Reps declare N320bn missing from crude oil remittance

From Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon Abdulmumuin Jibrin, last weekend declared N320billion missing from the remittance by the Nigeria Nationl Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He said that the sum of  N1.516 trillion was paid in by NNPC into the Federal Government treasury.

Jibrin noted that what Nigerians want is total remittance of revenue generated from oil sales and not crude oil sales figures declared recently by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. He said:  “It should be noted that this is after taking into consideration, payments for Joint venture cash calls (i.e. cost of production) and petrol subsidy payments. However, only N1.516 trillion has been remitted to the Federal Government coffers by the NNPC showing a shortfall of N320.654 billion for the period”, the lawmaker noted.

“Again, it should be noted that this is actual revenue generated at the prevailing market rate of crude oil and gas. The budget for the Fiscal year 2013 was based on $79 per barrel, whereas the price had hardly fallen below $100 per barrel for the whole year. This implies that even though we are receiving way above the benchmark on our crude oil and gas sales, we are not meeting our targets because our crude oil production has fallen way below budgeted estimates as a result of massive crude oil theft and unabated corruption in the oil and gas sector,”Jibrin lamented

The Finance Committee chairman maintained that Nigerians are not as keen on crude oil sales figures as the actual remittances from in NNPC to the federation account, adding that the amount remitted was more important and NNPC should have been more honest to present the figures so that Nigerians could understand what actually accrued  to the Federal Government.

His words: “For January to September 2013, the federation was expected to earn N1.837 trillion (or N204.168 billion per month) from the sale of crude oil and gas marketed by the NNPC with the Petroleum Minister as its board chairperson”.

The lawmaker insisted that figures available to the House Committee on Finance showed that revenue targets were only barely met in the months of April (N212.029 billion) and May (N210.202 billion). While in July, targets were not met (N191.549 billion), N35.103 billion was transferred to the excess crude account

According to him, “the Ministry of Petroleum/NNPC has to be held accountable for this shortfall. The MTEF deliberations and revenue framework for the fiscal 2014 year will have to look extensively into this worrying situation. If this trend is allowed to continue, it will have devastating consequences on our economy which is still dependent to the tune of over 80% on the petroleum industry”.

“At last, it is gratifying to note that after a barrage of well-deserved criticisms from well-meaning observers of the oil and gas industry, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is finally making effort to come clean with the recent release of figures of crude oil sales allegedly totalling $20.9bn for the first seven months of 2013, Jibrin said.

Igbo Day: Mbazuluike Amaechi blasts S’East govs, others

…As Ohaneze supports Jonathan’s return

From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

First Republic minister and elder statesman, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi has used this years’ Igbo Day celebrations to condemn what he termed the lackadaisical attitude of governors of the South-East and other political leaders to the affairs of their people.

Amaechi, who was worried by the absence of the governors and other political office holders at this year’s event, which was staged at the Okpara Square in Enugu, lamented that they were not living up to the reasons they were selected to represent the people.

Looking around the venue, the elder statesman queried: “Where are the Igbo leaders? Why are they not here? They have refused to identify with the people.

“They were brought to represent us but they have remained in Abuja; the governors have remained in the Government Houses, that’s not why we put you there.

“We did not put you there to terrorise us with sirens, not to build sky scrappers but to help develop our people and our land.”

Amaechi, who was Aviation minister in the second republic, regretted the position of the Igbo in Nigeria and called for a change in attitude and for concerted efforts to re-position the people in the polity.

In his speech, the President General of Ohaneze, Chief Gary Igariwey on behalf of the apex body declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 elections, insisting that the Igbo would only ask for the presidency after Jonathan must have completed his second tenure.

Said he: “Our problem is that we are not united. Since the end of the war, we have not been able to get the presidency but we can because we are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria and the people with the demographic width.

“But first, let’s get united; Igbo will go for presidency after Jonathan, we can’t keep waiting. Many people say it’s their turn but we are going to work towards it.”

Again Okorocha, Amaechi, Oshiomhole shun S’East, S’South govs’ meeting

…Govs of 2 zones fail to endorse Jonathan

From CHIDI NNADI and PETRUS OBI, Enugu

For the second time in three months, governors of Imo, Rivers and Edo states, Rochas Okorocha, Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole, respectively, stayed away from the meeting of South-East and South-South governors without sending any representative.
The meeting, which was held at the Enugu Government House, saw governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Peter Obi (Anambra), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) in attendance, while Seraike Dickson of Bayelsa Statesent his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah.
According to Imoke, they were in Enugu to see how they would continue to strengthen economic ties amongst their states, as well as continue to pursue the development of their zones.
Unlike the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo that endorsed Jonathan earlier yesterday, during the 2013 Igbo Day held at Okpara Square, Enugu, the governors of the two zones failed to endorse the president for the 2015 presidential election.
“We note that the determination of who will be president of this country in 2015 will be made by the Nigerian electorate, in line with democratic tenets and the power of the people should not be usurped by any group or individuals,” they said. They, however, urged the president to remain focused on governance and not allow himself to be distracted.
The governors also called for continued dialogue at resolving national issues, as well as managing the security situation in the country in order to guarantee the continued corporate existence of the nation. “We commend the security agencies for their efforts in managing these challenges and commend the Federal Government for the massive reduction in crude oil theft,” they said.

• We’ll exit club of under-developed nations by 2018 – Nwankwo, DMO boss

By Amechi Ogbonna

Director General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, recently spoke on efforts by the Federal Government, through his office, to create a virile bond and securities market that would ease the funding constraints of the three tiers of government and the private sector.

He explained that the economic transformation programme of President Goodluck Jonathan had further bolstered the global business community’s confidence in Nigeria’s economy. Nwankwo believes that government’s rising reform profile has also been responsible for the overwhelming patronage of its sovereign bonds sold in recent times.

Commenting on why international investors subscribed to Federal Government’s $1 billion Eurobond sold a couple of months ago, Nwankwo stated that investors were excited at Nigeria’s transformation agenda, her agricultural revolution, power sector reform and infrastructure transformation going on in several sectors of the economy. Other factors that may have attracted them, according to the DMO boss, include the dramatic changes in the aviation sector, job creation initiatives, institutional building, reforms in transportation and railways as well as administration’s new philosophy of transparent structures being created for the management of public finance at all tiers of government.

“They came to the conclusion that the economy is doing well and that it would continue to grow in the next five years,” Nwankwo stated.

Excerpts:

 

How we sold $1.0bn Eurobond to international community

The job was done by Nigerians, investors looked at the fact that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is on course. They looked at various components of the various sectors of the economy and saw what the government is doing in agriculture and the fact that the distribution of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs had been rationalised and made very efficient and are reaching the real farmers.

There is also the fact that the power sector has been successfully privatised and we are at the threshold of private sector power-led initiative that will ensure adequate and stable supply of electricity. They looked at the infrastructure transformation going on, especially on roads, and the fact that the railway lines have been revitalised and some lines have started operating and more are underway to be reactivated. They also saw the dramatic changes that have taken place in the aviation sector and with our airports.

They looked at the fact that in terms of institution building, a lot has happened. For example, in public debt management in Nigeria, efforts have been made over the couple of years to ensure that not only the Federal Government but every state of the federation has a functional debt management department.

When they look at all these as part and parcel of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, they came to the conclusion that the Nigerian economy is doing well and that it is on the right part and if we continue the way we are going. There is no doubt that in the next five to seven years, Nigeria would have arrived at a stage where it would be so obvious to everybody that we have left the group of underdeveloped countries and more importantly, they are looking at the various measures government is taking to ensure that the growth process is inclusive, that in the process of growth even though we have been registering very credible growth rates in the world over the past five or more years, the current efforts being made by government to ensure that the growth process is inclusive, like I said earlier, is generating employment and reducing poverty.

These are the things that private investors all over the world are taking into account. Of course, when we went to sell the bond under the leadership of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, we told the Nigerian story as forcefully and as factual as we could; all aspects of the Nigerian economy, including politics, agriculture, banking, infrastructure, human resources and media. We told all the stories about Nigeria effectively with facts and figures and it was obvious to international investors that Nigeria is on the right path. Essentially, we are crossing the threshold and that Nigeria, given her potentials, has eventually come to terms and we have taken advantage of those potentials, transforming them so that they will lead to welfare for the generality of the Nigerian people.

Flexible market instruments as part of medium term strategy

 I want to assure Nigerians that some of the products are already coming in the near time, while some will be in the medium term. For example, the Global Depository Note we talked about, which is a way of encouraging special classes of international investors who would not invest directly in the domestic bond market except through a depository arrangement, is likely to come on stream this year subject to approval by the National Assembly.

The inflation-linked bond, we are working on it and we believe in the near time, it will come to fruition. The other flexibility arrangements we talked about, including the securities lending, certainly will come on stream before the end of the first half of 2014. So many of these measures coupled with the concrete new products as well as the flexibility instruments, are coming in the near to medium term, I can assure you.

Foreign investors holding FGN securities

We are used to emphasising statistics that our public debt is so much and that is why we focus on talking about what are the benefits to the Nigerian economy, particularly the private sector that derives from these beautiful statistics we talk about.

So is it good enough to tell Nigerians our debt is so much? We have spent some time explaining to financial journalists the implications of those statistics. What are the opportunities in real terms embedded in them that will translate to good standard of living for our people and that’s why our emphasis is on pointing out the opportunities we have created for the private sector so that they will issue their own debt instruments in the markets.

We have developed so that they can raise long-term money to invest in the real sector of the economy, in infrastructure. By so doing, they will create jobs for our teeming population and it will lead to more income in the society because for every Nigerian who earns income by being gainfully employed, you know that there are many other dependants relying on that person, so there will be spread in welfare and reduction in poverty.

Federal Government’s total debts

Our focus now is not talking about figures. Yes, let me say in summary that our debts as usual remain sustainable and the statistics are there but it’s not an issue of statistics. Over the past seven years, we are one of the least borrowed countries in the world in terms of statistics. However, government has continued to emphasise from the public debt management point of view that yes, our debt is sustainable.

All of us should appreciate there is the need for us to diversify our economy because we are overly dependent on oil revenue for driving our economy as a source of foreign exchange and revenue for government. But I strongly believe there is need to diversify that. So, the focus of everyone of us is how to diversify the sources of revenue for government. If we do this, we will observe that beyond the statistics, our debt will even be more sustainable instead of depending on oil and gas for about 80 per cent.

For instance, it will be good if we are dependent on oil and gas for about 30 per cent, while we also depend on revenue from agriculture. Yes, agriculture is the biggest sector of Nigeria’s economy but it is high time we operated it in such a way that many of our farmers would be more productive and competitive and would be exporting their products, including processed goods and as they export them, government earns income in terms of duties, while the farmer also earns more income. In that way, our economy will be diversified both for the private sector and as a source of revenue for government and our debt will therefore be more sustainable. Today, our debt to GDP ratio is still below 21 per cent and it is quite sustainable.

Now, in terms of participation of foreign investors: in the wake of the global financial meltdown and because of Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, the Central Bank of the United States’ statement that quantitative easing was going to taper because there is a belief that the US economy is getting better, investors all over the world started recalling their investments wherever they were in anticipation of higher yields so they could also diversify their investments into the US economy to take advantage of it.

So you could expect that the level we achieved in 2012 has come down to anything around five and seven percent but certainly we are not in a position to stabilise yet. All over the world, if you listen to the financial market news from the CNBC or Bloomberg, you will appreciate that recently, the additional reports coming from the UK show that their economy is getting better to the extent that there was a huge drop in the unemployment figure, which is positive for the US economy.

The fact that it is positive for the US economy means that for investors, there is a higher prospect that they can earn more by investing their money in the US economy. Therefore, it’s a time for them to wait a little longer, hold their money and take advantage of the positive development in that economy.

The global economy in respect of that stimulus from the US economy in terms of possibility of the quantitative easing being drastically reduced, that intermediate period is still on and I guess it will take us up to the next two or three months to be able to settle at the new level.

IMF raising Nigeria’s borrowing threshold

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) didn’t raise Nigeria’s borrowing threshold, maybe indirectly. Countries are classified in various groups, so Nigeria belongs to a particular category and because of change in Nigeria’s per capita income, she has changed categories and the one in which we belong to now is allowed technically to borrow up to 56 per cent of our debt GDP ratio without raising eyebrow in terms of credit worthiness just as it’s much higher in developed countries.

So, it’s an appreciation from the point of view of those global financial institutions that Nigerian economy is moving to the next level and in doing so, it has been reclassified in terms of its capacity to borrow. However, President Goodluck Jonathan, the Coordinating Mminister of the Economy and the DMO have made it clear that despite the technical space created, Nigeria would continue to be conservative in its borrowing as if nothing had happened in terms of more space for it. So, we will continue to be prudent and continue borrowing as if it’s using the old limits because the emphasis is not for government to do more borrowing but to create space for the private sector to do the borrowing and that is why the theme of our interaction was on the opportunities created for the private sector from debt management achievements so they are now being encouraged based on the benchmark created in the international capital market. Based on the benchmark and market we have developed locally, the private sector is now being challenged to take advantage and be the borrowers to invest in agriculture, solid mineral, infrastructure and so on.

Diversification of investible instruments and customer base

Government is already working on alternative financing sources and generally the non-interest financing products, including the Sukuk. Just recently, there was a workshop in Abuja organised by the Africa Development Bank (ADB), which involved other African countries and we deliberated on how to go forward, such that Nigeria would be seriously working on establishing the necessary frameworks for tapping into alternative sources of funding, including Sukuk.

Nigeria is going to take advantage of all available and appropriate sources. At the Abuja forum, I did say that it should not be taken that developing alternative financing should be restricted to government just as in the conventional debt instruments whereby we are encouraging the private sector to take advantage. We are also for the non-interest financing, including Sukuk. While encouraging the private sector to play the lead role, it’s not for government to start issuing sovereign Sukuks. At the appropriate time, they will do that but the private sector should understand this new financing alternative so they could take advantage of it.

Credit enhancement for Nigerian corporates

There are various credit enhancements that are already in place for Nigerian corporates. For instance, the partial risk guarantee offered by the World Bank Group and this usually comes through the Ministry of Finance. I’m aware there are a couple of projects seeking funding through this alternative.

There are arrangements in place if some foreign investors, possibly in collaboration with Nigerian partners, want to invest in the country and they need some form of political guaranty that can be assessed from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group.

Let me also mention that something related to that is the fact that the Minister of Finance has made known on a number of occasions that before the year ends, government would have established the mortgage liquidity facility, which is to help the private sector to be able to fund mortgages. These are some of the credit enhancement schemes in various forms.

The Collaterised Mortgage Obligation (CMO) has made it clear on many occasions that government has obtained $300 million from the World Bank as a mortgage liquidity facility and that is being finalised before the end of the year. So there is a lot the government is doing to ensure it provides the necessary support for the private sector to overcome some of the structural constraints it has.

Nigeria’s N10.8trn 2012 revenue

Everything happens on yearly basis and in 2013, I have raised $1.0 billion from Eurobond. Like I said earlier, the government is going to use the money in providing infrastructure. We are developing a framework to ensure there is accountability as we disburse the funds and status update will be given on work done so far.

Whenever local or foreign critics, no matter how highly placed, want to divert Nigeria’s attention from moving in the right direction, they begin to criticise. We are saying yes Nigeria has always had a number of deficiencies and defects, that’s true. For instance, questions were put to me when I made a presentation about the power sector; everybody knows that our power sector has not done well over the past three or four decades.

Is there anybody who has a better idea as a solution than what the government is currently doing as regards the power sector reform? But if we know that for having privatised the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), is it the right approach to solving the power problem?

Government has established the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to set up a price structure that covers returns to all the value chains because if we don’t do this, we will run into problems. You have to take into account from generation, transmission and distribution and find out what would be spent at the end of the day by the man who consumes electricity? Is it enough to ensure the return on investment for investors in the sector. Otherwise, people would not invest and consumers would continue to complain.

Boosting private sector participation in bond market

It’s not the responsibility of government to force private sector operators who are always in search of profit. Now, what government has done is to provide that bigger framework, especially the infrastructure. Government has done the best thing it can for the private sector as far as the bond market is concerned. It has used the opportunity of the fact that just like any another government, it would need to borrow money from the market to fund its fiscal deficit, which is what every government does.

The government is subjecting itself to the discipline of the capital market, borrowing from the capital market. The government didn’t simply go to borrow from the capital market, it made sure that it’s structured in such a way that it borrowed from the capital market. It developed the market for a long time fund for the private sector so that’s the best the government can do in that respect and it has done so.

Government knows that it also needs to establish a benchmark for the private sector and it has done that successfully, making sure that it succeeds in raising funds at competent coupons, to ensure that when the Nigerian companies go to raise their benchmark on the sovereign bond. Go and look at other countries that have issued bond since we issued ours and what their own coupons are, compared to ours.

So, government has done its best as far as debt market is concerned. It’s permanently working with the private sector to ensure its various concerns are addressed whether in terms of tariffs, duties or infrastructure. But even as the private sector makes proposals to the government on how to get appropriate infrastructure, it should also be encouraged not to abdicate its own duty because in every economy, we have three agents, the household, the firms (private sector) and the government that can work on its own while interacting with others.

Go and monitor all the countries in the world over the past 10 years, there are few countries that have achieved the type of macro-economic stability that Nigeria has achieved and that’s one of the major things our private sector requires, a stable macro-economic environment and I’m sure if you conduct a research of countries in the world that have achieved high level of macro-economic stability, Nigeria is among the first 20.

Also, among the emerging market economies, Nigeria is on the top five list. These achievements were as a result of government’s deliberate policies in terms of monetary, fiscal, public debt management, exchange rate and banking policies. These are some of the things that government has done to ensure the economy is relatively stable which also means that if government has not been performing optimally as it has done in the last two or three years, we will not have been doing as well as we are doing now.

Anambra people will vote for PPA–Ezeemo

By WILLY EYA
Mr Godwin Ezeemo is the Progressive People Alliance (PPA) candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State. He is one of the candidates to watch when Anambra people file out to vote for Governor Peter Obi’s successor. As the election approaches, the philanthropist and accomplished entrepreneur is getting more confident that he would win the race to Awka Government House. In this interview, he speaks on a wide range of issues. Excerpts:
What informed your decision to move to the PPA?

I remember that I told you before that if the primary election in the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been conducted under a free and fair atmosphere that I would not have thought of joining another party. But right from inception, one could find out that the APC at all levels never wanted the primaries to hold.
For that reason, they took time to disqualify me, to entertain petition coming from all manner of places and eventually they disqualified me. But I came out with an answer to their disqualification and they now allowed me to go for the primaries and that was about 24 hours to the primaries. I had no time at all to campaign or talk to anybody. I was in Abuja on the Friday night preceding the primaries and that was when they gave me the clearance paper to participate in the primaries.
I left Abuja on Saturday and arrived Anambra and I had only Saturday and Monday to get myself ready. So what could I have done within the timeframe within which they cleared me! On the primaries proper, I want to tell you that it was a sham. Nothing happened. Hoodlums from Imo, Edo, Benue and Abia were imported to Anambra and they manned every ward and polling station. They came to Anambra with a specific instruction to deliver Senator Chris Ngige at all cost and they made this known to us. Some of them confessed that they were told that I am on ground but that some powers that be do not need me. So, based on that specific instruction, they did exactly what they did and they succeeded.
Some of the wards where the primaries were held actually, I won Ngige with a very big margin. But I can tell you that as soon as they get this into the collation centre, a written result would be brandished and the ones they brought back which is the actual result would be taken away from them. At the collation centre again, they refused all my agents to come in. Out of the 21 Local Governments, it was only two agents that were allowed into the collation centres. So based on all of these, it was clear to me and my supporters that it was not free, fair and credible. I had to make effort to get into the collation centre and sat down to observe. Through my agents, after they had declared Ngige as the winner with the fake result, I said I wanted to talk to them. What I wanted to say, they did not know but the chairman, Shekarau and Osita Izunaso said no, they do not want me to talk.
They said that if I was allowed to talk, I would spoil a lot of things. I made effort three times to talk and they refused and that was when I concluded that these people were too crude. They do not understand the whole idea of democracy and free speech and I had to walk away. That is my reason for joining my new party, the Progressive People Alliance (PPA).

But from inception, was joining the PPA your plan B?
Yes, I had a plan B because like I told you, right from the onset, the signs of what would happen were clear to me. The reception I was being given made it clear to me that I was not actually wanted in the APC. At that point, I had to start thinking, assuming things come to the worst, do I just have to bury my goal of rendering service to Anambra people. I have a vision to better the lives of Anambra people and I would not just allow few people to frustrate that dream. It was based on that urge to serve the people that I took that decision.

What were your reasons for choosing the PPA out of all the registered political parties in Nigeria?
I decided to join the PPA because it is a party that has a good stronghold in Anambra State. It has been used by a couple of aspirants to vie for various positions including the governorship seat of the state. The PPA has a structure in Anambra State and it is better than so many other parties in Anambra State. With the PPA, I can assure you that I will win the next election in Anambra.
So, how did you emerge the candidate of the PPA having joined them few days to the primaries?
It was through a well organized internal primaries witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that I emerged the PPA candidate. I was the popular choice.

But realistically, how do you think the PPA will be able to win the forthcoming election in Anambra considering the strength of other parties?
I have made this point clear in various occasions. The stage where Anambra State is now in terms of political development and consciousness of the people has gone beyond the issue of party. Anambra people now have got to a stage where it is the credibility of the candidate that they are interested in. The party does not so much matter to them even though you still need the party to reach out to the people and win elections. In the past, it used to be the party but all that has changed. The people are more concerned about identifying with a candidate that has got what it takes to govern the state. This is because for the last 22 years, they have had people of different political parties and they know what they have got in terms of democracy dividends. Most candidates would always come with great promises but at the end of the day, nothing happens. So, the people have got to a stage that they now ask questions.
A couple of people I have met in the course of this political process were courageous to ask- what do you do. They wanted to know my background and who I am. They wanted to know where I was coming from and what I have in terms of ability to lead the people of Anambra State. They were clear that they were not interested in the so-called moneybags or people with dubious characters to lead Anambra State. It made me to know that the people are now interested to know more about the candidate who they would vote for. It is no more the issue of which party he belongs to. In the PPA, most of my supporters came from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). I financed most of the candidates who won elections on the platform of the ACN. For the past six years, I have been financing the party. My supporters in that party, what they never had before, I gave it to them. So, it was not difficult for me to get a structure in the PPA because I already had a lot of supporters in ACN who moved to the APC and who are now with me in the PPA. We have already a strong structure to go into the coming election and win the race. You know that the so-called bigger political parties have so many internal problems they are contending with which you do not find in the PPA.
What strategy do you want to use in selling yourself to the people of Anambra State?
I have a couple of strategies. Some of them have been exploited already for the fact that I am a grassroots person. In APC, I was able to touch virtually all the members of the party but for the governorship election proper, I would touch every ward and community in Anambra State. I will tell them what they have not heard or known before. The message would be how to redeem them from the challenges they have faced all these years because of bad leadership.

What specifically do you want to do for the people of Anambra State if you win?
I have a manifesto but there are things that are very important.  I know very well that we are human beings. Every society needs quality education. Every society needs good health. Every society needs constant power supply. There is nothing that would work in Nigeria or even Anambra State until we achieve constant power generation and supply. Every society needs good transportation system. Every society needs good infrastructural facilities and so on. If all these are working in United Kingdom, why not in Nigeria? In effect, what I need to do is to use my wealth of experience and replicate it in Nigeria. Anambra has got immense problems but there are some of them that are more serious than others. Let me take the issue of security first. Security is the major problem that we have.
It has brought about brain drain and capital flight from the state. Everybody is going away from the state because of the problem of security. I would tackle security head on by working towards creating employment. The employment would be from both the government and the private sector. As a government, we would provide the required atmosphere and conducive environment that would attract investors and Anambra people in particular would come back. Once you get the atmosphere right, they would come back to their state to do what they are doing in other places. If Anambra people come home and start investing, there would be work here and there.
On education, the sector has decayed so much and we as a government would like to tackle it head on. My emphasis would not only be on getting certificates. I would lay emphasis on practical education. With your junior WAEC, you can learn a trade and you will be able to do well here. Most of the people that come from abroad that we call engineers here are not engineers but technicians and artisans. They did not go to the University but they have trained on the job and they are experts on it. When they come here, they call them engineers.

Secretariat furnishing: NFF budgets N144m

From ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has attributed the delay in relocating to its new secretariat, the Sunday Dankaro House to the National Assembly’s failure to approve the N144 million the federation earmarked to furnish the new building in the 2013 capital budget.
The General Secretary, Mr. Musa Amadu, who made the disclosure while addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Sports at the Glass House, in Abuja lamented the zero capital allocation in the 2013 budget, stressing that it was facing a serious dilemma of moving into the building with old furniture.
“I know that last year, we did make a case for us to be given a capital of N144 million and when we came for the defence of that budget proposal, we told you that the money was going to be utilised to furnish our new headquarters,” Amadu said.
“The PTF graciously gave us a new football house, which Mr President commissioned through the Vice President on July 18. This is well over two months now, but we have not been able to move a single chair into the  building because it is a brand new one. It is like when you marry a new wife, you would want to equip her room with the very best of things, instead of moving in the furniture of the one you have divorced into her room,” he added.
“This is the dilemma we are in now because as the leading football governing body on the continent, we need to go in there so that we could give a befitting hosting to prominent visitors like you, with a semblance of what you enjoy in the National Assembly.
“We were surprised that not a single penny was voted for capital in the Federation’s 2013 budget.  So, as much as we want to move into our new football house and conduct our businesses there, we are constrained by the resources to do so,” Amadu said.

PHCN: Jonathan gives share certificates, licences to core investors today

From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

At last, Nigeria has found light at the end of the tunnel after years of groping  in darkness  following President Goodluck Jonathan today hand over the share certificates and licences to the 15 new owners of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies who have made 100 per cent payment of the respective bid amounts.
The presentation, which is scheduled to hold in Abuja is part of the build-up to the activities to mark the 53rd Independence anniversary of Nigeria.
The Director General of the BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki noted that “this handover  is a culmination of 14 years of painstaking effort by the National Council on Privatization (NCP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and other key stakeholders to reform and liberalise Nigeria’s electricity industry, which began in 1999”.
Recall that the Electric Power Sector Reform Implementation Committee (EPIC) was set up in 2000 with the key mandate to proffer an appropriate legal and regulatory framework for the sector.
This gave birth to the National Electric Power Policy which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in September 2001 followed by the passage of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.  The passage of the Act gave the NCP/BPE the legal impetus to set up the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also in 2005.
The NCP/BPE went further to vertically unbundle the integrated monopoly into three segments of Generation, Transmission and Distribution Companies. As part of the reform initiative, NEPA was transformed into Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
To further give teeth to the reform, in August 2010, President Jonathan launched the Presidential Roadmap on Power Reform with two key advisory organs, namely, the Presidential Action Committee on Power and the Presidential Taskforce on Power.
The Bureau published advertisements for expressions of interest by prospective investors in the eleven distribution companies and six generation companies between December 13 and 20, 2010, in both local and international media.
So far, out of the 14 successor companies scheduled for handover, a total of   $2, 525,824,534 was realized as proceeds. Out of the amount, $1,256,000,000.00 came from the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) while the Generation Companies (GENCOs) raked in $1, 269,824,534.
The Federal Government has equally set aside about N384 billion to settle labour liabilities.

Manufacturers spend N42bn on generators

By ADEWALE SANYAOLU
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) last week lamented the poor state of the country’s power sector, stressing that its members spent over N42 billion to generate private electricity between January 2012 to August 2013.

The figure, according to the President MAN, Mr. Kola Jamodu, came up from the electricity power audit conducted on members of MAN in 2012, where it discovered that it spends more than N2 billion monthly to fuel generators.
Jamodu spoke at the 2013 Worldstage National Electricity Conference held in Lagos in Lagos last week.
Represented by the Chairman, Standing Committee on Infrastructure of the association, Mr. Reginald Odiah, Jamodu said that power supply from Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has remained inadequate for smooth operation of companies in the country.
The MAN boss explained that electricity power audit conducted on 2,500 members nationwide revealed that average peak power demand stands at 4,850mw, peak power supply from PHCN at 1,018mw and in-house installed power generating capacity of members at 5,150mw.
He disclosed that members of the association owned and installed in-house over 5,480 units of diesel/gas powered turbines and generating plants, while members spend over N2 billion as average cost of running and maintaining these in-house power plants per month.
“This amount is apart from the average monthly PHCN bills paid by members, which again run into hundreds of millions of naira per month,” he said.

The implication of this, Jamodu disclosed, reflects in high cost of production and inability to compete with manufacturers from other parts of the world.           .
“This has resulted to low production capacity and inability to compete effectively with our foreign counterparts and to contribute optimally to Gross National Product (GNP), which currently stands at about four per cent; poor return on investment; closure of factories and migration to greener fields by manufacturers as well as uncertainty on investment in Nigeria.

“It is sad to note that 40 per cent of our production cost goes into the provision of electricity as against five per cent to 10 per cent in other developed economies. As a result of this and other infrastructural deficiencies, cost of manufacturing in Nigeria is about two times that of Ghana, four times that of South Africa and approximately nine times that of China,” he said.

FG sends 20 pilots for training in Germany

By LOUIS IBA

The Federal Government says as part of efforts to boost manpower development in the aviation sector, it is investing in the further training of 20 commercial licensed pilots at the Lufthansa Pilot Institute in Germany.
The 20 pilots, which left the country on Sunday, consist of 19 males and a female and are part of the first batch of commercial pilots from the Niger Delta region earlier trained under a special scheme arranged by the Presidency in South Africa.
The further training programme in Germany is to get the pilots ‘type rated’ – a special training programme that lasts about 14 months – on how to fly the modern Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft and end the dominance of foreign pilots in the industry.
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kinsley Kuku at a pre-departure event organized for the pilots said it was the first time the Federal Government would be investing in the training of Nigerian pilots following the liquidation of Nigeria Airways.
He said another batch of 10 pilots would be sent to the CAE Aviation Academy at Oxford, United Kingdom.
Kuku, said it all, the government targeted the training of over 200 professionals in the aviation sector (as pilots and engineers) to bridge the manpower gap in the sector.
“The training in Germany will be for 14 months, as the pilots will be equipped to fly the modern Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft used by most countries in the world,” Kuku said.
“The training programme is unique because it is the first time the Nigerian government is training such large number of youths as key professionals in a strategic sector as aviation. These pilots are Nigerians and they are the next generation of aviation professionals that will take the industry to the next level,” he added.
Kuku said the government was partnering with some domestic airlines to facilitate job opportunities for the pilots upon the completion of their training in Germany.
He said the government was also collaborating with the relevant aviation agencies to also train air traffic controllers, aeronautical engineers and other professionals critical in promoting air safety.
Also speaking, the Principal Manager (Aviation) in the Presidential Amnesty Office, Captain Perekeme Porbeni, called on industry stakeholders to assist the pilots with jobs .

[Advice Needed] I Cheated On Him First. What Should I Do To Stop Him From Messing Around?

The feeling of being cheated on is never a great one….. Now, I know and wish I can take it back. Something kept on telling me that he is cheating because of what I did to him previously even though he said he has forgiven me and he loves me. From what I’ve learnt, men don’t forgive and love the same woman who once cheated on them like they did. So, I can’t believe what he said. Truth be told, we all try not to go through our partners phone but eventually we see our hands and fingers holding it and scrolling through until we find what we have been looking for. Yeah, that was what happened to me.. I have discovered 3 messages which clearly confirmed my suspicions including the calendar s*x dates…hmmm!! Yes, I do love him and I cheated on him previously because of the lonely and empty feeling. I was emotionally drained as he was never there when I needed him the most and also because of the insecurities of not knowing if I’m the right woman for him. All these have been communicated and he made promises that things with change but unfortunately nothing ever changed. Right now, confrontation is not the best option but I have to pretend as if I didn’t see his phone. Because its his phone and a private entity after all. I suppose I got served, right? Now, should I revenge by going back to my old ways or try keeping things as they are currently? I’m not prepared to leave him now as I love him!

Big Brother Lovers: Pokello Meets Elikem’s Mum, Do I Hear Wedding Bells?!?

Zimbabwean beauty, Pokello was in Ghana recently for former BBA Ghanaian housemate, Selly’s birthday and obviously to meet up with her lover and boyfriend, Elikem.
At the launch of SuperMums at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra, Elikem’s mother was present and seems to have developed a soft spot for Pokello.
Let me officially say: Welcome to the Kumordzie family Pokello.

Why South East Are In Support Of Jonathan – Gov Orji

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L), BEING DECORATED WITH ANIOMA REGALIA BY ASAGBA OF ASABA, PROF. CHIKE EDOZIE, DURING THE VISIT OF ANIOMA TRADITIONAL RULERS AND ELDERS TO THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA (NAN)

The South East geo-political zone’s continued support for the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is borne out of their belief in the indivisibility of Nigeria and the survival of democracy.

This was the view of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State in Umuahia, weekend, who said President Jonathan’s emergence marked a remarkable turn-around in the Nigerian political landscape because it has become the bastion of hope for equity.
The governor’s views were contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, who said: “The open door policy of Mr. President, in conjunction with his even distribution of resources and amenities, has opened a new vista in the operationalization of our democratic culture which will stand the test of time as it will also serve to promote unity.

“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the socio-economic trends in the polity of this country could not have been better due to his deliberate method of amenability and flexibility, not withstanding skirmishes and agitation of some members in the ruling party for more recognition. It is on record that the style of governance by Mr. President has gained popularity internally and internationally because of his application of intellectual sensibility where patience is allowed to thrive over tribulation.”
-Vanguard

Jim Iyke Tweets About His Deliverance at Synagogue Church Of All Nations

#ASUUStrike: Letter to the President; Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Good day sir, Mr. President. How has work been today? I'll agree that this letter is coming at the wrong time but it's due to it's urgency and usefulness. I know the time when your party's implosion becomes a reality, when some people want you out of office in 2015 isn't a good time to read or listen to it
read to your ears.

I realise how busy you are, meeting people to to mute those that need to be muted. I also realise you've been having hard time recently, a result of your unusual 'relieving' ministers of their duties. It shocked me when I heard nine of them were fired. I asked myself, when was it that you asked two to leave that you fired nine again? I became really confused concerning how the administration runs now; definitely there's a re-shuffle in the system.

I would have been happy if this was to remove those that derelict their duties or to reduce the excess in the system because I believe we can run the race and succeed without that much number. We are just paying them without them doing their job. Sir, many have
said you did this because they were against your aspiration. I heard they've been hanging around with your 'enemies' that won't let you proceed to 2015, that's why they were given quick attention, no waste of time . Those guys from the North are not those you should take with levity, they really want you to prove your worth.

But, if I may ask sir , how many Ministers do we expect to be fired next? Maybe with this I'm about telling you, I'll be seen as one of your enemies but the truth is, I'm just telling the truth. Though
you bought the conscience of many to have your way into Asorock during the last election, some reports have it that it was rigged.

The issue now is, the next election might not be that
easy to play on, people are now fully awake! Those you told stories about your shoeless days, those whom you climbed the campaign rotra to deceive with your nebulous transformation agenda are ready to finish you, whatever it takes. You may be trying on new tricks or tactics but to be candid, many have vowed to be ahead of you in this. It'd be nice and victorous if you submit to those that are ready to take the country to her promise land, shelf the 2015 agenda. At least, 6years is sufficient to do all you have to do, what's
dipped in 2015 that you're coming back to take?

At this point, I've seen that you are not in anyway concerned about ASUU. They haven't been bending this time I suppose. Their belligerent approach is insulting not only to the country but your personality? Hope you do not see this as sarcasm
anyway? I am sorry to say that you've been indecive and as displayed incompetence to to handle the issue.

It should be a shame on the Country that she wishes to take part in solving world issues leaving hers behind. Very soon we would be wasting resources on celebrations whilst students rot at home. Excuse me sir, who are your advisers? Didn't they evaluate the harm in all strata of the Education sector shutting
down? The Boko Haram insurgency is there, nearly all the strata in the Education sector are in 'fight' against your administration and you do not seize in unnecessary world appearance and itinerary? Why don't you solve this and become hero with it? Gaining world recognition is not your priority now, sir.

A lot talked about the gold-plated phones, the shame won't allow you claim responsibility. Maybe your advisers have been keeping mortality list away from your reach, Citizens are dying! There is insufficient food and fund. Parents can't afford raising their children, they are left to wander the street and
end up in bandits.

The Citizens are not comfortable with the price they purchase liquid fuels, it tells on their salaries. One
of the things that can make Nigerians like you is reducing the cost of petrol. Make people feel they've got a life, WE have the oil sir? The high cost of living has left many with deadly diseases, some died in the process of excessive dissatisfaction.

I guess no one knows how much the Legislatures and
Executives take home at the end of the month but whatever it is, effect a reduction. Minority shouldn't enjoy at the expense of the majority suffering. The number of Senators and Representatives are too much, 469, why can't we have 5 Reps in a State with 1Senator? All the Ministries we have, can't we
merge some and still be reasonable in order to save cost?

Many Youths are unemployed whilst some Elders have been
recycling for over 30years, do we need the youths to fight them out of office? There should be frequent reshuffling in the system to abolish Godfatherism and the babarism of Kabals.

Let us give the youths a trial, let us see them change the Nation. Stop wasting funds on less important things. Be as decisive as possible. Take your nation as first in all you do.

Don't get your hand stained with corruption.
It's time to go sir,
you are free to read and re-read.
I pray they [aides] let this reach you.

Yours,
An agent of change.
By AREMU TOYIB BABATUNDE.

Strange Beard Stylings

What does one do with an incredible beard?

Why, dress it up in odd ways to showcase its beard-y powers, of course. O.K., so that’s not for everyone. But it’s what Isaiah Webb, better known as “Incredibeard,” decided to do.
Every Monday via various social media channels, Webb showcases his many impressive facial hairdos, which are nothing short of incredible. And gross. Like his “ramen beard,” seen below.

There’s also his “Fries & a Beard Shake.”

We sincerely hope Webb didn’t actually eat the foods nestled among his beard hairs, because… ew.
it may not have even been physically possible beyond a bite or two.

Boy Raises $400,000 For Sick Best Friend

WHAT would you do if you found out your best buddy had a rare disease?

What would you do if you were six years old when you found this out?
Dylan Siegel’s response was nothing short of incredible.
ABC News reports the young boy, now seven, wrote a children’s book entitledChocolate Bar , to raise money for his sick friend, Jonah.
It initially sold 200 copies at his school for $6000. But before long word had spread. More books, even T-shirts, bags and phone cases.
Now he’s raised $400,000 and has his eye on seven figures.
Jonah contracted a rare liver disease called glycogen storage disease. It causes his blood sugar to drop dramatically, and can be fatal.

Dr David Weinstein, who studies the disease, is completely blown away.
“Boy, have I been shocked,” he told ABC News.
“He’s raised more money for this disease than all the medical foundations and all the grants combined. Ever.”
Dylan’s father, who initially suggested a lemonade stand to help raise money but was quickly told, “don’t patronise me”, says he’s learned more about what’s possible from his son than from anyone else.
“Kids can change the world just like any of us,” he said.
“It’s been a blast. It validates a six-year-old’s vision of what he thought change could be.”

ASUU: Strike Will Improve Education Sector

The President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge, said on Tuesday that the current strike by lecturers of public universities in the country was a sacrifice for better things to come.

Fagge told Journalists in Lagos that unless the deficits in the education sector, especially the university system, were addressed once and for all, there would be no development.
Lecturers, under the aegis of ASUU, had on June 30 embarked on what it had described as comprehensive, total and indefinite strike in public universities across the country.
The lecturers are asking for the implementation of some aspects of an agreement they jointly entered into with the Federal government in 2009.
According to Fagge, it is regrettable that the strike is protracted, and that the decision of ASUU to remain adamant until its demands are fully met can seem uncomfortable and worrisome.

Fagge

He said that the industrial action was a sacrifice needed to salvage the entire economy of the country.
“I sincerely want to call on all concerned, especially students and parents, to bear with us, as well as join hands with us in the struggle to right the wrongs in our education sector once and for all, for the good of us all and that of the country.
“I know it is quite a difficult time for us but I also want to state that what we are doing is for our own good, as well as ensure that strikes become rare, as a weapon to get things done in our system.
“We also want to ensure that there is sincerity and respect for mutual agreements by parties in order to attain a common goal for the good of our dear country,” he said.

Fagge, however, lauded the supervising education Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, for finding time to meet with the Executive Committee of ASUU, in a bid to find a lasting solution to the protracted strike.
The unionist also commended the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and other stakeholders for their concern in attempts to end the strike.
He noted that such was the spirit needed to ensure that nobody felt cheated and that what the lecturers were asking for was truly for the advancement of the course of the country.
According to Fagge, with the current attempts by the various stakeholders, he is optimistic that there will soon be a mutual understanding between the parties.
“I think with the various meetings we have held with the concerned stakeholders, I am optimistic that there will soon be a way out and our demands met, so that in the shortest possible time, we will get the required development that will make us compete favourably within the comity of nations.
“For us in the academic communities, we strongly wish government should look into the deficit of insincerity in our system, teaching facilities, in order for us to be able to deliver on our mandate.
“Majority of our children and wards in this country do attend these public universities and we cannot afford to fold our hands and watch them study under deplorable conditions, while those who can afford sending their children abroad feel little or no concern about it,” he said.
On the appointment of ministers to replace the recently sacked ones, Fagge suggested that it should be hinged strictly on the basis of merit.
“We need people who will come in with confidence of the power that be in terms of tackling challenges; be up and doing and would always want to come up with new approaches to addressing problems,” he said. [NAN]

Lessons Animals Can Teach Us

What wisdom can whales impart? What can cats teach us? More than you might imagine.

With our extraordinary brains and other unique attributes, we humans think we’ve got it all figured out. But others in the animal kingdom have some life-affirming tricks to teach us — if only we pay attention.
Here are nine life lessons we can learn from animals:
Take more naps. Cats know how to catch some good shut-eye. They sleep 12 to 16 hours a day. What can napping do for humans? Boost alertness, increase creativity, and improve learning and memory, among other benefits.
Don’t neglect your friends. Did you know bats hang out with their besties too? So do elephants, dolphins, horses, hyenas and chimps. Some animals stay friends for years — like female humpback whales, who reunite with their buds every summer.
Why do we all need friends? Friendships are evolutionarily advantageous. Studies have shown that social bonds can reduce stress, increase lifespan, and improve reproductive success

Get addicted to exercise. Exercise has many health benefits for the brain and body. It reduces stress, improves sleep, alleviates depression, and enhances learning — in addition to controlling weight and reducing risk for many diseases.
If you find you have to drag yourself to the gym, the animal world can provide some inspiration. Mice actually crave exercise and experience withdrawal when their wheels are taken away. Sled dogs can run 1,150 miles in 10 to 17 days.
That may be a lot to expect from yourself, but taking Fido for a walk can help you meet your fitness goals. A recent study revealed that people who walked their dogswere 34 percent more likely to reach benchmarks for physical activity.
Love learning. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is crack open the books. But brain studies have shown that we’re actually wired to feel rewarded by learning new things.
Maybe you’d expect apes to get a rise from picking up new skills, but even cows deserve some credit. Research has shown that heifers get excited about their achievements – their heart rates go up and they move more quickly after improving at a task.

6. Share and learn from each other. It’s easy to get caught up in achieving your own goals — but some species remind us that sharing information is important for survival — like whales, for instance.
“Our study really shows how vital cultural transmission is in humpback populations — not only do they learn their famous songs from each other, they also learn feeding techniques that allow them to buffer the effects of changing ecology,” Luke Rendell, a University of St. Andrews biology professor, said in a written statement.

 Slow down. Ever think to yourself “where did all the time go?” Birds and insects don’t. A recent study found that small animals perceive time in slow motion.
It has to do with an ability to process more visual information at each moment — and humans can get better at it. Research has shown that elite athletes can perceive time slowing down during a game.
Mindfulness — paying close attention in the present moment — can serve as a simple trick for slowing down the clock. Studies have linked mindfulness with numerous health benefits.
 Be empathic. You might feel awkward walking by someone who’s crying. Butdogs will comfort you whether they know you or not. A study showed dogs respond and markedly change their behavior when people cry. They lick and nuzzle their owners and strangers indiscriminately.

Don’t give up easily. Need inspiration to keep going? Salmon swim for thousands of miles upstream, somehow making their way back to their birthplace so they can spawn the next generation. If they can do that, you can probably tackle that seemingly impossible task on your to-do list.

MTN hits 10,000 base stations to boost QoS delivery

BY BISI OLALEYE
In a bid to boost the Quality of Service delivery, MTN Nigeria has rolled out 10,000 base stations across the country.
In a statement by the company, the additional base stations will contribute to significant improvements to quality of service.
“These are a major component of the company’s infrastructure and they have direct impact on network capacity and the experience of customers,” the statement said.
According to MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ikpoki, the company is focused on three major areas, one of them being significant improvement of customer experience.
Ikpoki said that MTN would be building on a track record of aggressive investment in the network to ramp up capacity and ultimately improve service quality.
He added that MTN has led the industry in terms of rapid network rollout and that the company’s aggressive drive to significantly improve customer experience on the network in the last few months has led to record deployment of base stations across the country.
Ikpoko said: “In the last few months, we have ramped up our rollout. Last month we had a record rollout figure and we are currently rolling out up to 300 sites a month to make sure that we have enough capacity. We are getting more head-room, more dormant capacity in the network. That way, we can carry more traffic and give our customers a decent quality of service on a consistent basis. Indeed, there has been noticeable improvement and this will continue.”
The first indigenous CEO of MTN Nigeria disclosed that apart from crossing the 10,000 base stations deployment mark, the company has also installed additional switching centres.
This is also aside from its world-class network management centre and approximately 20,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable cross country and around metropolitan hubs.
Ikpoki said: “If you look at our investment portfolio from inception till now, MTN has invested more than a trillion naira. From whichever angle you look at it, by normal indices in terms of investment ratio, in most emerging markets, any ratio above 15-17 percent of revenue is a decent ratio in terms of investment. We are doing far in excess of that at MTN Nigeria. This year, we are going to be doing about 42 percent of revenue as capital investment. Last year we did 34 percent of revenue as capital investment.”
Ikpoki further added that following the unrelenting investment, service quality has actually improved, but there is still room for improvement.
He said that operational challenges relating to the environment sometimes robbed the network of the gains it has made in capacity expansion.
He said: “Challenges with quality of service are related to operational issues and I know a lot has been said about these challenges. However, we acknowledge that we have a responsibility to ensure we deliver a good customer experience. That is something we take very seriously. That said, there are quite a number of operational issues which we cannot wish away. Sixty to seventy percent of the challenges we have are mainly power-related.”
Ikpoki said that other impediments relate to multiple taxation and over-regulation resulting in interference with MTN infrastructure by various state and local governments.
He added: “Right now, we need to have a harmonized tax regime in all the states and local governments or else, we will continue to have a situation where roll out is impeded. So it is a very complex logistical matter to effectively manage a network of this size in an environment where taxes and levies are often diverse and completely arbitrary. But we are doing the very best we can and we are receiving a great deal of support from the NCC, the Ministry of Communication Technology and other Government stakeholders. It is in every one’s interest for us to deliver excellent service and this is our goal.”