People, Places and Events
ECOWAS
Call for economic entity
The 15th session of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attended by all the 16 member-states of the community has heard an address by Nigerian Minister of National Planning, Chief Michael Adigun to the Ministers to concentrate on "the integration of the sub-region into one powerful economic entity, united in all ramifications".He pointed out that member-countries could not hope to win the battle against poverty and backwardness if they stood alone as individual nations, adding that even stronger economies of Europe, America and Asia were coming together to form blocs.
Chief Adigun said that ECOWAS should be seen as a "forum for greater bargaining power within the international community. and that the interests of each member-state should be protected by others in the Community.
He assured the Ministers of Nigeria's preparedness to "sustain the interests of all member-states" and warned that "petty interest" must not be allowed to divide the organisation's ranks.
Also addressing the inaugural meeting, the Guinean Minister of Finance, Mr Kemoko Keita, who is also the chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, said that his country would adhere to the ECOWAS Treaty and would also shoulder all its responsibilities.
He said that the current economic difficulties faced by member-states demanded that the Community should present a common front to the developed countries, adding that the situation gave member- states an opportunity to develop and intensify efforts to enhance co-operation among developing countries.
He promised that during his tenure, year.. Guinea would ensure that all meetings, including those of the Heads of State of the ECOWAS sub-region, were held as planned.
Agricultural programmes for member states
Five agricultural programmes have been planned for West Africa to increase food production in the region, according to the executive secretary of ECOWAS, Aboubakar Ouattara. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that the programmes include a seed project, food stocks, fertilizer and pesticide production, as well as livestock and agricultural product pricing. The seed programme is to be carried out in centres in supplier member-countries with high yielding seed varieties. Feasibility studies for the food stocks programme are currently underway and should be completed within the next nine months, Dr Ouattara said, pointing out that the aims of the programme would be to make available strategic food stocks in the region, "in the event of unforeseen severe circumstances".He also said that the feasibility study for the production of fertilizers and pesticides would start within the next two months. The livestock project, he said, would have a number of breeding centres to ensure variety, adding that the full report on the programme would be made available to member-countries before the end of the year.
The eight breeding centres are Upper Ogun ranch Nigeria, Marahoue ranch, Ivory Coast, Yanfolila ranch, Mali and centres for livestock development projects would be in Gambia and at Famoila state farm, Guinea. Others are the Kedougou breeding centre, Senegal and the Kaedi breeding centre, Mauritania.
Studies for the fifth project, the agricultural pricing project, which is being under- taken by the FAO, have started and the programme aims at establishing a collective regional pricing policy for food crops, he said.
The FAO team of experts for the study has arrived in Lagos to begin the draft report for the programme. Dr Ouattara said that to facilitate the implementation of "these rather ambitious programmes", the ECOWAS secretariat was setting up an ECOWAS consulting agency to assist in the identification, promotion and implementation of major regional agricultural projects. He also said that an afforestation program- me for the region from Mauritania to Niger was being planned to help tackle the persistent drought problem.
N8.9m ECOWAS loan?
Seven West African countries have received a loan of about N8.9 million form the funds of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The beneficiaries are Mali, Ghana, Niger, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, the Republic of Benin and Nigeria. According to a communique at the end of the two-day meeting of the fund's directors in Lagos, the loan would be used to implement phase "A" of the ECOWAS communications project.The communique said the board reques- ted the management of the fund to carry out its activities in accordance with the Lagos plan of action as well as with the priorities defined by the community's heads of government.
GAMBIA
Africa must work together
Gambian President, Sir Dawda Jawara has said in Lagos that the time was ripe for African leaders to demonstrate that they could find solutions to the problems of Africa themselves. Speaking at a dinner given in his honour, he said that it was necessary for Nigeria and his country to work together toward closer relations as a prelude to finding solutions to the many problems of Africa."The longstanding friendship which characterises the relationship between our two countries" he further said, stemmed from a common desire for peace and technological progress as well as sharing of democratic ideals...
Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said at the same dinner that the time had come to ensure that ECOWAS had a "more meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people of the sub-region". The Nigerian Head of State said that "as masters of our destiny, we stand to gain from acting collectively and coordinating our efforts in order to bring about the much desired political and economic changes for the good of our peoples".
He said that his Administration's goal remained the creation of a just, honest and disciplined society, and the laying of a solid foundation for the growth and develop- ment of a self-sufficient economy.
He stated that the military intervened in Nigeria to rescue the nation from "imminent social and economic disintegration" which would have resulted from the gross economic mismanagement of the ousted civilian government. This, he said, led to a huge foreign debt, high unemploy- ment rate and shortage of essential commodities. "Never in the history of a nation had an administration with so much goodwill and on whose shoulders lay the hopes and aspirations of millions of its people led the nation to the path of disaster" Maj-Gen. Buhari stated."
Turning to the African scene, Gen. Buhari said that the problems of Chad and Western Sahara which bedevilled the 19th ordinary session of the OAU were still present as the Organisation celebrated its 21st anniversary. For peace to reign in Chad, he went on, the Chadian leaders "must courageously take the destiny of their nation in their hands and negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict".
He said that it was also necessary that all foreign military operations in Chad should cease, while the OAU with possible assistance from the UN, should ensure a speedy disengagement of troops pending the emergence of a national army in that country.
CHAD
Basin commission meeting
The Chad River Basin Commission has ended its two-day ministerial meeting in N'djamena. This was preceded by a six-day working session of experts from the member countries Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.The Commission, which heard reports on agriculture, livestock development, tele- communications, civil engineering, fisheries, forestry, water resources, administration and finance, also studies a project on how best to utilise the river basin water resources in order to seek help from an international study bureau as recom- mended by the 1983 Lagos meeting.
The Commission also approved the return of the Chad River Basin Commis- sion's secretariat to N'djamena. The next meeting will be held in Niamey, Niger, at a date to be set later.
Rehabilitation loan
The Minister of Plan and Reconstruction, Joseph Yodoyman, has declared on his return from the Development Bank of Central African States administration council meeting in the Central African Republic that the BDEAC has agreed to grant a loan worth 689,500,000 CFA francs. to Chad towards the rehabilitation of the CMPA (livestock development centre) The loan will be repaid over 10 years with a four-year grace period.Habre ready to resign
President Hissein Habre of Chad has said that he is ready to give up his post, but to someone other than Goukouni Oueddei, if that would promote national reconciliation and safeguard Chad's territorial integrity.He was speaking at a news conference in Cairo. He also said that relations between Egypt and Chad had been strong for a long time and that he hoped these relations would be enhanced in the coming phase.
When asked whether the reasons that led to the failure of the Chad national reconciliation conference in Addis Ababa would lead to its failure in Brazzaville he said, "We must not exaggerate the failure the reconciliation conference suffered in its first phase. We have profited from the past failure the first Addis Ababa reconciliation conference encountered. Now we shall work earnestly to bring about the success of the Brazzaville meeting."
On the prospects of the success for the Brazzaville reconciliation conference, Habre said: "I would like to say it is too early to predict what the situation will be. The governments of Chad and the Congo, and all those primarily interested in the conference's success must do everything necessary to achieve it."
On the date of the reconciliation conference in Brazzaville, President Habre said: "Contacts and consultations are continuing since those who seek to convene the conference are not in a hurry just to convene it, but to achieve its desired goal." He said a date had not been fixed for the conference. To a final question on whether he had any idea about simultaneous withdrawal of the French and Libyan forces from the Aozou strip in Chad, the Chad President said: "I would like to point out that we should differentiate between the two forces. They should not be placed in the same basket. We should not equate aggressors with forces the legitimate government invited in accordance with agreements between Chad and France for Chad's defence."
GHANA
Rawlings in Nicaragua, Cuba
The Chairman of the PNDC Flight-Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings was reported to be one of two foreign heads of state present at the fifth anniversary celebrations of the Nicaraguan revolution. After the celebrations in Nicaragua, Chairman Rawlings proceeded to Cuba where his arrival in Havana was broadcast live on Cuban television.In mid-week he was reported to be visiting the Isle of Dogs where 600 Ghanaian children were taken last year.
The Chairman's visits which had not been announced in Ghana, were the first prolonged trips since seizing power on December 31, 1981, to any country apart from to Libya (the failed OAU conference) and Benin (an ECOWAS conference). Chairman Rawlings first paid a visit to Cuba in September 1979 when as chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council he attended the Non-Aligned Con-ference in Havana.
Since coming back into power Flt-Lt. Rawlings has had warm relations with the Cuban leader Fidel Castro culminating in last year's most controversial decision to send 600 Ghanaian children to Cuba. There have been criticisms of the move especially from the US-based United Front for the Liberation of Ghana which has drawn world-wide attention to a letter from one of the children complaining about the harsh conditions being endured by them. The PNDC earlier on this year denied press agency reports which quoted diplo- matic sources that 5,000 Cuban soldiers were expected in Ghana.
Catholic Bishops promise support
The Catholic Bishops' Conference has promised to support with prayers and actions all government programmes which are in the interest of the nation.The Conference was happy that some of its suggestions to government two years ago were being implemented and it urged Ghanaians to renew their dedication to the task of rebuilding the nation. The Catholic Bishops' Conference, however, renewed its appeal to government to release those who may still be in political detention
The Bishops noted with satisfaction the "dramatic relaxation in tension all over the country" attributing this to the decrease in the number of cases of brutality and harass- ment of innocent citizens which characterized the onset of the revolutionary process.
New advisory board inaugurated
Mr Ato Ahwoi, Secretary for Trade has in- augurated an eleven-member Ministerial Advisory Board for his ministry. He charged the board to evolve a positive trade policy that will be beneficial to the nation. Speaking on behalf of the board members, Mr David Andoh, Chairman of UAC, said the position and work of the board is a difficult one since any bad advice given will be a reflection on the advice given.Other members of the board are Mr A.O. Tandoh, representing the National Defence Committee (NDC), Mr E.O. Mireku, WDC Chairman, Mr E.O. Larbi-Siaw, Chief Executive of the Ghana National Procurement Agency (GNPA), the Executive Secretary for the Export Promotion Council (EPC) Mr D.K. Aninakwa, Executive Chairman of the Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC) Mr R.D. Ashie,President of Ghana National Chamber of Commerce (GNCC), Mr B.K. Agbleta, Director of Foreign Trade, a representative of the Armed Forces, and Mr Kwodwo Agyepong, Director of Internal Trade, who is also secretary to the board.
Bishop Le Maire buried
Burial takes place at the Osu Cemetary of the Most Reverend Ishmael Samuel Le Maire, the retired Anglican Church Arch- bishop of West Africa who died in a car crash at Dome, a suburb of Accra, The Archbishop was returning to his home at Dome from town when his Peugeot 504 Estate was involved in collision with a police truck.The Most Reverened Ishmael Samuel Mills Le Maire was born on August 29, 1912.
He was educated at the C.M.S. Grammar School in Lagos and had his theological training at Nicholas College Cape Coast. The Rev. Le Maire was ordained a deacon in October 1936, and a priest in December the same year.
In 1968 he was elected a Diocesan Bishop of Accra at the Lambeth Conference in London and in 1982 he was consecrated the Archbishop of the Province of West Africa, a position he held for only one year.
Twenty six dead in Bawku Clashes
Life is reportedly returning to normal in Bawku township after renewed tribal fighting between the Mambrusis and Kuasis which resulted in twenty six deaths. Thirty others were seriously wounded while forty houses and a number of vehicles were burnt. A curfew was reimposed until further notice.The Inspector General of Police, Mr S.S. Omane, has meanwhile appealed to the Maprusis and Kusasis to exercise restraint in the conflict and assist security agencies to maintain peace in the Bawku area. Speaking to the two factions at separate meetings at Bawku, Mr Omane observed that Ghanaians have only two enemies to fight - these are external aggressors and hunger.
He therefore urged the two sides to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Mr Omane who is in Bawku for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the recent clashes, asked the security agents deployed in the Bawku district to comport themselves in the face of any provocation.
Contractors purged
The names of 2,129 contractors have been struck off the list of contractors operating in the country leaving only 371 to operate. A report in the Graphic said the exercise was the result of one and half years of screening and re-registration of the men in the construction industry to ensure that public and private contracts are handled by efficient contractors.Soldiers terrorise Swedru traders
The Agona District Secretary, Mr Kwame Forson, has called on soldiers believed to come from the Achiase Jungle Warfare School to Swedru to supposedly check prices and in the process, threaten and rob innocent traders to desist from such acts.Mr Forson had been asked by the Graphic what he was doing to stop the activities of the soldiers who for the past three months, have been robbing Swedru traders, especially, the Niger community of goods ranging from watches to shoes. He said reports reaching his office indicate that in one instance, a soldier who paid C100 for a pair of sneakers selling at C1,500 walked to the '18' a 'kalabule' centre near the Swedru Central Market and re-sold them for C1,00.
The soldier involved in this act had no name tag but had a pistol which he openly displayed.
Justice D.F. Annan is PNDC member
The latest member of the PNDC is Mr Justice D.F. Annan and not J.S. Annan as was reported in this column last week. Mr Justice D.F. Annan retired from the judiciary in 1979. At that time he was a justice of the Court of Appeal.He is a keen sportsman who was connected with a boxing promotion Syndicate.
Born in Accra, he has been living in Kumasi since his retirement.
Mrs Susanna Alhassan the other member was born in Tamale and followed a teaching career. In 1960 she became the first woman Member of Parliament for Northern and Upper Regions. In 1961, she became Deputy Minister for Education and in 1965 was appointed Minister for Social Welfare.
In 1976 she retired from public life.
Increase in bread price
'The Mirror' says it seems to have become fashionable over the years for the country's financial experts to ignore the wage system as a barometer in their pricing exercise. Writing on the recently-announced revised prices of some commodities like cigarettes, locally-blended spirits and bread, "The Mirror' says while one may ignore the new prices of cigarettes, which carry an increase of between 20 to 25% and spirits, which is over 100%, it finds it difficult to accept an increase of 70% in the price of a loaf of bread.EEC aid for fishing and quarrying
The EEC has approved two new aid projects for Ghana. The projects, in the fisheries sector and for quarry rehabilitation, will cost about 184,000,000 cedis. The first involves a grant of 144,000,000 cedis to the Agricultural Development Bank to be lent on to the fishing sector.It will concentrate on inshore-fishing fleets and will provide diesel engines and fishing gear sufficient to enable some 300. vessels to maintain a regular fishing effort. The bank will also benefit through the provision of technical assistance and logistical support.
The remaining 40,000,000 cedis is meant to provide assistance to two quarries, the Ghana Stone Quarry and Karl Product Ltd. It will be channelled through the bank for housing and construction and for the purchase of new equipment to replace worn-our equipment. It is hoped that this will enable the two quarries to expand production.
Hopes for steady power supply
The restoration of normal supplies of power will be reviewed towards the end of the year if the rains continue in the catchment section of the Volta Lake to bring about the desired level for normal operation. The present lake level is at 236 feet but a level of between 248 feet and 276 feet is needed to revert to normal power production.A release from the Volta River Authority (VRA) said the trend shows a gradual rise which gives hope for the future.
Ghana's oil for test
The Petro-Canada International Assistance Corporation team on oil exploration mission in the country has left for Canada after five months of operation.The team drilled two exploratory holes from which samples of Ghana's oil are to be tested in Canada and the result given to the Ministry of Fuel and Power for action.
The project was undertaken with a 31.5 million Canadian dollar loan granted by the Canadian Government.
If the results prove positive, the Ghana Government has a free hand in deciding who would undertake the drilling.
GDR scholarships
The GDR is to offer a number of scholar- ships to train Ghanaians in the GDR. This is to strengthen the cultural relations between the two countries. The new GDR Ambassador to Ghana, Franz Everharz, announced this when he called on the Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Dr Mohammed Abdallah, at his office.According to the Ambassador Ghana was one of the first countries to offer diplomatic recognition to the GDR and his country will therefore not forget Ghana in its hour of need. Dr Abdallah thanked the ambassador and said Ghana needs GDR expertise in the technical field; he said despite the constraints facing the country, Ghana is lucky that imperialists cannot exploit its cultural resources.
SENEGAL
New Chief of Defence Staff appointed
At a meeting of the Ministerial Council under the chairmanship of the Head of State, President Diouf informed the Council of the decisions he had made concerning the appointment of officers to some of the top posts in the national armed forces.Maj-Gen Josephe Taverez da Souza, the current Secretary General of the Non- aggression and Defence Aid Agreement between the Economic Community of West Africa and Togo (ANAD), has been appointed as Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces in place of General Idrissa Fall who has been appointed to higher diplomatic functions.
Lt-Gen Ahmed Fall, the former personal Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic and the Inspector General of the Armed Forces, has been appointed the Grand Chancellor of the National Order of the Lion in place of Colonel Amadou Lamine N'diaye who has reached retire- ment age.
Maj-Gen. Mamadou Mansour Seck, formerly the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, has been appointed as personal Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic in place of Lt-Gen. Ahmed Fall who has been appointed to other duties. Maj-Gen. Koumbadou Siao, formerly the military attache at the Senegalese Embassy in Bonn, has been appointed Inspector General of the Armed Forces at the Presidency of the Republic in place of Lt- Gen. Ahmed Fall, who has been assigned other duties.
Ties with Israel denied
Reporting a meeting on 17 July of the Council of Ministers under the chairman- ship of the Head of State, Dakar radio said that the often reaffirmed position of the Senegalese Government had not changed and that Senegal had no intention of re- establishing any kind of relations with Israel.NIGERIA
Relations will depend on outcome of trial
Minister of External Affair, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, said that the return of Nigeria's High Commissioner to Britain, Maj-Gen Halidu Hananiya, depended on the outcome of the trials going on in Britain on the attempted Umaru Dikko abduction. Dr Gambari told newsmen at Lagos airport that other factors were how the British Government reacted to the High Commis- sioner's return and his consultation with the Government. On the extradition of the fugitives, Dr Gambari said that the Government would gather all the facts against them before asking for their extradition. The Minister said that this was necessary in order to forestall a situation whereby Nigeria's request would be turned down on the grounds of insufficient evidence.He said that the British Government amended the 1857 Fugitive Offenders' Act in 1967 and made the conditions for extradition much harder. He added: "We are going to follow the procedure under Britain's new Act".
Asika calls for restraint
Mr Ukpabi Asika, administrator of the East-Central state during the civil war has called for restraint on the part of the Federal Military Government in its attitude towards Britain over the Dikko affair. Mr Asika's call for restraint came three days after a similar one from a renowned professor of economics, Mr Sam Aluko, in a television programme.Mr Aluko had warned the military authorities that a severance of the 122-year- old ties might not be in the interest of both countries, adding that fighting Britain is really fighting the whole of Western Europe.
Both Mr Aluko and Mr Asika differ in their views with Nigeria's former head of state, retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, who told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that Nigeria could do without Britain. Said Mr. Asika: "The basis of foreign policy for any country is that country's national interest. Therefore, the fact that we have diplomatic relations with Britain and the skill, the nature and the extent of those relations, which are easily widest with any country, indicate that there are substantial Nigerian interests which we seek to pursue and perpetuate by those relationships.
"These interests, the corporate interest in the state, Nigeria, are obviously more substantial and weighty than any interests positive or negative which may be derived from one single Nigerian citizen, especially such as Umaru Dikko.
Archbishop on UK- Nigerian ties
Accra radio has reported that at the Anglican Council meeting in Lagos, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, had said "Britain and Nigeria have so many things in common that efforts must be made to maintain the bonds of friendship between them."The two countries have so much to learn from each other and owe each other so much that they should remain friends." He had decided to go ahead with his visit despite the crisis over the Dikko kidnap attempt.
Destructive and creative tension
The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Robert Runcie has said in Lagos that Christians had a special responsibility in today's world to help transform "destructive tension into creative tension."In a special sermon at a service at Christ Church Cathedral Lagos, for delegates to the sixth meeting of the Anglican Consult- ative Council, Archbishop Runcie said that Christians should have hope and not yield to hopelessness. "They should build and cross bridges rather than sink in swampy water," he declared. Archbishop Runcie noted that people were easily driven apart today because the destructive forces at work were as strong as ever. According to him, there will always be tension in the world because "tension is necessary for creation." He said that destructive tension would divide men because of race, class, tribe or politics.
He said that though people in different parts of the world were calling on the church to get out of politics, it was pertinent to note that the lives of men and women were shaped and at times destroyed by politics.
As pilgrims with a responsibility to God for his creation, we are deeply concerned for all the affairs of men and women," he said. He pointed out that the Church must be involved in situations where people were discriminated against because of their race.
MiGs forced to land
Two Nigerian MiG-21s were forced to land at Ndjamena airport on 16 July because of a sandstorm. It was thought that the two aircraft had been forced to land at the economy. airport of the Chad capital by French fighters when they were overflying the Lake Chad area.This has been officially denied by Nigeria, France and Chad. The French Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the aircraft had not in any way been intercepted. They arrived on the runway at Ndjamena practically out of fuel, at a very low speed, with the undercarriage out and with no hint of hostility. The aircraft landed without any problems after being spotted by air traffic control at the airport.
Awards for jailed journalists
Two journalists, Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, recently jailed for one year each under Decree 4 are to be honoured with awards by two international press organisations.The awards, one from the Cairo-based Association of African Journalists, AFJ and the other from Prague-based International Organisation of Journalists, JOJ, were announced by Mr Bola Adedoja, president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ.
He said the AFJ had approached the JUJ to forward names of the two Guardian journalists for consideration for the AFJ award which is being viewed by newsmen as the first of its kind. Mr Adedoja, said names of the two jailed Guardian journalists had also been forwarded to the IOJ.
Ultimatum from Labour Council
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that its industrial 'honeymoon' with the Federal Military Government is over.The congress also warned at the end of a two-day conference of its National Execu- tive Committee (NEC) in Kaduna that the military should, within the next 30 days, listen to the workers' problems or 'face the music'. The congress declared: "The Federal Government has lost all moral authority to stop the private sector from retrenching (workers) by herself taking the lead in purging its own employees.” The congress urged the military government to look back on the promises made when it took over power from the civilian administration.
It said the military government's offer of a new hope to workers was contained in the post-coup announcement of Brigadier Sanni Abacha, in which he castigated the ousted civilian regime over the economic situation of the country at that time. The congress, therefore, urged the Federal Military Government to retrace its and economic sabotage'. steps on the purges that have already taken place in the public and private sectors of the economy.
Objection to retrenchment
The chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State, Mr G.C. Nwasike, has kicked against the recent retrenchment of 2,595 workers from the Anambra State civil service.He told the Guardian that the number of workers retrenched, and the manner of their retrenchment were objectionable to the state chapter of the NLC. The number of civil servants dismissed or retired from the state's civil service this year is 4,237.
More political detainees released
Nine more political detainees have been released by the Federal Military Government (FMG), having been cleared by the various investigating panels. This brings to 40 the number of political detainees so far released.Among those just released are the former Director of the Press and Publicity of the proscribed Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Mr M.C.K. Achewchukwu; Mr Abdusal- ami Garba Danade; Mr M. Adeojo; Mr E. Obiyan; and Charles Kekey Ochiomiayire. Others are Mr Aliyu Ibrahim, Alhaji Mamawa, Idoho Odeyemi, and Mr E.I. Olaoho.
In a statement the FMG said the release of the political detainees was in conformity with its belief in freedom for all law-abiding citizens in the country. Their release was authorised by the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brig. Tunde Idiagbon, who gave the assurance that any detainee cleared by any of the investigating panels would be promptly released. 31 political detainees were released early this month.
Air fares go up
Passengers travelling out of Nigeria by air will, as from Wednesday August 8, 1984, pay more in fares.A telex from the Nigeria Airways, to airlines operating in the country notified them that all passengers going to Europe are to pay an additional four per cent to the present flight rates whether they are travelling first class, economy class or on student or excursion tickets.
Those travelling to other routes in the world will pay two per cent more if they are first class passengers while the others are to pay four per cent extra.
Death sentence for various crimes
The Federal Military Government has imposed the death sentence for a wide range of crimes in the fight against 'indisciplineAmong the list of crimes are arson, drug trafficking and damaging of pipelines and cables which can lead to execution.
'Concord' gets new editor
Mr Duro Onabule has been appointed Editor of National Concord and Mr Lewis Obi also as the chairman of the Editorial Board of the newspapers. The changes follow the resignations of the former holders of the posts, Mr Yakubu Mohammed and Mr Ray Ekpu. The appointment of Mr Sina Adedipe as Editor of Sunday Concord has also been confirmed. Before his appointment, Mr Onabule was the deputy editor of National Concord. He was a pioneer features editor with the Daily Times and left them in December 1979. He began his journalistic career in 1961 on the defunct Daily Express.Mr Obi was also a pioneer staff of the Concord Group in 1980, where he rose to the post of features editor before being moved to the Editorial Board.
Soyinka's ideology for Nigeria
Professor Wole Soyinka has spoken of the need for Nigeria to have an ideology as a springboard for progress. And his choice for Nigeria is the Socialist ideology."I do not expect any regime to take over from the disaster and the calamity of the last four years without moving forward in a very radical socialist way," he said.
The professor rejected the contention in certain quarters that Nigeria does not need an ideology and that "Undue radicalism" should not be encouraged in the country.
Fat staff grounded
Six of the 29 grounded fat cabin attendants of the Nigeria Airways have resumed flying after having satisfied the weight requirement of the airline.They shed between 10-17 pounds to meet the unspecified airways requirements for its flying crew.
