YAR'ADUA Canada C$2.00 • Ghana ... C2,000 • Saudi Arabia ... SR10.00 • Germany .. DM3.50 • CFA Zone 1,500 • USA $3.50 • Italy ... L2,000 Sierra Leone ... Ie300 • Zimbabwe ... $130 • France ... 13F • Kenya Sh20 • UK ... £2.00 • The Gambia ... D4 • Liberia ... L$2.00 THE COOL, SMOOTH CHOICE. I V r THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH WARNS THAT TOBACCO SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH Outline DECEMBER 22, 1997 NIGERIA’S WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 26 NO. 25 Business + Economy: 33 Cover: 8 Organised private sector suggests ways to stimulate Death of an Icon economic growth, elimi­ nate poverty in Nigeria. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, a Production grinds to a halt retired major-general and at Katsina Flour Mills former Number Two Limited/ citizen, dies in prison. What killed him? Sports: 36 Group D features expe­ rienced World Cup teams but Nigeria is yet to Special Report: 22 prepare for France '98. The Landslide 4. Letters With 30 states in the kitty, UNCP becomes the dominant party but how 7. Editorial Suite did it secure its victory? 32. Global Notes Nigeria: 29 37. Momah A Recurring Decimal 38. In The News The people of Rukpokwu, an oil-bearing community in Rivers State, recount their Cover Photo: economic losses caused by a serious oil spill from a Shell pipeline Matthew Faji Newswatch (ISSN 0189-8892) is published weekly by Newswatch Communications Limited, No. 3 Billings Way (off Secretariat Road), Oregun Industrial Estate, Oregun, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Telephone: 4960950. Fax: 962887. Telex: 27874 NEWCOM NG. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part without permission, is forbidden. Printed in Nigeria by Academy Press Pic, Uupeju. LETTERS ■ Four Years of Same in your editorial, Fr. Kukah inexcusably something along that line). spared his own constituency. I believe Uchennaa Osigwe, My verdict of the four -year rule of the Christians in Nigeria, especially Nnewi, Anambra State. Abacha so far, (Cover, November 24) is the Catholic Church, could do that there is no improvement in the something more decisive to liberate us It is our collective national calamity living conditions of poor Nigerians, from this chicanery which Fr. captures that 37 years after independence, due to the continuous decline of the so well in his essay. For four years now, leadership is still perceived as an act of purchasing power of the Naira. An Catholic bishops have composed a conquest rather than of earning the average Nigerian worker could barely "prayer for Nigeria in distress" and support of Nigerians. If Abacha will survive on his or her meagre salary ordered Catholics to be saying it reach beyond the "unflinching which is yet to be reviewed. Our faithfully. They follow it up with very support" of those whose belly is their economy is still in the woods due to the provocative communiques which, god, or the meaningless democratic non implementation of Abacha's regrettably, remain largely unknown pretentions of the so-called opposition, policies of guided deregulation that to most Catholics across the country. he will find the real Nigeria waiting could have created jobs, improved This fact leaves one in serious doubt and willing to be led. I pray that Abacha incomes and reduced poverty. His will not, like his predecessors, be head opponents have been imprisoned, of state, but never know the joy of forced into exile or detained without leading the world's greatest nation. trial, while journalists who are critical Victor Burubo, of his regime are constantly harassed Port Harcourt. and are now being kidnapped in broad daylight while driving along the road Considering that you were out to give us in their vehicles. a summary of achievements and failures Ifcka Okonkwo, scored during Abacha's 4 years as our Awka. leader, it was a major omission that you failed to feature the excesses of the rich During his first three years in office, the and the buying ability of the poor which general was very vibrant. He carried remained pitiable; or the quiet but out major reforms which culminated palpable discontent in the land arising in placing the economy on a sound particularly from these two extreme positions. I believe that the problems pedestal. But whatever modest Tear that faced us seriously during the past 4 achievement recorded during that years could, if boldly highlighted, be period was sacrificed on the altar of his Verdict as to what the real aim of the bishops is. tickled more actively by Abacha during vaulting ambition to succeed himself the last year of his rule as a soldier. as a civilian president come October Maybe it is really in prayer that the solution to our problems lies. In that Maxwell Akpan, 1998. The "Abacha-for-President" Uyo. campaign is so strident, and is vein, may I suggest that the venue for those prayers be shifted from the church increasing in tempo everyday that it ■ Grand Prayers appears to be the only obsession for the buildings to the streets. It is working in government at the moment. There is a the Philippines! Most recently, such prayers led their incumbent president The fact is that the transition programme general lull in government activities - that is always touted to be on the right the economy is: n dire straits, while the to renounce his ambition of prolonging his reign by standing for another term. course has now become the political political front is witnessing an inactivity scarecrow to potential candidates. When Ken Saro-Wiwa (our patron unprecedented during a transition Uche Sylva A. Ebere, saint, according to Fr. Kukah) and eight process in the history of this country. Ozverri. Ukonu Kalu Agbai, of his compatriots were wasted via the Aba, Abia State. hangman's noose, Archbishop Jakande should be able to accept the Desmond Tutu and his followers presidential zoning system for, while the Bravo to Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan prayed on the streets of Johannesburg system is trying to introduce regulation Kukah for his comprehensive analysis and London. The Pope did same in the and fairness in the choice of our nation's of the lunacy that had gone on these Vatican. Shamefully, not much was presidents, it is (I believe) not designed to past four years in the name of seen to be done by the Nigerian clergy. kill free education, free health service, governance here. The analysis (verdict) It is such prayers that we need now. Fr. etc. is brilliant and daring. Kukah could pioneer such Maxwell Akpan, However, contrary to what you said interdenominational prayers (or Uyo. Typed reactions to the contents of Newswatch, should be addressed to Newswatch Letters, 3 Billings Way (Off Secretariat K ad), Oregun Industrial Estate, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Nigeria. All letters must bear the correct names, addresses and signatures of the writers. Newswatch reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and brevity. 4 Newswatch, December 22,1997 U ADVERTORIAL NPA: SERVING THE NATION IN MANY WAYS By Mande Samaila HE DEVELOPMENT OF SEAPORTS IN NIGERIA STARTED Processing Zone (EPZ) in Calabar, in mid 19th century during the era of the European explorers NPA has almost completed the and traders. Although the activities of the explorers and dredging of the Calabar Channels traders were initially limited to the opening of ports at from the farewell Bonny to the new Apapa and Port Harcourt, this led eventually to the establishment of the Calabar Port. The dredging which is Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in 1954. The company commenced being handled by the China operation on April 1, 1955. Harbours Engineering Limited at With the privatisation and commercialisation drive of the Federal the cost of 3.8 billion Naira, is meant Government in the mid 80's, NPA was fully commercialised on the to deepen the 87-kilometre long Engr. Wall Ahmed: MD, NPA recommendation of the then Technical Committee on Privatisation and Calabar Channels from its present Commercialisation (TCPC), now Bureau of Public Enterprise. The depth of 6.9 metres to 8 metres. authority was subsequently incorporated as a public limited liability The relevance of the channelisation project, therefore, cannot be company under the name - The Nigerian Ports Pic. overemphasised, in view of the government's commitment to boost However, considering that the company is still government owned, export activities. it recently reverted to its former name - The Nigerian Ports Authority Similarly, the completion of the project would enable the Calabar (NPA). This reversion, it should be noted, is in no way in conflict with Port to play its complementary role to EPZ and also enhance activities the commercialisation efforts of the organisation and the commitment in the port which are presently below par. to improve its services. For now, traffic to the Calabar Port is 'very low, due to the shallowness The statutory duties and major functions of NPA include amongst of its channels. As a result of this, most importers within its catchment others - the provision and operation of cargo handling and quays areas prefer patronising other ports, despite the presence of modern facilities, pilotage and towage, supply of water and fuel to vessels at cargo handling facilities in the port. anchorage or mooring buoys, repairs and maintenance of vessels, dredging and contract dredging of waterways, navigational lighting Diversification of the ports and other ancilliary services. In 1988, the then TCPC, following submissions by the Management, Presently, NPA is managing nine major ports located in various recommended to the Federal Government the need to establish parts of the country. These include the Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, subsidiary companies to handle certain specialised services within the Roro Port and Container Terminal all in Lagos.