Dangote Now Richest Man in Africa

With a net worth of $13.8 billion, President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has emerged the richest man in Africa for the first time.

Forbes magazine, which revealed this in its annual world’s billionaires ranking report released Thursday, also had Chairman of Globacom and Conoil, Otunba Mike Adenuga, on the list. Adenuga is valued at $2 billion.

Among the world’s richest in 2011 as published by Forbes are 14 Africans, including four South Africans and eight Egyptians.

Dangote’s fortune surged 557 per cent from $2.1 billion in 2010. He moved astronomically from 436 positions to 51 in 2011, making him the world's biggest gainer in percentage terms and Africa's richest individual for the first time.

Adenuga makes his debut on the list after making waves with mobile technology.

Globacom, the second national carrier, recently launched a 4G network, and he has invested $1 billion on a submarine cable connecting Nigeria to the rest of the world.

He owns a major stake in the Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) and chairs Conoil Plc.

He made his first million at the age of 26, selling lace and distributing Coca-Cola, then won a contract to build military barracks in the late 1980s.

With presence in 14 African countries, Dangote has emerged the continent's biggest cement maker, contributing significantly to other African countries’ economy.

Dangote began his career as a commodities trader; built his Dangote Group into conglomerate with interests in sugar, flour milling, salt processing, cement manufacturing, real estate, oil and gas among others.

Dangote is now richer than long time white South African billionaires Nicky Oppenheimer of Debeers and Johann Rupert of luxury goods group, Richemont, which owns Cartier, Dunhill and other premium brands.

Oppenheimer and Rupert ranked 136th and 219th with net worth of $7 billion and $4.8 billion respectively.

Dangote is said to be gearing up to introduce Dangote Cement to foreign investors. Companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are required to have a minimum free float of 25 per cent. Dangote initially listed 5 per cent of shares.

According to analysts at Thaddeus Investment Advisors, the Nigerian market was too shallow for a stock of Dangote Cement’s size to be listed on the exchange.

This is why, the analysts said the balance of the free float would be listed outside of Nigeria.

Dangote, who recently bought himself a $45 million Bombardier aircraft for his birthday, is said to be shuttling back and forth to London in anticipation of a public offering in London later this year.

Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), described Dangote as a rare breed and the pride of Africa.

He said: “When the producer of the BBC documentary described Dangote as the wealthiest black man in the world, several people challenged him. Well, Forbes just released their wealth list today and you guessed it, Dangote is not only the richest black man but he is also richer than Mark Zuckerberg, founder of facebook. The Nigerian spirit is an excellent spirit. Believe it today and always.”

Meanwhile, Carlos Slim remained the world’s richest person for the second year with a net worth of $74 billion, said Forbes magazine.

The net worth of Mexico’s Slim, 71, whose holdings include the largest mobile phone operator in the Americas, rose $20.5 billion.

Bill Gates, 55, Chairman of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), was second again as his net worth rose $3 billion to $56 billion.

Warren Buffett, 80, Chief Executive Officer of Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A), held on to third place with $50 billion.

There were a record number of billionaires in 2011, with 1,210 in total, compared with the previous high of 1,125 in 2008.

Of the 214 newcomers this year, 54 were from China and 31 from Russia. The Asia-Pacific region had more billionaires than Europe for the first time in more than 10 years and gained the most billionaires of any region, with 105 newcomers.

Moscow displaced New York as the city with the greatest number of billionaires with 79, compared with New York’s 58.

Explaining the methodology it adopts to arrive at its list, Forbes explained on its website: “More than 50 reporters in 13 countries worked on compiling our 25th annual World's Billionaires rankings. Throughout the year our reporters meet with the list candidates and their handlers and interview employees, rivals, attorneys and securities analysts. We keep track of their moves: the deals they negotiate, the land they're selling, the paintings they're buying, the causes they give to. To estimate billionaires' net worths we value individuals' assets, including stakes in public and private companies, real estate, yachts, art and cash--and account for debt.

“Not that we pretend to know what is listed on everyone's private balance sheet, though some folks do provide that information. We do attempt to vet these numbers with all billionaires. Some cooperate, others don't.

“We have not included dispersed fortunes (as in those of the Du Ponts and Rothschilds) when individual net worths are below our minimum of $1 billion per name. But we do include wealth belonging to a member's immediate relatives if the wealth can ultimately be traced to one living individual; in that case & family indicates that the number shown includes money belonging to more than one person.

“Our estimates of public fortunes are a snapshot of wealth on Feb. 14, 2011, when we locked in stock prices and exchange rates around the globe. Some on our list will become richer or poorer within weeks – even days – of publication. Privately held companies are valued by coupling estimates of revenues or profits with prevailing price-to-revenues or price-to-earnings ratios for similar public companies.”

SSS moves against Northern Elders

The reconciliation move between the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum , NPLF, and President Goodluck Jonathan was severely damaged, yesterday, as the State Security Service, SSS arrested two key operational staff of the Forum.

The scribe who has just been released, said his arrest was political, as it was in connection with his comments on zoning.

The NPLF in a terse reaction said the President was not ready for peace though the State Security Service, SSS, which picked the men said the arrests were unconnected with politics.

NPLF secretary, Mallam Abdulkadir Bello, was arrested, Wednesday, a day before the scheduled meeting of the body where the key decision of whether the NPLF should support the President or not was to have been taken.

Another operational staff, Mallam Bibi Farouk, was arrested while the meeting of the NPLF was going on.

Confirmation of Abdulkadir’s arrest

The State Security Services, SSS, which confirmed the arrest of Abdulkadir, however, said their arrest had nothing to do with politics. There were indeed inferences of a fifth columnist working to sabotage the envisaged reconciliation between the President and the NPLF.

Yesterday’s meeting which was ongoing at press time followed the arrival from abroad of former Vice-President Abubakar on Wednesday evening.

The meeting was believed to be deliberating on the work of the seven-man joint committee jointly constituted by the President and the NPLF to bridge differences between the two sides. Vanguard learnt that a communiqué of the meeting would be released today.

SSS spokesperson, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, while admitting the arrest of the NPLF secretary, however, insisted that it had nothing to do with politics saying that membership of an organization was not a licence to carry out illegal activities.

She told Vanguard that Alhaji Abdulkadir was arrested as Alhaji Abdulkadir and that it had nothing to do with his position as Secretary of NPLF.

Ogar said: “Alhaji Abdulkadir was arrested as Alhaji Abdulkadir, not as Secretary of NPLF. People must not bring politics into this. Nobody should think that he will be allowed to do just whatever he likes because he is a member of any organization. It must be made very clear that this matter has nothing to with his position in the NPLF.”

She, nevertheless did not give the reason for the arrest.

The Ciroma-led NPLF had recently softened its denunciation of President Jonathan’s presidential aspiration and had met to take a decisive decision on whether or not to support the President.

The breakthrough followed the meeting early last month between President Jonathan and elements of the NPLF where it was resolved to set up a seven-man joint committee to articulate a working document to guide rapprochement between both sides.

The seven-man joint committee chaired by Magaji Dambatta was supposed to submit its report for the consideration of the President and the NPLF. NPLF sources, however, expressed regrets that possible reconciliation may have been put on hold with the arrest of the duo.

Sources said that Abdulkadir was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the SSS in Abuja and taken to the headquarters of the security agency in the Asokoro area the same day. He was still being held by the SSS at press time yesterday.

Farouk was arrested while the meeting of the NPLF was on-going. It was, however, not confirmed whether he was arrested at the venue of the meeting.

Denouncing the arrest, yesterday, the NPLF in an unsigned statement made available to Vanguard said:
“This is in bad faith and tells a lie to President Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt for rapprochement with Northern Political Leaders Forum.”

Nigeria: Japan donates US$1m for hostel at Nigerian Defence College

Abuja, Nigeria - As part of its effort to strengthen West Africa's peace-support operations, the Japanese government has donated US$ 1 million for the construction of a residential accommodation for course participants at the Nigerian National Defence College.

The Japan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, said that the donation was in line with the policy adopted by the Group of 8 (G8) Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008, to strengthen support for peace-support operations with a focus on Africa.

He said that the Japan government was also implementing such programmes in other African countries like Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Mali, Cameroon and Rwanda.

Uesawa, who was at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Japanese government-funded 32-room hostel located at the Piwoyi Area of the Abuja, the Nigerian capital city, said that the project which commenced in March was scheduled for completion in March 2011.

It is being supervised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The ambassador also hinted that the total volume of Japanese assistance to Nigeria since independence in 1960 amounted to 600 billion naira (about US$ 4 billion), including a debt relief of US$ 2 billion.

Emphasizing the need for Nigeria to bring its human resources to bear on Africa, he said 'As farmers cultivate their land for good harvest, I want you to cultivate your human resources because when Africa's largest human resource becomes ready to be tapped, I believe that Nigeria will fully display its ability.'

The diplomat who was of the opinion that there would be no peace and stability in the Africa without Nigeria, commended Abuja for its peace-keeping efforts in Africa and the world in general.

Commenting on Nigeria's electoral process, Uesawa said the international community was watching the African nation closely, hoping that the 2011 polls would be peaceful and democratic.

He pledge his country's support to Nigeria's effort to hold a free and fair election.

Nigerian court charges Iranian over arms cache

ABUJA — A Nigerian court on Thursday charged an Iranian and three Nigerians over an illegal arms shipment including rockets and mortars discovered at the West African country's main port and sent from Iran.

The Iranian, Azim Aghajani, was identified in court papers as a businessman and "member of IRGC" with an address in Tehran.

IRGC is an abbreviation for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military and economic force in Iran. Officials could not be reached to comment on the reference.

Iran has said the arms were being shipped by a private company.

The three Nigerians charged over the shipment denied the allegations, while Aghajani was allowed to delay entering a plea because his lawyer was not with him in court. All were ordered held in custody.

"The accused persons should be remanded in (intelligence agency) custody pending the conclusion of the investigation, and the accused persons should be allowed access to their lawyers while in custody," Magistrate Hafsat Sadiq Soso said.

Court documents alleged Aghajani "conspired to import and did import 13 20-feet containers loaded with assorted calibres of prohibited firearms ..." along with one of the Nigerian suspects.

They also alleged he sought to export the containers along with the three Nigerian suspects.

Nigerian agents seized the weapons at the port in Lagos last month. The containers had been loaded at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

The shipper later sought to have the containers reloaded and sent to Gambia, a tiny West African country wedged inside Senegal.

Nigeria has reported the seizure to the UN Security Council, with Iran under four sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme. The sanctions include a ban on arms sales.

Nigeria's Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia has said a diplomat may have also been linked to the shipment, but authorities could not question him because he had diplomatic immunity that the Iran government had not agreed to waive.

Nigerian Workers to Enjoy Increased Wage Level

The Nigerian workforce has been motivated for higher performance with the recent endorsement by National Council of State (NCS) to implement a minimum wage of N18, 000 for the least paid worker in Nigeria.

This was announced at a media briefing jointly addressed by the governors of Jigawa, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Lagos states on the outcome of the NCS meeting presided over by the President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja on Thursday, November 25.

The NCS further advised President Jonathan to forward a bill to the National Assembly for enactment into law.

In his comments, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State noted that the national minimum wage of N18, 000 was applicable to both federal and state government workers and also compels private sector organizations with a minimum of 50 workers on its pay roll to pay the minimum wage to its workers.

Apabio said that the Council is convinced that the decision would lay to rest the labor crisis over wages adding that the Council has also advised the President to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive legislative bill so as to allow each state government to negotiate with its workers on a convenient and acceptable minimum wage to be paid.

Elucidating further, the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola noted that because of deferential endowments some states might find implementation of the minimum wage difficult and that with respect to the private sector, there was a move for a downward review of the number of employees from 50 workers.

In attendance at the meeting were former presidents and Heads of states including, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun ObasanjoOlusegun Obasanjo, General Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Galadima vows to transform Caf

Galadima, booted out as NFA chairman in 2006, has entered the race for a seat on the Confederation of African Football's executive committee.

The development is likely to exasperate many Nigerians given the immense baggage he brings to the arena.

However, Galadima's candidature has the full backing of Nigeria's Football Federation and the sports ministry.

Still, it is hard to imagine that most football fans in Nigeria and beyond could stomach having him back.

But after four years of hibernation, which he spent trying to repair his fractured image, Galadima seems to have decided that the time is right to return to office.

"The continent needs a new image and I come with the experience that the football family on the continent can trust," he said.

Many would view his prospects of sitting at the top table of African football to be slim, considering his tumultuous time in office, but Galadima said winning a place on Caf's executive committee would give him the chance to help rebuild the organisation's image and salvage the continent's dignity.

Never short on ambition, Galadima said: "It's not a Galadima project but that of Nigeria and Africa. There are several aspects of the African game that require development.

"Our youth and club football needs to develop and the women's game must take a professional path as well."

Galadima's decision to throw his hat into the ring comes in the wake of last week's dramatic fall from grace of his countryman Amos Adamu.

Adamu and three other African officials were banned from all football-related activity by Fifa after being caught up in a newspaper sting.

The sanctions, coupled with retirements and expiration of terms, means nine Caf executive committee posts will be up for grabs at the continental body's next general assembly in Khartoum, Sudan, in February next year

"The entire set-up needs change, which I hope to bring on board," Galadima told BBC Sport.

"The NFF has put me forward with the backing of the sports ministry in Nigeria not because I'm the best amongst several millions.

"They are confident I can represent Nigeria and the continent to the best of my ability."

Nigeria to hold presidential election on April 9

Nigeria will hold a presidential election on April 9, 2011, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday, ending months of uncertainty over the timetable for polls in Africa’s most populous nation.

Parliamentary elections will be held on April 2 and voters will elect governors in the country’s 36 states to round off the process on April 16, INEC chief Attahiru Jega told a news conference in the capital Abuja.

The presidential elections are shaping up to be the most fiercely contested since the end of military rule just over a decade ago, with attention focussed on who the nominee will be for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Party primaries must be concluded by January 15 and can begin any time from November 26, according to the timetable.

President Goodluck Jonathan is considered the front-runner in the primaries but his candidacy is controversial because of an agreement in the PDP that power should rotate every two terms between the mostly Muslim north and largely Christian south.

Jonathan, a southerner, inherited the presidency this year after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua, a northerner who died part way through his first term.

Jonathan’s supporters say he was elected on a joint ticket with Yar’Adua and can complete what would have been the second term. His opponents say only a northerner can succeed him, leaving the ruling party divided.

A group of influential northern politicians said on Monday they had agreed on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a consensus candidate to challenge Jonathan in the primaries, potentially consolidating the northern vote against him.

But Nigeria’s political system, heavily based on patronage, has always favoured the incumbent in previous elections, meaning Abubakar could face an uphill struggle, analysts say.

ETHNIC RIVALRIES

Nigeria is a generally peaceful country of more than 200 ethnic groups but regional rivalries and tribalism bubble under the surface and risk being exploited in the run up to the vote.

“I will run and encourage others to run a national campaign devoid of sectionalism because leaders ought to unite, not divide,” Jonathan said in a posting on his Facebook page.

“The only difference we should look for in Nigeria is between good and bad, not north and south.”

Abubakar said on Tuesday that Jonathan’s candidacy had come as a “rude shock” to many Nigerians and said his bid rode roughshod over the power rotation agreement in the ruling party.

“Those who were promoting this devil-may-care attitude demonstrated quite early that they would employ the power of incumbency and whatever means necessary to achieve their objective even if it means tearing this country apart,” he said.

Abubakar, a Muslim from the northern Hausa ethnic group who was vice president under Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, was one of the founding members of the PDP but his history in the party has been chequered.

He left the party after falling out with Obasanjo in 2006 and ran unsuccessfully for president as the opposition Action Congress candidate in the 2007 polls won by Yar’Adua.

The northern leaders picked Abubakar as their consensus candidate in favour of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, Kwara state governor Bukola Saraki and former national security adviser Aliyu Gusau.

Babangida and Gusau have both promised to support Abubakar, but analysts say his ability to unseat Jonathan in the primaries could depend on whether that consensus holds.

Atiku is Northern Consensus Candidate

ABUJA- AFTER months of permutations, speculations and political intrigues, the Mallam Adamu Ciroma led ‘’17-wise men’’ to get a consensus candidate for the north finally came up with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ‘’anointed aspirant.

Briefing Journalists Monday at the Yar’adua Centre, Secretary to the Consensus Committee, Mallam Abdulkadir Sabo Bello reiterated the north’s position on zoning and completing the four year tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

With the announcement of Atiku Abubakar as the northern candidate, he would then wrestle with President Goodluck Jonathan at the primaries for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

I am humbled. says Atiku
The former vice president and beneficiary of the consensus arrangement, Atiku Abubakar has declared that he was humbled by his endorsements by the consensus committee saying that this time calls for a sober reflection on the challenges facing the country while expressing the hope that the conclusion of the concensus process would bring to an end the divisive politics that had trailed the exercise from its opponents.

In a statement issued after the exercise today , Atiku Abubakar commended members of the committee for their patriotism and sacrifice saying their decision was a product of wide consultation across the length and breadth of the country.

More details later

Nigeria: Politicians Behind Recent Violence

Calabar — Ex-militants undergoing non-violence transformational training at the Obubra Post Amnesty Camp in Cross River State have disassociated themselves from recent spate of attacks in the Niger Delta by MEND and few other groups.

Speaking to journalists at the camp in Obubra as Batch 9 of the ex-militants resumed training, the ex-militants said top politicians in the Niger Delta region are responsible for the spate of violence to achieve their selfish goals.

According to the ex-militants, "What is going on is criminality and top politicians and political office holders are behind it because they have been talking to some of us.

"Before we arrived here early last week to start this training, the government of Bayelsa State through some agents approached some boys selling the idea of recruiting us to fight for them in the coming 2011 election. But since we embraced amnesty we cannot go back to be hunted like animals by soldiers"

George Silva, an ex-militant from Ogunboss Camp, Bayelsa State said he has leant to make peace in his community and to have respect for constituted authority.

According to him, "It is not everybody that is saying, I am a militant that is a militant. Militancy is not criminality. Some people are criminals and tagging themselves militants. I cannot see any reason why you say you are fighting for a cause and at the same time, they say you should drop arms and get what you want and you say no; and you keep on doing those things you are not supposed to do. What are you fighting for? What is the freedom about? Those are criminals".

"Anybody that would allow himself be used by a politician for anything to cause trouble here or outside, I see that person as a foolish person. You have been rehabilitated. You have what it takes. If a politician can wear a Marks and Spencers shirt, you too with the help of this thing can wear it so what is the use of a politician asking you to use your shirt to fight. Why not him using his own. So I don't see any means that someone will use to convince you to go and fight for him when you also have money. We are also big men by the grace of God".

He said some politicians are bent on seeing that the Post-Amnesty programme does not succeed so that they would have people they would use to advance their selfish interests.

Another ex-militant, Tony Patrick from Boyloaf group in Delta State, who said he was a storekeeper of arms, also said "I love the programme. I have learnt a lot. I will tell any politician who comes to me now to go away. I am free. My advice is that according to what information given to us is that if you go back to your bad acts, you will be killed. That is the law. So advise other boys to stay calm and achieve what they came for.

"No boy that has passed through here will go out and do anything bad. I cannot go back to my old life. I can never be violent anymore. Let the politicians go and use their children. We are not doing anything for them again. Everything is going smoothly inside the camp here".

24-years old Innocent Ayakwo Okoro from River State said he was combatant soldier in the Camp but that since the amnesty programme, "I have had free movement in town. I can express my freedom of expression and my rights and I commend the programme so much.

"As I leave here, I am going to teach other people what I have e learnt from here which is non-violence. With what I have learnt here, there would be no violence. Through this process that the Federal Government has started with the youth of the Niger Delta, I think there would be no violence anymore in Nigeria, not even Niger Delta. Because when at least 1000 people pass through this training, at least one person can reach out to 1000 and the chain effect goes on like that then the rate of crime would be less in this country not only in the Niger Delta".

Crisis is brewing again within the Edo State health sector as the state government has threatened that any doctor in her employment who fails to report to work by 8am today will be given a "summary dismissal," just as it strongly condemned the ongoing strike action embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Following the recent abduction of a former Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, (UBTH), Eugene Okpere, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had directed all members of the union to stay away from work until security condition in the state improves. Mr. Okpere had since been released, but several doctors in the state have been abducted lately and many were only released after payments were made.

The state government, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Pally Iriase, said "from reports collated so far, many innocent persons have died as a result of the strike/industrial action. Edo State government can no longer condone this inhuman, unethical and irresponsible action.

"Government notes that the reason advanced by the striking doctors is that they are protesting the insecurity engendered by the criminal activities of kidnappers, but government on the contrary also notes the inhumanity of the frequent recourse to strike action at the flimsiest of excuses by doctors whose duty it is to save lives. The excuse of the doctors for embarking on the latest strike action is untenable and un-acceptable, as the state of insecurity pervades the whole nation as it is not limited to Edo State only and the criminal actions of the kidnappers affect all strata of the society." Mr. Iriase said despite the fact that matters of security are under the purview of the federal government,the state government has done all within its powers to assist security agencies in the state with operational vehicles,communication gadgets and allowances.

"The Government especially notes the irresponsibility of doctors in the employ of the state government,paid with tax-payers' money, who find it convenient to shut down public health facilities under the guise of strike action. Clearly, this is a ruse for them to create time for their private practice in their clinics while also drawing their full pay at the end of the month," the SSG said.

Doctors Want Apology

Chairman of Edo State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, Phillip Gbodagha described the threat as "provocative." "No doctor was summarily employed by the state government, so there is no doctor that can be summarily dismissed by Edo state government," Mr Gbodagha said.

He said the doctors would remain on strike until the leadership of the association meet and he called for the overhaul of security operatives in the state and the deployment of military personnel to the state as done in Abia state. The NMA, in a statement signed by Stanley Ehiaremwan and Bruce Ossai, said the partial strike was to press for improvement in the security situation in the state.

"In compliance with the NMA Edo State branch directive, doctors in the Hospital Management Board have been going to work on daily basis, taking calls,attending to in-patients, emergencies and surgeries," the organisation said. "For the Edo state government to have,among other things, describe doctors in her employment as irresponsible, in-human and un-ethical because of compliance of a directive of their parent body is to say the least undeserved and negate the spirit of freedom of association.

"We take exception to the use of unpalatable language, and therefore demand an unreserved apology from the Edo State government." The doctors vowed to maintain their stand until further directive from the NMA.

Journalists Begin Warning Strike

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the weekend said its proposed three-day warning strike with the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union will begin today.

The National Secretary of the NUJ, Shuaibu Leman, said in a statement at the weekend in Abuja that, barring any last minute agreement or change, the strike would go on.Mr. Leman explained that the strike was to place on the front burner, the demand for a new salary structure for media workers in the Federal Government-owned media."The strike is meant to bring into front burner, the enhanced and new salary structure for media workers that is stalled somewhere with the Federal Government.

"During the strike action, members should stay at home and not lurk around the premises of their offices,'' he said. In another statement signed by Seye Adekeye, the NUJ's Assistant National Secretary, the union decried the huge disparity in the salaries of workers in government-owned media and its other parastatal agencies.

"For instance, while a level 04 staff of NTA receives N12,011.91 monthly, his counterpart in the Federal Inland Revenue Service is receiving N99,408.50k,'' it noted.

Zain changes to Airtel

Zain Nigeria finally and formally changed its brand identity to Airtel. This was after concluding a $10.7 billion transaction in June this year, which gave Indian Bharti Airtel the Zain Group’s Celtel Africa Unit. The name change, which happened Friday across the country changes the African footprints of Zain to now AirTel . The name change brings to sixth the number of times the company would have to change identity since 2001 it started operations in Nigeria.

In a colourful celebration to herald the new name in Abuja yesterday, Chairman of the company, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal promised that the company has come to stay. He also promised that the company would bring innovations that would not allow it dissolve into another company just like the company has done i9n the past.

According to him, “Bharti began its African journey by promising to deliver world class and affordable mobile services to customers and delighting them with innovative products. I believe we are taking a major step towards delivering on this by introducing the heart of our business the Airtel brand across our operations in Africa .

“our African customers would not be able to enjoy the same best in class brand experience as our cuistromers across India , Sri_Lanka and Bangladesh . We remain committed to taking our network deeper into Africa by ensuring our services touch the common man and bridge the digital devide in the continent”

He expressed confidence that in the coming years Airtel will win the heart of customers across Africa and emerge as one of the most admired brands in the continent. Meanwhile, the special guest at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili tasked the new company to imbibe good business ethics, promising that his government would give it every support, especially as it has committed to making telephony available and affordable to the rual communities.

Akunyili also on her own capacity as the Minister of Information tasked the new company to see that more Nigerians rose to the top of the company even as she urged it to make more investments in the country.

By Prince Osuagwu& Laide Akinboade

Culled from The Vanguard

Published 19-11-2010.

Custom Search

Nigeria denies pressure from the West on Iran

Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia has denied that there were pressures from Western nations on Nigeria to report its seizure of arms shipment from Iran to the United Nation’s Security Council.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Joy Ogwu, on Monday formally notified the UN’s Security Council sanctions committee about the seizure of the arms by the State Security Services (SSS) which intercepted 13 containers labelled as building materials but which were actually rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives in October.

Mr Ajumogobia told reporters at the UN before leaving New York that “I feel we have international obligations to carry them out as responsible members of the UN and it is as simple as that, and I made that very clear to the Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki when I met him in Abuja last week’’ he said.

He said most senior foreign diplomats told him at the UN that they were impressed with Nigeria’s handling of the issue but declined to mention the specific countries that made the commendation. Mr Ajumogobia further explained that the next step for Nigeria was to continue with the ongoing investigation on the issue and submit a detailed report to the UN committee later.

Friendly match controversy

Another angle to the row was the cancellation of a friendly football match between Iran and Nigeria, less than 48 hours to the kick-off. Mr Ajumogobia however denied that the cancellation by the Nigeria Football Federation had anything to do with the row over the illegal arms shipment.

“My understanding is that they had some technical problems. There were some players who were supposed to play in the friendly match that were not available” he noted adding that “I think it was just a mere coincidence; it wasn’t connected as far as I am concerned.”

A France-based shipping company CMA CGM which transported the shipment said it was hidden in containers labelled as building materials and attempts were made to send it to Gambia before the Nigerian police seized them.

The foreign envoy however said that “my view is that if a third party is laying claim to a cargo in Nigeria then they will do so properly and through the proper channels. I haven’t had such claim brought to my attention. When it is, I will deal with it appropriately. In the meantime, the security agencies are still investigating that aspect of the claim on their own. But as a Foreign Minister, I will not speculate as to who or what is claiming to anything, because under the Resolution 1929, we have clear obligation to report any arms contravention to the UN,’’ he said.

Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki during a press briefing in Tehran on Monday also hinted that investigations had revealed that the arms shipment was destined for The Gambia.

Mr Ajumogobia noted that the seizure had brought to the fore the need for government agencies to be vigilant on resolutions and international conventions and that his ministry would ensure that other government agencies are notified about the need to enforce international sanctions.

Iran is currently under series of UN sanctions which cut across military equipment, financial transactions, business interests and travel ban on individuals associated with the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme. The country is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms. The country however has good diplomatic relationship with Nigeria with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visiting Nigeria in July where he pledged his nation’s support to help Nigeria with its nuclear technology for power generation.

I need 3 years to rebuild Eagles -Siasia

Nigeria’s new coach, Samson Siasia, has said he will need, at least three years, to rebuild the Super Eagles into a formidable force. Siasia will take over the Eagles on December 1 on a four-year contract and with the perennial underachievers yet to win a major honour since 1994, the former international striker has admitted he had his work cut.

“It is going to take two, three years for us to assemble a formidable team,” Siasia said.
“It should be a gradual process, trying to build a new team with the old and the new players. Gradually, we will mix them up until we find the ones who we need, actually the ones who would play the way we want them to play. That time, I would come out and say publicly we have a team.

“But right now, we just want to focus on how to rebuild the team. Yes, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) could set targets, but if we want to be realistic, targets won’t be realistic, if you don’t have a good team. “As a coach, we need time to build a very good team. If we are looking at where we are coming from, then we have to work on how to rebuild this team.”

Siasia would, therefore, call on the fans to be patient with him as he goes about rebuilding the national team ranked 33rd in the world. “The fans must come out in large numbers to watch us play. They must exercise patience too. What we lack here is patience. We want results immediately.

“Nigerians want to see us getting to the finals like Argentina and Germany. We cannot say because we want to build a new team, we should forget about the players who are there now in the Super Eagles. That is the team we have right now.“ The Eagles’ new handler further said he was ready for the daunting challenges ahead.

“I have been waiting for this job for almost three years now and that was before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I was to be the coach of the Super Eagles after the interview conducted for the job. But that time, I said no, I wasn’t ready. Now that I am ready, I am not intimidated at all. I am ready for this job”. he declared matter-of-factly.

‘Return to Class or Quit’

Angry that striking workers of the Abia State University, Uturu have refused to shift grounds, the state governor, Theodore Orji advised all those dissatisfied with the conditions of service at the institution to quit. The governor said this during a meeting between the state government and major interest groups in the state seeking to find ways of ending the three-month-old strike.



Mr Orji said efforts by his government to ensure that striking staff unions return to work have been rebuffed by the unions’ leadership, which was why he decided to invite religious leaders to wade into the matter. He said federal institutions are there for lecturers who feel they can no longer stay in ABSU and called on the lecturers to make concessions towards resolving the strike in the interest of the students.



The governor said he had promised to pay 100% of the agreement reached by the unions with effect from January next year adding that if the unions insist that the arrears must be paid, he would have to revert to paying only 50%. He said other sectors of the state economy must receive attention, adding that the state has two other tertiary institutions that must also be attended to. As part of efforts to resolve the impasse, the stakeholders, including parents, students and the university management arrived at the conclusion that the striking staff should call off the strike and accept the state government’s offer.



No Wage Increase



They equally agreed that the new wage increase would require an increase in fees paid by students, but that the increase should not be such that parents would be forced to withdraw their wards from school as such action could lead to crime, prostitution and other social vices associated with frustration and idleness.



The pro chancellor of ABSU, Joshua Ogbonnaya gave an overview of the steps so far taken by government to resolve the imbroglio. Bishops and other religious leaders suggested that a meeting be convened between them and the striking unions to try to resolve the issues involved.

Uncertainty over voter registration •As firm drags INEC, AGF, Zinox, others to court over patent violation

THE voter registration exercise scheduled for January, 2011 appears heading for the rocks as a company, on Monday, dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and others before a federal high court in Abuja over infringement on patent rights.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/737/2010, the plaintiff, Bedding Holdings Limited, is seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/respondents either by themselves or their agents from continuing the process of considering proposals of tendering/bidding for or importing the Direct Data Capture Machine (DDMC) for the compilation, production and use of a voter register in the 2011 general election or any other elections whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Joined as defendants along with INEC are its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega; AGF; Haier Thermocool Nigeria Limited; Zinox Computer Nigeria Limited; and some unknown persons.

INEC recently awarded the contract for the supply of thousands of the DDCMs, which are scheduled to arrive the country in December to Zinox Computer Nigeria Limited and other companies.

The plaintiff is claiming that it is the bona fide patentee of two patents, to wit: Proof of Address System Scheme (PASS) and Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Box (ECTBB).

These two products, according to the applicant, would make the process and application of using the DDCMs achievable and thus constituted a violation of the plaintiff’s aforementioned patents.

“Bedding Holdings Limited is not claiming to have patent in and over the voter register nor is it claiming patent in and over the DDCMs per se.

“But the process and application of using the DDCMs to achieve the compilation of the voter register infringe on the two aforementioned patents as described in the full literature and claims of our patents as statutory granted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This is irrespective of the generic name given to any component/computer/laptop/handled or DDCM for such exercise.

“In as much as the end result is to provide the names, ages, sexes, photographs, addresses, units, wards, town, local governments, states, etc of voters, the process and the combined application of the means of achieving this, infringe on the two patented products/concepts, PASS and ECTBB,” the firm said.

PASS is embedded with a concept of coded metal plate which is used for the collection, collation and registration of people’s bio-data such as their names, addresses, ages, and so on.

Jonathan heads PTF for Super Falcons

Just as a Presidential Task Force was put in place to ensure Super Eagles’ qualification for the recent South Africa 2010 World Cup, a similar institution has been created for the Super Falcons’ participation at the Germany 2011 Fifa Women World Cup finals.

This PTF for the Super Falcons would be headed by wife of president, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan to source for fund for the ladies’ preparation and participation at the Germany 2011 Fifa Women World Cup.

The composition of the Dame Patience Jonathan_led PTF is however yet to be made public, but a dependable source hinted that the power brokers at the Villa would dominate the committee that would go cap_in_hand to woo corporate Nigeria to ensure adequate fund was sourced without much government involvement spending.

The Falcons that hit all teams including the defending champions, Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea to re_claim the crown in South Africa necessitated the creation of the PTF to ensure the team repeat the performance in Germany. .

Nigeria now more open to foreign investors – Jonathan

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday in Abuja that the Federal Government was implementing policies and measures to encourage greater participation of foreign investors in Nigeria.

Jonathan stated this in an audience with the new Croatian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ivica Tomic, who was at the Presidential Villa to present his Letters of Credence.

The President said Nigeria’s economy was now more open to direct foreign investment in different areas.

He said that the Federal Government would welcome the improvement of economic relations between Nigeria and Croatia. Jonathan wished Tomic a successful tenure in Nigeria.

The new Ambassador told the President that about 1,000 Croatians were currently working as expatriates in Nigeria’s oil and construction Industry.

He said that Croatia was very keen in expanding areas of bilateral cooperation with Nigeria.

The envoy, on behalf of his government, invited President Jonathan to visit Zagreb at his earliest convenience.

Nigeria now more open to foreign investors – Jonathan

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday in Abuja that the Federal Government was implementing policies and measures to encourage greater participation of foreign investors in Nigeria.

Jonathan stated this in an audience with the new Croatian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ivica Tomic, who was at the Presidential Villa to present his Letters of Credence.

The President said Nigeria’s economy was now more open to direct foreign investment in different areas.

He said that the Federal Government would welcome the improvement of economic relations between Nigeria and Croatia. Jonathan wished Tomic a successful tenure in Nigeria.

The new Ambassador told the President that about 1,000 Croatians were currently working as expatriates in Nigeria’s oil and construction Industry.

He said that Croatia was very keen in expanding areas of bilateral cooperation with Nigeria.

The envoy, on behalf of his government, invited President Jonathan to visit Zagreb at his earliest convenience.

Consensus candidate: We have not endorsed anybody - Northern Xtians

AS controversy continues to trail the consensus arrangement initiated by the Northern Political Elders Forum (NPLF), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), North-Central chapter, has disassociated itself from the alleged endorsement of the contraption by its northern chapter, saying that the chapter was expected to meet with aspirants from the geopolitical zone on Tuesday next week.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Jos, the North-Central chairman of CAN, Reverend Yakubu Pam, disclosed that presidential aspirants from the zone—former President Ibrahim Babangida, Mrs Serah Jibril, Governor Bukola Saraki—were expected to meet with the chapter on Tuesday next week over their aspirations.

Reverend Pam said he had met with his executive team over the purported endorsement of the consensus arrangement by the northern CAN, adding that the person who claimed to have represented the northern CAN spoke for himself, not the body he claimed to have represented.

“As far as we are concerned in the North-Central, we are not part of the decision, nobody discussed the issue with us before the pronouncement was made. At our level here, we are meeting with the presidential aspirants from this zone on Tuesday next week on their aspirations. The three of them are the former President Ibrahim Babangida, Governor Bukola Saraki and Mrs Serah Jibril,” he said.

The North-Central chairman, who said the primary concern of CAN was the unity of Nigeria, added that the interest of the body was not just for the Christians but also to have good leaders at all levels in the country.

In a related development, the senator representing Plateau Central, Senator Sati Gogwim, had stated that plans by some people in the North to produce a consensus aspirant against President Goodluck Jonathan was never a threat to the president.

The senator told the Nigerian Tribune that the likes of the NPLF leader, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, could not speak for the entire North because their emergence as leaders was not endorsed by the entire North, adding they were just a group of aggrieved people who simply wanted to take on President Jonathan for their selfish interest.

“Nobody is losing sleep over their planned consensus arrangement but I want people to know that Mallam Adamu Ciroma and others are not speaking for the North. We in the Middle Belt are not bothered because they did not recognise us as part of the North,” he said.

Senator Gogwim said if those who constituted themselves as the northern leaders actually were championing the cause of the entire North, they should come out for assessment to determine if they were credible to negotiate for the North.

He charged Nigerians to learn to appreciate those in positions of authority, adding that in the past few months of being in the saddle, President Jonathan had proved his worth and zeal to move the nation forward.

“Nigerians should give him a chance. He has demonstrated that he is capable of steering the affairs of this nation. The circumstances surrounding his emergence as president of this country is enough to convince all that the hand of God is upon him.”

MEND claims responsibility for attack on ExxonMobil

Yenagoa—The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the American oil giant, ExxonMobil facility in Akwa Ibom State.

The group also threatened to launch a major operation that would simultaneously affect oil facilities across the Niger Delta.

But the Joint Task Force, JTF, assured indigenes of the Niger Delta of their safety stressing that the security outfit is working round the clock to rid the region of criminal elements masquerading as militants and engaging in all manner of atrocities.

MEND, in an online statement signed by its Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said the attack on the Ibeno facility was carried out by its fighters.

The statement reads: “The attack commenced at approximately 2040hrs Nigerian time and terminated at approximately 2237hrs Nigerian time after our fighters detonated explosives they had earlier rigged to this facility, causing considerable damage.

“Like in the previous attack, on the shallow-water Okoro oilfield on November 7, 2010, seven local employees were abducted. They were taken to prevent the Nigerian government from attributing the damage to this facility to an industrial accident.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, wishes to draw the attention of the International Community to the indiscriminate bombing and strafing of communities in the Niger Delta and locations in the creeks and swamps suspected of accommodating militia camps by the Nigerian military.”

It alleged that “At about 1400hrs on November 15, 2010, the Nigerian Army carried out such an attack as described above, in the general vicinity of one of our camps in Rivers State in the Niger Delta.

“Expatriate hostages held at this location had to be removed and relocated for their safety as rocket attacks by the Nigerian military came very close to these individuals.”

The group urged the Nigerian government to be mindful of the fact that these activities are endangering the lives of these hostages who otherwise, would come to no harm in their custody warning that no amount of military activities will secure the release of the hostages as they would be released at their own time.

“The Nigerian government till date has refused to dialogue over addressing the injustice in the Niger Delta preferring instead to deceive the world into believing that the Niger Delta issue has being resolved by the government of Goodluck Jonathan who has only being successful in bribing a few miscreants.

“In the coming weeks, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) will launch a major operation that will simultaneously affect oil facilities across the Niger Delta,”

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force has assured indigenes of the Niger Delta of their safety stressing that the security outfit is working round the clock to rid the region of criminal elements masquerading as militants who have been engaging in all atrocities such as like kidnapping, sea robbery and illegal boarding of oil production platforms.

The Coordinator Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha in a statement said, “you will recall that in the last few weeks, criminal gangs masquerading as militants have been engaging in all atrocities, like kidnapping, sea robbery and illegal boarding of oil production platforms.

“The JTF is currently in an operation to rid the Niger Delta of these criminal elements, in order for the region to experience the needed peace and security which are imperatives for sustainable development.

“All law abiding indigenes of communities hosting these criminals are advised to remain clam and promptly report suspicious characters to relevant military authorities.”

Seized weapons: Iran recalls ambassador •Says we’ve resolved ‘misunderstanding’ with Nigeria •Nigeria calls off football friendly with Iran

IRAN’S Foreign Minister said, on Monday, that the issue of an alleged Iranian arms shipment intercepted in Nigeria was a “misunderstanding” that had been settled.

This is just as the country’s ambassador to Nigeria, Hussein Abdullahi, has been recalled with a replacement named in his position.

Nigeria said the artillery rockets and other weapons, found at a Lagos port last month in shipping containers labelled as building supplies, originated in Iran and may have been destined for Nigerian politicians intending violence if they lose in upcoming elections. Nigeria said last week it would take action against Iran if an investigation shows it violated international law and United Nations sanctions, suggesting it might report Tehran to the world body.

Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said an Iranian implicated in the case had explained the situation to Nigerian authorities. “I think the misunderstandings have been settled in this field,” Mottaki said, according to the state news agency IRNA.

Mottaki, who visited Lagos last week, also said he had replaced Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria. Mottaki did not say whether the replacement was connected to the weapons case.

A spokesman for Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry said the new ambassador’s appointment had no connection with the arms seizure. The spokesman, Ozo Nwobu, declined to comment on Iran’s assertion that the issue was the result of a misunderstanding and that it had been resolved.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the level of Iranian involvement and it will be inappropriate for us to comment before allowing them to be concluded,” Nwobu said.

In Iran, Mottaki did not elaborate on the nature of the misunderstanding or how it was resolved. His statement was the highest-level Iranian comment so far on the case. In late October, Iran’s then-ambassador to Nigeria, Hussein Abdullahi, said there was no clear evidence linking his country to the shipment.

In a sign that tensions continued between the two countries, Nigeria postponed a soccer match against Iran’s national team scheduled for Wednesday in Tehran.

Musa Amadu, the Nigeria Football Federation’s acting secretary general, told The Associated Press on Monday that the match was postponed “due to the non-availability of our key players.” But he didn’t a deny a connection with the political events, saying “it’s for you to speculate.”

An international shipping company based in France, CMA CGM, said it had picked up the containers in which the weapons were hidden in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The shipment stopped in Mumbai, India, before heading to Lagos. On Friday, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said Iranian officials confirmed the consignment originated in Iran.

During his visit, Mottaki cleared the way for Nigerian security officials to interview one of two Iranians who Nigeria says organised the shipment, Ajumogobia said. The Nigerians say the two have taken refuge in the Iranian Embassy.

The interception of the weapons had drawn sharp criticism of Iran from Nigeria. In a 2007 resolution stepping up sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, the U.N. Security Council banned Iranian arms exports, forbidding the sale or supply of weapons by Iran, whether directly or indirectly. It requires nations to prevent any such transfers and prevent their citizens from obtaining any weapons from Iran.

But Mottaki, on Monday, depicted the tensions as eased. He said he and the Nigerian foreign minister had held talks on bilateral relations and that Ajumogobia would visit Tehran. Mottaki said the appointment of a new ambassador to Nigeria would “create new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.”

How not to treat the champions

African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria returned to a tumultuous welcome Monday afternoon, only to be conveyed in a rickety old truck that could best be used in conveying cows. The journey fro the international airport to the local wing was done on the dirty truck.

A crowd made up of mostly journalists, friends of the players and football enthusiasts and the ever present members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club had formed at the arrival hall as early as 11.30 am, waiting for the champions to arrive. After a long wait, information came that they would be emerging through the departure hall as they were to take a connection flight to Abuja soon after their arrival. The waiting game continued until 2.00 pm when the Arik Air flight, conveying the players and officials touched down. It took another one and a half hours before the check out formalities were concluded.

Before their arrival, a truck had been parked at the entrance of the departure hall. Once the airport formalities were over, the players were herded into the waiting truck.

They were joined by NFF Executive committee member and head of the technical committee, Barrister Chris Green, acting NFF media officer, Robinson Okosun and members of the Nigeria Football Supporters club. Journalist who attempted going into the truck had it tough as security personnel, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gideon Akinsola formed a wall around them.

A Brila fm reporter, Tony Bekederemo was forced to jump down from the truck. There was no arrangement for a formal press chat with the players or officials.

The truck became a spectacle of sorts as thousands of Nigerians who stared in bewilderment started asking why African champions should be transportedin such a truck.

Confronted on the truck issue, Barrister Green who accompanied the girls from the international airport to the local wing simply said, “I was not part of the arrangements. I think we made do with what we saw.”

It was indeed a bad way of how not to treat chmpions. “Could the NFF had done the same thing if the Super Eagles achieved the same feat?” an onlooker asked.