Obama's Interview with Al-Arabiya Obama's Interview with Al-ArabiyaWritten by HISHAM MELHEM, AL ARABIYAJan 28, 2009 at 12:59 AMQ Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, we really appreciate it.THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.Q Sir, you just met with your personal envoy to theMiddle East, Senator Mitchell. Obviously, his first task is to consolidate the cease-fire. But beyond that you've been saying that you want to pursue actively and aggressively peacemaking between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Tell us a little bit about how do you see your personal role, because, you know, if the President of the United States is not involved, nothing happens -- as the history of peacemaking shows. Will you be proposing ideas, pitching proposals, parameters, as one of your predecessors did? Or just urging the parties to come up with their own resolutions, as your immediate predecessor did?THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away. And George Mitchell is somebody of enormous stature. He is one of the few people who have international experience brokering peace deals.And so what I told him is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating -- in the past on some of these issues -- and we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. He's going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table.And it's going to be difficult, it's going to take time. I don't want to prejudge many of these issues, and I want to make sure that expectations are not raised so that we think that this is going to be resolved in a few months. But if we start the steady progress on these issues, I'm absolutely confident that the United States -- working in tandem with the European Union, with Russia, with all the Arab states in the region -- I'm absolutely certain that we can make significant progress.Q You've been saying essentially that we should not look at these issues -- like the Palestinian-Israeli track and separation from the border region -- you've been talking about a kind of holistic approach to the region. Are we expecting a different paradigm in the sense that in the past one of the critiques -- at least from the Arab side, the Muslim side -- is that everything the Americans always tested with the Israelis, if it works. Now there is an Arab peace plan, there is a regional aspect to it. And you've indicated that. Would there be any shift, a paradigm shift?THE PRESIDENT: Well, here's what I think is important. Look at the proposal that was put forth by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia --Q Right.THE PRESIDENT: I might not agree with every aspect of the proposal, but it took great courage --Q Absolutely.THE PRESIDENT: -- to put forward something that is as significant as that. I think that there are ideas across the region of how we might pursue peace.I do think that it is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated. And what I've said, and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount. But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side.And so what we want to do is to listen, set aside some of the preconceptions that have existed and have built up over the last several years. And I think if we do that, then there's a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs.Q I want to ask you about the broader Muslim world, but let me -- one final thing about the Palestinian-Israeli theater. There are many Palestinians and Israelis who are very frustrated now with the current conditions and they are losing hope, they are disillusioned, and they believe that time is running out on the two-state solution because -- mainly because of the settlement activities in Palestinian-occupied territories. Will it still be possible to see a Palestinian state -- and you know the contours of it -- within the first Obama administration?THE PRESIDENT: I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state -- I'm not going to put a time frame on it -- that is contiguous, that allows freedom of movement for its people, that allows for trade with other countries, that allows the creation of businesses and commerce so that people have a better life.And, look, I think anybody who has studied the region recognizes that the situation for the ordinary Palestinian in many cases has not improved. And the bottom line in all these talks and all these conversations is, is a child in the Palestinian Territories going to be better off? Do they have a future for themselves? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security? And if we can keep our focus on making their lives better and look forward, and not simply think about all the conflicts and tragedies of the past, then I think that we have an opportunity to make real progress.But it is not going to be easy, and that's why we've got George Mitchell going there. This is somebody with extraordinary patience as well as extraordinary skill, and that's what's going to be necessary.Q Absolutely. Let me take a broader look at the whole region. You are planning to address the Muslim world in your first 100 days from a Muslim capital. And everybody is speculating about the capital. (Laughter.) If you have anything further, that would be great.How concerned are you -- because, let me tell you, honestly, when I see certain things about America -- in some parts, I don't want to exaggerate -- there is a demonization of America.THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely.Q It's become like a new religion, and like a new religion it has new converts -- like a new religion has its own high priests.THE PRESIDENT: Right.Q It's only a religious text.THE PRESIDENT: Right.Q And in the last -- since 9/11 and because of Iraq, that alienation is wider between the Americans and -- and in generations past, the United States was held high. It was the only Western power with no colonial legacy.THE PRESIDENT: Right.Q How concerned are you and -- because people sense that you have a different political discourse. And I think, judging by (inaudible) and Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden and all these, you know -- a chorus --THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I noticed this. They seem nervous.Q They seem very nervous, exactly. Now, tell me why they should be more nervous?THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that when you look at the rhetoric that they've been using against me before I even took office --Q I know, I know.THE PRESIDENT: -- what that tells me is that their ideas are bankrupt. There's no actions that they've taken that say a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them.In my inauguration speech, I spoke about: You will be judged on what you've built, not what you've destroyed. And what they've been doing is destroying things. And over time, I think the Muslim world has recognized that that path is leading no place, except more death and destruction.Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.Q The largest one.THE PRESIDENT: The largest one, Indonesia. And so what I want to communicate is the fact that in all my travels throughout the Muslim world, what I've come to understand is that regardless of your faith -- and America is a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-believers -- regardless of your faith, people all have certain common hopes and common dreams.And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record, as you say, America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task.But ultimately, people are going to judge me not by my words but by my actions and my administration's actions. And I think that what you will see over the next several years is that I'm not going to agree with everything that some Muslim leader may say, or what's on a television station in the Arab world -- but I think that what you'll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity. I want to make sure that I'm speaking to them, as well.Q Tell me, time is running out, any decision on from where you will be visiting the Muslim world?THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not going to break the news right here.Q Afghanistan?THE PRESIDENT: But maybe next time. But it is something that is going to be important. I want people to recognize, though, that we are going to be making a series of initiatives. Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace, we're going to start now. It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now. We're going to follow through on our commitment for me to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital. We are going to follow through on many of my commitments to do a more effective job of reaching out, listening, as well as speaking to the Muslim world.And you're going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq, so that Iraqis can start taking more responsibility. And finally, I think you've already seen a commitment, in terms of closing Guantanamo, and making clear that even as we are decisive in going after terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians, that we're going to do so on our terms, and we're going to do so respecting the rule of law that I think makes America great.Q President Bush framed the war on terror conceptually in a way that was very broad, "war on terror," and used sometimes certain terminology that the many people -- Islamic fascism. You've always framed it in a different way, specifically against one group called al Qaeda and their collaborators. And is this one way of --THE PRESIDENT: I think that you're making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations -- whether Muslim or any other faith in the past -- that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith's name.And so you will I think see our administration be very clear in distinguishing between organizations like al Qaeda -- that espouse violence, espouse terror and act on it -- and people who may disagree with my administration and certain actions, or may have a particular viewpoint in terms of how their countries should develop. We can have legitimate disagreements but still be respectful. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down.But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.Q Can I end with a question on Iran and Iraq then quickly?THE PRESIDENT: It's up to the team --MR. GIBBS: You have 30 seconds. (Laughter.)Q Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?THE PRESIDENT: You know, I said during the campaign that it is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran.Now, the Iranian people are a great people, and Persian civilization is a great civilization. Iran has acted in ways that's not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past -- none of these things have been helpful.But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.Q Shall we leave Iraq next interview, or just --MR. GIBBS: Yes, let's -- we're past, and I got to get him back to dinner with his wife.Q Sir, I really appreciate it.THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.Q Thanks a lot.THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate it.Q Thank you.THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.END 6:03 P.M. ESTBarack Obama is the President of the United States of America.
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The pop star will not be allowed to adopt three-year-old Mercy James, ruled the High Court in the capital, Lilongwe.
Court registrar Ken Manda said the singer's bid to adopt the girl - previously believed to be aged four - had been rejected because Madonna is not a resident of Malawi.
The case has stirred up controversy in the tiny, impoverished African nation where some human rights campaigners have accused the 50-year-old of child "kidnapping".
They claim she has used her fame and money to by-pass the official adoption procedures.
Madonna, who has spent the past six days in the country touring her charity projects, has refused to comment but her spokeswoman issued a statement denying any rules had been broken.
On Monday, the US singer attended an hour-long hearing in the chambers of Mrs Justice Chomba.
"She is not skirting any legal issues in her application to adopt this child and is looking to provide a loving family environment and the best education and healthcare possible for a child who has been in an orphanage since her birth," Liz Rosenburg said.
Malawi's government has expressed its support for the star, who was subjected to similar criticism two years ago when she began her adoption of another Malawian child, David Banda.
The boy, now three, is accompanying Madonna on her visit to Malawi, along with her other children Lourdes, 12, and eight-year-old Rocco.
The country's Information Minister Patricia Kaliati praised the singer for her charity work in Malawi and said she had proved she was a good mother to David.
"Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children. We support her adoption process," Ms Kaliati said.
The court ruling had been expected to go Madonna's way after Mercy James was allowed to stay with her at a luxury lodge in Lilongwe.
She had been expected to take the child with her when she flies home to New York at the weekend.
Malawi has a million orphans, as a result of Aids, poor healthcare and poverty. Several charities, including Save the Children, have accused Madonna of setting a bad example.
They said efforts to help orphaned children should focus on keeping the children in their own communities and supporting extended families so they can care for them.
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OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT
STATE HOUSE ABUJA
YARADUA’S 7-POINT AGENDA AND VISION 2020:
POLITICAL SLOGANS OR ECONOMIC GROWTH MECHANISMS?
by
TANIMU YAKUBU
Chief Economic Adviser to the President
PROTOCOLS
1.0 I wish to commence by thanking the Nigerian Guild of Editors for affording me, as representative of the Yar’Adua Administration, this opportunity and others in the past to communicate to the Nigerian populace the vision and philosophy behind the Administration’s actions and the rationale for reliance on Mr. President’s 7-Point Agenda to bring succour to our National economy. I feel extremely delighted to be invited to this conference today, as there can hardly be a richer gathering of media personalities, and therefore the opportunity for communicating our message more effectively.
2.0 Today’s discussion comes less than a month after Mr. President signed the 2009 Appropriation Act into law, an Act we in the Administration feel marks the actual commencement of the implementation of the 7-Point Agenda. It is heart-warming to note, therefore, that the Nigerian Guild of Editors who have the capacity to explain Government action, or lack of it in a manner that no propaganda campaign can do, are pro-actively leading the effort to educate the Nigerian people on the Administration’s actions.
3.0 It is not lost on Government that the multitude of slogans describing government policy intentions can be confusing. But while the Nigeria Vision 2020 remains what its name connotes: a vision, an aspiration and a long term view of where we intend to be by the year 2020, the Administration’s ongoing development agenda is defined by the 7-Point Agenda. It is important to note that the 2009 Budget, as conceived, is a clear demonstration of the Government’s determination to achieve its long-term vision objective through faithful implementation of the 7-Point Agenda, which itself is a medium term development strategy. In attempting to rationalise if the slogans, Vision 2020 and 7-Point Agenda are mere political sloganeering or are, in fact economic growth mechanisms, there is need to briefly describe the nature and structure of the 2009 Federal Government Budget.
4.0 The Budget this time around was premised on the need to, partly, address the historical bottleneck to budget implementation and performance in the country, and also, to achieve the well defined deliverables that constitute the 7-Point Agenda. The preparatory process in the budget followed a more focused approach, emphasising the need for a people-centred budget, the outcome of which is a bold step in the introduction to Nigeria of a comprehensive result-oriented, performance-based budgeting system, backed by appropriate monitoring and evaluation structures and strategies. Because the budget was based on the vision of Mr President, it necessarily means that the various items of the 7-Point Agenda provide the focal points for assessing the success or failure of the 2009 budget.
5.0 Let me quickly highlight some of the measurable targets and outputs envisaged in the 2009 budget.
5.1 CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
5.1.1 Power
i) The Budget envisages the goal of attaining 6000MW of power generation in 2009, setting aside over N200 billion for implementing gas projects, aimed at acquiring capacity to deliver 1.2bn scf of gas to domestic market. The projects associated with the above allocation include:
• National Domestic Gas Projects
• Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline Project
• Calabar-Umuahia-Ajaokuta Gas Pipeline
• Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kano Gas Pipeline
• Gas Supply Pipeline to PHCN Delta IV
• Gas pipelines to power plants including: Omotosho, Papalanto and Alaoji
• Mambilla hydro-electric power generation project
• Other Generation projects
• Transmission Projects
• Distribution Projects
5.1.2 Under the transportation sector, allocations have been made to achieve the following sub-sectoral projects:
i) Rail Transport
• Modernisation of locomotives, coaches and wagons; rehabilitation works on tracks, stations, bridges, signalling equipment and culverts; procurement of tools, cranes & other railway equipment; etc.
ii) Marine and Inland Waterways Transport
• Completion of Ajaokuta-Warri Line to Delta Steel Jetty
• Dredging of Lower River Niger
iii) Road Transportation
Nationwide Works
• Maintaining 30,000km of roads (for completion in 3 years)
• Construction and rehabilitation of 3,293km of roads
• Engineering design of 699.05km of roads
• Completion of 2,821m length of bridges
• Rehabilitation of 262m length of bridges
• Zonal intervention in road projects to cover about 2,400km of roads
• Access Roads to 6 NNPC refineries and ports
• Highways rehabilitation and construction
• Construction of 2nd Niger Bridge at Onitsha (on PPP basis)
• Guto/Bagana Bridge (on PPP basis)
• Emergency rehabilitation road works in all 6 geopolitical zones
Zonal Intervention Road Projects across all 6 Geopolitical Zones as follows:
North-Central
• 140km Length Realignment and Construction of dangerous curves along Akwanga-Lafia Road
• 120km Length Otuoacha-Ibaji-Odolu-Ajegwu Road
• 68km Length 9th Mile-Otukpo-Makurdi Road Lafia
• 100km Length Otukpo-Ayangba-Ajaokuta-Okene Road
• 70km Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa
North-East
• 239km Length Maiduguri-Bama-Gwoza-Mubi with spur to Banki
• 190km Length Gombe-Numan-Yola Road Section II
• 100km Length Nafada-Gombe Abba Road
• 100km Length Wukari-Mutum Biu-Jalingo-Numan Road
North-West
• 125km Length Kano-Katsina-Jibia Road Gusau
• 90km Length Mararaba-Panbeguwa-Saminaka-Jos
• 150km Length Kano-Dutse-Kazaure-Daura-Mai-adua-Hui
• 120km Length Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto-Birnin Kebbi
South-East
• 90km Length 9th Mile-Enugu-Port-Harcourt with spur to Okpanku and Nkomoro
• 140km Length Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe Road with spur to Alor
• 100km Length Nsukka-Obollo-Afor-Eheamufu-Nkalagu
• 122km Length Enugu-Onitsha with a spur to Inyi
• 60km Length Abakaliki-Afikpo Road with spur to Itigidi
South-South
• 92km Length Yenegwe-Okaki-Kolo-Nembe-Brass Road
• 70km Length Calabar-Ugep-Ogoja-Katsina Ala with spur to Abakaliki Road
• 50km Length Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene-Aba Owerri Road
South-West
• 140km Length Kabba-Omuo-Ifaki-Ado Ekiti-Aramoko-Itawure-Erinmo-Oshogbo Road
• 60km Length Shagamu-Ajebandele-Ore-Benin Road
• 36km Length Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomosho Road
• Dualisation of Abeokuta-Ota-Owode Road (Ota-Owode Section with spur to Igboora Bridge at Lafenwa)
Federal Capital Territory
In the Federal Capital territory, the budget covered the completion of three key headquarters structures, namely the Foreign Affairs Headquarters, the Shehu Shagari Complex and the Federal Secretariat Building Phase II (Bullet House) so that MDAs can relocate to these premises instead of embarking on multiple headquarters projects.
5.2 FOOD SECURITY AND AGRIBUSINESS
5.2.1 The recent growth of the economy has been largely attributable to the non-oil sectors, especially agriculture. As well as guaranteeing national food security, the Agriculture sector offers the best opportunity for achieving rapid economic growth, greatly increased employment opportunities and industrialisation. The Federal Government’s proposed expenditures in the agriculture sector is aimed at raising the sector’s contribution to GDP to higher levels through on-going projects and targets over the next 3 years including:
• Counterpart funding for FADAMA III, IFAD and AfDB projects etc.
• Assistance to States’ production initiatives through 40% contribution to financing production infrastructure in the State to attract agribusiness investments
• Completion of ongoing silos projects and construction of new ones to bolster food security by upgrading national strategic storage capacity to 1 million tonnes
• Rehabilitation and construction of dams to increase irrigated lands and acquire power generation capabilities at some of the dams
• Rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation infrastructure to add 150,000 hectares in addition to optimisation of currently 220,000 hectares of irrigation infrastructure
• Increasing land under cultivation by 5% in the next season and 15% over a period of 3 years
• Increase in yields by 50-250% of different crops, and 20% increase in production of targeted commodity crops
• Provision of N200 billion credit for commercial agriculture development
• 35% increase in domestic agribusiness and 15% increase in export of selected commodities
• Increase in fish production by 230% from 650,000 metric tonnes to 1.5m metric tonnes p.a.
• 40% increase in availability of rural infrastructure (road, energy, water and housing)
• Increase in the agriculture sector’s contribution to GDP by at least 5%
5.2.2 Related to this also is the fact that Government has embarked on the amendment of the Land Use Act, in order to remove the obstacles and inconveniences of transacting in land for housing and agriculture and bring out the inherent capital in landed assets.
5.3 WEALTH CREATION AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
5.3.1 Government is aware that productivity growth, equity, poverty eradication and security can all reinforce one another. And for that to happen, requires widespread access to wealth-creating assets, especially through education, the basis for acquiring skills and grasping opportunities. The 2009 budget has adequate and measurable provisions to address the issue of wealth creation, human capital development and guarantee of security to life and property.
5.3.2 Under the health sector, government made provisions in the 2009 Budget for:
• Completion of ongoing projects for modernisation of 7 Specialist Hospitals in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Kano, Calabar, Enugu, Abeokuta & Lagos
• Completing of ongoing projects for modernisation of 3 Teaching Hospitals in Calabar, Awka and Ife
5.4 INTERNAL SECURITY
5.4.1 Under internal security Government’s prioritization has been reflected in the 2009 budget including allocations for security and community policing in 7 cities (Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Maiduguri & Onitsha) identified as having the highest incidences of criminal activity, with the view to reducing this by 40% in 2009.
5.5 NIGER DELTA
5.5.1 Toward implementation of the Administration’s Niger Delta Agendum, provisions have been made in the 2009 Budget for:
• New road projects such as the Warri-Kaima Road,
• East-West Road (Section I) Warri-Kaima
• East-West Road (Section II) Warri-Port Harcourt
• East-West Road (Section III) Port Harcourt-Eket
• East-West Road (Section IV) Eket-Oron
• Erosion Control Projects
• Idumuje Unor Erosion Control Project, Delta State
• Forestry Projects
• Conservation and Development of Coastal Ecosystem (Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem) G-clime (Rivers & Bayelsa State)
• Youth Training/Development Centres in the Niger Delta
• Digital security surveillance
• Acquisition of Marine boats and equipment
• Provision of observation posts along major highways in the country
6.0 POLICY THRUST OF THE BUDGET
6.1 There is a determination to shift focus from resource commitment to MDAs, to considering what was actually delivered by the various MDAs. To ensure improved efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of government’s expenditure, the Budget Office of the Federation, working with the National Planning Commission, Office of the Chief Economic Adviser and the MDG office, has designed a framework to monitor and evaluate the budget performance. Quarterly budget monitoring and evaluation reports will be published in line with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
6.2 One of the challenges of the past had been the slow passage of the Appropriation Bill, which has been reversed this year as the President has already assented to the 2009 Budget Act. In like manner, there is now no constriction on funds releases with a new flexibility in the approval process. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved upward revisions to the approval thresholds for procurement of goods and services, combined with enhanced monitoring. As a result of the upward review of thresholds and the fact that a handful of MDAs established in-house branches of the Due Process Mechanism (DPM) outfit, the DPM has now been made easier. Most MDAs are now also more aware of the Public Procurement Act (PPA), which, no doubt, would hasten the issuance of “no objections” in contract execution.
6.3 Closing the critical infrastructure gap is a major policy thrust of this Administration. Targeted, measurable and verifiable critical infrastructural projects under the 2009 budget have been prioritized to ensure their implementation. In the medium to long term, the changed infrastructural environment will make the Nigerian economy grow at an accelerated rate and lead to enhanced competitiveness.
6.4 It is equally important to recognize that new strategies of domestic borrowing, privatization, PPP and the use of unspent capital votes have been adopted in place of the inefficient traditional ways and means of utilisation and abuse of cash calls on capital projects implementation in the oil & gas sector. The whole process is now aimed at improving cash-backing in budget implementation and making necessary provisions to finance the development strategy in the sector and attain the highest quality of spending to increase economic growth.
6.5 Finally, a Cash Management Committee shall be established to ensure effective implementation of the 2009 budget by, among others, managing and controlling cash available to Government at any point in time and ensuring that budgetary revenues are realised and that adequate machineries are put in place for prompt collection, accounting and remittance to the relevant revenue accounts on a real-time basis. This is to be set in the context of changing international environment and the challenges that this could pose for the implementation of the budget.
7.0 CONCLUSION
7.1 I have tried in the last few paragraphs to highlight the features and contents of the 2009 Budget, and attempted to explain that, while the Administration’s visionis enshrined in the Vision 2020 document, the 7-Point Agenda contains definite development targets and strategies for their achievement with well defined deliverables.
7.2 Strict pursuit of the 7-Point Agenda will widen opportunities through provision of functional infrastructure, enhanced human capacity, wealth creation and increased emphasis on food security and affordable housing. Realisation of the key Agenda items in the short and medium-term, namely: addressing the challenges of the critical infrastructure gap, bringing succour to the chronic socio-economic crises in the Niger Delta, achieving enhanced human capital development, ameliorating the inadequacies of our Food sector, implementing land tenure and home ownership reforms aimed at freeing the wealth in our land resources, addressing the challenges of National security and creating a conducive environment for wealth creation, would deliver on the 2020 vision.
8.0 Thank you for listening to me.
TANIMU YAKUBU
Chief Economic Adviser to the President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
ALL NIGERIAN EDITORS CONFERENCE (ANEC )2ND APRIL, 2009
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The New York Times
Just Medicine
By PHILIP K. HOWARD
WASTE in the health care system costs America upwards of $1 trillion per year. Much of this waste is generated or justified by the fear of legal consequences that infects almost every health care encounter. The good news is that it would be relatively easy to create a new system of reliable justice, one that could support broader reforms to contain costs.
The legal system terrorizes doctors. Fear of possible claims leads medical professionals to squander billions in unnecessary tests and procedures. “Defensive medicine” is so prevalent that it has become part of standard protocol — for example, mandatory pre-operative exams even where the patient record is current, and even for minor procedures.
Like a cancer, this legal anxiety corrodes relationships with patients. Doctors and nurses don’t want to speak up for fear of assuming legal liability, and this causes unnecessary errors. Under instructions from lawyers, they don’t apologize or offer explanations when things go wrong. They sometimes conceal errors in an effort to avoid a legal ordeal. Even in ordinary daily encounters, an invisible wall separates doctors from their patients. As one pediatrician told me, “You wouldn’t want to say something off the cuff that might be used against you.”
As the culture of health care disintegrates, costs rise further. In hospitals, self-protective bureaucracy multiplies. Patient encounters require witnesses, wasting professional time. Patients, sensing distrust, demand second opinions even on minor ailments. There are psychological costs as well: doctors no longer find professional fulfillment and drop out in their prime. Forget productivity — sometimes doctors avoid using e-mail so they don’t have to put things in writing.
Restoring a foundation of trust requires a new system of medical justice. Medical cases are now decided jury by jury, without consistent application of medical standards. According to a 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine, around 25 percent of cases where there was no identifiable error resulted in malpractice payments. Nor is the system effective for injured patients — according to the same study, 54 cents of every dollar paid in malpractice cases goes to administrative expenses like lawyers, experts and courts.
America needs special health courts aimed not at stopping lawsuits but at delivering fair and reliable decisions. A special court would provide expedited proceedings with knowledgeable staff that would work to settle claims quickly. Trials would be conducted before a judge who is advised by a neutral expert, with written rulings on standards of care.
With a special health court, damages would consist of all lost income and medical costs, plus “pain and suffering” based on a set schedule depending on the severity of the injury. All information about each incident, including details learned in settlements, would be compiled and disseminated so that doctors and hospitals could learn from their errors. Proponents of special health courts have estimated that the total cost of such a new liability system would be about the same as the existing system — less than 2 percent of America’s total health care costs. One benefit would be that the quicker, streamlined system would compensate far more people, with drastically lower legal costs. Most important, it would restore faith in the reliability of medical justice.
A court that freed doctors from worries about unnecessary and unreasonable malpractice claims would transform the culture of health care. Doctors could finally emerge from their defensive cocoons and start focusing on the health of the patient. Hospitals would concentrate on productivity and safety. Doctors could be more candid about decisions for terminally ill patients, and offer more guidance about high-risk procedures.
This country has a long tradition of courts and tribunals to deal with issues like bankruptcy that require special expertise. Nowhere is that expertise, along with the stability and trust it would bring, more needed than in health care.
Several prominent hospitals, including New York Presbyterian, have said they are interested in being part of a health court pilot project. Some large consumer and patient safety groups support the idea. The fastest way to do this would be for Congress to authorize and finance pilot courts around the country. These ideas already have some bipartisan support: Bills for alternative medical justice systems have been introduced in Congress.
Cutting back on the notorious inefficiency of American health care is essential to achieve universal care, as well as make the American economy more competitive. Part of the solution — overhauling the reimbursement model so that doctors get paid only for what is needed — is unavoidably complex. But restoring trust in law, the other essential reform, can be accomplished with the creation of reliable courts.
Philip K. Howard, a lawyer, is the chairman of Common Good, a legal reform coalition, and the author of “Life Without Lawyers: Liberating Americans From Too Much Law.”
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UMUAHIA—THE Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has arrested a 29-year-old man, Domunachi Osu, for allegedly raping and infecting an 8-year-old girl, (names withheld) with HIV.The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Soji Alabi who briefed newsmen on behalf of the Commandant, Alhaji Dauda Mungadi, said the suspect, said to have been on the run since last year was arrested following a tip-off from the victim’s mother.Alabi said the suspect, a married man and trader from Delta State, was living in the same area with victim, who was staying with her grandmother in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.Osu was said to have committed the offence when everybody in the compound had gone to the farm and threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone of the heinous act.Alabi said that the suspect would be taken to court immediately investigations were concluded.In her account, the victim’s mother, Mrs. Amarachi Uche, said she had gone back to school in Abuja when her daughter’s series of illnesses were reported to her and that it took the intervention of a family friend before her daughter could open up on what happened.The victim who narrated her ordeal in Igbo language said she was raped. The suspect also admitted that he was guilty of the offence, saying he had been living with HIV for over three years.
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A South African judge has sentenced three men to life in prison for killing reggae star Lucky Dube in 2007.The 43-year-old was shot as the three stole his car in a Johannesburg suburb in a case which shocked the nation.Family members broke down in tears, cheered and applauded in response, the South Africa Press Association reports."The sentence won't heal me, but we are happy they were arrested and that the law took its course," his wife Zanele Dube said afterwards.The BBC's Mpho Lakaje outside the South Gauteng High Court says musicians and fans gathered outside to show their support.I don't think we will ever recover from this. But we are happy that justice has been doneBacking singer Tonique ThalaSouth Africa's singing peacemakerThe court had heard that the three men thought their victim was Nigerian and did not realise his identity until they read about it in the newspapers the following day.Our reporter says one of the banners outside court read: "Lucky Dube did not look like a Nigerian; he's an African."According to Sapa, the court also sentenced Sifiso Mhlanga, Julius Gxowa, and Mbuti Mabe to 15 years each for the attempted robbery of Dube's car.Murder alarmOne of Dube's backing vocalists said there was a sense of relief that the trial was over."I don't think we will ever recover from this. But we are happy that justice has been done," Tonique Thala said.South Africa's best-selling reggae artist, Dube recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans during his 25-year career.The killing had led to renewed domestic calls for the restoration of the death penalty in a bid to stem one of the world's highest murder rates.Our reporter says South Africa's international image has been tarnished by its alarming crime levels.Nearly 19,000 people were murdered last year, according to official statistics.Millions of visitors are expected for next year's football World Cup.
The search for survivors from a migrant boat that sank off Libya has been called off with more than 230 people presumed dead, an official has said.Michele Bombassei, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), also said about 100 bodies had been recovered.Twenty-one migrants were rescued from the boat, which sank early on Sunday.The survivors said it had capsized because of bad weather and people panicking when the boat began to leak.Another boat carrying 357 people was rescued by Italian authorities and towed back to the Libyan capital, Tripoli.The boats were on the route used by smugglers to bring mainly African migrants illegally from Libya to Italy.See map of main migrant routes to EuropeMore than 31,000 people attempted the perilous crossing last year, a sharp increase from 2007.The journey is often made in ill-equipped, overcrowded boats, and many would-be migrants die.The boat that sank on Sunday capsized about 15km (9 miles) west of Tripoli."Unfortunately we have been told that the search operation has been stopped," Mr Bombassei told the BBC.Survivors said the smuggler, an Egyptian, was among those who drowned.Mr Bombassei, who visited the survivors at a centre near Tripoli on Wednesday, said the amount they were charged for making the journey depended on the nationality of the migrant."There were some guys who said they paid the equivalent of 300 euros (£270) and others who paid 1,000 [euros]," he told the BBC."The smugglers want to make as much as they can so they are very flexible."Some survivors the capsized and rescued boats were quoted as saying they had paid even more.Many of those rescued from the boat that sank have kidney problems after drinking large quantities of sea water, the IOM said.Italy is to start joint sea patrols with Libya aimed at stemming the influx of migrants in May.But the patrols have long been delayed for political reasons, including negotiations over compensation demanded by Tripoli for Italy's colonisation of Libya.
Flogged, tied up and locked up for 72 hours
The 2008 Christmas week would for a long time, remain fresh in the memory of Miss Ngozi Eneremadu . The 27th day of December , 2008 to be precise, has been burnt into her mind with blood and pain.
Ngozi Eneremadu's woes started on the 24th day of December, 2008 when she was invited to the house of one Mr. Chimeremeze Chigaemezu, the proprietor of Chinbest Guest House in Umuguma Housing Estate in Owerri West LGA, by one Miss Vivian, a relative of the said Chimeremeze who was supposed to be Miss Eneremadu’s friend.
On getting to the place, Ngozi Eneremadu was told that they needed her to assist them in the Christmas sales at the Chinbest Guest House.
Eneremdu, being a young, unemployed school leaver, accepted the offer and started work immediately. As contained in a petition to the Imo state police commissioner, three days after commencement of work at Chinbest Guest House, on the 27th day of December, after the Christmas and Boxing day celebration , the proprietor of Chinbest Guest House, at about 11:30 pm on the fateful day, cornered Miss Ngozi Eneremadu and forced her to drink excessive quantity of alcohol.
When she became tipsy with alcohol and posed minimal resistance, Chimeremeze and Vivian allegedly dragged her to the car, forced her in and drove her to the proprietor’s residence.
On getting to Chimeremeze’s house, she was taken into the bedroom where she was ordered to undress at gun point.
Being a premeditated act, when Ngozi Eneremadu refused to undress, a cable wire was instantly brandished by Chimeremeze with which he started beating and flogging the helpless girl. The attack on Miss Eneremadu was viciously maniacal as Chimeremeze was alleged to have torn her cloths from her body, to bits and pieces. Naked , he shoved her to the floor and brutally lashed and excoriated her back, buttocks and legs.
Miss Ngozi Eneremadu’s shout for help was drowned by the compact disc audio player which was turned up to the highest volume by Chimeremeze to cover his savage action.
When Miss Eneremadu, mustered up a little energy and attempted to escape, she was pushed back into the room by Vivian, the friend who invited her to the Guest House.
As the flogging resumed with more intense brutality, her body convulsed severally and was freely dripping blood from over 32 bleeding stripes. Having lost so much blood, Ngozi Eneremadu drifted in and out of unconsciousness until she eventually passed out .
Regaining consciousness, Ngozi Eneremadu noticed three men hovering around , inspecting her body. In a petition to the Imo State Commissioner of police, Barrister D.U Enwere of the Equity Chambers , stated that the ritualists, “owing to the bruises and scars, on Ngozi Eneremadu’s body were overheard telling Chigaemezu that “ the girl would no longer be fit for the ceremony”
Huhuonline also gathered that when Chigaemezu tried to convince the trio, one of them firmly stated in a tone of finality, “she would be rejected”.
Disappointed, Chimeremeze dashed into the room and resumed the flogging, beating and torture. His depravity reached a height when he poured a portion of diluted acid on the girl’s leg which dripped down her thigh narrowly missing her private part.
At this juncture Ngozi Eneremadu was totally exhausted she told Huhuonline that , she was certain, she would die. She was then tied up and kept under lock and key for over three days, according to her petition
Her condition was progressively deteriorating . When Chimeremeze realized that her state has become dangerously critical, he untied and gave Ngozi Eneremadu the sum of N5,000 for medical treatment and released her to go.
Huhuonline Further gathered that Miss Eneremadu was admitted in hospital for over a week. The doctor was alarmed as he could not imagine how a girl as young as Miss Eneremadu could have been so callously brutalized.
Following the petition to the police commissioner , a team of detectives was dispatched to Chinbest Guest House where they were said to have arrested Mr. Chimeremeze.
Ironically, Chimeremeze was said not to have been detained as the petitioners are alleging that the woman in-charge of the Monitoring Unit of the Imo state police command who are handling the case have according to their assessment, been clearly compromised as the woman is more interested in finding a way out for the culprit.
At this juncture, it is however clear that the petitioners are clearly at a loss as to how to prosecute their case, since as at the time of this report, they were still unable to confirm the real name of the culprit they petitioned and want to prosecute.
When Huhuonline spoke with Chimeremeze on the phone, he was all brags threatening to take the case beyond the state to the Police headquarters, Abuja . He however alleged that the victim was a criminal. Hear him, “If you want to know anything about the case now, go to the Police because the matter is with the police. All I can tell you now is that the girl in question is a armed robber.”
Ironically, Huhuonline gathered from sources close to the victim that Chimeremeze has already offered the sum of N50,000 to the girl for compensation and medical expenses. This money was rejected by the girl as it amounted to nothing compared to the torture and pain she has undergone.
When Huhuonline sought the view of the Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Linus Nwaiwu, he stated that the Imo State Police command would not tolerate any form of barbarism from any quarters, stressing that the command would get to the root of the vicious attack on Miss Ngozi Eneremadu.
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Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 10:00pm
Thursday, 26 March 2009 00:00
Nigerian Compass
•Court orders her release •Community cries out for help
Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
WHAT could a woman be doing in her house with 42 pregnant teenagers? . This is the question operatives of the anti-human trafficking unit of the... Force Headquarters, Abuja, are trying to find an answer to, as they arrested the suspect (names withheld).
The victims, aged between 13 and 18, were allegedly found in the woman’s house in Abia State.
The suspect, the Nigerian Compass learnt, had earlier been arrested and paraded by the Abia State Police Command for allegedly trafficking in children, only to be released based on intervention from “high quarters”.
It was gathered that her latest arrest followed a tip-off from the people of Umunkpeyi Nvosi village in Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, where she resides.
It was further learnt that the policemen stormed the village and raided the home of the woman during which the 42 pregnant teenagers and some able- bodied men were reportedly arrested. The woman was alleged to have recruited the men for the purpose of kidnapping the teenagers and having immoral relationship with them, which resulted into the pregnancy.
It was, however, not clear what she uses the babies from the pregnant girls for.
“These young men were recruited to abduct the young girls, put them in family way and kidnap any member of the community who voices opposition to her nefarious activities”, the people of Umunkpeyi Nvosi community said in a letter signed on their behalf by Iheanyi Achoromadu and Pastor Charles Ukoh.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Compass in Abuja, was addressed to the Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation. The community noted with regrets that the police in Abia State were very complacent on the issue.
“It is quite regrettable that notwithstanding the gravity of the said atrocities, the police in Abia State are still very complacent on the issue”, the community declared in the letter.
The people expressed happiness that the Force Headquarters have “renewed investigations on the subject-matter and in the process, arrested some pregnant girls from the said camp.”
The community further implored the CLO to “come into the matter fully so that appropriate government agencies and all other parties that should be involved in this matter are made to live up to expectations to save us from this ugly situation”.
The Nigerian Compass, however, gathered that before the suspect could be brought from Abia State to Abuja, a court injunction restraining the police from arresting her was already waiting, following which she was released.
When contacted on his mobile phone yesterday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who neither confirmed nor denied the story, merely said: “I don’t have the details now”.
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