Now travel signal-free from Delhi airport to Okhla

With the opening of the third Munirka flyover for commuters on Thursday, the road from the Okhla flyover to Indira Gandhi International Airport has become signal free.

Inaugurating the flyover, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan reiterated that all the Commonwealth Games-related projects would be completed within the stipulated time as constant monitoring was being done to accelerate the pace of work.

World-class roads

The Minister said Delhi would showcase its world-class infrastructure related to roads during the Commonwealth Games. “We are confident that the visitors during the Games would be able to carry a good impression about the city with their memorable stay,” he said.

With Outer Ring Road being the main arterial road as it caters to important residential and non-residential areas, he said a need was felt to improve the corridor starting from National Highway-8 intersection to Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, so that Outer Ring Road could become signal-free up to Okhla flyover.

The scheme for “Corridor Improvement of Outer Ring Road from IIT Gate to NH-8” was accordingly undertaken and the project comprised construction of a flyover at Africa Avenue and Aruna Asaf Ali Marg intersections; another at Vivekanand Marg, Nelson Mandela Marg and Poorvi Marg intersections; and the third flyover at Rao Tula Ram Marg and Benito Juarez Marg intersections. All the three flyovers have now been completed and opened to traffic.

Reputation at stake, Ghaziabad cops watch Games staff for disorderly conduct

Ram Babu, constable with the Etah district police, was transferred to Ghaziabad merely a week ago to be part of the staff deployed for next year’s Commonwealth Games. Now, the Ghaziabad police chief has issued orders to send him back. Reason — Ram Babu was found inebriated while on duty.

In his letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Etah, Akhil Kumar, Deputy Inspector General cum SSP, Ghaziabad, has ordered for him to be sent back to Etah for drinking his time away in Ghaziabad. “Constable Ram Babu has been found roaming around in a drunken state, which could be hazardous for deploying him in security-related activities,” the letter states.

The constable could damage the image of the UP police on an international level, the letter further reads. “Many distinguished guests, army personnel and players would be taking part in Commonwealth Games 2010. If police personnel of such repute are deputed in the security of these foreign guests, the chances of the UP police getting a tarnished image would increase,” the police chief stated in the letter.

Officials of the Police Establishment Board of Uttar Pradesh had finalised the names of 98 constables, who have been transferred to Ghaziabad for better management of traffic, law and order, and more effective functioning of the district’s control room in case of emergencies during next year’s Games. Personnel have been called in from Aligarh, Etah, Mahamaya Nagar, Jhansi, Kanpur Dehat, Lucknow, Mathura, Ferozabad and Laitpur.

According to a senior police officer, the Ghaziabad police are keeping a strict tab on the newly deployed constables’ public dealings and behaviour. “We are keeping a watch on them for any kind of uncalled for behaviour to avoid controversy in the future.”

India begins favourite

With less than a year to go for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth wrestling championship, starting at the P.A.P. Indoor Stadium here from Friday, is expected to give a picture of how India is going to fare in the mega event in Delhi.

However, the picture may not be a perfect one as India, fielding 42 wrestlers, is considered the clear favourite. Canada, expected to throw a strong challenge, has sent a second-string 12-member squad, while Nigeria, another respected country in Commonwealth circles, has suddenly pulled out of the competition.

Asked whether his country not sending a strong team was part of any strategy, Canadian official Ron Moncur said, “No, I do not think so. There were financial constraints. Besides, this is the year-end. So, we came with the available wrestlers.”

He admitted that the current squad was a younger one. Its lone star in the meet is current World championship bronze winner Justine Bouchard.

On Nigeria’s last-minute pull-out, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President, G.S. Mander, said his federation tried its best to help the African side take part in the meet.

“There had been no response from Nigeria for the last two days. When we got through to them today, they said it was too late for them to get visas,” Mr. Mander told The Hindu on Thursday. According to WFI, wrestlers from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Singapore, Pakistan and Cameroon will also be seen in action. Altogether 137 wrestlers, including 37 women, will be part of the three-day event featuring Greco-Roman, freestyle and women’s competitions.

India, represented by two teams, has selected its best available grapplers. While Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar (66kg) will be the centre of attraction, Rajneesh Kumar, Rahul Mann (60 kg), Narsingh Yadav (74 kg), Anuj Kumar, Ramvir (84 kg), Anil Mann, Mausam Khatri (96 kg) and Rajeev Tomar (120 kg) are expected to bolster the country’s medals tally in freestyle.

Sunil Rana (66 kg), Sanjay Singh, Rajbir Singh Chikara (74 kg), Anil Kumar (96 kg), Dharmender Dalal and Rishpal (120 kg) are the home grapplers to watch out for in the Greco-Roman category.

India’s women’s squad also looks formidable. Nirmala Devi, Neha Rathi (48 kg), Babita Kumari (51 kg), Geeta (55 kg), Alka Tomar (59 kg), Anita (63 kg), Suman Kundu (67 kg) and Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 kg) give the host a good chance of keeping its flag flying high.

‘You want to travel in a lovely low-floor bus, you have to pay more’ --Sheila Dikshit

After ruling Delhi for 11 years and a year into her third consecutive term as chief minister, Sheila Dikshit talks about her government’s achievements and the hurdles ahead.

You had set an agenda on being re-elected — like takeover of MCD, improvement of the transport system etc. Are you happy with what has been achieved?

Success is partial. There are lots of achievements, but lots to catch up on as well. There is a lot to be done in connection with the Commonwealth Games projects. I am very happy with the expansion of the Metro, improvements in the transport sector, education and environment. With so much construction going on in the city, we thought it would be difficult to curb air pollution. We have managed to keep a check on it.

What do you perceive as the biggest challenge ahead of you in the years to come?

If you look at Delhi, migration is the biggest challenge. It’s just going on, but space and resources are limited. Alongside it, multiplicity of authorities is a problem. MCD goes its own way, the DDA goes its own way. The L-G has his own set of powers. As the chief minister of Delhi, one is the public face of the government. But we also get a lot of kudos for jobs that are well done along with the flak — even if we have to spend a lot of energy on publicity.

Are you satisfied with the preparations for Commonwealth Games?

There is scope for improvement. Work is on in full swing and most of the major projects would be ready four months before the Games. There is a real need to tame Delhi’s traffic.

What will you do about the non-infrastructure part of it — the traffic, public indiscipline?

Take a look at our ads. Don’t spit, don’t honk. We have just started a campaign to drive these messages home. You will see them soon. These are things that will change only when the people themselves come to it. It’s a civilisational change. We are running training sessions for our DTC drivers and auto and taxi drivers as well to teach them how to behave properly.

The government is running a deficit of almost Rs 23,000 crore. Are there more taxes and hikes on the cards after the Games 2010?

You wait, you have to pay more. You have to pay more for better services. Our collections have to be better. You want to travel in a lovely low-floor air conditioned bus, you will have to pay more. When you buy clothes from an ordinary shop, you pay a certain amount. When you go for something that’s more in fashion, you pay more. We will bring the increase in VAT rates on luxury items in the Assembly in March 2010.

How much of this is a result of spending on Commonwealth Games?

It’s not as if we don’t have money. We are getting a lot of money from the Centre. The infrastructure for the Games has a legacy value. These will last longer than the Games. You have to pay more for luxuries and you have to consider we have not hiked charges in five years. You still pay less than 10 paise for a bucket of water. People waste water and that’s why we have introduced slabs. The more you spend, the more you pay. The VAT rate increase of 1 per cent (from 4% to 5%) was on the recommendation of the Centre. It’s not as if we don’t have money, but we have to improve collections without touching the basics. If you buy a pen for Rs 20,000 and a cellphone for Rs 1 lakh, you will have to pay higher VAT. Same for cars.

Why not raise the VAT rates in one go? Were you trying to avoid criticism with Assembly in session?

No, we just felt this was something the finance department should take a closer look at.

It’s been a busy eleventh year for CM -Sheila Dikshit

Full statehood is a longstanding demand of Delhi’s political parties. So it was a deviation of sorts when ahead of releasing its 2008 poll manifesto, Congress sources indicated for the first time that the party might press for more practical powers like control over the civic bodies. Soon after being elected the chief minister for the third time, Sheila Dikshit, in her first interview to a newspaper, told Hindustan Times that she wanted to take over MCD and end multiplicity of authorities.

Dikshit said on November 17, 2008 that the government “had learnt from experience” that granting full statehood to a city like Delhi was impossible. There was talk of according Delhi special status since full statehood was difficult, given the fact that vital national and security installations were located here.

However, even the bid for making MCD answerable to Delhi government is proving to be not so easy.

Hikes and finances

New Delhi: The government started the year on a sombre note — speaking of the necessity for improving dipping revenue collections. After nearly five years, Delhiites had to loosen purse strings for DTC and Metro fare hikes, increased water and power charges and now increased VAT rates.

Having spent Rs 10,500 crore from the small savings loans allocation in 2008 alone, Delhi government is running in deficit of Rs 23,000 crore. Delhi Finance Minister AK Walia had asked for curbing wasteful expenses and a committee to assess the cost of all projects was set up after he objected to the expenditure on some of them.

Asked how he planned to manage Delhi’s budget in the face of mounting expenses, Walia said the government’s focus was trying to keep the city out of the ‘debt trap’.

“We are trying to control further debts. We are already paying a lot of interest on older debts.’

Transport

New Delhi: Induction of more low-floor buses, including several AC ones, in DTC’s fleet has strengthened the public transport system. DTC now has a fleet of 1,000 low-floor buses. By March 2010, it will have 3,775 low-floor buses, including 1,500 AC buses. The gradual phase-out of Bluelines at the same time has helped in rebuilding people’s faith in bus transport. The inauguration of Dwarka Circular Sewa, a shuttle service for Dwarka, and Yamuna Mudrika for East Delhi have catered to the long standing demand of residents of these areas for a reliable public transport system.

Introduction of automatic fare collection system in six buses on Dwarka circular route is a first step towards modernisation of public transport.

Converting auto-rickshaw permits into smart cards, which are being issued only to the genuine permit holders, is a step to break the control of financier mafia.

Challenges — following incidents of fire, maintenance of low-floor buses is a big challenge. Implementation of automatic fare collection on all DTC buses and its integration with the Metro is also a big task too.

Infrastructure

New Delhi: Working on 21 infrastructure projects in the run up to the Commonwealth Games, the Delhi government opened 12 new flyovers and underpasses in 2009. The three flyovers on Outer Ring Road, between IIT Gate and National Highway 8, have eased traffic flow.

Three flyovers in east Delhi, the grade separator at ITO Chungi to make this intersection signal free, and two flyovers at Shastri Nagar and Raja Ram Kohli Marg have reduced the drive duration from Mayur Vihar and Laxmi Nagar to Old Delhi to just 15 minutes.

The Dikshit government also introduced three new technologies — recycling, plastic mix and micro-surfacing — to repair and re-carpet roads in Delhi.

Several new footbridges have also come up on various arterial roads.

Challenges — completing two important infrastructure projects in time: the Barapulla elevated road connecting Commonwealth Games Village with Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, and Ring Road Bypass, both of which are crucial from the Games point of view, is a big challenge.

The big challenge

New Delhi: Delhi is the venue of Commonwealth Games 2010 and the city government is the official host, even if the show is being handled by a gaggle of authorities.

The Delhi government is spending more than Rs 15,000 crore on road improvement projects, flyovers and other infrastructure upgrades, including improvement of two stadiums –Thyagaraja and Chattarsal.

More than anything else, the event is a prestige issue. Since most of the projects are lagging behind, completing on time will be a test of nerves.

Dikshit, however, asserted that most infrastructural work would be over by March 2010, while other major projects would be ready at least four months before the Games.

The government painted a rosy picture of Games preparation in a reply to the Delhi Assembly. It was claimed that only Chattarsal Stadium and Talkatora Indoor Stadium, that were supposed to be completed by December 2009, and Shivaji Stadium (March 2010 deadline) were seriously running behind schedule.

Plastic ban

New Delhi: The government took credit for banning plastic bags in Delhi but actually it was a Public Interest Litigation that brought about a plastic ban in the Capital. The Dikshit government was but a mere implementer of a high court order directing the ban.

The government was, in fact, reluctant to enforce a ban on plastic bags. It sat on the high court order for close to five months before it was forced to implement. The court had ordered the Delhi government to ban plastic bags in August 2008.

But it brought the ban only in January 2009 after the petitioner of the PIL threatened to move a Contempt of Court motion.

Even after banning plastic bags, the government’s enforcement of the same has been abysmal, with a handful of token enforcement drives in marketplaces. Of late, the Environment Department has swung into action, directing all civic agencies to raid retail and wholesale markets of plastic bags.

Power

New Delhi: In June, Delhiites suffered power cuts lasting six to 10 hours, every day. There were power cuts in the night, evening, and afternoon, in east, south, west, and central Delhi areas. But the discoms, BSES Yamuna for east and BSES Rajdhani for the rest of the areas, kept denying that power cuts were that long.

People in several parts of the city took to protests — beating up discom officials, attacking their local offices, holding up traffic on national highways etc. The government stepped in after several days of watching from the sidelines, as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit directed the discoms to arrange power at any cost. She also met residents’ representatives and made discom officials give out schedules of cuts.

Although the government made the right noise, nothing changed. The discoms managed to convince the government that there was a genuine scarcity of power.

Gurgaon Police to verify licensed arms

If you stay in Gurgaon and have a licensed firearm, get ready to deposit it with the police.

Staring Friday, station house officers (SHOs) of all 23 police stations in Gurgaon will start a verification drive of armed licenses issued so far.

All licensed weapons in Gurgaon will have to be deposited in police stations by March 31, about six months before the start of the Commonwealth Games next year.

Owners of licensed weapons would have to start depositing their arms between March 1 and 31 next year after the licence verification drive ended, said joint police commissioner Alok Mittal. The JCP on Thursday issued orders to the deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) of east, west and South zones in this regard. Gurgaon has over 5000 arms license holders.

"We have received a communication from the Union Ministry of Home, asking us to get all the licensed arms deposited in police stations in Gurgaon at least six months before the start of Commonwealth Games next year. I have directed the DCPs of all three zones to start the exercise from Friday only and further direct their SHOs for the same," Mittal said.

Gurgaon is likely to host a couple of events such as shooting at the CRPF shooting range in Bhondsi village just off Sohna Road. Thousands of domestic and foreign guests are likely to board hostels and guesthouses in Gurgaon.

Coast Games bid needs a little TLC

THE Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games bid is on life support.

Despite attracting interest from Commonwealth Games delegates and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the bid is on shaky ground.

Premier Anna Bligh yesterday said if the bid was not successful, the Coast would definitely host games during the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

"We put our hat in the ring. If we got the World Cup, there might have to be some reconsideration of the bid. I'm just being honest about it," she said.

Mr Rudd has failed to offer any funding for the Games bid, instead directing his attention to the FIFA World Cup.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief executive Perry Crosswhite has said the bid would require substantial federal support.

Ms Bligh said the decision for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup host countries would be made next December.

In the meantime, the ACGA will decide in the new year whether to pursue the Gold Coast bid.

"The ACGA has made it absolutely clear to me that if they decide that Australia should bid, there is only one place to consider and that is the Gold Coast," she said.

"They were excited about what the Gold Coast has to offer versus any other capital city in Australia. They think its the Gold Coast that would give us the competitive edge in a bid."

Ms Bligh, who travelled to Delhi to speak with Commonwealth Games delegates in October, said the FIFA decision was a serious threat to the Coast bid.

"I expect that it will be a factor that needs to be taken into account.

"The emergence of a serious bid by Auckland will also be taken into account, but without a doubt the Gold Coast is in play and we are going to back it to the hilt."

Ms Bligh said she was looking forward to hosting FIFA World Cup matches on the Gold Coast in 2018.

Additional staff to speed up CWG preparation: Govt

The apprehensions regarding the progress of work notwithstanding, the Indian government insisted that the venues for next year's Commonwealth Games would be completed on time by deploying additional machinery and increasing the number of supervisory staff. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Prakashbapu Patil said the progress of work was being monitored closely.

"The work on all the competition venues is progressing at a rapid pace, recovery plans have been worked out, wherever required, which inter-alia, includes increase in the number of supervisory staff and labour, increase in working hours, deployment of additional machinery, close monitoring and procurement of critical and special items, to compete the work within the revised targets," Patil said.

The Minister's assurance comes a day after the Commonwealth Games Federation's Coordination Commission, expressed concern about the extension of timetable for venues' completion.

The CGF Commission, which concluded its three-day inspection tour, said further delays would put the Organising Committee in a difficult position and "compromise final preparations and Games' readiness."

"We urge the construction agencies to ensure that no further delays are encountered, as this will place the OC in a difficult position and compromise final preparations and Games readiness," Chairman of the Commission Austin Sealy had said in a statement.

The Minister also admitted that shortage of hotels

in the capital was a concern but said the city would be well-equipped to handle the influx of foreign tourists when the multi-discipline event is held from October 3 to 14 next year.

"Government of India has assessed that approximately 40,000 rooms under categories in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) would be required to meet the demand of the Commonwealth Games 2010.

"In order to address the shortage of hotel rooms in the Delhi NCR for the Games, hotel projects are being implemented by various agencies in National Capital territory of Delhi and states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh which are being monitored regularly by the Ministry of Tourism

through the task force set up for this purpose," he said.

Headley had plans to target Delhi Commonwealth Games

Intelligence Bureau sleuths have unearthed yet another target of David Headley, the American national and Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative who has been arrested in Chicago for planning out terror activities on Indian soil.

IB sources told rediff.com that following the success of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba had major plans to carry out a strike during the 2010 Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in 2010.

The CWG in New Delhi stands at the top of the list of terror targets. IB officials say that there are at least ten terror alerts they pick up every week regarding the games.

When David Headley was in India , he had conducted a reccee of various targets, including those which were attacked on November 26, 2008. He was also present in the control room that helped coordinate the attack. It was after the Mumbai attacks that a plan was hatched by the Lashkar leadership to carry out a fidayeen-styled attack at the Commonwealth Games. The Lashkar wanted Headley himself to survey the targets and prepare a chart. However, before the plan was executed, Headley was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.

IB sources, however, add that the threat to the games has not vanished altogether after the arrest of Headley. The threat perception at the games is still very high, but Indian agencies are prepared to ward off any threat. There is constant monitoring and every alert being picked up is shared with the officials concerned. For India, the games are a matter of national reputation and it will take every step to secure the same, home ministry officials pointed out.

Headley, during his visit to New Delhi, had gone around the sites where the games are to be held. However, his prime focus was the Mumbai attacks then, and he did not go too much into the details of the games venues. He had planned a return to Delhi after the Mumbai attacks, and then carry out a thorough reccee of the area.

Security experts say that securing the games should top the priority of every agency in the country.

"We need to rely upon inputs not only from within the country, but also from other countries as well. This should not be treated as a subject of New Delhi alone, but a coordinated effort needs to be adopted. It is not necessary that only a Delhi module would be working on the games. The Lashkar keeps changing its strategy from time-to-time, and in many cases, modules from an alien land have worked on different targets," IB officials also point out.

New Delhi 2010 - Ndanusa Says Nigeria Willl Be Continents Best

Even as preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are yet to commence, Sports Minister and chairman, National Sports Commission, Sani Ndanusa said Nigeria will post the best performance by Africa nations at the Games.

Ndannusa made the charge while unfolding plans to host the Queen's Baton Relay team between December 18 and 20 in Abuja and Lagos, Engineer Ndanusa said the country would feature athletics, boxing, elite athletes for disabled, wrestling, weightlifting and table tennis he considered the country's strong holds at the New Delhi games.

"Nigeria has taken part in eleven Commonwealth Games and won medals with the highest number being in 1994 when she won 37 medals in Victoria , Canada . In New Delhi Games, Nigeria 's target is to post the best African performance in the Games.

Towards this end, efforts are in top gear to ensure that Nigerian athletes are adequately prepared for the challenge", thus Engineer Sani Ndanusa declared yesterday.

He however, stated that the NSC is currently operating open camp, and would start close camping from February with notable athletes to be listed for major international championship as part of their preparations.

The Queen's Baton Relay team due in the country is to the Commonwealth what the Olympic torch Relay is to the Olympic Games; and Ndanusa said, "It is intended to go through the 71 member nations of the Commonwealth before the New Delhi games".

"It is significant to note that Nigeria 's zeal to align with other Commonwealth nations to promote friendship and peace through sports is not in doubt.

"As we prepare to celebrate the Queen's Baton relay on tour of Abuja and Lagos , it is pertinent to remind ourselves that this will be the third time that the baton will be hosted in Nigeria .

It was first hosted in 2001, before the Manchester Games and then in 2006 before the Melbourne event".

Commonwealth Games 2010 on Headley radar: Intelligence

David Headley wreaked havoc in Mumbai. Now it has come to light, the 2010 Commonwealth Games were also the target of the Lashkar terrorist and his cohorts.

Intelligence Sources have confirmed to Headlines Today that Headley was planning a terror attack in the national Capital during the Commonwealth Games.

Not just this, the US-based terrorist of Pakistan origin was also planning to target the World Hockey Championship.

With an eye for detail, Headley was the man in charge of doing the recce for the Lashkar's terror missions. And he is believed to have scouted various spots in Delhi several times -- the latest being in March this year.

"I don't think 26/11 was the ultimate goal. They could have disrupted the Commonwealth Games. So security needs to be tightened," said M.K. Dhar, former joint director of Intelligence Bureau.

Experts believe that 26/11 is a reference point for the LeT for its future terror operations.

So, on the lines of 26/11, the Lashkar has planned a serial commando-style operation in the national capital, during the Commonwealth Games or the World Hockey Championship.

Delhi’s Anand Vihar rail terminal to open on Dec 21

The railways has decided to throw open the Anand Vihar mega railway terminal to passengers on December 21, a move which will help decongest New Delhi railway station ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year.

According to railway sources, the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, is likely to inaugurate the station.

The terminal will be integrated with the inter-state bus terminus, located close by, and the Anand Vihar Delhi Metro station which is expected to be inaugurated by month-end, thus transforming the area into a major transportation hub.

By the time of the commencement of the Commonwealth Games in October 2010, several trains to East would have been shifted to the Anand Vihar terminal.

The Rs 240-crore station, complete with modern amenities like ATM, foreign exchange counters and touch-screen enquiry system, will be opened with three platforms and a latest coach maintenance yard in the first phase.

The terminal, being developed as a greenfield project, will be the only station in the country having a station yard for loading and unloading parcels.

Ndanusa Promises Glorious Delhi 2010

The Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Engr. Sani Ndanusa has said that arrangements are being put in place to ensure that the country does well in the 2010 India Commonwealth Games.

Ndanusa was speaking in Abuja while giving the itinerary of the Queen's Baton Relay Team expected to arrive Nigeria on December 18, 2009 and will stay be in Abuja and Lagos till December 20.

The Queen's Baton Relay is to the Commonwealth what the Olympic Torch Relay is to the Olympic Games. It is also expected to go through the 71 member nations of the Commonwealth before the next Games in Delhi, India in 2010.

He recalled that Nigeria has participated in 11 Commonwealth Games and made appreciable impacts including the 1994 event in Victoria, Canada where she won a total of 37 medals.

On how best to ensure that the nation's athletes pose a five star performance at the Games, the Minister revealed that as from the first quarter of the 2010, the athletes will go into close camping.

"After about six weeks in the camp, they will be exposed to some tournaments to test their level of readiness for the Games; already we have some partners who are interested in giving us all the support".

Nigeria will be participating in Athletics, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Table Tennis and Elite Athletes for Disabled.

The Queen's Relay Baton is coming to Nigeria for the third time, the first was Nigeria in 2002 before the Manchester Games and then in 2006 before the Melbourne event.

Also at the briefing was the Director General of the NSC, Dr. Patrick Ekeji and other Directors of the Commission.