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Following alleged
high rent by the management of the operators of the Murtala Mohammed
Airport 2 (MMA2), Lagos, banks using the facility are beginning to
vacate the terminal.

With the likes of
Access Bank already out of the new domestic terminal since April this
year, Oceanic Bank followed suit on Monday as it pasted notices on its
doors and ATM machines located at its stand at the airport.

A source at the
bank who prefers anonymity, said that the amount collected as rent by
Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) is “so expensive and very
high” for the bank, adding that the same situation might have prompted
the decision taken by Access Bank to quit the terminal.

The notice on the
bank’s stand at MMA2, however, directed customers on how to locate its
new place of operation, adding that transactions will not be carried
out on Monday and Tuesday, but will commence on Wednesday.

“Please be informed
that we will be re-locating from Murtala Mohammed Airport II (MMA2) to
OBI Village (BDC Complex) opposite Arik Airlines Office effective
Wednesday 1st September 2010,” the notice reads, adding “In view of
this development, our last working day in MMA II will be on Friday 27th
August, 2010. We will not be open to customers on Monday 30th and
Tuesday 31st August 2010.

The branch will resume full banking operations at our new location on Wednesday 1st of September 2010.”

Meanwhile,
passengers and airport users were seen in large clusters using the ATM
machines of Guarantee Trust and Skye Banks, the two remaining banks at
the terminal, as they expressed displeasure with the development.

“Since these are
the only machines at our disposal, we have to queue up and make
withdrawals as we hope they don’t leave like others,” said Anyaogu
Sunday, a passenger at the terminal.

Aero may also leave

Still on the same
issue, another source with Aero Contractors, the oldest commercial
carrier in the country involved in domestic and regional air transport
business and a sister company to Oceanic Bank, said that the airline
has plans to leave the new terminal for the old domestic terminal
christened the General Aviation Terminal (GAT).

According to this
source, the cost of operating from the new terminal is “far higher than
that of GAT,” stressing that though the airline has not made up its
mind on when to move out, it will vacate the airport if nothing is done
as pertaining the charges collected by the operators of the terminal.

“There are plans
by Aero to leave MMA2 and start operating from GAT because of the high
operational cost it incurs carrying out flight services from the new
terminal,” the source said.

It should be noted
that Arik Air, the country’s largest commercial carrier is carrying out
its domestic flight operations from the General Aviation Terminal, and
on different occasions, managers of the new terminal have challenged
why Arik is still operating from the old terminal.

Bi-Courtney counters

The managers of the
new terminal, however, refuted any form of high or increased rent.
According to Bi-Courtney, tenants have been called upon to renew their
rents.

“We would like to state categorically that we have not effected nor
made any demand for increase in rent from any of our tenants,” said
Femi Kolawole, chief corporate services officer for Bi-Courtney in a
statement. “On the contrary, tenants whose leases are expiring have
been invited to renew their leases, at the same prices as their
expiring leases or at reduced rates.”

Regular supply of
petroleum products to Edo State has been threatened, as the tanker
drivers association, Benin Depot branch, yesterday embarked on an
indefinite strike that they intend to continue until the chairman of
the task force committee on pipeline vandalism, Osakpanmwan Eriyo, is
removed.

The tanker drivers
accused Mr Eriyo of extortion and incessantly harassing, arresting and
detaining members of their association without valid reasons.

They also vowed not
to lift any petroleum products at the Benin depot until they meet with
Adams Oshiomhole, the state governor, and ensure the removal of the
committee chairman.

As at the time of
going to press, Chairman of the tanker drivers union, Godwin Asemota,
and his team were said to be in a closed door meeting with government
officials on the matter.

One of the tanker
drivers, who simply gave his name as Charles, alleged that Mr Eriyo and
his men have been a thorn in their flesh since their appointments.

Neglect of duty

He said that the
task force has abandoned its primary assignment of protecting petroleum
pipelines for harassing and molesting their members, in collaboration
with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Evbotubu Police Station,
where their trucks are always detained and not always released until
they part with as much as N200, 000 and above.

Mr Eriyo, however, described the allegations of the tanker drivers as mischievous and untrue.

He said that the
drivers have on several occasions tried to lure him into conniving with
them to move products from vandalized pipes to the market. He tendered
several waybills of arrested drivers who altered documents of other
trucks to move their products.

“They get waybills
from other marketers, alter it to suit their own vehicles. Do you blame
me for arresting them for the police to do their work of investigation
to ascertain whether it is a product vandalized pipe or not? You don’t
expect me to honour such waybills.”

Mr Eriyo, who confirmed that over 20 persons have been arrested for
their involvement in pipeline vandalism, and about 10 vehicles
impounded, reaffirmed his committee’s resolve to tackle pipeline
vandalism to the logical end.

The Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Ilorin, Is-haq Oloyede, has explained why the
university stopped conferring honorary doctoral degrees on people.

Speaking with
journalists on Monday in Ilorin, Mr Oloyede, who is also the President,
Association of African Universities (AAU), said the process of awarding
honorary doctorate degrees had been abused.

According to him,
all sorts of characters, including those without honour, are being
accorded such recognitions across the country.

Mr Oloyede deplored a situation where merit is sacrificed at the altar of gold.

He said such
personalities often rub the shine off the graduating students during
convocation and the University of Ilorin will not be associated with
such a practice.

He described the
success of the University of Ilorin as foundational, saying right from
its inception, the university had always been privileged to have
quality men and women at the helm of affairs.

He said he knew of universities that had problems and controversies
at inception and rather than build and develop such universities, their
officers were saddled with managing crisis.

Kenneth Ndubuisi Okoh, the executive director of
Queens World Network, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in
Lagos State, will be joining a panel of discussants at the ongoing
United Nations 63rd DPI/NGO Conference in Melbourne Australia.

Mr Okoh will be speaking in Roundtable III on ‘Strengthening an Integrated and Systems Approach to Achieving the Health MDGs.’

Other speakers include: Michel Sidibé, executive director of the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Sakena Yacoobi,
Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning
(AIL), an Afghan women-led non-governmental organization and Samina
Naz, the health coordinator of Godh “mother’s lap”, a non-governmental
organization based in Lahore, Pakistan.

Building on its
agenda to advance and deepen regional integration and strengthen its
institutional capacities, the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) Commission has granted about €1.2 million (about
N227.4million) to 17 regional non-state actor (NSA) member-states.

The 17 recipients,
which include: five of the 62 private sector organisations that
responded to a previous call for proposals from the NSAs issued by the
two ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in 2008, are drawn from Liberia,
Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Togo and Niger
Republic.

ECOWAS was created
with the primary objective of promoting cooperation and integration in
the region, leading to the establishment of an economic union to raise
the living standards of its people; maintain and enhance economic
stability; foster relations among member-states, and contribute to the
progress and development of the African continent.

Integration policy

The grants, which
will be presented to the benefitting states on Wednesday in Abuja,
would help the beneficiaries play their roles, particularly to enhance
their capacity to participate in the formulation of policies,
strategies and plans related to the integration process.

Besides, the
support would help in popularizing regional integration issues as well
as rights issues among the West African population as well as
facilitate the creation of a network of NSAs working on regional issues
pertaining to the people concerned.

Director,
Gender/Child Development, Youth/Sports Civil society, Employment and
Drugs Control, Siritiki Tarfa Ugbe, said at the orientation workshop
and contract award for successful grants applicants that direct support
to NSAs with regional agenda at the grassroots, national or regional
levels remains largely limited despite the enormous potential of NSAs
in assisting the people embrace regional integration.

The lack of
support, she said, is responsible for the inability of the NSAs to
mobilize and coordinate their constituencies; establish a vibrant
regional network to voice their opinions and to constructive engage
with regional organizations, as well as access information that would
enable them be relevant in the integration process.

To broaden the
support and participation of NSAs, it was gathered that the European
Union Commission (EUC) and ECOWAS Commission launched a the Regional
Integration Programme (RIP) two years ago to facilitate the creation of
linkages on issues concerning women/child rights protection, free
movement of people and investment promotion as well as cultural respect.

Advancing development

Under the
programme, about 67 NSAs were identified following the evaluation of
the proposals and validation of their eligibility in line with
stipulated guidelines, while 17 applicants were recommended for the
grants.

The Regional NSAs
are non-governmental organisations from the 15 ECOWAS member States who
are advancing development, promoting change and helping in building
sustainable development in the region. As members of the civil society,
they focus on the defence of the interest of social groups To ensure
that the grants are properly put to use to promote the objectives, Mrs
Ugbe said a monitoring and evaluation mechanism has been put in place
to facilitate the implementation of specific actions in line with
approved work plans for the benefits of the communities.

“The success of
this pilot scheme would strengthen further proposals by the ECOWAS
Commission as a strong commitment to strengthen the engagement of civil
society organizations in the regional integration process in line with
the ECOWAS vision 2020,” she said.

Biofuel demand is
driving a new “land grab” in Africa, with at least 5 million hectares
(19,300 sq miles) acquired by foreign firms to grow crops in 11
countries, a study by an environmental group said on Monday.

The contracts by
European and Asian companies for land to grow sugar cane, jatropha and
palm oil to be turned into fuel will involve clearing forests and
vegetation, taking land that could be used for food and creating
conflicts with local communities, Friends of the Earth said in the
study.

Proponents of
biofuels argue they are renewable and can help fight climate change
because the growing plants ingest as much carbon dioxide from the air
as the fuels made from them emit when burned.

Critics say there
is a risk of the crops infringing on land that could be used for
growing food and that destruction of rainforests to make way for palm
oil and sugar outweighs any carbon benefits gained from the use of such
fuels.

Creating conflicts

“The expansion of
biofuels … is transforming forests and natural vegetation into fuel
crops, taking away food-growing farmland from communities, and creating
conflicts with local people over land ownership,” Mariann Bassey, a
Friends of the Earth Nigeria activist, said in a statement.

The report said
Kenya and Angola each had received proposals for the use of 500,000
hectares for biofuels and there was a similar plan to use 400,000
hectares in Benin for palm oil.

Rice farmers had been forced off their land for a sugar cane project in Tanzania, it added.

“The competition
for land and the competition for staple food crops such as cassava and
sweet sorghum for agrofuels is likely to push up food and land prices,”
the study said.

Other studies have suggested biofuel expansion would not be harmful and could even be beneficial for African agriculture.

Last month,
researchers from Britain’s Imperial College, carbon trader CAMCO, and
the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) said biofuels
would boost investment in land and infrastructure.

They said this could have a positive effect on food production, and
if properly managed would not mean destroying natural forests.

The most
provocative man in American politics is inviting hundreds of thousands
of people to a rally in Washington tomorrow (Saturday), taking another
big step in one of the strangest careers in U.S. pop culture and public
life.

“The more we get into it, the more historic it feels,” said Glenn Beck.

Beck is a former
drug-addicted rock-n-roll radio host who’s put entertainment industry
expertise and antics into the service of populist politics and religion.

On his top-rated TV
and radio shows, he talks, lectures, carries-on and cries. He waves his
arms, turns silly or solemn, passionate or professorial.

It’s making him a
rich man. His broadcasts, best-selling books, public appearances,
internet subscriptions and commercial endorsements helped his company
bring-in an estimated $32 million last year.

At every
opportunity he says that the U.S. has been hijacked by corrupt
politicians and leftists who oppress law-abiding citizens.

He made headlines
by accusing President Barack Obama of having “a deep-seated hatred of
white people or the white culture.” Race is an issue for Saturday’s
rally as well, planned for the very spot and day of the calendar that
Martin Luther King chose back in 1963 for his most widely remembered
rally.

Beck says he didn’t
realize he would be speaking on the anniversary of the “I have a dream”
speech but he considers it “divine providence.” At the very least, it
could add to his remarkable and growing influence on national politics.

Beck has never run
for office, but he’s considered one of the fathers of the surging Tea
Party movement that is pressing the Republican Party further to the
right.

Tea Party activists
are helping organize Saturday’s event and encouraging people nationwide
to attend. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, a Tea Party favourite,
is among the featured speakers.

Last year, Palin mused about running for president with Beck as her vice-presidential running mate.

“Glenn Beck – I have great respect for,” she said.

“He’s a hoot. He
gets his message across in such a clever way.” Beck says he’s not
interested in being a candidate. What is he interested in doing?

As they say in TV, stay tuned.

Mr. Mann wrote this article before last Saturday’s rally at the Lincoln memorial in Washington.

President Goodluck Jonathan will today constitute a board for the Asset Management Commission of Nigeria (AMCON).

He disclosed this at the weekend while receiving a report of the World Bank research on the state of the Nigerian economy.

An elated Mr.
Jonathan while receiving the report assured the Bank and other key
players in the financial sector that the board of the Asset Management
Commission of Nigeria (AMCON) will be constituted as provided for by
the Act which he has signed.

The president
recently signed the AMCON bill which he said is meant to stimulate the
recovery of Nigeria’s financial system from recent crisis by boosting
the liquidity of troubled banks through buying their non-performing
loans, helping in the recapitalization of banks in which the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was forced to intervene and increasing access to
restructuring/refinancing opportunities for borrowers.

According to the
President, the initial delay was caused by the need to conduct due
diligence on some of the nominees in view of the importance of AMCON in
the resolution of the challenges facing the financial sector.

In the World Bank
report, which was presented at a presidential meeting with stake
holders, the global apex financial institution certified Nigeria as a
non credit crunch economy.

Isma’il Rodwan of
the World Bank Nigeria Country Mission, told Mr Jonathan that the
research conducted by the bank on the Nigerian financial sector showed
that “contrary to perception in certain quarters, there is no evidence
of credit crunch in the Nigerian economy”.

Mr Jonathan said
even though some of the outcomes of the reforms are painful, “we have a
better opportunity to put the economy, real sector, financial and
capital markets on a structurally sounder footing through a well
coordinated reforms”.

Also present at the
meeting were the Ministers of Finance, National Planning, Shamsudeen
Usman, Petroleum Resources, Deziani Allison-Madueke and Governor of the
CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi represented by Kingsley Moghalu.

Others were the
Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
representatives of other players in the financial sector as well as
selected members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) and captains of
industries.

In his
contribution, the Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria, Bisi
Onasanya, commended the CBN for its reforms saying they were necessary
and have the effect of repositioning the banking system.

The repositioning,
according to him, has serve as an effective intermediary to the real
sector, adding that the banks had learnt their lessons.

He added that
“agric business must be made profitable in order for banks to lend to
them and that the businesses need to be de-risked”.

The CBN
intervention funds for the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs), Power/Aviation; Agric etc were commended by the World Bank and
other participants at the dialogue.

However, the World
Bank said the 80 per cent risk guarantee given by the CBN for the
funding of SMEs was “too generous” and recommended a 50-50 split of
risk sharing between the CBN and commercial banks.

The President of
the National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (NASME),
Godwin Abugu, in his presentation to the President commended the CBN
credit guarantee scheme to the SMEs.

Ugandan President
Yoweri Museveni will contest next year’s presidential poll, trying to
extend a presidency that started in 1986, a statement from his office
said on Sunday.

He will also seek
election as chairman of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party at
its national conference in mid-September, the statement added.

It quoted Museveni
as asking a crowd in western Uganda to support him in both races,
confirming widespread expectations in the east African country, which
discovered commercial oil deposits in 2006, that he would stand.

“People with
disabilities are embracing my candidature for chairman and Presidential
flag bearer for NRM, I put in my nomination forms, so I can now ask for
your support,” he said.

One of the
longest-serving presidents in Africa, Museveni rose to the top of
Ugandan politics when his then National Resistance Army (NRA)
insurgents seized power from a short-lived military junta.

The early years of
his presidency drew wide praise from the west and effusive support from
Ugandans for its respect for the civilian population, prudent and
liberal economic management and commitment to the rule of law.

In the past decade,
support among the people has begun to ebb and relations with the west
have frayed on mounting accusations by the opposition and human rights
observers that his leadership has turned despotic and corrupt.

Run-off

Political analysts
say Museveni — expected to win the party leadership contest easily —
will probably face off against Kizza Besigye, who is expected to be
picked by a coalition of opposition parties, the Inter-Party
Cooperation (IPC).

Besigye, who fought
and lost elections against Museveni in 2001 and 2006, is the leader of
the biggest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Museveni’s victories in both polls were marred by accusations of widespread rigging and violence.

A unified
opposition, analysts say, will give Museveni the most formidable
challenge yet and is likely to send the poll into a run-off.

“Going by the trend
of Museveni’s electoral fortunes, he got 76 percent in 1996, 69 percent
in 2001 and 57 percent in 2006, there’s a real big chance that he will
get anywhere between 45 and 50 percent in 2011,” said political analyst
Bernard Tabaire.

“That’s not enough
because to win outright, the constitution requires you to have above 50
percent.” Museveni defended his years in power, denounced by critics as
evidence of a life-presidency ambition, saying it was necessary to keep
Uganda’s development on track.

“Some elements of
the historical team need to be kept in leadership so as to provide the
much needed expertise and experience to propel the country ahead,” he
said in the statement.

Nigeria and Britain
are set to strengthen their partnership on migration, the Permanent
Secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Martin Uhomoibhi, said on
Sunday in Abuja.

He told the News
Agency of Nigeria that officials of both countries would meet in London
in September to discuss migration issues “as part of constant dialogue
to strengthen the partnership.”

Mr Uhomoibhi
described the bilateral relations as vibrant, saying that Britain had
the largest concentration of Nigerians in Europe. He said the
partnership was aimed at resolving migration and consular issues, which
could threaten the cordial relations between both nations.

“Dialogue is needed
to improve migration partnership. Our bi-national agreements are strong
and prosperous, and we must do nothing to endanger these relations.

“It is not only in
Nigeria’s interest but also in Britain’s interest that we must remain
constantly engaged to address these little irritants that can pose a
threat to our relations,” the permanent secretary said.

Uhomoibhi said the issue of Nigerians serving jail terms in Britain would be addressed, among other migration issues.

Nigeria and Switzerland in July also concluded plans to strengthen
their policy on migration, with a view to addressing immigration and
other consular challenges.