Daily Headlines 04/5/2011

NUC lauds Jonathan over funding of tertiary education

ABUJA-The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, yesterday disclosed that the nation’s education sector, especially the tertiary sub-sector, has enjoyed greater funding under this administration in the last three years.
Professor Okojie, who made the remarks while speaking in Abuja, said the education system had recorded tremendous development and growth during the period under review because of the commitment of the present administration, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, towards funding it.
He said: “It is only recently, in the past two, three years, particularly, this last one year, during the regime of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that we have put the thumb on the press button for a way forward to education.
“You will recall that we have the education summit. That summit examined all the issues that are involved at all levels of education. And for the first time, we had a president who sort out time for two days to chat with a cross sections of the stakeholders. And I must say that, as a result of that summit, so many things have started happening.
“With the positive review and re-direction of the objective of the Education Trust Fund, ETF, there is a greater and more efficient funding of tertiary education in this country.
“We talked about access, access is not just in terms of physical facilities.  If you don’t also have the relevant teachers’ quality and quantity, then you are going to have problem.
“At the lower level, the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, have funded a lot of projects of exposing teachers for short trainings and ensuring that they have the skills to teach.
“At the higher level, through this year, government has had a very major intervention in respect of improving the existing facilities, and creating new facilities for the right environment for teaching, learning and community development.
“So what happened is that it would appear that in this past three years, the funding for capital development in all federal universities is more than the total for the past ten years. It means that education before now does not have enough impact from whatever provisions government was making.
“Every sector of the economy is struggling for the very lean resources; no country ever had enough funds. As you know, most of the world towers are owing the World Bank, but we are saying, if there is fund from World Bank, it should be properly invested; we have $180million for the Step-B projects, which we have effectively deployed.
“Recently, the government has approved the N3 billion research grant for free access through the universities and other assisted facilities.
“In the past two years or three years, government facilitated in training programme of 4,000 academic staff. 3,000 of that internally and 1,000 others trained abroad. Government is of the notion that for us to have a very balanced education, you don’t have all the breeding in this country.
“It is the climax of the whole setting when the government established nine new universities; they will be twelve in the not far future. Government is only just exercising its policy enunciation that every state should have a federal university to improve access.”

Family members worry over al-Mustapha’s fate

Family members of detained Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha have expressed concern over rumours making the round that he has been murdered in custody at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.
In a statement made available to the Nigerian Compass yesterday in Kano, the family’s spokesman, Hadi al-Mustapha, stressed that for three consecutive days, he was inundated with numerous calls from family friends and associates to confirm or deny the rumour.

He said he had made several failed attempts to establish the truth, but that the development had thrown the entire family into panic and confusion.

Hadi said: “The last time we saw Hamza al-Mustapha was in April during one of his several court appearances before a Lagos High Court. We were already looking forward to his release after his case was closed for lack of witnesses to prove the charges preferred against him.

“Even the Lagos-based Court of Appeal corroborated this when the presiding judge ruled that the witnesses that would have proved the charges against him were all unreliable. This revelation, which appeared to have absolved Major al-Mustapha, who has spent 13 years awaiting trial, came to us as a cheering development.”

Following the turn of events, Hadi disclosed that the family members have been compelled to seek the intervention of human rights organisations, both within and outside the country, for the first time.

Hadi is, therefore, seeking the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, as well as other relevant authorities to ascertain the true position.

Bin Laden's wife shot in leg, not killed: US

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - The wife of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was shot in the leg, but not killed, the White House said Tuesday, reversing an earlier report that she died being used as a human shield in the shoot-out.
Bin Laden's wife had been in the same room as her husband, when US commandos raided a Pakistani compound late Sunday.
She "rushed the US assaulter and was shot in the leg, but not killed," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
On Monday, US officials had said the woman had acted as a human shield to protect bin Laden and had been killed in the firefight.

"Don’t rejoice yet" ACN tells Akpabio

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) will challenge the victory of Governor Goodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.
In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said yesterday it has pictorial and video evidence to prove that the election in Akwa Ibom on April 26 "is nothing but an unprecedented and barefaced rigging and mindless violence."
ACN disowned the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the party, Aniekan Akpan, for taking up a newspaper advertorial to congratulate Akpabio.
The party said Akpan acted on his own and that his action should be disregarded by all members and supporters of the ACN.
It said necessary disciplinary action will be meted out to the chairman.
"Aniekan Akpan has not always acted in consonance with the ideals of our party, and his romance with Governor Akpabio is not a secret. But as a party that believes in fairness and justice, every member is entitled to the benefit of doubt until he or she decides to dance naked in the public square, as the Akwa Ibom state chairman has now done,’’ ACN said.
The party added: ‘’The standard procedure is for the National Executive Committee to meet and deliberate on the elections, take reports from all stakeholders in the states and then set up a legal team to examine submission from the various states. It is only after this that the party can take a stand on the elections.

"It is, therefore, a great disservice to our numerous party members and supporters, who were subjected to untold acts of brigandage and disenfranchisement by the PDP rigging machinery, to turn around and congratulate their tormentors. We are a party of ideals and discipline, hence we have grown from controlling just one state to six presently. Had we chosen to align with out tormentors, as Aniekan Akpan has thoughtlessly done now, ACN as a party will not be in existence today.’’

PENGASSAN challenges FG to build new refineries

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has insisted that building of new refineries and reviving the existing ones were the possible ways to halt fuel importation in the country.

The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of PENGASSAN, Mr. Folorunsho Oginni, disclosed that the nation’s four oil refineries were running at about 30 per cent of installed capacity because of interruptions in the supply of crude and poor maintenance structure.

Oginni said that there was the need for the Federal Government to address the issues of importation of petroleum products in the country in order to reduced huge money spent on importation.

He pointed out that between January and March, this year, the Federal Government had spent about N 207 billion on importation of refined petroleum products.

According to him, building of new refineries and the fixing of the existing ones would stop the continuous fuel importation, adding that this means Nigeria would be in total control of its refineries processing of products management.

The union chief said that the country’s economy was growing at seven per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to several challenges facing the country.

He lamented the high cost of petroleum products, which he said, did not befit a country that exports its crude to the international market.

He therefore called for an urgent need to invest in refinery projects, either on its own or in partnership with stakeholders as part of the avenue to boost economic growth and development.

He said: “Reviving and fixing the refinery problem is a downstream matter, which must be addressed for Nigeria to add value to its crude oil resources and at the same time save the foreign exchange spent on fuel importation. Nigeria refineries have operated under low capacity utilisation, a lot of bunkering or illegal fuel sale thrives on daily basis. That is, trans-border shipping of products.”

Oginni pointed out that this was a trend that must change for this nation to move forward, saying that there was a need to build new green field refineries in the country, which would be most durable and feasible due to the size Nigerian market.

He observed that the issue of gas flaring must be addressed squarely in order to maximise the benefits arising from monetising gas resources.

While stating that harnessing of gas resource was expected to provide revenue stream for the Federal and state governments, he explained that the implementation of the new master gas plan would boost the building of the infrastructure, which would enable the harnessing of gas for the benefit of all the stakeholders.

PENGASSAN boss noted that Nigeria had abundant gas to meet the demand of the domestic market and convey the excess to the international market, advising the Federal Government on the need for the country to engage in long term contract for some of its gas projects and develop, which it would develop with the right capital cost in order to produce gas for the overall development of the power sector.

Oginni stressed: “There is nothing wrong for Nigeria to develop its domestic gas. Nigeria has a huge power deficit, as the availability of 4000mw is too senile for the size of this country. There is urgent need to double megawatts of electricity in Nigeria. Don’t forget that South Africa with a population of less than 50 million people with a modern economy has 40,000 megawatts of electricity.”

Questions linger about bin Laden raid

People protestsing the killing of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - US officials are starting to reveal details about the daring US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, but key aspects of the helicopter-borne assault in Pakistan remain shrouded in secrecy.
According to accounts from senior officials, here is the partial picture that has emerged:
How did the US discover bin Laden's compound?
The trail for bin Laden had gone cold for years until the CIA learned where a trusted courier for the Al-Qaeda chief was operating two years ago. Detainees had told interrogators the messenger held a privileged place in bin Laden's inner circle. A breakthrough came in August 2010, when the CIA tracked the courier and his brother to a large compound in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.
But US officials have not explained how they pinpointed the courier. Was it a tip from Pakistani intelligence or information from a detainee?
By the time the operation to kill or capture bin Laden was ordered last Friday, US officials strongly suspected he was in the compound but had no photograph or rock-solid proof.
What were the other military options?
With the CIA increasingly confident -- but not certain -- that bin Laden was in the house in Abbotabad, serious planning for possible action started in March.
Apart from a helicopter assault with a team of special forces, Obama weighed two other options: bombing the compound from the air or waiting to gather more intelligence.
Bearing in mind disastrous raids from the past in Somalia and Iran, the helicopter assault option carried dangers for US troops and political risks for Washington's relations with Islamabad, particularly if the raid went wrong.
Air strikes on the compound would have involved B-2 bombers or Tomahawk cruise missiles, CIA chief Leon Panetta told Time magazine.
Advisers told Obama striking the compound would require 32 bombs of 2,000-pounds each, officials told the New York Times.
Bombing eliminated the risk of losing US troops or of a possible clash with Pakistani forces, but bin Laden's body might not be recovered and there was a danger of causing major civilian casualties.
As for waiting to get more intelligence, the CIA director argued in favor of taking action, saying it was the best lead on bin Laden since 2001 in Afghanistan.
Why were no prisoners taken in the raid? And, was the mission for the Navy SEAL team to kill the Al-Qaeda leader?
The death of bin Laden and the White House's decision not to release photos of his corpse has fed speculation about the Obama administration's intentions. US officials said it was a "kill or capture" operation and that bin Laden might have been taken alive but he "resisted," though they said he was unarmed.
The nighttime raid provided an element of surprise, giving defenders of the compound little time to react, according to a former Navy SEAL, Dick Hoffman.
Bin Laden and his son, the courier and his brother as well as a woman were killed in the raid.
Officials said the assault force did not detain a number of "non-combatants" -- women and children -- at the residence.
There was limited space on the US helicopters for any possible detainees, as one chopper that broke down had to be abandoned.
The official account of the raid suggests that bin Laden had few bodyguards defending him.
Did Pakistan play a role in the raid?
In announcing bin Laden's death, Obama said "that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding."
But US officials have repeatedly voiced concerns about Pakistan retaining links to Islamist militants, and the distrust was reflected in Washington's decision not to inform Islamabad about the raid in advance.
Panetta told Time magazine that "it was decided that any effort to work with the Pakistanis could jeopardize the mission: They might alert the targets."
The location of bin Laden's residence in an affluent suburb near a military academy prompted accusations that Pakistan gave the Al-Qaeda architect a safe haven, but Islamabad rejected the charges. Obama's top counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan said it was "inconceivable" that bin Laden did not enjoy a support network in Pakistan.

Nigeria puts security on red alert

For fear of reprisal attacks on facilities belonging to the United States (US) in the country, over the killing of Osama bin Laden, the Federal Government yesterday reinforced security at the US Embassy.
Osama, the leader of a terrorist network – al Qaeda, was killed in the early hours of yesterday by US Forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, who gave the government directive said the measure was to forestall attacks on US interests in Nigeria.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olusola Amore told The Nation in a telephone chat in Abuja that his boss has ordered the Commissioners of Police (CPs) across the country “especially those in the northern part of the country” to be on the red alert.
While maintaining that the Force did not expecting any negative reaction from the country since the death of Osama has nothing to do with Nigeria, Amore said the security red alert was meant to “put down any backlash as a result of the death.”
He said: “We have not only strengthened security at the US Embassy, all the Commissioners of Police in the country especially in the northern part of the country have been asked to be on the red alert as a result of the death of Osama Bin Laden, to be able to put down the backlash as a result of the new development.
“Although, we are not expecting that Nigerians would react to it because it is a thing that does not concern the country, the Commissioners of Police have been asked to be on the red alert and as I talk to you they are all aware that the IGP has directed them to be at alert if there is any reaction as a result of the death of Osama Bin Laden.”
On whether there has been any threat to security from any part of the country so far as a result of the death, the Force spokesman said: “As I talk to you now we have not received any report of any threat. Our intelligence gathering team has been all around and particularly we would pay particular attention especially on Fridays and Sundays and ensure that there is no protest of any sort. During the Jumat prayers, we will just ensure that we monitor areas of worship to prevent any breach of the peace.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria joined the global community to celebrate the death of the al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has put all Nigerian embassies on full security alert.
Speaking with The Nation in Abuja, the ministry’s spokesman, Mr Damian Agwu acknowledged that US covert operation that ended the life of Osama deserves the international applause that erupted immediately afterwards.
“It is a monumental achievement in the war against international terrorism,” said Agwu, who also noted that while the challenges remain, some anxieties have been laid to rest.
“Secondly, the world is better without him, in terms of global security.  The world must not relax; we must all remain vigilant.”
Responding to an inquiry on the likelihood of scaling up security arrangements at Nigerian embassies abroad, he stated that eternal vigilance and consistent precautionary measures have always been part of the ministry’s routine arrangements.
“That has always been part of our foreign policy. We have always remained vigilant abroad. Besides, this moment calls for intensified vigilance,” he added.
Nigeria will export the highest volume of crude oil for six months in June as its oil industry benefits from strong demand, a period of relative calm and fewer attacks on pipelines and other infrastructure.

Total Nigerian crude exports were expected to be around 2.15 million barrels per day (bpd) in June, up from 2.03 million bpd due in May and 2.06 million bpd sold in April, according to trade estimates based on provisional loading programs.

The increase would take sales from Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil exporter and a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, back to levels not seen since December when just over 2.15 million bpd was exported.

The higher export volumes reflect an increase in the number of cargoes loading with benchmark Bonny Light, as well as extra cargoes of Forcados and the ultra-light crude oil, Agbami, the loading schedules show.

Bonny Light is a high quality crude oil grade with a good yield of light products such as gasoline, and is much sought after by oil refiners because of its very low content of polluting sulfur compounds.

Seven Bonny Light cargoes will load almost 222,000 bpd in June, up from six cargoes loading an average of around 184,000 bpd in May, trade sources say.

Like many other Nigerian crude oil grades, Bonny light is considered a good replacement for Libyan crude oil that has been largely absent from the world oil spot market over the last couple of months due to the fighting in the country.

Seven cargoes of Forcados will also load in June, up from six in May, while eight Agbami cargoes will sail, up from six scheduled for May, 2011.

Nigerian crude oil volumes in May were also lower due to less availability of the EA and Amenam grades, shipping lists show. In February and March, maintenance at several key oil fields kept exports below 2 million bpd.

Traders said the higher volume of exports in June reflected both higher demand for Nigerian crudes in the absence of significant Libyan exports, and also less disruption of the onshore oil industry in recent months.

Attacks by militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta have restricted production over the last few years but a reduction in political tension has led to fewer attacks this year.

Extra demand helped push premiums for Bonny Light and the other Nigerian benchmark, Qua Iboe, over North Sea dated Brent to two-and-a-half year highs near $4.50 last month and trade sources expect it to remain strong with European refineries returning from seasonal maintenance.

As an OPEC member, Nigeria has an oil production target of 1.67 million bpd but has not been inside that level for almost two years, trade and industry figures show.

State producer Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) has said it is within its OPEC output target and its combined crude and condensate production is around 2.4 million bpd. It has given no breakdown or details.

Gunmen rescue Brazilians from Paraguay prison

ASUNCION, (AFP) - A group of heavily-armed men broke into a maximum security prison in Paraguay and liberated six prisoners, all alleged members of a major Brazilian drug cartel, police said Tuesday.
Two prison guards and four women who were visiting inmates at the time of the breakout, all believed to be accomplices, were detained for questioning, police said.
The breakout took place Tuesday morning at the Pedro Juan Caballero prison, located 550 kilometers (340 miles) north-east of the capital Asuncion, on the border with Brazil. The region is considered the main pathway for marijuana and cocaine heading to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's most populous cities.
The six escaped criminals -- five Brazilians and a Paraguayan -- have been linked to the First Capital Commando (PCC), a criminal organization based in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.
Two of the escaped criminals are believed to be responsible for the assassination attempt on Paraguayan Senator Roberto Acevedo in April 2010. Acevedo was slightly wounded in the attack, but two of his bodyguards were killed.
An angry Acevedo blasted government authorities for failing to prevent the escape.
"This was not a commando operation. This was staged for the liberation of these drug traffickers," said Acevedo, who described the breakout as "pure theater."
Acevedo also pointed his finger at the attorney general's office.
"Why had they not been transferred to Asuncion, or kicked out and handed over to the Brazilian federal police as is usually the case?" Acevedo asked.
According to Acevedo, one week ago a drug trafficker was released from prison after $30,000 was delivered to a prosecutor.