Nigeria Content Online

Forgive the
sarcasm, but if all the sugarcane chewed and sucked in Nigeria were
processed into ethanol, Nigeria would be a leading global giant in
alternative and renewable energy. What else wouldn’t we have been
colossal players in, given the abundance of liquid and solid minerals,
food crops and biodiverse forests with plants useful in pharmaceutics
and cosmetics? Nigerians must be sick of everyone telling them what a
resource-rich country they are blessed with! One 12-year old boy in
Kampala, Uganda, on hearing where I came from, wondered why he always
saw fuel queues in my country on television. Did Nigeria not have so
much crude oil?

The matter is
simple. We must begin to hit back and tell our worldwide critics and
sympathisers that, yes; we have the natural resources, but not the
capable brains (scientific, managerial and political) to turn them into
wealth for ALL the Nigerian people. The new entrants to the club of
“oil producing nations,” Ghana may learn a thing or two from Nigeria.
One of the lessons is that being blessed or endowed with oil is not a
guarantee for complementarities in the capacity to transform minerals
into economically viable products and best practice in governance.
After all, the children of rich parents were not always the brightest
in your school.

In the 1980s, the
fore-runners of FEPA mildly investigated what could be done with an
invasive, but exotic aquatic plant, the nipa palm. Nipa was, and is
still displacing mangroves from the Calabar coast to the Niger delta.
It was clear from research in southeast Asia that nipa sap, like palm
wine could be fermented and processed into ethanol. From ancient times,
people have fermented grains for the resulting residue of ethyl
alcohol, or ethanol.

Without further
indigenous research, Nigeria has now joined the nations that perceive
in ethanol the elixir to impacts of climate change, the alternative to
fossil fuels. Clearly, as an additive to gasoline, ethanol is a
profitable motor fuel, and some state governments are already
constructing ethanol plants. Brazil has the largest fuel ethanol
industry, produced from sugar-cane, and noted for high carbon
sequestration.

However, for some
time now, scientists, politicians and civil society in the
technologically advanced areas of the world have been chronicling the
growing complaints levelled at ethanol, the supposedly clean fuel.
Ethanol produced from corn has a number of critics who suggest that it
is primarily just recycled fossil fuels because of the energy required
to grow the grain and convert it into ethanol. There is also the issue
of competition with use of corn for food production.

TIME magazine’s Michael Grunwald was not mincing words: ethanol
brewed from corn is technically a renewable fuel, but it’s even dirtier
than gasoline. The carbon supposedly saved by using farmland to grow
fuel is ultimately devoured by the conversion of forests and wetlands
into farmland for feedstock. Further, ethanol skeptics add that the
volatile fluid can’t travel in pipelines along with petrol, because it
picks up impurities easily.

The only alternative for transportation is
by trucks or barges, and it is very expensive! While the debate over
ethanol’s credentials rages, citizens of the technology-deficient
Nigeria should continue chewing their sugar cane and not worry too
much. That is the usual danger when a nation simply buys technology
without contributing to its research. Your acquired product may become
obsolete, dubious and useless by the time it arrives at Tin Can Island!

Clashes in Cote d’Ivoire killed at least five people on Tuesday in the latest outburst of violence between backers of presidential claimant, Alassane Ouattara, and forces loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.

The world’s biggest cocoa grower has been in turmoil since a November presidential election that both men claim to have won. The standoff has threatened to rekindle the 2002-2003 civil war.

Witnesses said street clashes broke out early on Tuesday and continued for hours – marking some of the worst violence in the main city since mid-December. A Reuters’ reporter saw the bodies of two protesters and three police lying in the street with gunshot wounds in the predominantly pro-Ouattara neighbourhood of Abobo. Hundreds of police and military patrolled the area with armoured vehicles and automatic weapons.

“There was shooting all over the place for hours,” said student, Ouattara Idrissa, 20, an Abobo resident. “We hid in our houses and only now are we safe to come out.”

Amed Coulibaly, 32, a trader, told Reuters he saw seven bodies: four protesters and three police. “It all started when military vehicles raided the neighbourhood. They killed the Ouattara activists,” he said.

Protests in Cote d’Ivoire, whether pro-Gbagbo or by his enemies, are sometimes infiltrated by gunmen. The clashes come as world powers and African states heap pressure on Gbagbo to cede the presidency to Ouattara after provisional results from the November 28 poll showed Ouattara won with an eight percentage-point margin.

West African bloc ECOWAS has threatened Gbagbo with force if he does not leave power. The United States and the European Union have imposed travel bans on him and his inner circle. But Gbagbo, who points to a Constitutional Council ruling that the results were rigged against him, has shown no sign of caving to the pressure and retains the loyalty of the army.

Violence has killed more than 200 people since the poll, and fears of further conflict have led more than 20,000 people to flee into neighbouring Liberia, according to U.N. figures. Bloody protests and a brief gun battle between pro-Ouattara and pro-Gbagbo forces erupted last month, but there have been few civil disturbances in the main city since.

Ouattara’s supporters say they are terrified of being killed by security forces and allied militias. The election was meant to reunite the former “pearl of West Africa” after the 2002-03 civil war, but has instead deepened divisions and raised the spectre of a return to open conflict. Ethnic clashes in Cote d’Ivoire’s western town of Duekoue last week killed 33 people and wounded 75, the main hospital said.

In a new setback, aid network, Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said it was freezing disbursement of grants to Cote d’Ivoire and taking measures to safeguard its stocks and funds due to the instability. The Geneva-based fund has a 163 million euro programme against the three epidemics in Cote d’Ivoire, according to Taveau. Malaria is the largest operation, accounting for 109 million.

The World Bank and the West African regional central bank have moved to cut Gbagbo’s funds, but it is not clear to what extent he still benefits from proceeds from the cocoa and oil sector.

The head of the
civil service of the federation, Oladapo Afolabi, has directed all
federal permanent secretaries to set up a tracking system to monitor
and document resumption and closing time of every civil servant.

Mr. Afolabi gave
the directive in a circular issued on Thursday last week. He instructed
the permanent secretaries in charge of various ministries and
government agencies and departments to install clocking devices that
will efficiently record the movement of civil servants.

He, however, said
that ahead of the installation of a clocking device, all permanent
secretaries should, henceforth, strictly enforce the resumption and
closing time of 8.am and 4.00 pm respectively.

The directive
follows complaints about the civil servants’ attitude to work by
President Goodluck Jonathan when he swore-in three newly appointed
permanent secretaries. President Jonathan expressed displeasure at the
low level of commitment to duties by some federal civil servants and
called for an immediate change in attitude.

Lingering tradition

Shortly before the
former head of the civil service of the federation, Stephen Oronsaye,
retired last year, he threatened severe disciplinary actions on truant
civil servants after discovering that only one in every three civil
servants report to work before 8a.m.

His threats led to
a fiasco in the federal secretariat after so many civil servants,
including ranking officers, were severally locked out of the offices
for late coming.

“The two days I
have directed that offices should be locked against latecomers was to
see the extent of the problem and I am quite disappointed that not less
than two-third of my staff come late to work,” Mr. Oronsaye had
lamented.

Despite Mr.
Oronsaye’s strict measures, officers of the federal civil service
continued with their tradition of late coming and truancy in their
duties. The late comers also included some senior officers like
directors and deputy directors.

Although it is
hoped with the introduction of technological devices in the monitoring
of arrival and closing times will greatly improve the productivity of
the officers, some civil servants NEXT spoke with feel, “it will end up
like the rest.”

Some others who spoke to NEXT on conditions of anonymity
pessimistically dismissed the project saying, “it won’t last.” Others
complained the transport system does not aide punctuality.

The internal crisis
rocking the Delta State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
reared its ugly head again yesterday as the two factions of the party
held separate primaries, leading to the emergence of two governorship
candidates in Asaba and Warri respectively.

While the primaries
organised by the Peter Nwaoboshi-led executive in Asaba produced the
incumbent governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan as its candidate for the April
general elections, the Godwin Ebomah-led faction confirmed Saliba
Umukoro as its own candidate.

With this
development, indigenes of the state, especially members of the
opposition parties, have been thrown into a state of confusion as to
who the authentic flag bearer of the ruling party would be in the
forthcoming general election.

Speaking to newsmen
shortly after the exercise, Mr Mukoro said only the national leadership
of the party headed by its National Chairman, Okwesileze Nwodo can
determine who will fly the flag of the party even as he said the
national secretariat was aware of the factions in the state chapter of
the party.

He said that he
picked his intent form from the national secretariat of the party and
will send same, including the list of those elected along with him to
the national secretariat of the party for approval.

“The National
Secretariat is aware of the parallel executive of the party in the
state because I picked my intent form from the national exco in Abuja
and not Asaba, so they are aware we are conducting our primaries here,”
he said.

When asked if he
was prepared to embrace reconciliation moves to resolving the crisis,
Mr Mukoro said that he will only embrace reconciliation that is decided
by the national secretariat of the party.

He also said as
soon as the coast is clear, he will choose a running mate for the April
2011 general election. Expressing optimism that the Clark faction will
carry the day in the state, he urged Delta State indigenes to keep the
hope alive saying the that change they have been yearning for in the
state will soon come into reality.

Polarised party

The disagreement
which led to the polarisation of the party emanated from the 2007 party
congress held at Ogwashi-Uku, near Asaba, the state capital as a result
of the power tussle between Edwin Clark and Emmanuel Uduaghan over the
control of the party in the state.

While Mr Clark supports Mr Ebomah as the party chairman against Mr Nwaboshi, who is recognised by the state government.

Mr Clark who was
represented at yesterday’s primaries by the Chairman, Central Working
Committee of the Delta State Elder, Leaders and Stakeholders, Godwin
Ogbetuo at the Mid-West Inn, Enerhen, said his group will not be
deterred or intimidated by anybody or group opposed to it in the state.

In Asaba, Mr Uduaghan, who last week won the governorship election
despite opposition from the Ebomah-led faction, said his victory means
the people of the state wants a continuation of his administration. His
election was witnessed by INEC officials.

Lawrence Akindele,
the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, speaks to Elizabeth
Archibong on the historical ties between Nigeria and Benin Republic,
the challenge of managing Nigeria/Benin relations and other issues.
Excerpts:

Recent visit of Jonathan to Benin

You know we have
been waiting for the visit for quite a while now. Since Jonathan became
the president, many times the visit was scheduled but had to be
postponed. Nigeria, just like the Republic of Benin is preparing for
elections this year. You know that both countries have a lot in common.
About 25 percent of the population of Benin are citizens of Nigeria.
The people of Benin conferred on Mr Jonathan the highest national
honour of Benin. This is worth being celebrated.

The relationship between both countries

The relationship
between Nigeria and Benin has been quite strong. You will recall that
Beninoise President Boni Iyayi has visited Nigeria several times and,
in fact just like President Jonathan jokingly said in his speech to the
Nigerian community here, Mr Iyayi refers to Benin as Nigeria’s 37th
state.

And like I said
earlier, we have a huge population of Nigerians here. So when we talk
about the relationship, you will find that they are deeper than what
you can see on the surface. Those of us who come from Nigeria and are
unable to speak French will be surprised to see that most Benin
citizens can also interact with them in their own local dialects,
especially those who speak Yoruba, Egun and others. Those social bonds
still exist despite the so called international boundaries

Challenges of representing Nigeria in Benin

The challenges
before us are of consular nature and the way Nigerians are perceived
here. By consular nature, I mean the harassment of Nigerians even
despite the closeness I referred to earlier on. Many Nigerians have
taken advantage of the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons.
Nigerians are also very mobile, that is why they are found everywhere
in the continent.

Some of the
Nigerians we have here are doing extremely well and are quite
comfortable. They speak French and other local languages. This, of
course, have attracted enmity to them from their hosts. So, once in a
while, we come across pockets of problems arising from issues of envy
and so on. There is no doubt that Nigerians are easy targets
everywhere. If you go to other African countries, you may find that
things are not very different.

Nigerians are very
proud of their heritage anywhere they are and they demonstrate this .
For some people, this is pride but to the Nigerians, it is not. We have
what you call citizen diplomacy which teaches that people must protect
human rights at all times. We ensure that no Nigerian is detained
unnecessarily for minor crimes. Nigerians are quite happy here I must
tell you.

The type of
problems we have seen in other countries are not here and I think this
can be attributed to the long historical relationship which I spoke to
you about earlier which dates back to the period before the
Independence.

His thoughts on the behaviour of Nigerians

Nigerians are well
rated here. Several Nigerians have been commended by the government of
Benin Republic for their outstanding performances and contributions to
the country’s economy. There is a Nigerian who recently attracted the
visit of his state governor during his house warming. We have another
Nigerian who recently won multiple awards for his contributions to the
economy; a Reverend gentleman, Geoffrey Izemojo, who is the Managing
Director of Songhai Center of Excellence. He has been involved in the
training of Nigerians and other citizens of Benin Republic in
integrated farming, fishery, aquaculture, all kinds of animal breeding.
Any time the president here receives a very important visitor, he takes
the visitor to the Songhai Center of Excellence.

As we speak, I can
tell you that there is a struggle between Nigeria and Benin on who
should lay claim to the man. He is a pride to Africa. So many Africans
have benefited from his poverty elimination projects.

Areas of co-operation between the two countries

Since I assumed
office, we have had several areas of co-operation within the frame work
of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the
African Union (AU). We also have the Joint Nigerian/ Benin Commission
to promote trade in oil, gas, power gas turbines. We have facilitated
the coming of many Nigerians into Benin Republic to pursue legitimate
business. This has attracted the coming of financial institutions such
as the UBA, Diamond Bank and others.

Nigerian traders
are also doing well here. We have also been working very hard to manage
our border, which is well over 700 kilometers. We have to make sure
that we work to reduce smuggling. The heads of state of both countries
have also resolved that any dispute which may arise must be resolved
amicably rather than resort to external bodies for adjudications. We
have accepted the fact that we are brothers and this is the guiding
philosophy of all our actions.

The volume of trade between the two nations

You know that the
trade for now is largely informal and so it is very difficult to arrive
at an accurate figure. Recently, however, those who import rice into
Nigeria were told that they have to pay duties. This is to let the
Nigerian government derive some revenue from that. But by and large,
the trade between the two countries is largely informal. This is where
having a proper boundary has become very important. One of the reasons
why we cannot have accurate data for instance can be traceable to the
loose nature of our borders.

There is a plan now
to properly demarcate the border, where there will be more equity. And
it will also allow both countries to properly regulate the influx of
goods. We are working hard to ensure that this process comes into
fruition.

There will be more
sophisticated gadgets to monitor the borders and hopefully, this will
reduce smuggling and other cross border crimes.

The development of Nigeria since independence

Well, the fact is
that this country was once a country of great hope but, somewhere along
the line, we missed it. We did not sustain our development process. But
now we need a refocus of our capacity by emphasising education and I
think this is where the present president, Mr Jonathan is taking the
country. We need to give him a chance. I see the country being
refocused again and this process must be allowed to mature if Nigeria
is really interested in getting out of the present situation we find
ourselves in.

Preparation for the elections

I am sure that
given the current zeal shown by President Jonathan and other Nigerians,
we should be able to conduct free and fair elections. We must put those
who say we cannot conduct elections properly to shame. We have to do it.

Mr Jega is ready
and he is committed. It is not very difficult to do it. We have what it
takes to do it and we have to. For me, we have no other choice.

Permitting the Diaspora to take part in future elections

Yes they have been
agitating that they want to vote. But I do not think that may be
possible in the 2011 election because government is still trying to
work out the modalities, including the enabling laws. But it can be
done when all things are put in place. Nigerians in Benin can always
take advantage of their proximity to Nigeria to ensure that they take
time out and go back to the country and vote for now. We will sensitise
them to do that.

The Ribadu Campaign
Organisation yesterday threatened to drag the Jonathan/Sambo campaign
organisation to court over its alleged gross violation of the
intellectual property rights of its campaign for Nuhu Ribadu, a
presidential aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN). This is contained in a statement by Chido Onumah, head of media
and communication of Ribadu 2011 Campaign Organisation in Abuja.

The statement read;
“The issue in question is the slogan A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE, a
creation of the Ribadu Campaign Organisation that has been used in
various platforms, correspondences, media and publicity materials by
the campaign since its inauguration six months ago. In the last one
month, the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organization has persistently used
the slogan in its TV campaigns featuring President Goodluck Jonathan
and Vice-president Namadi Sambo.”

The organisation
said that it has written a letter to the director-general of the
Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Dalhatu Tafida, in which it noted
that “the unauthorised use of the political slogan constitutes a
copyright infringement, which represents a serious breach on Mr. Nuhu
Ribadu’s exclusive rights to reproduce or to make derivative works of
this slogan.”

The letter, signed
by Mr Onumah himself added, “Nigerian law provides stern criminal and
civil liabilities for this type of transgression and I urge you to move
expeditiously to correct this infraction which, in an election year, is
obviously targeted to depress the stock of our principal, and the
viability of his campaign.”

Plea to ACN

Meanwhile, members
of the Team Ribadu USA and UK have written the leadership of the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) asking it to adopt Mr Ribadu as its
presidential candidate if the party hopes to win the 2011 presidential
election. The ACN has fixed January 14 for its presidential primaries.

The two groups,
which wrote separate letters to the party leadership, warned that if it
fails to nominate the former chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) as its flagbearer, it will diminish its
chances of winning the presidential election.

“You will also
agree with us that the ACN has attracted more followership,
particularly among the youth of our country since Mr. Nuhu Ribadu made
known his intention to run on the platform of the party. There is no
doubt that the Team Ribadu phenomenon in our country (and abroad) today
has further popularized our great party, (ACN),” Bunmi Aborisade,
coordinator of Team Ribadu USA said in his letter.

“It is an
incontrovertible fact that many Nigerians flocked to our party because
of Ribadu’s anti-corruption records as the head of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). Nigerians want to see an
anti-corruption czar like Ribadu become the president of Nigeria so he
can sanitize the country.”

Mr Aborishade noted
that while Team Ribadu USA respects the integrity of the new ACN
national executive and the ability of the party’s leadership to make
the right decisions during its primaries, it was worried by the party’s
propensity for fielding presidential candidates from other political
parties.

“Our fears over any
alliance by ACN became more pronounced when we reflect on how past
alliances led to undeserved defeats,” he said. “You will recall the
alliance between the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in 1999 and the All
People’s Party, APP, which did not yield the desired results. There are
also some lessons to learn from the unholy accord between the
leadership of Action Congress, AC, and former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, which led to the defeat of the party in the Southwest. The
adoption of the former Vice President Abubakar Atiku of the PDP by the
AC as its presidential candidate and how the party lost the 2007
elections is still fresh in our memory. It is in line with the above
antecedent that we will like the ACN to limit its search for a
presidential candidate to the party to avoid losing the 2011
presidential election, which may spell doom for our country. What ACN
needs to win the 2011 presidential election is a credible candidate
that has good followership in all of the geo-political zones of the
country. We believe that Mr. Ribadu meets all of the requirements.”

Two days to the
special national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, a
presidential aspirant on the platform of the party, Atiku Abubakar has
vowed to demystify the incumbency factor by beating President Goodluck
Jonathan during the exercise. He was quoted as stating this while
inaugurating a 150-member Atiku Campaign Organisation Special
Convention Committee. Messrs Abubakar and Jonathan are among the four
presidential aspirants gunning for the ticket of the ruling party in
the 2011 election. Mr Abubakar said that history is replete with
instances where incumbency was rubbished in both Nigeria and other
African countries, adding that he would do same on Thursday during the
convention of the PDP.

“History has shown
that incumbency has never been a deciding factor both at home and
abroad. All those who have tried including Obasanjo had failed and his
present protégé will suffer similar fate,” he said.

He stressed that
Mr. Jonathan, like other incumbents before him is a beatable and
charged member of the committee to go into the race with that mindset.

“We will defeat the incumbent. I am very confident that we will give him a hiding like those before him,” he said.

The PDP
presidential aspirant said that there is no going back in his quest to
clinch the ruling party’s presidential ticket and therefore charged the
committee members to go out and give them (opponents) a knockout.

According to him,
“I don’t know how to pull back. Even if the convention is managed by
Jonathan’s camp, I am not the least disturbed by our chances of beating
them.”

The committee has
subcommittees such as Election, Strategy & Rapid Response,
Mobilisation, Accommodation & Transport, Security, Secretariat and
Media.

Media War

However, Sully Abu,
director, media and publicity, Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign
Organization in a stement said that Mr Abubakar’s campaign group “is
increasingly resorting to desperate measures and deliberate falsehood
to foul the atmosphere and prepare the ground for them to dispute the
inevitable outcome.”

Mr Abu alleged that
in the past several days they “have resorted to copious advertising in
the media of a document which they falsely claim was authored by the
director of strategy of our campaign organization, Mike Omeri.”

He claimed that the unsigned and undated published document
attributed to Mr. Omeri “is obviously a rigged document by the known
past masters in rigging.”

The Independent
National Electoral Commission has no plans yet to penalize any
political party on grounds of breaching sections of the Electoral Act,
a senior official of the commission told NEXT yesterday. With the
parties’ nominations at the state and federal levels in progress, and
the presidential primaries of the major parties days away, concerns
over adherence to the Electoral Act, by political parties have kindled
fresh debates.

In choosing flag
bearers, mainly for the presidential contest, the new amended Act
provides parties with options between direct and indirect primaries,
allowing their members to vote for each aspirant nationwide, or poll
through delegates at state congresses and later, convention, in an
effort to clamp down on the illegal consensus candidates. As of yet,
almost every party is opting for the second alternative for its
primaries — the delegate option.

Analysts have
warned of a ploy by the political parties to systematically disregard
the law governing the emergence of presidential flag bearers, by
passing a consensus arrangement for an indirect primary, citing the
emergence of the former military ruler, Mohammadu Buhari of the
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

They have called
for sanctions against such breaches, leading to speculations that Mr
Buhari’s choice maybe refused recognition by the electoral body.

“The position of
the law are very clear on the issue and what I know will/is happening
is that the political parties are going to hold primaries that will be
skewed to the advantages of some individuals, and they will insist to
INEC that they have held their primaries,” a former chairman of the
Nigerian Bar Association, Rotimi Akeredolu, said last week.

In an interview
with NEXT over the weekend, INEC acknowledged a “few” lapses in the
processes already held. Kayode Idowu, the media aide to the chairman,
Attahiru Jega said: “At the policy level, we are aware that there are
lots of lapses,” adding that the leadership of INEC has encouraged
officials of the commission concerned to point out those lapses and
draw the attention of the parties concerned to those errors. But a
senior official of the commission, who is knowledgeable about political
parties’ internal processes, said so far, the electoral body is
satisfied with the conduct of the parties with respect to laid down
rules.

“The CPC followed the Electoral Act and held congresses before the
convention, so we have no problem,” the official, who declined to be
named since there was no authorization for the remark. “However, they
are human beings, and we must expect some mistakes which we promptly
bring to their attention.” The early breach noticed, according to the
official, was that many of the parties insisted on staging consensus
primaries, which will lead to selected, rather than elected candidates,
against the Electoral Act. That plan was overruled by the commission,
the official added.

One month after
primary and secondary health care services in Akwa Ibom State came to a
halt, the situation remains so with the state government not making
little or no effort to resolve the crisis.

On December 8,
2010, all the health workers of government owned hospitals, including
all pharmacists, nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians, and
administrative personnel, embarked on an industrial action demanding
for the implementation of a salary structure approved by the National
Salary Income and Wages Commission late in 2009.

The Akwa Ibom State
chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives
(NANNM), Udeme Ottong, said that the Godswill Akpabio led government
has refused to approve the new salary structure, the Consolidated
Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), after many months of negotiations.

“The CONHESS was
approved since December 2009. The strike started in June 2010. We
eventually suspended that strike in August because of the intervention
of his Excellency. He set up a committee to look into the matter. The
report was supposed to be ready in three weeks but the committee
eventually sent that report in October to the state executive council.
Since then, the state executives have refused to sign that document,”
Mr Ottong said in a telephone interview with NEXT yesterday.

He continued that
his association as well as the other health workers’ associations
embarked on the strike action after sending notices to the state
government without getting any response.

No medical services

The state chairman
of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Etiobong Etukumana, insists
that medical doctors in the state, who are still officially on duty,
are rendering health services to patients in the various clinics and
hospitals.

“All I can tell you is that my doctors are working to the best of their abilities,” Mr Etukumana said.

However, a Chief
Nursing Officer in one of the General Hospitals in the state, who asked
not to be named, told NEXT that no health services are being rendered
in any of the government owned hospitals in the state as it is
impossible for the doctors to work on their own.

“All the health
workers except the doctors are on strike and the doctors cannot work by
themselves. For example, the staff in charge of the medical records
have locked up the records office. The lab is locked. The pharmacy is
closed. The OPD [Outpatient Department] is not open because the nurses
are not available. So virtually everything is at a standstill,” she
said.

Government’s response

While he remained
unwilling to say when the state hospitals will be functional again, the
Akwa Ibom State commissioner for information, Aniekan Umanah, said the
state is currently carrying on several social services and cannot be
expected to yield to demands by every labour group.

“There is no salary
structure that is cast in iron. It is relative to the resources
available for social services. The state is already carrying out
several services such as the free education. The health workers should
show interests in the overall wellbeing of the state,” he said.

Mr Umanah said also that he hoped that the issue will soon be resolved.

“I am telling you that it will soon be resolved. I know that the
people in charge are discussing with the labour unions,” he said.

Banks and other
businesses were completely closed in the Jos and Bukuru metropolis
following the tension generated by Sunday’s burning of houses in an
alleged conflict in Angwan Doki and Kwata general areas of Bukuru in
Jos South Local Government Area. As early as 7:00am Monday, reports
made the rounds especially via text messages that there was another
crisis at the Bauchi Road and Laranto areas of Jos on Sunday night, and
it took intense shooting in the air to quell the situation by the
special task force officers. The text message alerts led to fear that a
renewed crisis might have sparked and degenerated into another
bloodbath, thus causing most workers and business owners to stay at
home. The Igbo community in Jos also directed that all its members stay
at home Monday, and not open for any business to protest the alleged
killing of their members allegedly by Hausa/Fulani Muslim youths, and
also the burning of a Yola-bound Marcopolo luxury bus at Zololo
junction last Saturday.

Frightened moves

An outbreak of
fresh violence in Anglo Jos and Kufan areas on Monday about 10am fueled
the crisis which saw houses going up in flames and led to barricades of
roads and arrests of youth in different parts of the town as
communities resorted to complement state security with self defense.
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force on Monday morning paraded four men
arrested in connection with the Sunday disturbances in Angwan Doki and
Kwata General in Bukuru. According to Charles Ekeocha, spokesperson of
the task force, the four arrested are Ubale Dauda, Ado Hassan, and Sani
Gambo. Mr Ekeocha named the fourth as Young Nwaogazi.

The Joint Task
Force said: “The suspects are under preliminary investigation before
they will be handed over to the Nigeria Police.”

The statement added
further that “The commander of the STF led the two separate operations
that brought the situation under control,” concluding that “aggression
patrol has been intensified and the situation is being monitored
closely.”

The items recovered included two pistols with magazines, one
locally-made single barrel, one Russian double barrel, nine knives, tw
spears, and several other high capacity ammunitions.