that the failure of the AGF (3rd
defendant) to take steps to recover these monies from the president was
a breach of the said law and the trust it owes him as a person directly
affected and entitled to benefit from the operation of the NDDC Act
2000.

Mr Elekima wants
the court to order the president and the AGF to comply with the
provisions of Section 14(2) (a) of the NDDC Act 2000 to immediately
release or pay the aforementioned N274, 159, 428, 139.23 belonging to
the commission allegedly withheld.

Not making payments

In an affidavit in
support of the originating summons, the plaintiff averred that the NDDC
Act requires the federal government to contribute to the commission’s
fund, 15 percent of the total monthly statutory allocation due to the
oil producing states.

According to him, a
check at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission and
the office of the Accountant General of the Federation with respect to
accruals and disbursements of money from the consolidated fund, the
federal government has not been making the aforesaid compulsory
contribution to the fund.

“The 1st defendant
has consistently maintained (publicly) that those monies are withheld
on his orders and have remained withheld from 2000 to 2007”, the
affidavit stated and added that the payment of the money will enhance
the operations of the commission as it will enable it carry out its
responsibilities to the Niger Delta Region.

“All efforts by me and other well meaning people in my area to get
the board of the 3rd Defendant (NDDC) to take steps to recover the
withheld fund has been to no avail as the board have wilfully refused
to do so”, he said and prayed the court to order the payment of the
said money by the federal government in the interest of justice.

A Johannesburg
Magistrates’ Court yesterday deferred judgment to November 30, in an
inquiry being conducted on Azuka Okah over the ringing of her cell
phone in court.

On October 21, Mrs.
Okah was attending the bail application hearing of her husband, who is
facing terrorism related charges in connection with the October 1
bombings in Nigeria, when her cell phone rang during proceedings.

The Magistrate,
Hein Louw, had last week fixed judgment in the case for November 18, on
the expectation that he would have delivered judgment in the bail
application of her husband, Henry Okah, before then.

The Magistrate had
said that due to the closeness of Mrs. Okah to her husband, he chose to
give judgment in her case, after dealing with her husband’s matter.

However, the court
was unable to deliver its verdict in Mr. Okah’s bail bid at the last
sitting on November 12, and has fixed it for tomorrow, November 19.

Mrs. Okah’s lawyer,
Rudi Klause, had during the inquiry, told the court that she was under
pressure, and had actually placed her phone in silent mode until the
court stood down the case. He, therefore, apologised for the error,
which he said was not intentional, though negligent.

Shaun Abrahams, the
prosecution counsel, had said the court should use its discretion in
the matter, as Mr. Klause had referred to it as a case of negligence.

The judge had said
his court had never had such huge number of disruptions before, and he
had even overlooked some of them. He said he understood the pressure
Mrs. Okah was under, but added he would give judgment in the matter.

Judgment in the
bail application was stalled on November 12, as the Magistrate handling
the case said CD recordings of proceedings were retrieved from him for
transcription while he was preparing his verdict.

Mr. Louw,
therefore, fixed today, November 19, to deliver the judgment, by which
time, he said, he would have finished with two other outstanding
judgments he is working on, which also demanded urgent action.

The Magistrate said
apart from the CD request, another issue which affected the delivery of
the verdict was that he lost access to his electronic library with
which he tried to review some case laws, and he was told it was a
national problem.

Mr. Okah is
presently held in a single cell at the Johannesburg Prison. He is,
among other issues, charged with delivering, placing, and detonation of
explosives, and conspiring with others to do so, in connection with the
explosions which claimed no fewer than 12 lives.

Mr. Okah, who
maintains he is innocent, is asking the court for bail while the state
is opp osing the application. He has been in custody since October 2, a
day after the explosions, and first appeared in court on October 4.

NAN

The Kano State
Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau has called on all Muslims in the country to
treat the forthcoming voters’ registration as a jihad that require the
participation of all those desirous of change in the country.

The governor warns
that the forthcoming voters’ registration scheduled for January 8-22 is
compulsory for every Muslim, stressing that, “it is a religious duty
that no one should be excused.” “It is only through the process that
credible leaders can be elected.” He therefore claimed that “the
process must be treated as a jihad.” Mr Shekarau made this known while
receiving the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero at the state government house
for the eid Kabir celebration.

Corroborating the
governor’s stand ,the Emir also mandated that “no faithful (Muslim)
should be excused from the voters’ registration exercise, as long as
he/she is hale and hearty during the exercise,” adding that it is part
of religious duty to make the national exercise a success.Mr Shekarau,
noted that “it is compulsory for all faithfuls to partake in the
national exercise.” He explained that democracy has come to stay in
Nigeria and the only way to elect leaders of choice starts with the
impending registration processes.

The governor also
said that the introduction of sharia law in the state has helped
“stabilized Kano social circle,” stressing that moral decadence has
been on steady decline compared to what it was before his ascension to
power in 2003.Mr Shekarau evaluating his two terms in office as the
governor of the state since 1999 noted that he has elevated the state’s
moral standard through the societal reorientation programme of his
administration, pointing out that it is of hope that those that will
succeed him will improve on the record.

The Emir commended the governor for the support to the emirate
council during the last 7 years, adding that ‘he hopes that the gesture
will be improved on outside the office.” He urged the citizenry to
imbibe peace which he claimed is essential for “a society to record
progress.”

The Ghanaian
Ambassador to Benin Republic, Modestus Ahiable, has urged the Nigerian
government to ensure free, fair and credible general elections in 2011.

Mr. Ahiable told
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Cotonou on Monday that credible
polls would engender peace and stability in Nigeria and the entire West
African sub-region.

“For elections to
be successful, first of all, the judges or those who are overseeing the
elections must be fair. They must be seen to be honest people who are
ready to be sure and be clear in their minds that only the winner is
declared the winner.”

In my father’s
stories of his posting to Karazau, a remote location in Northern
Nigeria, during his job as a station master with the Nigerian Railways
in the 1950s, was an account of how Fulani herdsmen would emerge from
the bush and the villages asking for ‘sweet water’.

“Esh Em, a bamu
ruwa mai dadi” (S.M., please give us some of that your sweet water).
They were referring to clear, boiled water, free of harmful bacteria,
guinea worm and other parasites that my mother drew from the well,
treated and stored in their quarters situated between the train station
and the village. My parents’ home was the only source of clean water
for miles around.

Ironically, 60
years on, the search for ‘sweet water’ continues. At home, the Water
Corporation bills us monthly for mains water supply, yet we have been
buying our supply from private water tankers for over six months.

Most of my
neighbours have boreholes. Yet, the cost of sinking and maintaining one
is so high. Securing water for our uses costs a LOT of money.

At the recent Commonwealth Regional Law

Conference in
Abuja, one of the speakers asked whether water is the new oil; not just
for us, but for the world. We are contending with a natural resource
that is being consumed at a greater rate than it can renew itself;
communities migrating across international boundaries to follow
shrinking lakes; declining rainfall that most rural population rely on,
urban spread and struggling water utilities.

Do we realise how much drinking water costs?

Think about it. One litre of bottled water costs more than a litre of petrol!

How many of us, like me, pay the Water Corporation monthly not to supply water?

How many, like me,
have bought new water pumps and paid for new lines to be laid, with no
results? We should prioritise water security above the elusive 6,000
kilowatts that the Ministry of Power has been promising us. We are
buying both water and diesel, and while our industry and businesses
will become moribund without reliable and cheaper power supply, our
health and bodies will become impaired without reliable and cleaner
water supply.

More importantly in
comparing oil and water, people have died in fights over access to
water. Access to water continues to be a matter of life and death
between farmers and herders.

Aah! Sweet water!
In the developed world, drinkable water is truly sweet. It is available
everywhere for free – at water fountains on the streets and from taps
in restaurants, offices and homes. For more discerning palates, there
is a selection of waters. What strikes your fancy? Still water from the
French Alps? Sparkling water from Scottish highlands? Water that tastes
sterile, or slightly salty. Don’t like the taste of plain water?

You can opt for a
variety of flavoured waters-lemon or strawberry perhaps? Feeling weak?
Go for vitamin-infused water, or water with an energy boost. Need a
bottle that is pleasing to the eye and decorative for your table? Go
for the designer bottles in cones and cylinders, or water presented
like wine.

A natural refreshment

And where do we
find ourselves on this continuum between no potable water, abundance,
and designer water? Day after day, the poor still trek for miles to
fetch water. Each day, the mass of our urban citizens get their
drinking water from ‘pure water sachet’ sellers by the roadside. The
bulk of office workers get their drinking water from water dispenser
suppliers.

The majority of
homes have supplementary water storage facilities that they pay private
contractors to fill up. Cart pushers plying our roads with six to
twelve 25kg kegs of water are common sights.

Bottling companies
that used to make their money from bottling imported spirits and wines
for the local market, are now largely bottling water! Our own Nigerian
Bottling Company, the makers of Coca Cola went so far as creating their
own brand of water – leveraging their existing distribution networks
for sales.

The developed world
has moved on from water purely as a necessity to water as also a
desirable and fashionable consumable and accessory. Water resources for
basic needs are managed, conserved, and rationed. More sophisticated
technology to desalinate water is being developed.

Our technology is
ramshackle water tankers creaking, rattling, and leaking their way
between their depots and private deliveries to the water storage tanks
of homes and offices. The streak of darkened wet tarmac marks the trail
of their passage on our roads.

The criminals have also gotten in on the act.

While the
government and civil society are fighting to ensure the availability of
basic potable water, the established bottled water brands and
distributors are combating ‘pirates’ who refill used bottles with
untreated water, recreate the seal, and resell them as genuine.

More than one glass of red wine a day is injurious to the health.
Other alcohol clouds our minds. Packaged fruit juices, minerals and
sodas are fattening. The caffeine in tea and coffee over-stimulates our
hearts. It is best to go the natural route. Drink clean, odourless,
sweet water!

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced that the
federal government is determined to re-establish agriculture as the
economic mainstay and put Nigerians back to work on the farm and in
areas of sustainable fisheries and pastoralism.

Mr Jonathan stated this at the third annual National
Consultation on Environment, ‘The Politics of Hunger’ in Abuja. The
president, who was represented by Ken Saro Wiwa (Jnr), his Special
Assistant on International Affairs, said that the government will
resist any attempt to introduce any unproven systems and technologies
that will have negative impacts on the people and the environment. “As
far as the way food is produced, how it is produced, has direct
relationship with the ecosystem and our safety; the task of ensuring
that it is safe, not contaminated, and not unwholesome requires all
hands to be on deck,” he said.

Polluted farms

The president also pledged his government’s continued
support to farmers and research in areas of agro-ecological agriculture
suitable to the nation’s environment and shifting away from toxic
chemicals and technologies that seek to degrade the environment. “I
will be the first to agree that environmental pollution, including
those from the oil sector has grossly impacted our capacity to produce
the foods that we need,” he said. “While oil produces national wealth,
it has paradoxically also caused human misery among our people.”

The two day environmental consultation, which had
experts within and outside Nigeria, dwelt on issues of hunger, food
aids, genetically modified crops, and philanthropic roles of capitalist
organisations.

Puppet governments

In his welcome address, Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive
Director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth
Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), noted that African countries have been open to
manipulation by international financial institutions as well as aid and
development agencies. “Such bodies draft policy directions and foist
them on African countries including Nigeria,” he said. The idea of
fighting hunger, according to him, has also become big business for the
corporations involved. “Food aid, with the connotation of philanthropy,
has become nothing short of big business and a tool for crass
manipulation and intimidation of those who are adjudged to be hungry,”
he said. “We are forever domesticating policies that are dubious to our
agriculture or poverty combating needs.”

The conference also featured the presentation of the Comrade Che
Ibeawura award, an initiative of ERA/FoEN to recognise inspiring works
of environmental activism, to 70-year-old Juliana Odey, food campaigner
for the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association. Mrs Odey, while receiving
the award and the accompanying N100,000, said that genetically
engineered cassava, which is currently undergoing a trial in Nigeria,
should be rejected in its entirety. “We are tired of GMO (genetically
modified organism) and nobody should force GMO into our throats,” she
said.

Dana Air, one of
Nigeria’s newest domestic carriers, on Thursday, announced that it
recorded a loss of about N270 million to a recent bird strike on one of
its aircraft.

Bird strikes, or
Bird Aircraft Strike Hazards (BASH), are collisions between birds and
man-made vehicles or aircraft. According to the airline, the
Lagos-bound aircraft, from Abuja, was grounded for three weeks as a
result of the mishap inflicted on it by the incident. “Incidents like
this, which can be prevented, are causing airline operators great
losses and are equal potential risks to flights,” said Jacky
Hathiramani, the Managing Director of the carrier, in a statement made
available to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

In April, 97 air
travellers aboard one of Dana Air’s 9am Abuja-bound flights from Lagos
escaped a crash after one of the engines of their aircraft suffered
bird strikes minutes after takeoff. The aircraft, which took off from
the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2), Lagos, had to effect an
emergency landing at the international wing of the airport when sparks
resulting into smokes emanated from its affected engine. Mr Hathiramani
called on the affected authorities to address the issue of bird strikes
across airports in the country, before more harm is done both on
aircraft and passengers. “We hope that the authorities in charge would
take up the challenge as soon as possible and reduce it not eliminate
the incidents of bird strikes in our airports,” he said.

Preventive efforts

Speaking on the development, John Obakpolor, a retired group captain
and expert in Nigeria’s aviation sector, urged the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take as important the need for an
airport free of animals, so as to minimise the effects of bird strikes
on aircraft. According to him, domestic carriers are losing hundreds of
millions of naira to the hazard, which could lead to possible air
accident. “It is standard industry practice of FAAN to compensate
airlines for the losses they suffer on account of bird strikes,” he
said. “It is the responsibility of the airport authority to put
measures in place that will reduce the menace of birds at airports
across the country.”

The Southern
Nigeria Defenders Forum, a pressure group, has advised politicians to
approach the next election with decorum and avoid comments that would
amount to drumming war songs in the country.

National Chairman
of the group, Andrew Yanga, said statements credited to politicians who
pledged to make the country ungovernable unless the presidential office
is zoned, is capable of fragmenting the nation. He said the south south
zone of the country should be the one to produce the next ruler for the
country on the basis of equity and justice.

He argued that in 50 years of the nation’s existence, the North had
ruled for 35 years, so there is no basis for the group led by Adamu
Ciroma to be clamouring for zoning. “We thought we now have one Nigeria
where political campaign should be based on developmental issues and
ideas. Unfortunately, Adamu Ciroma and people like him believe in
tribal politics, of Southern Nigeria versus Northern Nigeria,” he said.
“We challenge Ciroma and his group to a public debate on political
zoning in Nigeria. The debate will be moderated by the mass media; we
are waiting for them to take up this challenge.”