Nitel's Ongoing Strike Bites Harder

In this report, Efem Nkanga, examines the recent strike action embarked upon by employees of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), the negative impact the strike has had on the economy and the need for the Federal Government to declare telecommunication a critical sector of the economy.

The ongoing industrial action of employees of NITEL has continued to take its toll on the economy almost two weeks after the commencement of the strike, which was attributed to disagreements between Transnational Corporation, owners of NITEL and NITEL employees over the payment of salaries and emoluments.

The strike action, which has led to the shut down of SAT-3, the underwater communication cable link connecting Nigeria and many African countries to the rest of the world through Europe, has led to communication challenges that has continued to take its toll on the economy. Affected by the strike action are critical sectors of the economy spanning oil and gas, banking, the seat of government, security service, media houses, private telecoms operators (PTOs) and telecoms companies etc. Major conglomerates like Total and Shell are said to have been seriously affected by the strike action. Though NITEL is known for rendering epileptic services, it has a golden asset - SAT-3, which delivers capacity that links Nigeria and other participatory members of the project to major internet backbones across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The SAT 3 cable project connects Africa with Europe and is projected to be a major revenue earner for NITEL. THISDAY gathered that NITEL, which spent about $45 million in 2002 to co-own the facility, which runs through the Atlantic Ocean linking countries along the route, makes only about N100million as revenue every month while its salary structure on a monthly basis is about 500 million. It is this shortfall between the revenue it earns and its liabilities that has been its albatross.

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Has the Food Crisis Spread to Nigeria?

The food crisis which has ravaged some countries across the globe may not be too far from Nigeria, given the rate at which prices of staple foods have been on the rise daily.

Rising food prices have already sparked off huge crisis in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and Ivory Coast, among others.

THISDAY investigation across the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, revealed that prices of staple food stuffs have witnessed swift increases in the last couple of weeks.

It was learnt that the food prices shot up in the country early March and have continued to be on the rise.

The reason for the rising prices is not too clear yet but food experts said climatic change, drought in some parts of the North, fuel scarcity experienced recently in some states and what they called government's "inconsistent policies" were partly responsible for the price surge.

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Yar'Adua Orders Probe of British Airways Incident

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has directed the Minister of State for Transportation (Aviation), Mr Felix Hyatt, to begin an urgent investigation into a March 27, 2008 incident in which British Airways (BA) allegedly ordered more than 100 Nigerians off its London to Lagos flight "for protesting against the brutal treatment of a deportee aboard."

Yar'Adua, who is in Germany for a medical review, asked Hyatt to take all necessary measures and protect "the travelling public from the humiliation they face daily from foreign airlines."

A source told The Guardian that the President had seen reports of the incident from the British media, expressing "disgust" at the "seeming non-chalant attitude of BA officials."

He, therefore, directed that since the minister has not forwarded any report of the incident to his office, he should be formally written to investigate the incident and report back to him.

The source added: "The President is said to be concerned by the recent resurgence of complaints about the poor treatment, discrimination and downright abuse meted out to Nigerians by some foreign airlines operating in the country.

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Last month over 100 Nigerian passengers attempted to board a plane in London on a British Airways flight to Lagos, but were ordered off the flight for protesting the heinous treatment of a deportee on the flight. Yar'Adua has vowed not to stand for this kind of treatment. Though he is currently in Germany receiving some sort of medical treatment, he is investigating the situation to determine what course of action to take. This action shows that the president will no longer stand for second-class treatment of Nigerian citizens.

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Police kill six robbery suspects

Four suspected armed robbers were shot dead by the police while robbing a passenger bus on the Iwo-Ejigbo road on Monday.

Also, two out of a three-man suspected robbery gang were killed on Monday by a police inspector at Obalende of Lagos.

The bus, which was on its way from Lagos to Ogbomoso, was forced to stop by the robbers, who had taken over the Iwo-Ejigbo road.

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This article addresses the recent killing of six robbery suspects by Nigerian police. A passenger bus was robbed at gunpoint, but the robbers were shot dead at the scene by police officers. According to the article, the police responded extremely quickly which prevented to robbers from escaping. This shows the the Nigerian government is doing something right in this aspect of governing because the police responded so quickly. This also shows the crime that has been ever present in Nigeria.

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Nigerian oil sector being probed

Members of Nigeria's parliament have launched an investigation into the country's oil and gas business.

The probe aims to shed light on the impenetrable corruption that dogs the industry in the country.

It follows a similar probe into the power sector which revealed corrupt deals that have left Nigeria without reliable electricity supply.

Nigeria is currently the eighth biggest exporter of oil in the world, but most of its population remain poor.

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This article addresses the recent probing of Nigeria's oil sector in an attempt to discover any corruption that has manifested itself. This search is designed to reveal anyone that has made corrupt deals in Nigeria's oil industry, and if they are found out Nigeria's legitimacy will most likely be lowered considering most government officials are involved in the oil sector. If they are found to be corrupt, the citizens of Nigeria may question whether or not they have a right to lead their country.

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Senate Will Protect Iyabo From EFCC, Senate Claims

The Senate yesterday stood its grounds, insisting that the chairperson of its Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, is innocent of the corruption charges brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Consequently, the Senate promised to protect her from unnecessary harassment and intimidation by the anti-financial crimes commission.

The Senate had, through Obasanjo-Bello's lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, requested Senate president David Mark to prevail on the EFCC not to arrest her over the N10 million her committee collected from the Ministry of Health.

The committee had agreed to have participated in the sharing of the money.
Addressing Senate reporters yesterday, Senator Eze insisted that their colleague Iyabo was not found wanting in any way.

He noted that when the Senate listened to her, they came to the conclusion that she was neither culpable nor found wanting of any misconduct and that if due process was followed she would have no questions to answer.

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Obasanjo has now garnered the support of the senate in hiding from the EFCC. It seems, though, that if she is truly innocent, she would not be hiding. If she was not involved with the corruption, she should go before the EFCC, and they should bring a legal end to this.

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Nigeria's 'slow' election reform

Even reforming elections in Nigeria will not fix democracy.

That is the opinion of pro-democracy activists in Nigeria's capital Abuja.

A year ago, Umaru Yar'Adua was elected in a poll that was condemned by international observers as being the worst Africa's most populous nation had held.

He immediately promised reform and set up a committee to recommend what should be done to ensure improvements.

Public hearings for the committee begin in May and it is expected to publish a report in August.

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This article addresses the continued attempts in Nigeria to reform democracy. Nigerians have made numerous changes to their election process, but many believe that election reforms will not fix the democracy in Nigeria. This article addresses the concern about previous elections in Nigeria, including President Umaru Yar'Adua's election last year. The reliability of the results of his election was questionable because of the assumed corruption that was present. This article also refers to Yar'Adua's vow to stamp out the corruption in Nigeria by making necessary changes which is evident because he immediately created a committee to discuss what should be done to reform the elections after he was elected. This shows the corruption that has consumed Nigeria for so long, and if nothing is done about this corruption, then the nation's legitimacy will soon be lessened if it has not already been.

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N300m Scam: Why I won't Submit to EFCC — Iyabo

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, explained yesterday why she would not submit herself new to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for arrest and prosecution in connection with the N10 million received by the Committee from the Federal Ministry of Health.

She said her decision did not mean that she was above the law. She said the EFCC should let her be since she was already challenging the competence of the two-count charge slammed against her in court.

She said from all indications, EFCC was not really interested in prosecuting her over whatever offence she was alleged to have committed but simply interested in disgracing her.

It was also gathered yesterday that the Presidency might have frustrated EFCC’s initial moves to detain the Senator.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja through her counsel, Mr Bankole Akomolafe of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) Chambers, Senator Obasanjo-Bello said: “The Ministry of Health paid N10 millionto the Senate and not to Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello. The sum of N10 million was paid to the Senate Committee on Health by the Senate to cover the retreat for the study of a bill. Apparently the EFCC utilizes the same sort of funding for similar retreats, so Obasanjo-Bella is confused as to why they are accusing her of stealing money.

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Senator Obasanjo-Bella has been accused of embezzling ten million naira and is being convicted by the EFCC. She feels that she is being unjustly accused and denies the claim; she says that the money went towards a retreat the the Senate took to discuss a new bill. She is convinced that she is being singled out amongst all of the other senators because the EFCC is trying to disgrace her.

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Lagos to Issue Own Driver's Licence

The Lagos State government yesterday announced plans to re-certify all drivers within the metropolis.

Under the arrangement, the government advised motorists with driver's licence produced by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to come forward with the document for re-certification.

The State Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, told journalists in Lagos that the problem of fake licences would also be eliminated following the state government's decision. Badejo, who spoke at a media briefing to mark the one year anniversary of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola said the state government, through its drivers' institute, issues licences to people who are physically fit, mentally alert and emotionally stable.

Speaking with The Guardian recently, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (LSMVAA), Mr. Akin Hanson, said the state would start the production and issuance of driver's licence to ensure safe motoring.

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Lagos, one of Nigeria's most populous cities, is now issueing their own separate driver's licenses in order to decrease the number of people driving with fake licenses. There are many traffic accidents associated with bad drivers who use a fake license. The new licenses are supposedly impossible, or at least very difficult, to create. This new legislation should decrease the number of bad drivers on the road in Lagos.

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Five Feared Killed in Lagos Robberies

No fewer than five persons were feared killed and about 12 others seriously injured when armed robbers unleashed terror on various parts of the Lagos metropolis between 10p.m. on Tuesday and the early hours of yesterday.

Sources informed The Guardian that in one of the incidents, a seven-member robbery gang attacked a businessman at the Ejigbo area of the metropolis and carted away millions of naira from his vehicles.

It was not clear as at press time whether the man survived the attack or not. However, no fewer than three persons were killed by the robbers, as they shot sporadically into different directions in order to make good their escape. Some other people were also reported injured in the shooting spree.

The bursts of gunfire from the daring gang attracted the attention of the men of the State Rapid Response Squad who then joined forces with the regular policemen in the area to give the hoodlums a hot chase.

But it was learnt that the robbers eventually fled to their hideout through Igando Road, another crime prone area of the metropolis.

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A band of robbers terrorized Lagos Tuesday and killed at least three and injured twelve innocent bystanders in the process. They left the crime scene with millions of naira and have not been caught yet. Police must make every attempt to catch these criminals and punish them in order to discourage this behavior. The social conditions in Nigeria aren't exactly stable, so they certainly need help putting a stop to crime.

I’m Afraid for My Life, Says Iyabo Obasanjo

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, has said she fears for her life. Obasanjo-Bello is implicated in the N300 million Health Ministry scam and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) now wants her to be prosecuted for the alleged offence.

Her comments came after the anti-corruption agents raided her home in Abuja in an attempt to bring her to face prosecution. She told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) yesterday that EFCC agents slapped her personal assistant during their visit to her house two days ago. "I am afraid of the EFCC... they slapped my PA when they got to the house," she said "I'm not on the run but I feel as if I'm a victim of harassment... I'm afraid for my life," she added.

Obasanjo-Bello, who chairs the Senate's Health Committee, was charged along with ten other top officials of the Health Ministry, including two former Ministers – Prof. Adenike Grange and Gabriel Aduku - for sharing the proceeds of corruption. After charges against Obasanjo-Bello were read in court last week, the EFCC said she had to turn herself in as soon as possible.

She was said to have bolted out of the house through the back door when the men of EFCC came to her house uninvited on Tuesday. She told the BBC she could not understand why her home was raided when she had visited the EFCC offices twice in the past week and made herself available through her lawyer.

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Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of the former president, fears for her life after the EFCC ransacked her house on Tuesday. There are rumors that she benefitted financially from her father's less than moral practices while in office. She feels the the EFCC crossed a few lines by actually slapping one of her employees in the face while they tore apart her house. If the EFCC really wants to put an end to corruption in Nigeria, they are going to have to do a better job of proving to citizens that they are a legitimate government agency that wants what is best for the country.

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Contractors May Refund Government's Money with Interest

Contractors who handled the controversial power plants initiated by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo's but failed to perform satisfactorily may be forced to refund the money and pay interest on them.

This is among punitive measures the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel probing the alleged $16 billion spent on the energy sector between 1999 and 2007 may recommend to the Federal Government.

Aside the representatives' probe, the Federal Government has intensified its efforts to bail out the energy sector from its near moribund state.

Its current focus is on the controversial National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), where a global firm hired by the government to assess seven of the power plants and recommend ways to make functional has submitted its report.

After inspecting the Papalanto Power Plant in Ogun State yesterday, the panel's chairman, Mr. Godwin Ndudi Elumelu, said the contractors who performed poorly would be made to refund the money and pay interest on them.

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After many problems, much payment, and little results, the power sector of Nigeria did not do very well last year. Hopefully, the contracters will follow through and refund money, which might mitigate some of the damage and lack of progress in the power sector.

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