Oil producing states to get industrial parks – NCDMB

In a bid to stimulate oil producing communities in the country to participate in the local supply chain of the oil sector, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, said it planned to establish industrial parks in oil producing states in partnership with the state governments.
The development endorsed by the Governing Council of the Board under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, is intended to stimulate the participation of the communities in the local supply chain and provide a direct platform for collaboration with the original equipment manufacturers, OEMs, who are now required to manufacture a minimum proportion of components in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Ernest Nwapa, who in Lagos last week at the Addax Executive Business Seminar on Nigerian Content, explained that the Board will collaborate with major operators, service companies and the relevant state governments to build industrial parks, which will support operations of the industry and help achieve service efficiency through shared services.
According to him, other benefits of the industrial park concept include the reduction of start-up investment costs for new businesses, stakeholders’ collaboration and industry commitment to utilise manufactured products from industrial parks.
He said, “The parks will host manufacturing activities driven by the Oil and Gas industry demand but will certainly service other sectors of the economy as they grow organically into integrated industrial zones.
“The start-up product slate will include steel pipes and allied fittings, switch gears, panels, skids, pipe racks and brackets, environmental protection equipment, chemicals, industrial gases, computers, telecom and other ICT equipment components which includes Furniture,  LPG cylinders, Bolts & Nuts, Drilling fluids.”
Speaking further, Nwapa said that part of the strategy is to stimulate small and medium scale enterprises focused on oil and gas technology into sustainable engines for technological growth and employment at the grassroots level.
He noted that the major operators will benefit from increased entrepreneurial activities in their host communities, adding that the Board has reached out to the state governments to participate in an SME fair to enable it identify companies with potential to incubate and grow.
Nwapa further said, “In this way, over 100,000 productive jobs will be created across the communities for skills ranging from professional to artisanal and de-emphasise the social employment prevalent in the communities.
“The fair will identify SMEs with capacity which will be supported and accommodated in the new industrial parks to manufacture goods used in industry with the active involvement of the traditional OEMs.
“However, the Board will activate the provisions of the Act to provide specific incentives for OEMs that participate in the initiative such as locking in orders for equipment or components manufactured/assembled in these parks for extended periods.”
He also disclosed that Nigerian companies had committed to invest over $600million in the manufacture and assembly of various equipments and components.

No automatic tickets for Jonathan, govs in 2015 – PDP

PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur

Peoples Democratic Party on Monday said there would be no automatic ticket for President Goodluck Jonathan if he decides to seek a second term in 2015.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in an interview with reporters in Abuja, added that governors seeking another term would also not be giving automatic tickets.

The President and the governors, Metuh said, would go through the primaries as stipulated in the party’s constitution.

Metuh said, “I can tell you that as at today under the constitution of our party and the way we run our programmes, we are going to have primaries in 2015.

“We are completely unaware of any move to change the constitution of the party. The constitution that we have, which we just amended at the last convention, provides that we must have local government and state congresses and national convention. That is the constitution we have as at today.

“I ask you, is there any automatic ticket in the 2012 constitution of the party? The answer is no.”

On whether the amendment of the party’s constitution can take place before 2015, he said it was possible.

According to him, if members of the party seek an amendment of the party’s constitution; its leadership will listen to their demand.

He added, “Of course, it is possible. Constitution amendment can take place at any time if the members want it.

“The Constitution of Nigeria is being amended and if that is being done, the constitution of the party can also be amended if the people decide to.”

He also spoke on the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, noting that those seeking convocation of the assembly would still have to wait.

 Metuh added, “The Chairman of the Board of Trustees must be elected before we can call for NEC meeting.

“Then after the emergence of the BoT Chairman, the party would have a national caucus meeting before we call for NEC meeting.

“We are not afraid of any meeting. In fact, we will have the meeting. There will be no problem. The problem is over and the President has intervened and there is now peace in the party.”

When reminded that the BoT Chairman had no role to play in the NEC meeting, he agreed, but added that the party’s must follow its convention.

Metuh said, “In our constitution and convention, before we have NEC meeting, we usually have the Board of Trustees meeting, and we have a national caucus meeting before NEC meeting.

“Before the last NEC meeting (in July 2012), we did not have vacancy in the office of the Chairman of BoT.”

Robbers kill two soldiers, injure one in Lagos

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika

Two soldiers were killed, while another one was injured after robbers attacked a white man’s residence at Apapa, Lagos State on Sunday night.

The robbery, which occurred at about 11pm, was allegedly successful because the robbers used another white man to gain entrance to the victim’s building.

It was learnt that the robbers were able to deceive the victim’s security guards because of the presence of the white man who was with the robbers.

Police sources told us that some of the robbers, on gaining entrance, shot sporadically into the air, while other members of the gang stormed the victim’s rooms, ransacking everywhere.

They were said to have made away with some of his valuables. The victim was not hurt.

The victim’s residence is close to Command Guest House, which belonged to the Nigerian Army.

When soldiers on guard at the Command Guest House heard the shootings, one of them opened the gate and the robbers, on sighting him, opened fire.

The soldier died on the spot. Another of his colleagues was also killed, while a third soldier’s leg was shattered by bullets.

It was learnt that some mobile policemen attached to a popular hotel in the area, who were attracted by gunshot sounds, engaged the robbers in a protracted gun battle.

The robbers later fled in the victim’s jeep.

They, however, abandoned their own metallic grey Honda car, marked GJ435 LSR.

It was learnt that the soldier, whose leg was shattered, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Mr. Damascus Ozoani, said although the police got wind of the robbery, it could not comment on it.

He said, “There was no official report at any police station. Since the incident affected the army, I suggest that you call the army PRO.”

The army spokesman, Captain Eze, said he had not been briefed on the incident. He promised to make enquiry and get back to us.

The spokesman, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, did not pick his calls. The text message sent to his number was also not replied to.

Police nab robbery suspect with Army uniform, police baton

LAGOS — Policemen attached to Bariga Division, yesterday, stormed a robbery gang’s  hideout in Bariga area, arresting a suspected member of the gang, said to be operating in Army uniform.
Recovered from the hideout which doubles as one of the suspects’ apartments, according to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide , were a pair of Army uniform, one locally made double barrel pistol with two live cartridges, a machete and  Police baton.
Braide explained that when the operatives stormed the hideout located on Oluwa Street, two persons suspected to be members of the gang fled, abandoning the owner of the apartment whom she identified simply as Ahmed.
The suspect, as gathered, had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba,where investigation aimed at ascertaining how he came about the Army uniform and Police baton was on-going.
…Kill 8 alleged car snatchers during shoot-out
LAGOS — Eight people said to be members of a robbery gang that specialises in snatching cars at gun point, were, yesterday, gunned-down during an exchange of gunfire between them  and operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja.
Vanguard gathered that the bandits, who operated in two groups, met their waterloo  while trying to smuggle  a Toyota Siena Space Bus and a Toyota Camry car which they snatched  at  Ejigbo and Ikotun areas of Lagos State into the Republic of Benin.
Sources told Vanguard that  the gold colour  Toyota Siena  with number plate LAGOS JJJ 623 AW, was snatched from its owner, one  Habeeb, at Ejigbo  while  the wine colour  Toyota Camry with number plate LAGOS  EPE 737 AT, was snatched from a yet-to-be identified owner at Ikotun, on September 9, 2012.
A  source who pleaded anonymity, said policemen across the state were alerted after  the cars were stolen, while men of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, and other police patrol teams chased  the bandits without success as  they drove the vehicles  to Ogun State.
Meanwhile SARS  operatives, led by the officer  in charge SP Abba Kyari, received an intelligence report that the  armed bandits had concluded  plans to  smuggle the cars to a waiting  buyer at Benin Republic at the dead of the night. They reacted  and swiftly accosted the bandits at Ifo and Sango Ota areas of   Ogun State respectively .
According to the source, the operatives opened fire on the bandits in a bid to stop them  from fleeing and the bandits armed with locally made pistols  shot at the police. The retaliation led to an fierce exchange of gunfire  between the police and the bandits, which saw the death of  eight members of   the two gangs.
“Six locally made pistols, 48 live and 11 expended Cartridges and the two stolen cars were recovered from the  bandits”   the source added.

Suspect sets truck ablaze to destroy evidence–NSCDC

Truck set ablaze

An illegal bunkering suspect at Mbak Etoi, Uyo, Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, set his fuel truck ablaze to prevent security agencies from identifying him.

The state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Pedro Ideba, said this in Uyo on Monday while briefing journalists on the activities of the corps.

He said the truck, which had earlier been seized by the agency, was razed by the suspect after he mobilised his boys to attack NSCDC officials, who had to leave the truck at the village where it was seized.

He said, “The villagers who were hired by the suspect damaged two of our Toyota Hilux vehicles and injured some of our men during the operations.

“In order for them to destroy the evidence, they came on Monday night and set the tanker that was parked in our office in the village ablaze. But the fire was put off before it could reach the tank compartment.

“The commandant of the unit later paid N150,000 to a crane company to tow the truck to our office that night.”

He stated that all those involved in the burning of the truck as well as in bunkering had been arrested and would be arraigned in court soon.

Ideba said 18 suspects were also arrested in the last two weeks for offences ranging from illegal bunkering to stealing of Power Holding Company of Nigeria and Nigerian Telecommunication Limited cables in some parts of the state.

 “Last week, we caught three tankers near Julius Berger yard and the suspects have all been arraigned.

 “Six suspects were also arrested vandalising PHCN cables, with a motorcycle bearing PHCN stickers.

“We also arrested vandals who were vandalising NITEL cables, off Nwaniba Street in Uyo metropolis.

He said his command was battle-ready to ensure that Akwa Ibom was not safe for bunkering and other criminal activities.

Nigerians who could succeed Pope

L-R: • Pope Benedict XVI •Arinze • Onaiyekan • Okogie

As the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI throws the Catholic world into the search for a new leader, We looks at the profiles of three Nigerian cardinals who are qualified for consideration

The sudden resignation of Pope Benedict XVI as the head of the Catholic Church on Monday came to the Catholic world and many people around the world as a surprise. The reason is that although the old man’s reason for resignation is understandable, the decision is nevertheless an unusual one. The Pope cited ill-health prompted by old age as reason for his action. He is 85 years old.

Very important is also the fact that the action has thrown the Catholic world into a search for a successor. His resignation takes effect from February 28.  The Vatican,  in response to the development,  said a worthy successor would be elected before Easter. Now the ball is in the court of the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church to elect a new pope.

The College of Cardinal, which, as at February 8 this year, has 209 members, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. A function of the college is to advise the Pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory (meeting). It also convenes on the death or resignation of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor. However, a cardinal that is 80 years and above would not be allowed to vote.

This is according to the current rules for the election of the Roman Pontiff, those in Pope John Paul II’s Universi Dominici Gregis of February 22, 1996. The rules state that cardinals who have reached the age of 80 before the day becomes vacant do not have a vote. By this rule, only 118 of the 209 members will be saddled with the responsibility of looking for Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has at least three popular cardinals – Cardinal Francis Arinze, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie and Cardinal John Onaiyekan. All the three could vote. Arinze,  who was born in November 1932,  will turn 80 in November this year. Okogie, retired at the mandatory retirement age of 75 last year,  while Onaiyekan was born in 1944.

However, since the new pope will emerge from among the conclave of cardinals, one of the questions that arise in the wake of the pope’s resignation is: can any of these Nigerians make history by becoming the first African or black person to attain this plum position?

Francis Arinze, who was born in Eziowelle, Anambra State, Nigeriaon November 1, 1932, is currently Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni (succeeding Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI) since 2005. Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II, and was considered papabile before the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Benedict XVI. He was named a cardinal on May 25, 1985.

 Okogie was born on June 16, 1936 in Lagos. He hails from Uromi in Edo State. His father was Esan and his mother, Yoruba. Okogie was ordained as a priest on December 11,  1966. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology, and had planned to study in Rome, but was called to Nigeria where he was a pastoral assistant at the Holy Cross Cathedral. He was drafted into the Nigerian army, and served there as a chaplain. After another period of service at Holy Cross Cathedral, he was an instructor at King’s College, Lagos.

In 1971, he was ordained titular Bishop of Mascula and Auxiliary of Oyo, and in 1973 named Archbishop. As Archbishop, Okogie was the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and from 1994 to 2000, headed the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

Among other radical ideas for which he is famous, Cardinal Okogie once volunteered to die in place of a Muslim woman who had been condemned to death by stoning by an Islamic court for adultery.

He was proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of October 21, 2003, and holds the title of Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano (or, in English,  Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel of Mostacciano). During his cardinal years, Okogie was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.

His resignation from the pastoral governance of the see of Lagos,  because of having reached the age limit of 75 years,  was accepted on May 25, 2012.

 Onaiyekan was born on January 29, 1944 in Kabba, Kogi State. He is the Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Abuja.He was previously President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Bishop of Ilorin.

He was made a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in a consistory on November, 24 2012. As Cardinal-Priest,  he was assigned the titular church of San Saturnino.

On Thursday, January, 31 2013, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Cardinal Onaiyekan to serve as a Member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and as a Member of the Presidential Committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family. He will hold these memberships until his 80th birthday.

Interestingly, a report published in Los Angeles Times on Monday notes that speculation on Pope’s successor has recommended Africa and Latin American cardinals. It identifies among others Arinze, Ghanaian Peter Turks and Brazilian Odilo Scherer as possible candidates.

The BBC had on Monday announced the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI after nearly eight years as the head of the Catholic Church. According to the news agency, the pope had said he was too old to continue at the age of 85.

The unexpected development – the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years – surprised governments, Vatican-watchers and even his closest aides.

The Vatican says it expects a new Pope to be elected before Easter.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope in 2005 after John Paul II’s death.

The BBC’s David Willey in Rome says the move has come as a shock – but adds that in theory there has never been anything stopping Pope Benedict or any of his predecessors from stepping aside.

Under the Catholic Church’s governing code, Canon Law, the only conditions for the validity of such a resignation, are that it be made freely and be properly published.

But resignation is extremely rare: the last Pope to step aside was Pope Gregory XII, who resigned in 1415 amid a schism within the Church, BBC adds.

A Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said that even Pope Benedict’s closest aides did not know what he was planning to do and were left “incredulous”. He added that the decision showed “great courage” and “determination”.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is quoted as saying he was “greatly shaken by this unexpected news”.

BBC adds that the brother of the German-born Pope said the pontiff had been advised by his doctor not to take any more transatlantic trips and had been considering stepping down for months.

According to the agency, talking from his home in Regensburg in Germany, Georg Ratzinger said his brother was having increasing difficulty walking and that his resignation was part of a “natural process”.

He added: “His age is weighing on him. At this age my brother wants more rest.”

The Pope is not expected to take part in the conclave that will choose his successor, and will then retire to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo when he leaves office.

Father Lombardi said the Pope would then move into a monastery of cloistered nuns inside the Vatican, for “a period of prayer and reflection”.

Former Editor of the Catholic Herald, Damian Thompson, says the Pope has made a “brave move.”

At 78, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was one of the oldest new popes in history when elected.

BBC adds that he took the helm as one of the fiercest storms the Catholic Church has faced in decades – the scandal of child sex abuse by priests – was breaking.

In a statement, the pontiff said: “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

“I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

“However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to steer the boat of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.

“For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.”

Prominent Christian clerics in Nigeria have also reacted to Pope Benedict XVI’s decision.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Ibadan, the Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan Arch Diocese, Most Rev. Alaba Job, said the news was saddening.

Job said that though a rare occurrence, the decision by Pope Benedict would have to be accepted since it did not contravene the Canon Law of the church.

“It is not a common thing, in fact, it is rare to see a Pope resign and the last time this happened was centuries ago.

“Though we did not expect it, we have to commend this man for the courage to take such a weighty decision as he has been doing well over the years.”

 Also reacting, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Oyo Chapter, Pastor Ayo Olabisi, commiserated with Catholics, saying the Pope acted in good faith.

“I believe he is acting on God’s direction, so who are we to query God?

Three journalists arrested for polio vaccine killings

Members of the boko haram sect

Three Nigerian journalists have been arrested for allegedly inciting violence against polio workers, Reuters reported.
On Friday, gunmen in Kano State killed nine people, who had been giving patients the polio vaccine. The arrested journalists are accused of inspiring the attacks.
The journalists had said on Wazobia FM on Wednesday that immunisation against polio was anti-Islam and part of a Western conspiracy to cause infertility, Kano Police Chief Ibrahim Idris, told Reuters.
The killing of the vaccinators is a major setback in Nigeria’s fight against polio. “The killing of polio vaccinators in Kano State is a dastardly act that must be condemned by all,” he told All Africa.