₦airaland Forum

Am I bad?

Sorry, I meant IT IS INSANE!

Yes it is!

Rehabilitation reduces accidents on Eti Osa, Lekki/Epe road - LCC
Monday, 23 May 2011

The Lekki Concession Company (LCC), the company handling the Eti Osa, Lekki Epe road has said that the reduction in accidents on that road currently undergoing expansion and rehabilitation is probably as a result of the improved road.

LCC which was making case for road safety generally said that when consideration was given to the increase in traffic of approximately 25 per cent excluding (Okada), the improvement was significant.

The organisation gave the statistics, saying that the accident rate per million vehicle kilometres for kilometre 0 to 20 was 2.58 for the year so far as well as accident statistics from data collected on this stretch of the road during 2010 and to date in 2011.

According to the organisation, a total number of 746 accidents or average 62 per month were recorded in 2010. The first four months of 2010 recorded 291 or average of 72 per month while 216 were recorded for the corresponding period in 2011 or average 54 per month.

Other details showed that there were 21 fatal accidents in 2010. While January-April 2010 recorded two fatal accidents, three were recorded in the same period in 2011.

Between 2010 and 2011, 24 deaths were recorded on that road. Out of this, motorcyles accidents recorded the highest fatalities with 20 deaths. Two other pedestrians died while one motorist died and another one died having fallen from a truck.

On the average, 40 per cent of accidents are single vehicle accidents; another 45 per cent of accidents were due to speed and dangerous driving. The second highest causes were rear-end and side collisions in high traffic density areas.

Generally, motorcycle riders had a fair share as the number of operators involved were 11 per cent of accidents, heavy vehicles were involved in 11 per cent of accidents and commercial buses recorded 11 per cent involvement in all the accidents.

Currently, 25 per cent of accidents happen in kilometre one to three of the stretch. This, the company attributed mainly to traffic volumes during daytime and speeding at night.

On the other hand most of the accidents (about 11 per cent) occur between 4.pm and 5.pm, due to high traffic volumes, while 55 per cent of accidents happen during daytime, and 45 per cent after sunset.

“By and large, the trend of fatal accidents on Nigerian roads seriously underlines the need to continue to develop reliable statistics, common definitions and robust data collection mechanisms. This is an urgent reason for all the relevant state and federal competent authorities to concentrate on the right objectives and set a particular focus on inappropriate road users’ behaviour, enforcement of existing rules and on improving the situation in the areas where most of the accidents occur.



http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/property-a-environment/22300-rehabilitation-reduces-accidents-on-eti-osa-lekkiepe-road-lcc

We have agreement with LCC on Lekki road - LASG
Monday, 16 May 2011

Lagos State Government has maintained that it has a bold agreement with the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) over the Lekki Epe expressway concession which it hopes to honour.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mr Abiodun Johnson, said this while presenting the ministry’s score card for its stewardship within the four years of the Fashola administration in the state.

Johnson, who was fielding questions from journalists on the Lekki – Eti Osa–Epe road, especially on why the road should have three toll plazas, whereas longer roads elsewhere do not have as much tolls on them, said the state had a standing agreement with the company, saying that the details of the road expansion project was fully discussed before the concession was awarded.

He stated that the concessionaires had been executing the project with their own funds and had the right to dictate their own tune.

“If you know any contractor who can do the work, contact me. Whoever has the money will dictate his tone for you. We have a bold agreement with them,” the special adviser said.

Johnson said the experience of the past four years was fulfilling and challenging and hoped that the projects embarked upon by the government would be pursued to a logical conclusion.

He stated that the massive infrastructural improvement and development ongoing in different parts of the state had enhanced job creation, economic empowerment, poverty alleviation and healthier living of the citizenry.

He listed some of the challenges the ministry faced in its quest to provide the necessary infrastructure to serve the people, but noted that despite these, the Lagosians could now drive smoothly on major roads in the states.

The challenges, according to him, included the geographical location of the state with much of its land mass below sea level, which makes it prone to flooding and other attendant climatic factors.

He also pointed out the unhygienic practices of the people through indiscriminate dumping of refuse that leads to blockage of drains and thereby hinders the free flow of storm water and the consequent effect on the roads as well as vandalisation of road furniture and public utilities.

He, however, pointed out that the implementation strategy and methodology of the ministry in providing durable infrastructure was centred on time-tested principles of management and improved service delivery. He maintained that the ministry is on course with specific goal of providing durable road infrastructure and public buildings which are in line with the 10-point agenda of the government.”

The ministry, he disclosed, had, apart from road infrastructure, been able to complete 30 public buildings ranging from high courts and magistrate courts, play grounds, maternal child care centres, e-learning centres, among others. He also stated that 47 other such public buildings are ongoing.

He revealed that the ministry also embarked on provision of streetlights on the newly constructed roads. Another set of streetlight project involving about 2,445 poles that span about 85.58 kilometers were installed across the state.

The special adviser also said that the state government had embarked on the development of an Independent Power Project which is ongoing in Lagos Island to boost power supply in the state.


http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/property-a-environment/21971-we-have-agreement-with-lcc-on-lekki-road-lasg

klas:
I agree with you 100% at bolded. When GEJ in March 2011 said the SW is too enlightened to be left in the hands of rascals, the media influenced by the ACN aparatchik shouted themselves hoarse. Tinubu said GEJ insulted SW leaders' parents. What he did not admit was that GEJ was even refined in copying his (Tinubu) earlier statement in October 2010.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/tinubu-i-predicted-alao-akala-s-fall/92417/

Klas, thanks for the clarifications. These are the facts a lot of people are ignorant of.

I agree with you and Isleman.

These politicians we read condemning themselves on the pages of newspapers speak with each other privately.

Its all politics. I pity those who get carried away with what the politicians say.

Reps to buy cars for N800,000 each
Written by Idowu Samuel and Kolawole Daniel, Abuja
Thursday, 02 June 2011

OUTGOING members of the House of Representatives are to go each with the Peugeot 407 cars earlier bought by the House leadership at N2.3 billion, the Nigerian Tribune has learnt.

Interested lawmakers are expected to pay between N800,000 and N850,000 for each of the cars, which were bought brand new.

It will be recalled that the purchase of the vehicles generated furore between the House leadership and the members who threatened to impeach the speaker on allegation of underhand dealing in the transaction.

Anti-corruption bodies were also drafted to investigate the alleged fraud in the purchase of the automobiles and office equipment for the representatives.

However, the House will today hold a valedictory session, which was earlier slated for Wednesday. The House will officially close for its sixth session on Saturday.

The speaker, who announced the outcome of a closed-door meeting earlier, said members at the executive session deliberated on the audit of the House official vehicles and office equipment and that the deliberation was satisfactory.

At a plenary session on Wednesday, the House passed the anti-terrorism bill, after adopting the harmonised version of the bill which deals with offences relating to conduct carried out or purposes connected with terrorism.


http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/22931-reps-to-buy-cars-for-n800000-each

BPE shortlists 525 bids for PHCN sale .

Thursday, 02 June 2011 00:00 Badejo Ademuyiwa, Abuja & Anthony Osae-Brown . .

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the short listing of 525 bids of companies queuing up as successor companies to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), in a move likely to see the state power company finally split into a number distribution and generating firms.

The bids process, which could be completed before the end of this month, would herald a fresh effort by the Federal Government to see to the end of PHCN as the country’s power monopoly and diversify it for efficiency and innovativeness.

A breakdown of the bids shows that 253 were pre-qualified for distribution companies while 272 were for generating companies.
The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had, between December 13 and 20, 2010, sought prospective investors’ interest in the 11 distribution companies unbundled from PHCN.

It also invited interest in the four thermal power stations and concessionaires for the two hydro power stations. The initial deadline for receipt of expression of interest (EoI) was Friday, February 18, 2011 which was later extended to March 4.

Industry analysts hope that with this approval, the privatisation process of PHCN will enter the next stage and move the country further in the quest for stable electricity supply.

The bidders will now be issued with bid documents with which to make their technical and financial bids.

Bola Onagoruwa, director-general of the privatisation agency, had disclosed last week at a workshop that the BPE was awaiting approval of the NCP for it to announce the report of the evaluation of the 331 EoIs harvested for the successor companies.

The secretariat of the NCP had harvested 929 bids for individual successor companies from 331 EOIs received from prospective investors.
The list of pre-qualified bidders was approved by the chairman of the NCP, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, in line with the privatisation procedure.

The pre-qualified bidders will be required to pay a $20,000 fee for each company of interest and sign a confidentiality agreement before receiving bid documents and for admittance to the data room.

At the deadline of March 4, 2011 for the submission of bids by prospective investors, the BPE received 331 envelopes of EOI. This was broken into 174 for generating companies and 157 for distributing companies.

However, total number of individual bids for the successor companies increased to 929 when the 331 EoI envelopes were opened and individual bids sorted out. The breakdown of the individual bids showed that 529 bids were submitted for distribution companies and 400 bids for generating firms.

The BPE developed evaluation criteria in accordance with the requirements of the EoI. It also considered a benchmark that would provide a reasonable basis for pre-qualifying bids.

A strong inter-agency team constituted the evaluation committee that undertook the assignment.

The pre-qualified bidders for the distribution companies are expected to be existing power distribution companies or core investor groups with power distribution companies as long-term technical partners. Successful bidders will be responsible for operating the distribution companies, making the necessary investments to improve the distribution network and customer service in line with the objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria set out in the National Electric Power Policy (NEPP).

As for the generating companies, potential bidders/concessionaires should be existing local and/or international power generators or investors with power generators as long-term technical partners. They will be responsible for operating the stations, improving the generation capacity and making the necessary investments in line with the objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria set out in the NEPP.


http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/22432-bpe-shortlists-525-bids-for-phcn-sale-

New electricity tariffs to take effect January, 2012 .

Tuesday, 31 May 2011 19:59 AMETO AKPE, ABUJA . .The new electricity tariffs for the country, currently being consulted on, are to come into effect on the first day of January 2012, Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Sam Amadi has said.

The new tariffs were formerly to be announced in June this year following the working out of all parameters associated with generation, transmission and distribution; however, Amadi, making this disclosure Tuesday at a stakeholder consultation workshop in Abuja on the major review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) noted that President Goodluck Jonathan had granted approval for a 2012 implementation to enable further stakeholder consultations.

He said that the Commission was sparing no effort in verifying data supplied by operators to ensure final tariff is fair to all stakeholders, “In this vein, operators will be required to defend the veracity of data submitted. In this way the Commission will promote transparency in the tariff determination process,” the Chairman explained.

Amadi said, “In recognition of the enormous challenge and in furtherance to his commitment to address the challenge of power supply in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan has granted approval that the revised electricity tariffs we expect to emerge from this consultative process take effect on 1st January 2012.

“This will amongst other things enable the Commission engage further with all relevant stakeholders for their understanding and also align the review dates with calendar of most business especially in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and the gas supply sector,” he added.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/22385-new-electricity-tariffs-to-take-effect-january-2012

What government officials think of FOI!

Despite Ban, Protests Continue Before Spanish Vote
Paul Hanna/Reuters
Protesters camped Saturday in Madrid's Puerta del Sol, a main downtown square, demanding judicial and electoral reforms.
By RAPHAEL MINDER
Published: May 21, 2011

MADRID — Tens of thousands of demonstrators across Spain continued sit-ins and other protests against the established political parties on Saturday. They did so in defiance of a ban against such protests and ahead of regional and municipal elections on Sunday.

About 28,000 people, most of them young, spent Friday night in Puerta del Sol, a main square in downtown Madrid, the police said. They stayed even as the protest ban went into effect at midnight under rules that bring an official end to campaigning before the election in 13 of Spain’s 17 regions and in more than 8,000 municipalities.

Fueling the demonstrators’ anger is the perceived failure by politicians to alleviate the hardships imposed on a struggling population. The unemployment rate in Spain is 21 percent.

Beyond economic complaints, the protesters’ demands include improving the judiciary, ending political corruption and overhauling Spain’s electoral structure, notably by ending the system in which candidates are selected internally by the parties before an election rather than chosen directly by voters.

The protests, which started May 15, have spread gradually across Spain. Spaniards overseas have also held some protests in front of their embassies to show their support for an alternative campaign that has almost eclipsed that of the established parties.

Although some of the protest groups have called for people to vote for smaller and alternative parties, or to cast a blank ballot, the movement could lead to a decline in voter turnout on Sunday. In the elections four years ago, 63 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.

Sunday’s election is expected to result in a countrywide sweep by the Popular Party, the main center-right opposition, at the expense of the governing Socialists, whose popularity has plummeted because of the economic crisis. The most recent opinion polls suggest that the Socialist Party may lose in regions and municipalities where it has been in power since Spain’s return to democracy in the late 1970s, notably Castilla-La Mancha.

Whatever the outcome, Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announced in April that he would not seek a third term, paving the way for the selection of a new Socialist leader before the general election, which is expected in March 2012.

As the campaign ban came into force at midnight, many of the Madrid protesters stuck tape across their mouths to signal that they would continue the demonstration, even if ordered to be silent. “The voice of the people can never be illegal,” read some of the banners, while others argued, “We are not against the system but the system is against us.”

Still, the government suggested that it would not order the police to use force to break up any protests and sit-ins in Madrid and elsewhere over the weekend, especially given that protests this week have not generated any violence. Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, speaking during a visit to the Murcia region, said that “the police are there to solve problems and not create new ones.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/world/europe/22spain.html

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Rainfall: Flood looms in Lagos as govt warns residents to quit tributaries

Written by Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos
Sunday, 29 May 2011

LAGOS State Government on Saturday advised residents living around the tributaries of Ogun River to move away due to the impending flood that may occur during this rainy season.

The State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Engr. Muyideen Akinsanya, gave this warning.

He added that there would be heavy downpour, which would eventually lead to flooding in some parts of the state this year.

Areas such as Mile 12, Agiliti, Thomas Laniyan Estate, Owode-Onirin, Agboyi, Owode Elede and Isheri North Scheme, are susceptible to flooding.

He also said that the state government would soon complete the residential structures being built at Agbowa for the residents of the affected areas to move in.

According to him, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted heavy rain, which will consequently increase the water volume of the various dams.

“These dams are likely to overflow or collapse if not opened, and when this happens, properties and lives along its path will be destroyed,” he said.

Considering the fact that the state government lacks effective disaster management machinery in the area of flooding, the permanent secretary called on residents to abide by the numerous environmental laws.

He urged the residents to desist from throwing garbage in the drains and canals; desist from building structures along the drain, and vacate water path in case of heavy flooding.

As a proactive measure to combat the looming flooding, Akinsanya said that the government had built over 133 concrete secondary storm water collector drainages with which more than 8.2 million people had benefitted.

To change the attitude of the residents from blocking the drains, Akinsnya said that a control strategy and surveillance had been developed by the State Waste Management Authority to prevent dumping of refuse in the drains.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/4001-rainfall-flood-looms-in-lagos-as-govt-warns-residents-to-quit-tributaries

Rainfall: Flood looms in Lagos as govt warns residents to quit tributaries

Written by Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos
Sunday, 29 May 2011

LAGOS State Government on Saturday advised residents  living around the tributaries of Ogun River to move away due to the impending flood that may occur during this rainy season.

The State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Engr. Muyideen Akinsanya, gave this warning.

He added that  there would be heavy downpour, which would eventually lead to flooding in some parts of the state this year.

Areas such as Mile 12, Agiliti, Thomas Laniyan Estate, Owode-Onirin, Agboyi, Owode Elede and Isheri North  Scheme, are susceptible to flooding.

He also said that the state government would soon complete the  residential structures being built at Agbowa for the residents of the affected areas to move in.

According to him, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted heavy rain, which will consequently increase the water volume of the various dams.

“These dams are likely to overflow or collapse if not opened, and  when this happens, properties and lives along its path will be destroyed,” he said.

Considering the fact that the state government lacks effective disaster management machinery in the area of flooding, the permanent secretary called on residents to abide by the numerous environmental laws.

He urged the residents to desist from throwing garbage in the drains and canals; desist from building structures along the drain, and vacate water path in case of heavy flooding.

As a proactive measure to combat the looming flooding, Akinsanya said that the government had built over 133 concrete secondary storm water collector drainages with which more than 8.2 million people had benefitted.

To change the attitude of the residents from blocking the drains, Akinsnya said that a control strategy and surveillance had been developed by the State Waste Management Authority to prevent dumping of refuse in the drains.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/4001-rainfall-flood-looms-in-lagos-as-govt-warns-residents-to-quit-tributaries

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I agree with you.

After these "elections", the barons need to do a lot of soul searching and make some real changes.

I think that has actually begun. I hear that the full FIFA will now select future world cup hosts rather than the executive committee.

Yoruba - Lagos State

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The time for lamentation is over, it is time for transformation!

PapaBrowne, my sentiments exactly.

Good move.

I hope someone has updated that thread on GEJ's actions.

What's my point?

You betrayed your real intentions when you posted videos of tourist sites in SA and  told us "every suburb here has at least 3 parks and 1 mall even the townshipS have their own shopping malls".

You try to misinform and denigrate Nigerians by claiming that

"Most 22 year old educated blacks have a decent Job where they earn a minimum salary equivalent of N200,000 ,drive a 2011 BMW 3 series ,Own a 2 bedroom townhouse and live their lives to the fullest.

Most of the one who suffers are uneducated ,unmotivated and extremely lazy folks to do not want to do anything but commit crime.

Nigeria on the other does not care about its citizens and does not create opportunities for its hardworking populace."

You claim we have BIG, BIG problems while comparing us with war ravaged countries by saying that you believe that Nigeria's poor suffer more than others apart from Sudan ,Afghanistan, Somalia and a few others.

And you expect me to agree with that?

No one is saying that things are okay in Nigeria but making the country great begins with us thinking positively about the country not from an inferiority complex mindset.

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Playmode, You may want to keep up with what is really happening in your new home with this blog:

http://madlove4sa..com/

and this, just two months today. . .

Viewer's discretion is advised:

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My dear playmode,

I pleaded with you to educate us about the service delivery issues in South Africa.

How did you respond?

By claimng that the service delivery issues are limited to "some areas" and by posting  well packaged videos of tourist sites in South Africa (BTW, I have visited some of those sites).

Why do you think we do not have well packaged videos of beautiful tourist sites in Nigeria? Why not show us the "other" side of SA.

Anyway since it seems to me that you are probably living in one of the "well-off" areas of SA like Sandton or Rivonia and have no idea what is happening to the masses, I have decided to make available these.  FYI, these were not made by a foreign media ,so no bias!

The Al Jazeera programme highlights the living conditions of the poor in Lagos, well let's see what the living conditions of the poor of SA is like.

Viewer's discretion is advised:

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Legislators offer N200,000 for official vehicles bought for N6m in 2008
By John Ameh and Oluwole Josiah, Abuja
Tuesday, 31 May 2011

As the Sixth National Assembly winds down in a few days, its management is set to sell 469 Peugeot 407 and Toyota Camry 2008 model operational vehicles purchased for its standing committees to its outgoing members.

Although, the purchase of the vehicles had been controversial against the backdrop of the monetisation policy of the Federal Government, the management had explained that the vehicles were not specifically for the legislators, but for the committees and their oversight responsibilities.

The Peugeot 407 was purchased for the 360 members of the House of Representatives while the Toyota Camry model was purchased for the 109 Senators in 2008.

Our correspondents reliably gathered that against the previous practice, the management of the National Assembly would make it available to legislators on the basis of the right of first refusal to pay for the vehicles at a certain price after calculating depreciation.

There are indications that a controversy is brewing over what price would be paid by the lawmakers for the vehicles.

It was learnt that the management was willing to offer the cars at between N2.5m to N2.7m to the lawmakers which would be deducted at source from the allowances of the lawmakers, but the legislators are looking at a price far lower than that.

According to a source close to the National Assembly management, lawmakers are ready to offer about N200,000 to N300,000 for the vehicles purchased at over N6m.

It was also gathered that because of the difference between the price offered by management and what the lawmakers were willing to pay, negotiations on the sale of the cars had broken down.

A Senator told one of our correspondents that he was aware that the vehicles would be sold at a price to be determined by the management.

He said, “I can assure you that the vehicles will not be taken away as has been alleged. It is likely going to be offered to legislators to buy.

“If I am offered one, I am going to buy. It is only fair that once legislators are leaving, the vehicles cannot be taken away just like that; but if legislators are allowed to pay for them, I think that is only fair.”

National Assembly’s Director of Information, Mr. Monima Daminabo, confirmed the proposed sale of the vehicles, but said the disposal would be done according to laid down rules and regulations of the civil service.

He said, “There is a laid down procedure, which must be followed. The cars will not be taken away by any body. The management is currently working on it and will follow strictly the laws on the matter.”

On the amount that the vehicles would be sold to the legislators, Daminabo noted that all the cars were not purchased at the same amount, even as they were not also subjected to similar depreciating pressures.

He, however, would not confirm the controversy raging between the legislators and the management on the appropriate value for the vehicles, saying that a department of the National Assembly was still working on the proper price of the vehicles.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201105310573659

Corruption in FIFA - Part 1

The issue of corruption within FIFA has become a hot topic in recent months, following the Sunday Times sting operation that caught out two members of the executive committee and the Panorama programme by Andrew Jennings that accused a further three members of accepting bribes from ISL back in the nineties. Sepp Blatter and FIFA have resisted calls for a thorough investigation for years, but the pressure on them is becoming almost too much to resist.

The FIFA executive committee is the main decision-making of the organisation and, amongst other things, is responsible for deciding the hosts of the World Cup. It consists of the President of FIFA, eight vice-presidents and a further fifteen members, appointed by the various confederations and associations.



Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA


Sepp Blatter is the President of FIFA, and has been since 1998 when he succeeded former President and mentor, Joao Havelange, who was named honorary life President. The vice-presidents include senior vice-president, Julio Grondona, who is head of the Argentine Football Federation, the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, Jack Warner, the President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and Reynaud Temarii, the President of the Oceania Football Confederation amongst others.

Amongst the other members of the committee, we find the likes of Ricardo Teixeira, the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Nicolas Leoz, the President of the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL), Mohamed Bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation and Nigerian Amos Adamu.

There are a number of other characters from outside of the executive committee that play a part in the story. We have former head of marketing at FIFA and current General Secretary, Jerome Valcke. Captain Horace Burrell, the President of the Jamaican Football Association, and Chet Greene, the former General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association are two more individuals that will play a prominent part. One final character that will appear on several occasions in a slightly different role is Jean-Marie Kyss, the head of the Haitian Football Association.

The most recent scandal was that involving the Sunday Times investigation. Undercover reporters recorded footage of senior FIFA members seemingly accepting money in exchange for their vote in the bidding for the World Cup. Vice-president, Reynaud Temarii, and executive committee member, Amos Adamu, were both subsequently investigated by FIFA’s ethics committee. Adamu was fined £6,341 and suspended from all football activities for three years, while Reynaud Temarii was fined £3,170 and suspended for one year for their parts in the scandal.

Four other former members of the executive committee was also indicted in the investigation. Botswana’s Ismael Bhamjee was banned from football for four years, Mali’s Amadou Diakite and Tonga’s Ahongalu Fusimalohi were banned for three years and Tunisia’s Slim Aloulou was banned for two years.

For virtually the first time, allegations of corruption had been investigated properly and punishments handed out. The public pressure from the allegations had been too great for FIFA to resist. However, this is by no means the first time that supposed incidents of corruption have taken place within the hallowed halls of FIFA.

The first short story we shall look at involves a predominantly Caribbean cast. In July 1996, FIFA were meeting in Zurich for their bi-annual conference with a particularly important item on the agenda – a proposal to increase the size of the executive committee. Jack Warner was hoping to push through the reform as he hoped it would give him and his allies greater power and seats on the committee.

Dr Jean-Marie Kyss was the head of the Haitian Football Association. His invitation to the event was delayed in the post and his federation was short of funds, so he informed CONCACAF that he would not be attending the conference.

FIFA’s head of credentials then received a call informing them that Dr Kyss had dropped out a while ago and that Haiti had sent a replacement by the name of Vincy Jalal. The new Haitian delegate took their seat next to Grenada’s representative, Colin Klass, and near to Jamaica’s Horace Burrell. This all seems relatively straight-forward.

Until we look a little more closely as to the identity of Haiti’s new delegate. Vincy Jalal was actually the wife of Captain Horace Burrell. Despite being surrounded by CONCACAF delegates who must have known the identity of Dr Kyss and some of whom who must have known Ms Jalal, no objections were raised by Jack Warner’s loyal representatives. When the roll call was carried out, Ms Jalal used the only word she knew in French, the language of Haiti, to respond – ‘Oui.’ Fortunately for her, she did not need anything further. She submitted her vote under Haiti’s name as she was instructed to by her husband, Burrell.



Captain Horace Burell with Sepp Blatter


Shockingly, this was not the only time that Jack Warner and his pals inserted an imposter in the place of Dr Kyss. Two years after Vincy Jalal had taken his place, a similar incident occurred. At the 1998 Congress, Dr Kyss tried to fly to Paris to take part in the vote to elect the President of FIFA. The two candidates were former General Secretary, Sepp Blatter, and Lennart Johansson.

However, Dr Kyss was unpopular with the Haitian government, having stood up against them to protect football in the country. As he arrived at the airport to fly to Paris, representatives from the Secretary of Sport in Haiti appeared informing him that he was banned from leaving the country. He contacted CONCACAF President, Jack Warner, and explained that he would not be there. He explained that he wanted Haiti’s empty seat at the Congress to symbolise the interference of the government in sport in Haiti.

The 1998 Presidential elections between Blatter and Johansson were expected to be very close. Each representative voted one-by-one, all the way down to country number 191, Zimbabwe, represented by Leo Mugabe. Therefore, with Haiti’s absence, there should be a total of 190 votes to be counted. When the first round results were announced, Sepp Blatter had beaten Lennart Johansson by 111 votes to 80. A total of 191 votes were cast. So what happened to the empty seat that was meant to be left for Haiti?

When Haiti’s name had been called out in the roll call, a response of a ‘present’ was heard in unmistakably Caribbean-accented English. No matter that they speak French in Haiti, not English. So who was taking the place of Dr Kyss?

The man was Neville Ferguson, a personal assistant to Jack Warner and General Secretary of the Caribbean Football Union. Again, not a single Caribbean delegate raised any comment about how the white, greying, spectacle-wearing Dr Kyss had seemingly morphed into a black man for the conference.



Dr Kyss, whose seat was twice taken by imposters arranged by Jack Warner and Horace Burrell


Dr Kyss did not find out that his empty seat protest had not occurred until 2002 – four years later. He was shocked to find out what had really happened, and through Lennart Johansson, requested FIFA set up an enquiry to look into what happened. In February 2003, Sepp Blatter announced that there would indeed be an enquiry into the events.

It was finally revealed in 2005 that there had been a secret hearing way back in June 2003 that FIFA had tried to keep secret. It found that Neville Ferguson received only a reprimand and would have to share in covering the costs of the proceedings with FIFA. It begs the question, if Ferguson was guilty as FIFA supposedly found, why should FIFA help cover the costs of the inquiry?

Bizarrely, FIFA also decided that Dr Kyss had breached article 12 of the FIFA statute. Article 12 regards members’ rights and states:

Members have the following rights:
a) To take part in the Congress;
b) To draw up proposals for inclusion in the agenda of the Congress;
c) To nominate candidates for the FIFA Presidency;
d) To take part in competitions organised by FIFA;
e) To take part in FIFA’s assistance and development programmes;
f) To exercise all other rights arising from these Statutes and other regulations

Quite which of these parts Dr Kyss supposedly breached when he was illegally prevented from leaving Haiti by a corrupt government is questionable. However, if he had still been in his position as Haiti’s delegate at the time of the inquiry, FIFA would have imposed punishments on him.

So, how have the men who appear to have been involved in the vote rigging scandal fared since the true version of events were made public?

Neville Ferguson continued as an official of various football organisations in the Caribbean under the control of Jack Warner, as well as earning fees as an international match commissioner. Captain Horace Burrell was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit in 2000, in 2002 he was made a member of the disciplinary commission overseeing the 2002 World Cup, and in 2004 he was given a role travelling the world giving advice to various football officials.

And Jack Warner remains one of the most powerful men in FIFA in his role as CONCACAF President and vice-president of the executive committee. However, we shall see more of Warner in the upcoming parts of this collection of articles.

http://sportdw..com/2010/11/corruption-in-fifa-part-1.html

Tuesday, 30 November 2010The Corruption in FIFA - The Jack Warner Story

In the first part of this series, we were introduced to the President of CONCACAF – the Trinidadian Jack Warner. Warner was the man who was involved in substituting a mysterious woman – the wife of the head of the Jamaican Football Federation – into the place of the absent Haitian delegate in the 1996 FIFA Congress.

He is one of Sepp Blatter’s closest friends and allies in football. “A wonderful and loyal friend. He is very competent and I just have to say that Jack is one of the top personalities in the world of football,” is how Blatter would describe the controversial Warner.

However, his popularity does not reach quite such heights in his own backyard. In Trinidad, he is described by many as a dictator, who has built his power at the expense of others and who has used his position within FIFA to serve his own financial goals. He has been called a ‘clown’ and a ‘disgrace’ by Roy Keane, and is deeply unpopular with the Trinidad and Tobago national team players for reasons we shall see later.

When meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace, he complained to her that British companies were failing to spend their sponsorship money on football in Trinidad and Tobago. He has supported the corrupt former UNC government in the country, and estimates suggest that through his FIFA connections, he has amassed a fortune of almost £20m.

His first role in football came as the general secretary of the Trinidad Football Association. He immediately entrenched his power by setting up numerous organisations filled with his people, who could exercise voting rights should he come under threat from a competitor. He rapidly spotted a chance for further promotion when he ran for the presidency of the Caribbean Football Union, which came with the added prize of a seat on the FIFA Executive Committee.

One of the first instances where Warner came in for criticism over his seemingly insatiable desire to profit from football was back in 1989. Trinidad & Tobago were one result away from their first ever appearance in the World Cup. They needed only a point against the mighty Americans in Port of Spain to reach the global showpiece.

Jack Warner announced that extra tickets would be printed for the game and that alcohol restrictions within the ground would be lifted. The capacity of the stadium was 28,500. The local paper accused Warner of printing over 45,000 tickets.

Due to the crush of people, the ground was opened early. People crowded into the ground, filling every seat and aisle, whilst the bars served a roaring trade. Jack Warner relaxed in the VIP lounge with his pre-match drink, oblivious to the chaos outside.

Thousands of angry fans, who had spent their money on tickets to Trinidad’s biggest match in living memory, were stuck outside, unable to get into the ground. Opinion turned against Warner, who became the target of the crowd’s anger. The minibus carrying the Trinidad players was unable to get through the crowd, and in the end, the players had to be carried over the heads of the masses and into the stadium.

In the days following the chaos, Jack Warner had to backtrack on his original report to FIFA where he claimed that he had sold 43k tickets for the match. In a press briefing later, he claimed that they had only sold the 28,500 tickets that the stadium could cope with, and the turnstile figures of 34,834 were clearly wrong.

Soon, the government became involved, appointing an independent commission to look into the events. The words of the head of the commission speak strongly about Warner:

“Did Warner believe he was God or merely think he was running the country?”

Following the incident, Jack Warner resigned as head of the country’s football association, but had ambitions of a far greater nature. He was in negotiations with Chuck Blazer, commissioner of the American Soccer League, to challenge for the presidency of CONCACAF and become one of the most powerful men in world football.

He eventually won the election with 16 votes compared with 10 against him. Despite the fact that the other candidates had all withdrawn, he was still only able to get just over 60% of the vote.

We now fast forward twelve years to 2001. Jack Warner had managed to manipulate FIFA into awarding the U17 World Cup to Trinidad & Tobago. He named himself chairman of the tournament organising committee, an appointment that was approved by FIFA’s six-man finance committee (of which Jack Warner was a senior member) and the executive committee (of which Jack Warner was a vice-president). So, in other words, he appointed and then approved himself to organise a tournament that he had awarded to his home country.



Jack Warner with his son, Daryan, who conveniently won many of the contracts for the U17 World Cup controlled by his father


Five new stadia were built by companies linked to associates of Jack Warner. When technical staff from the broadcasting companies visited the new stadia, they discovered that roof beams and cables would obstruct the cameras views of the pitch. When they tried to question Warner and FIFA over this, they were sidelined.

All the food and beverage contracts for the new stadia were awarded to a local restaurant business. Seems legitimate at first glances. However, if we look at the owner of the local business, we find the name Daryan Warner. Jack Warner awarded these lucrative contracts to his son.

The fifteen teams that were travelling in to compete in the tournament needed a travel agency to arrange their flights and accommodation. On the recommendation of Warner, Simpaul’s Travel service, a family-owned travel agency, was awarded the deal. And which family was it owned by? You guessed it, the Warner family.

That is not all. FIFA were experimenting with introducing kiosks in hotel lobbies to enable fans to access instant reports and breaking news. The contract was with a company called Semtor, and with the help of Blatter, Warner forced through the deal worth around US$2m. The catch? The project manager for Semtor was none other than Daryan Warner, who picked up a check for US$60k as ‘management liaison between all web initiative consultants.’

We now head forward in time again to late 2005. Trinidad & Tobago have just qualified for the World Cup for the first time after Dennis Lawrence’s header beat Bahrain to send them to Germany. The only way that Trinidadians can get tickets for their team’s first round matches? Simpaul Travel Services. The company owned by Jack Warner.

For a hefty fee of £2,730.53, fans would get tickets for the three group stage games and shared accommodation. According to a Trinidad journalist, Simpaul Travel were making a profit of over £1,700 on each package sold. Indeed, the Independent newspaper in England suggested that Warner could make a profit of over £10m on his country’s ticket allocation.

A privately appointed committee was responsible for handling the sponsorship and merchandising for the team. Following a request from a London-based business, they requested a fee of US$80k, plus 5% of gross sales of the proposed merchandise. And who could the representative of this mysterious private committee be? Daryll Warner – another of Jack’s sons. How convenient.

Indeed, FIFA regulations even stated that packaging tickets with other services is not permitted. So, Warner’s own company was completely ignoring FIFA’s own rules, whilst he was accused selling FIFA tickets for his own personal profit.



The Trinidad & Tobago team that made it to the World Cup in 2006 - they still haven't received their payments from that tournament

And what of the players? They had been promised 50% of the commercial profit revenues during their qualifying matches and their World Cup matches in Germany. Warner’s own accountant drew up the accounts, but had mysteriously lost the copies of the hotel bills amongst others. No problem. They simply estimated the cost (higher of course), and moved on. He also decided that a third of the sponsorship money was really intended for the 2010 World Cup campaign, thus reducing the total pot by over £360k.

Overall, in excess of TT$173m (£17.4m) flowed into the coffers of the Trinidad & Tobago accounts from that campaign, with 50% of the revenues going to the players involved. So, how much did each player receive? A whopping £492.86. Shaka Hislop wrote to Warner complaining that “you have continually proven yourself heavily biased and opinionated in this matter.” Each player should have received in the region of £260k each. Significantly higher than the almost £500 they were actually offered.

A judgement in the courts concerning that case is expected in the coming hours or days, but it begs the question as to what happened to all the money that seems to have disappeared. Unseen costs? Lost in transit? Or possibly lining the pockets of various officials?

So while Jack Warner has controlled Caribbean football and CONCACAF with his almost dictator-like reign, he and his sons and friends have all been doing very nicely out of the money that should have been invested in football in Trinidad and the local fans. Is this really the type of man that we want in a senior position of power in the beautiful game?

http://sportdw..com/2010/11/corruption-in-fifa-jack-warner-story.html

From a Jamaican Newspaper:


Jack Warner sings as FIFA corruption scandal widens
Tuesday, May 31, 2011


PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Jack Warner fulfilled part of his threat to unleash a "Tsumani" against FIFA.

This followed his suspension from connections to the game, along with former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam, and two Caribbean Football Union officials over bribery allegations.


WARNER,  Mr Blatter made a gift of US$1 million (J$85 million) to CONCACAF to spend as it deems fit
   
Warner — a FIFA vice-president, the president of the CFU and CONCACAF — claimed Blatter also made overtures to CONCACAF officials.

"I denied the allegations that I made statements at the CFU meeting about gifts being given by Mr bin Hammam," he said.

"I also indicated that at the Miami CONCACAF Congress on May 3, Mr Blatter made a gift of US$1 million (J$85 million) to CONCACAF to spend as it deems fit."

He added: "This annoyed (UEFA) president Michel Platini who was present and he approached secretary general Jerome Valcke complaining that Mr Blatter had no permission from the Finance Committee to make this gift to which Jerome replied that he will find the money for Mr Blatter.

"I also indicated at the CFU meeting held in Trinidad on May 10, which was requested by Mr bin Hammam, FIFA through Mr Blatter organised gifts of laptops and projectors to all members of the Caribbean, and no objections have been made of this to date."

Warner noted that the race to become FIFA president had become quite intense as the June 1 date drew closer, and he felt that it may have been in the best interest of the organisation for bin Hammam to withdraw.

"On May 18, when I realised that the political battle between Blatter and bin Hammam was getting out of hand, I wrote secretary general Valcke telling him, among other things, that the outcome of the elections may cause some fracture in the Arab world, which we can ill afford now, and that I will like to ask bin Hammam to withdraw from the race," said Warner.

He reproduced an excerpt of an email from Valcke about bin Hammam running against Blatter for FIFA president in which the FIFA secretary general suggested that the Qatari had "bought" the 2022 World Cup for his country.

"For MBH (Mohamed bin Hammam), I never understood why he was running," wrote Valcke.

"If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB (Joseph Sepp Blatter). Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC (World Cup).

"I have a bet since day one, he will withdraw, but on June 1st after his 10-minute speech. By doing so he can say he pushes Blatter to make new commitments and get out under applause."

Warner said despite pleas from Valcke to make public which way CONCACAF would vote, he refused to give in.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Jack-Warner-sings-as-FIFA-corruption-scandal-widens_8927320#ixzz1NuwX5hXz

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