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The Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, are among top political office-holders that may likely lose their positions if the preliminary zoning formula being worked by the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government scales through.

The new zoning formula being prepared by the Presidency showed that the three zones where the above officers hail from will not keep such positions in the next dispensation.

Already, Mark and Bankole have won the party’s primaries in their respective constituencies.

Mark is next to the Vice-President in the order of protocol, while Bankole is the fourth in hierarchy.

Depending on the zone where the president comes from, the office of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have always rotated between the North and the South.

While the President’s area (between the North and South, in this case) takes the office of the Senate President, the Speaker goes to the Vice-President’s area as well.

Six Nigerian and international firms have submitted their Expressions of Interest in 17 out of the 18 successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The companies are African Finance Corporation, CPCS Transcorp, Goldman Sachs/Stanbic IBTC, IPA Energy, Lazard/UBA and Standard Chartered Bank.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, said in a statement on Tuesday, that the six firms met the August 23 deadline set by the Bureau for the Expression of Interest in the 18 companies.

Onagoruwa also disclosed that the 18 companies would be sold before May 2011. She added that the second phase of the power sector reform would kick off what she called the “electricity market.”

The BPE chief said, “The privatisation of the 18 successor companies of the PHCN is expected to be concluded by May 2011.

“The next stage of the reform is to start an electricity market. The reform involves some level of liberalisation, as we will request investors to enter the market for the full privatisation of the PHCN.

“We have started the process of engaging consultants through the Quality Based Selection method

“A transaction advisory consortium shall be led by a financial institution that possesses an excellent global investment banking pedigree.

“Other members of the consortium shall include a Nigerian financial institution with considerable investment banking experience, a Nigerian law firm with strong transaction advisory competencies, and accounting, engineering, and other relevant technical firms.

“A consortium must have considerable experience of electricity sector project finance and privatisation, globally and in Africa.”

She explained that the Request For Proposals would be sent to the firms this week while they would be expected to respond within five weeks.

The Federal Government plans to sell 51 per cent of its stakes in 17 out of the 18 successor companies of the PHCN.

Eleven of the companies are into distribution while six are in the power generation business.

This plan is contained in the Federal Government’s roadmap to power sector reform, which was unveiled on Thursday by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, which will not be sold by the Federal Government, will be managed by the private sector.

Jonathan, at the unveiling of the roadmap in Lagos, had said that government was preparing to leave the power sector in the hands of private operators.

He explained that the government would retain the transmission grid and regulate the operators of the generating and distribution companies.

The President also assured that power would become stable in 2012, the year that independent power producers would add 5,000 megawatts to the national grid.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has called on electricity workers to ensure that their capacity to deliver electricity in the country was not constrained by “other considerations.”

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Wya, made the appeal when he paid an unscheduled inspection visit to power stations in the Lagos territory on Monday.

He told the members of staff and management of the Aja-Lekki-Alagbon Power Centre that President Jonathan directed him to undertake the visit to ascertain the immediate challenges facing the centres and to assure them of government’s sincerity in dealing with the challenges.

The minister said the Federal Government would remove budgetary constraints limiting the system from generating at full capacity.

Acting chairman of the FA’s Technical Committee, Dominic Iorfa revealed early today that his committee has agreed a monthly salary of $50,000 (N7.5m) for Siasia, an improvement from the widely publicized N5m, which the former U-23 Eagles coach reported to have turned down.

Iorfa said on Brila FM early today that though the Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medal winning coach is still insisting on $100,000 a month salary, his committee and the coach have agreed in principle on $50,000, which he believes is good enough for Siasia to take up the job.
“The Technical Committee of the NFF has agreed a monthly pay of $50,000 for Siasia, which is subject to the ratification of the new board of the FA. During our discussion with Siasia, he was insisting on his earlier stand on $100,000, but he has accepted our proposal of $50,000 in principle, which to me is good especially when he told us that the job is a national calling for him.
“The board of the NFF has final say on anything we agreed upon and I believe that as soon as the new board is in place, it will deliberate and seal the deal. I think everything is on course for us to get the best for Nigeria,” said Iorfa.
The NFF will give Siasia the chance to pick his assistants, have good accommodation and a chaffeur-driven car in Abuja as the FA usually does for the foreign technical advisers employed for the senior national team.
The latest development has paved way for Siasia to achieve his ambtition of handling the Eagles, a calling that is widely supported by the majority of soccer loving Nigerians who believe the current coach of Heartland of Owerri’s tactician has the magic wand to turn around the dwindling fortunes of the Eagles.

A company called Terrafugia is expected to start selling ''The Transition'' late next year. Price: $194,000.
The Jetsons predicted that we'd have flying cars by at least 2062, and Back to the Future promised them to us by 2015. It turns out that reality may, for once, outpace fiction.

A small, privately held company called Terrafugia has recently gained FAA approval for its roadable aircraft (i.e., flying car), and new improvements to the vehicle's design bring it only about a year away from being available to customers, according to MSNBC.

Yahoo! BuzzDubbed "The Transition," Terrafugia's flying car takes the notion of driving a hybrid to a whole new level. The latest model features a more car-like look, with traditional headlights and even a license plate holder. Other new fixtures include an improved wing that folds up with a touch of a switch, like in a convertible car, rear-wheel drive with a continuously variable transmission, independent suspension and even a futuristic touch screen interface in the cockpit.

Aside from the innovative engineering specs, the Transition also performs fairly well with its fuel economy. It gets about 35 miles per gallon on the road and about 490 miles per full tank in the air.

When grounded, the vehicle folds its wings up to achieve legal street-ready dimensions. The concept is for users to be able to drive it from their own garage to a nearby airport, allowing for independent, convenient travel. At the very least, it would help drivers bypass those annoying airport wait times.

Purchasing one of the flying cars won't be cheap. The estimated price for a first-generation Transition is slated at around $194,000. Though that's out of the price range for the average consumer, it's at least an important first step toward bringing childhood fantasies of driving a flying car closer to reality.

W ITH barely 15 days to the expiration of the amnesty programme, which has been characterised by apathy, the Federal Government reiterated its plea to militants in the Niger Delta to lay down their arms and embrace the amnesty for reintegration and enhance accelerated development of the region.
However, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) said it is not party to the 30-day declaration of ceasefire by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), warning that the truce could be threatened if the military breaches the rules of engagement.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Godwin Abbe, who was accompanied by some repentant militants, including 'the young shall grow,' during a tour of rehabilitation centres, told journalists at the Airforce Base in Port Harcourt that government was still anxious to see more militants lay down their arms before October 4, adding: "We are not


going to wait for every body engaged in militancy to move on, because the country moves ahead."
He disclosed that the exercise has recorded tremendous success and government was convinced of its huge success beyond doubt, noting that the intention of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is good and he means well for the Niger Delta people.
The Guardian learnt that the programme has suffered some hitches in Rivers State due largely to inappropriate funding. For instance, the rehabilitation centre at Aluu is presently undergoing renovation and has not been furnished.
Meanwhile, Abbe has denied allegation that N50 billion has been budgeted for the programme in this year's budget, explaining that the amount was the cumulative estimate for two years.
The Minister held a meeting with Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who reiterated his support for the process.
The state coordinator of the programme, Mr. Bestman Nwoka, told The Guardian that 700 repentant militant have so far reported at the rehabilitation camp, where 2,300 are being expected before the October 4 deadline.
The JRC spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, yesterday warned that there would be no peace in the region "until that which belongs to Caesar is given to Caesar, amnesty or no amnesty."
Whyte cautioned that government's deployment of gunships in the Niger Delta might mark the beginning of a new revolution founded on innovative methods of guerrilla warfare.
JRC wondered why a country that cannot provide basic infrastructure for its people should go out to buy multi-million dollar gunboats and gunships, wondering what it would cost to provide key infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
Whyte said: "Niger Delta provides all the oil and gas resources that is the core of the budget of the Nigerian state. Go and find out how many Niger Deltans were awarded Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarships.
"Go through the top management list of PTDF and find out how many of its top executives are from the Niger Delta. What greater way can you undermine the people of the Niger Delta than short-changing them in receiving and enjoying the blessings that come from their land?"

W ITH barely 15 days to the expiration of the amnesty programme, which has been characterised by apathy, the Federal Government reiterated its plea to militants in the Niger Delta to lay down their arms and embrace the amnesty for reintegration and enhance accelerated development of the region.
However, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) said it is not party to the 30-day declaration of ceasefire by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), warning that the truce could be threatened if the military breaches the rules of engagement.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Godwin Abbe, who was accompanied by some repentant militants, including 'the young shall grow,' during a tour of rehabilitation centres, told journalists at the Airforce Base in Port Harcourt that government was still anxious to see more militants lay down their arms before October 4, adding: "We are not


going to wait for every body engaged in militancy to move on, because the country moves ahead."
He disclosed that the exercise has recorded tremendous success and government was convinced of its huge success beyond doubt, noting that the intention of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is good and he means well for the Niger Delta people.
The Guardian learnt that the programme has suffered some hitches in Rivers State due largely to inappropriate funding. For instance, the rehabilitation centre at Aluu is presently undergoing renovation and has not been furnished.
Meanwhile, Abbe has denied allegation that N50 billion has been budgeted for the programme in this year's budget, explaining that the amount was the cumulative estimate for two years.
The Minister held a meeting with Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who reiterated his support for the process.
The state coordinator of the programme, Mr. Bestman Nwoka, told The Guardian that 700 repentant militant have so far reported at the rehabilitation camp, where 2,300 are being expected before the October 4 deadline.
The JRC spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, yesterday warned that there would be no peace in the region "until that which belongs to Caesar is given to Caesar, amnesty or no amnesty."
Whyte cautioned that government's deployment of gunships in the Niger Delta might mark the beginning of a new revolution founded on innovative methods of guerrilla warfare.
JRC wondered why a country that cannot provide basic infrastructure for its people should go out to buy multi-million dollar gunboats and gunships, wondering what it would cost to provide key infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
Whyte said: "Niger Delta provides all the oil and gas resources that is the core of the budget of the Nigerian state. Go and find out how many Niger Deltans were awarded Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarships.
"Go through the top management list of PTDF and find out how many of its top executives are from the Niger Delta. What greater way can you undermine the people of the Niger Delta than short-changing them in receiving and enjoying the blessings that come from their land?"