Expect more Ebola virus cases —FG

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62222

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

2015: Trouble brews in INEC over N9bn ballot papers contract 8

Expect more Ebola virus cases —FG

By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Jimitota Onoyume, Favour Nnabugwu & Gabriel Olawale

•17 confirmed cases nationwide; 271 under surveillance •Enemuo, other high risk-corpses for burial; sister quarantined •EVD not over, but we are in control – Fashola

Our conditions for peace with Amosun — Kaka

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AGOS — THE Fed eral Government has disclosed that more Nigerians are likely to test positive to the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, following the confirmation of fresh cases of the disease in Port Harcourt,

Continues on page 5

Impeached Enugu Dep Gov redeployed to civil service 15

11 COLUMNIST:

DE I S IN AY TOD

INEC's new membership in #Bring back our Northern domin ation •P.17

Mr & Mrs

RIVERS: Storm over Ebola quarantine ward site

ACCIDENT—Officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, evacuating a victim from an accident scene in which a tanker (below right), lost control and crushed cars and motorcycles on ZubaKaduna Expressway, Madalla, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

45 feared dead as military repels attack on Borno town

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2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

JONATHAN IN KENYA—President Goodluck Jonathan arrives Jomo Kenyatta International

Airport, Nairobi, Kenya for the AU Peace and Security Council Summit, yesterday.

Expect more Ebola virus cases —FG Continues from page 1 the Rivers State capital, even as the Lagos State Government says it is in control of the outbreak in Lagos.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who spoke in Abuja yesterday during the 2nd Emergency National Council on Health Meeting on the outbreak of EVD in the country, said the last may not have been heard about the EVD outbreak as contacts currently under surveillance may come down with the disease.

“It is expected that a few more contacts will develop the EVD, especially in Rivers State before Nigeria will see the last case of EVD. While it is encouraging that so far, all confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria have their roots in the index case, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, great vigilance is required particularly at our ports of entry to ensure we do not have cases of EVD from other sources other than Mr. Sawyer,” he remarked.

Chukwu, who explained that the Federal Ministry of Health is awaiting report of a repeat test being conducted on two health officials of the hospital where the first Port Harcourt case, Dr. Ikechukwu Sam Enemuo, died of EVD after successfully treating the ECOWAS official who imported the virus into

the state, however noted that the Incident Management Committee had deployed a strong team to Rivers State to work with the state government so that the situation can be effectively managed.

On the ECOWAS Commission staff, Chukwu said: “He died from EVD. It was his death that led to the investigation that revealed introduction of EVD to Port Harcourt and the beginning of tracing of second and third degree contacts in Port Harcourt. Arrangements are being made to decontaminate the body in readiness for proper disposal of his remains. His death brings to six the total number of persons who have died from EVD in Nigeria.”

Updated summary of EVD in Nigeria Giving an update on the current status of the EVD outbreak, in the country, the minister said: “The total number of confirmed EVD cases in Nigeria is 17 (including the index case). In Lagos, the total number managed is 14, seven successfully managed and discharged; five deaths recorded and two presently on treatment in isolation.

“In Port Harcourt one death, a doctor who treated a secondary con-

tact of Sawyer ’s, has been recorded (did not benefit from standard management); one patient under treatment (no stand treatment) and patient fully recovered.

“Total number of survivors in Nigeria (as of September 1, 2014) is 11; total number of deaths in Nigeria (as of September 1, 2014) is six.

“A surviving primary contact of the index case (Patrick Sawyer): an ECOWAS Commission staff that became symptomatic, evaded surveillance in Lagos, travelled to Port Harcourt and infected his attending physician. Presently, he does not have viraemia but other laboratory tests for antibodies confirm that he had suffered from EVD. He is under quarantine in Lagos at the moment undergoing further tests to ensure he is totally free from the virus.”

Further, he stated; “A female patient who was on admission in the same hospital where the late Port Harcourt Doctor was also admitted. She is presently under treatment in the Isolation ward in Rivers State.

“Two other contacts of the late Port Harcourt doctor (one of the doctors who managed him and a pharmacy technician working in the late doctor’s hospital) are symp-

tomatic and have been admitted in the isolation ward in Rivers State.

They have tested negative to the EVD but the laboratory tests will be repeated to reconfirm their status.

Shedding more light on the surveillance, Chukwu said: “Now as of 31st August, 2014, the number of contacts under surveillance in Lagos stands at 72 while in Port Harcourt, the total number of contacts under surveillance stands at 199. There is nobody under surveillance in Enugu presently and no case of EVD in Enugu State. As of 31st August, 2014, 278 contacts have completed the 21-day observation period and have been discharged from surveillance.

EVD not over yet, but we are in control —Fashola Also, at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, Governor Babatunde Fashola assured residents that through concerted effort by health workers the state government had been able to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, imported into the state by the index (first) case, late Mr. Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian citizen even as he

confirmed receipt of the N200 million intervention fund from the Federal Government last week.

Fashola spoke while receiving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items for the treatment of Ebola cases from a delegation from MTN, Nigeria, led by its Chairman, Dr. Pascal Dozie, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

The governor, while commending health workers who risked their lives to save Ebola patients said: “They stood up to be counted when there was dire need, when there was fear even at the highest levels of government. But in spite of those fears some men and women stood up to be counted. We will talk about them later.

“The real problem is the sufficiency of experienced virologists and Ebola specialists in managing and when the subregion is challenged on many fronts that capacity thins out. That really is the problem, so it is not always a money problem.

As at this time it isn’t really an equipment problem. It is a human capacity problem.

“With the stage we are now and like I said before, we do not need to panic, Ebola virus is not automatic death sentence. A lot of knowledge is being gained on daily basis even at this moment about the behaviour of the virus and that knowledge will help the scientists to prepare even better to respond to an outbreak.

“So far, we have eight Ebola patients who have fully recovered from the disease; two are still in isolation while the state has recorded only five deaths so far.”

The governor said what the state government had done and response by the River State Government would be definitive on how to contain the vi-

rus in an urban centre where the outbreak had been recorded in the last four decades.

Celebrating Ebola survivors Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed in his remarks said: “For Ebola victims to be discharged, they must have tested negative three consecutive times and other parameters considered. Ebola virus disease being a viral infection run their course and go like regular common cold, it is not as if it continues to reside in the body. Chances of re-infection may be possible but not that particular strain that has been cured.

“The reason why you have not seen some of the recovered patients coming out is because this case is still little misunderstood. Side stigmatization may accompany it; that’s why these people have not come out.

“As a matter of fact with the permission of the Governor we will actually bring them out and celebrate them for the people to see and know they are not dangerous.

“We have to do some counselling before we go ahead to present them publicly. EVD is not resident here but has reservoir in bats and corpses of somebody who died of it. That’s why we treat those corpses specially, so that it does not constitute any problem.

Sister of late Enemuo quarantined in PH Meanwhile, sister of the late Dr Iyke Enemuo who died of the Ebola virus in Port Harcourt has been sent to the Ebola quarantine centre in Emohua local government area of Rivers state.

Continues on page 52

6—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, SEPTEMBEER 2, 2014

Man, 32, remanded over murder

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS — An Ebute-Metta magistrate’s court has ordered that a 32-year-old man, Shehu Abolade, be remanded in prison custody pending the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for allegedly killing one Mutairu Lanre.

The defendant, who is facing a count charge of murder by the police, was arraigned yesterday.

The prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigiewho, told the court that the defendant killed the deceased three years ago.

He said the defendant murdered one Mutairu Lanre, aged 25, on November 11, 2011, at Phase 1, Adeniji Adele Estate, on Lagos Island, by hitting him on the head with an iron rod.

Earlier, the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant for the first 30 days pending the time the DPP will issue an advice on the matter.

Odigie told the court that the remand application was in pursuant to Section 263 of Administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Consequently, Magistrate Olatunji O. O. ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the time the DPP will issue advice on the matter., The case was adjourned till October 2.

I killed my father over a stick of cigarette — Suspect •As Edo Police parade 63 robbers, rapists, kidnappers

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY — THE Edo State Police Command, yesterday, paraded 63 suspected armed robbers, child defilers and murderers, including a 25-year-old boy who murdered his father after a quarrel over a stick of cigarette he stole from his father.

Confessing his sins, Best Momodu, an indigene of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, who murdered his father, said he committed the dastard act with anger after he stole a stick of cigarette from his father.

He said: “I stole his cigarette and he found out. So he started shouting at me and quarrelling. So, mistakenly I took a knife and stabbed him.

I have not seen the dead body but I heard he died. But the community people arrested me after I killed him.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Folunso Adebanjo, who paraded the suspects, admonished residents of the state to be vigilant particularly at the airports, crowded places, uncompleted

CP Adebanjo parading 63 suspects in Benin City yesterday and (right) Best Momodu who killed his father. Photos:Simon Ebegbulem.

buildings and to monitor their environments.

Declaring that the police in the state had put up strategies to curb crime this ember months, the CP raised alarm over increasing number of cases of child defilers in the state and urged parents to be watchful, saying the activities

of child defilers are not only worrisome but wicked.

According to him, “this is the beginning of the ember months, these are times criminals will want to reap where they did not sow. I want to thank the people of the state for their corporation and I urge for continued

Family of five dies in mystery fire

By Emma Una

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ALABAR— FIVE persons were, over the weekend, burnt to death in Uyangha,

Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State when their apartment caught fire.

The victims whose names

were given as Miss Gift Edet and her two sons, Ezekiel Edet, Okon Goodnews Edet, Miss Glory Edet and her daughter, Covenant Edet,

EFCC nabs 3 for hacking into bank's data base

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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AGOS — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday said it has uncovered a three-man syndicate who specialised in hacking into data base of banks and other financial institutions.

Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who gave the identities of the suspects as Ola Lawal, Olumide Kayode and Abass Adekunle, said they met their waterloo when they attempted to compromise the data base of Enterprise Bank Plc and steal depositors’ funds using an electronic device known as Keelog Key Grabber.

Wilson disclosed that their arrest was made possible by an insider who revealed to the bank’s management that some fraudsters were planning to gain access to its network, using the Keelog Key Grabber device.

He said a staff of the bank was contacted by one of the suspects,

partnership between the police and the public.

"If you observe anything around, report to the police, monitor all uncompleted buildings because that is where criminals hide."

The suspects who proposed a business arrangement to him on how to hack into the bank's system. The staff subsequently informed the management of the bank and he was instructed to play along.

According him, “they agreed that the Keelog Key Grabber device would be used to harvest passwords of some of the key operation staff of the bank. The grabber was meant to be plugged

into the computer system of the Head of OperationS of a particular branch to retrieve information technology configuration settings from the computer system and pave the way for the fraudsters to move customers’ funds out of the bank.”

Wilson further explained that Lawal was arrested while trying to hand over the Keelog Key

Grabber to the staff. His arrest led to the arrest of two other suspects, Olumide Kayode Maborukoje and Abass Ajibade.

“Items recovered from them include a keylogger, a laptop, a router, a modem, SIM cards, USB keyhole log with a template of keylogger and a jotter containing some account numbers which they intended to use for the fraud.

were said to have retired to their apartment when the place was engulfed in fire at about 11pm.

According to an eyewitness, the women and other family members, held a meeting that evening over the burial arrangement of their late father but there was a disagreement with their elder brother said to be a top government functionary.

“They disagreed with their brother's plan to raise a building in the premises before the burial as he demanded that he be given sometime to execute the project before the burial,” she said.

Our source said the women objected to his request and insisted that the burial go ahead, saying their father had been living in the house ling before he died.

It was few hours after that meeting that fire burnt their apartment “but surprisingly, the fire burnt only the women and their three children while all the property in the house were not touched.”

The victims who were rushed to the Mambo Hospital along Atamunu later died as the burns were severe.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—7

Woman, 39, docked over Ikorodu kidnap

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS— A 39-year-old woman, Rosemary Chinagoro-Chukwu, who claimed that she was sent by her church pastor to kidnap her neighbour’s six-year-old son in Ikorodu, was yesterday arraigned before an EbuteMetta magistrate’s court, sitting in Oyingbo, for alleged kidnap.

The defendant is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful abduction and intent

to kill preferred against her by the police.

The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police Etim Nkankum, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 25, 2014 at about 7.30 a.m.

He said the incident took place at 33, Omo-Ologede Street, Majidun area of Ikorodu.

Nkankum alleged that she kidnapped her neighbour’s son, Kelvin Emmanuel, and tied his mouth, legs and

hands and put him in an Echolacc box with the motive of taking him to an unknown destination.

The prosecutor further said she was arrested after her landlord raised alarm when he discovered she was carrying a human being on her head inside a box.

He also claimed that the defendant confessed after she was apprehended that it was her pastor, whose church was also located around Majidun

area of Ikorodu that sent her to carry out the act.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. Her counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi, urged the court to grant her bail in the most liberal term.

Consequently, Magistrate O. O. Olatunji admitted her to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October 8.

Ex-OPC member, one other arrested for robbery in Lagos

By Ifeanyi Okolie & Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS — A suspected robber, identified as Olalekan Ajibola, said to be terrorizing residents of Mushin and its environ, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos.

Police sources said the suspect was arrested by the Olosan Police Division, Mushin after a tip-off by a resident before the case was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja for further investigation.

Vanguard gathered that at about 3am last week, Ajibola stormed Folarin Street in Mushin in an attempt to break open the door of a resident with an axe when he was arrested by Policemen on patrol.

Suspects' account

According to the suspect, Olalekan Ajibola, "I have been doing this job for years now. I learnt to rob while in Oyingbo.

When I go out for operations, I carry my axe. I have operated with it on five occasions. When I enter houses, I ask people for money, phones and other valuables. If they resist, I will cut them with the axe. I use the

OPC member turned robber axe for cutting victims who resist.

"I live alone in Lagos because my parents are divorced. My father is a commercial driver in Lagos. He shuttles between Oyingbo and Bariga areas while my mother who lives in Ibadan is currently mentally derailed and is confined to a house. She used to operate a medicine shop but she stopped when she fell sick.”

Ex-OPC member nabbed

and robbery.

Vanguard gathered that the suspect met his Waterloo when some robbers, who he allegedly armed with two guns, were arrested by SARS operatives led by SP Abba Kyari.

When Vanguard interviewed the suspect, he said: “I joined the OPC when I came to Lagos.

That was where I got two guns. I was also doing security work. They gave me the two guns while serving there.

"I left the OPC in 2009 and afterwards I left Lagos for Ogun State. But they bought one of the guns for me when I was a guard in a motor park for about five years. The other one was bought for me when I was guarding two petrol stations in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

"I gave the guns to the robbery suspects. I was arrested last Saturday. I had been a commercial driver. But I did not return the guns and the ID card.

"I was plying the Agbara to Seme area with my commercial bus. I was arrested in my house in Atan, Ogun State. I did not rob as claimed by the police. Some robbery suspects said I was in possession of guns, and that was how the police traced my house.“

Robbers kill salesgirl, injure two in Enugu

By Tony Edike

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NUGU — AN eight-man gang of robbers at the weekend attacked the building materials market at New GRA Abakpa in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing a salesgirl and inflicted gunshot wounds on two other traders.

The robbers, who struck at about 1pm, were said to have raided shop after shop carting away cash to the tune of over one million naira from their victims.

An eyewitness said the bandits arrived the market located along NOWAS –Nike Lake Hotel road and began their operation which lasted about an hour unchallenged.

Traffic on the road was halted during the operation as the robbers blocked both ends of the road forcing motorists to take other routes while those caught in between were forced to lie face down.

The young salesgirl who was in her master’s shop at the time of the operation was said to have refused giving them the day’s proceeds and apparently angered by her An accident scene involving a tanker and a commercial vehicle at Toyota bus stop on resistance, one of the bandits Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. shot her dead instantly.

Meantime, a 46-year-old former member of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, Ishola Jamiu, is currently cooling his heels in the dreaded cell of the SARS, Lagos State Police Command. He was arrested for gun-running

Julius Berger security personnel protest in Lagos over sack

By Cynthia Alo

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AGOS — At least 300 staff of a construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, yesterday stormed the three main offices of the firm in Lagos, Ijora Olopa, Berger Yard bus stop on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway and Beachland Estate, protesting over what they described as plan by management to lay them off without following due process.

The protesters, some of who alleged that they had not been paid their salary for three months, wondered why they would be laid off without being paid their entitlements.

Vanguard learnt that the protest followed the company’s decision to outsource staff for the security department.

Consequently, it was gathered that the guards had been asked to step aside as the out-sourced company was said to have its own staff.

The protest partially grounded activities at Ijora Olopa as the aggrieved workers closed the gates.

Same protest was said to have held in other branches of the construction firm across Lagos State, with the protesters carrying placards some of which read: "Julius Berger, respect the rule of law," and some other unprintable words which indicted some management staff.

One of the protesters who gave his name as Bayo Oladoyin, told Vanguard: “Some time ago, we received news that the management had contracted a security outfit to take over our jobs. We spoke with them and they agreed that before this month they would compensate us before the new arrangement.

But they have not kept their words. This is not fair, we have laboured for them all these years only to be laid off like that.

“We are not saying that management has no right to disengage its staff, what we are against is the manner in which it is being done. We are insisting that due process must be followed by paying workers their entitlements.

This is a breach of contract.”

Another aggrieved staff described the action as inhuman, saying: “Keeping us as contract security men is selfish as it only favours management of the company.”

8 — Vanguard,TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

I'll stand by Jonathan till the end —Lamido Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North and Aliyu Dangida

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VISIT: From left, Mr. Seye Awojobi, FCIB, Ag. Registrar/CE, CIBN; Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, FCIB, MD/CE, First Registrars Limited/National Treasurer, CIBN; Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN; Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director/CE, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and Dr. Uche Olowu, FCIB, 2nd Vice President, CIBN, during the Institute’s courtesy visit to the Bank, at its corporate Head Office, Lagos, yesterday.

2015 POLLS: Trouble brews in INEC over N9bn ballot papers contract …INEC top officials to inspect press in America, Europe before contract award …No Nigerian printer has capacity to print presidential ballot papers on time — INEC Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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RISIS IS brewing at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abuja, following the decision of the Commission to contract the printing of the ballot papers to be used for the presidential and governorship elections to a foreign firm at the cost of N6 billion.

Although the Commission is yet to award the controversial contract to any of the foreign firms, it has, however, set in motion the process that will lead to the award of the pricey job to either an American or European firm any moment from now.

To ascertain which firm should be given the job, top officials of INEC are set to depart Nigeria this week for the United States of America, Germany, Italy and Ukraine in the first leg of the move to inspect elite printing companies, which can handle the job, classified as ‘security documents’ by the commission.

Under the plan, which has already been wrapped up by the commission, the sum of N6 billion is to be used in printing ballot papers meant for the presidential and governorship election slated for February next year.

Similarly, the commission has set aside the sum of N3 billion to be paid to local printers to produce the ballot papers to be used for the National Assembly and House

of Assembly elections in Nigeria next year.

In all the commission will spend a whopping N9 billion for the printing of ballot papers for the five set of elections, which the electoral body has decided to stagger because of its claim that it does not have adequate logistics to run it simultaneously.

A competent source in INEC told Vanguard that many officials, who were uncomfortable with the decision of the management to farm out the job to outsiders, have made their opposition known to INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega.

One of the sources close to the commission said: “The INEC officials will visit the United States of America, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, among others to inspect some printing presses that will produce the ballot papers for the next general elections in 2015.

“INEC will specifically produce the presidential and governorship ballot papers abroad while those of the National Assembly and House of Assembly will be printed in Nigeria. The proposed budget for the overseas printing is put at over N6 billion.

Vanguard learnt that those opposed to the printing of the papers abroad have reportedly drawn the attention of INEC Chairman to the fact that it was against the interest of Nigeria for such action to be taken at the time when the Presidency had already made a case for the printing of the documents

locally.

The antagonists of the proposal, Vanguard also gathered, had reportedly opted to report the action of the management to President Goodluck Jonathan, who only last week made a case for the printing of security documents with the Nigerian Security and Minting Printing Company, as a means of promoting national security and job creation.

The angry officials are said to have queried the rationale of taking such a huge and security-related job outside Nigeria when there were many local printing companies that could conveniently handle it. To prove their point that the papers could be printed locally, the officials cited the successful printing of the ballot papers used in the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun elections by local contractors.

According to them, the papers that were printed within the country were foulproof and passed all INEC’s security checks.

While kicking against the foreign contract, the officials, who pleaded anonymity, called on the Federal Government to stop the commission from awarding the job to foreigners especially as the materials needed for the printing were also available in the country.

They also pointed to the fact that the 2011 election was postponed because of the nondelivery of the ballot papers sprinted abroad on time.

But a senior INEC official

told Vanguard on Monday that the commission would remain focused in its honest and earnest desire to ensure the success of the 2015 election.

Defending the decision of the management to print the papers abroad, the officials, who pleaded anonymity because he had not been authorized to speak on the matter, said that no company in Nigeria had the capacity to produce the quality and quantity of paper required and be able to deliver to the commission before December this year.

“We are concerned about the capacity of printing press in Nigeria. The time available to us as a commission to conduct the election and the quality and quantity of materials to be delivered by the local contractors do matter to us,” the official said.

“If you must know, for us to conduct the election in February 2015, it means that we must take delivery of the ballot papers in December this year to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2011 when we had to postpone an election because of the late arrival of ballot papers from South Africa,” the officer added.

Reminded that the President last week made a case for the printing of such vital documents with the NSMPC of Nigeria, the officer said, “Well, as we get along and the capacity of the company to handle such assignments grow, we will patronize it. For now, there is none in the country to do such complex job for INEC,” he said.

HE BATTLE line appears drawn between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State over the 2015 election.

Lamido, a two-term governor under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday distanced himself from the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection in 2015 by the North-West Zone of the party.

Although he is yet to formally declared intention to run for the Presidency, Lamido last week hinted at the possibility of seeking a higher office in Nigeria, as he would not be going to the Senate as his colleagues were doing.

It will be recalled that the North-West Zone of the PDP had at the weekend in Kaduna released a communiqué throwing its weight behind President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015, citing impressive performance as its reasons for the action.

But Lamido, who is also from the zone, addressed journalists in Dutse, the state capital, distancing himself from such endorsement, which he described as unjustified and unnecessary.

Speaking through the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud, Lamido said that there was no way he could back Jonathan’s re-election given the fact that he had not fulfilled any of the promises he made to the people of the state.

The state chapter of the PDP also sided with the governor, querying those who purportedly signed the communiqué issued in Kaduna on Sunday with Vice President Namadi Sambo in attendance.

Mahmud said: “The Government and people of our dear state (Jigawa) are not in any way in support of the content the of the communiqué read after the PDP North-West Zonal meeting in Kaduna where they announced the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the presidential election under the party in 2015 general election.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—9

MEETING: From left, Mushikwabo- Rwanda, U. Dwarka-canabady - Mauritania; D. Augusto - Angola; H. Tetteh -Ghana; l. Bay - Singapore; H. Jaley - Togo; Prof. V. A. Onwuliri - Nigeria; M. Maalim - Tanzania; I.M. Chombo - Zimbabwe, and T. Valshin of South Africa - African ministers of foreign affairs - at the Singapore 2014 high level meeting.

45 terrorists feared dead as military repels attack on Bama council M

AIDUGURI — No fewer than 45 suspected members of Boko Haram sect have been killed in an encounter with military troops when the terrorists in their large number attempted to invade and take over Bama Local Government Area of Borno state.

Also, over 30 of the insurgents were injured with minor injuries sustained during the fierce battle with the security operatives that lasted over five hours.

The incident according to sources started in the early hours of Monday morning at about 5:30am.

This is even as an unconfirmed report revealed that another group of the insurgents were sighted on Monday around Mafa Local Government Area and Kayamula villages of Konduga Local Government Area near Maiduguri metropolis, but those sighted around Kayamula village were killed by military troops, while those around Mafa were suspected to be making frantic effort to enter the metropolis.

This development according to sources was responsible for the review of the curfew in the metropolis from 6a.m. to 7p.m. as against 9pm earlier imposed on the state which is under emergency rule, according to the spokesman of the 7 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Sank Usman Bama is about 76 kilometres drive and south east of Maiduguri, the state capital which had witnessed series of deadly attacks by suspected terrorists.

A competent source said, “the insurgents stormed the town through Bama-Banki-Gwoza Road but were intercepted by

gallant military troops near the Bama Mobile Police Unit located about five kilometers away from Bama town.

The Boko Haram insurgents were said to have attempted to enter Bama town in military uniform armed with sophisticated weapons and local Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) and in a convoy of military vehicles and motorcycles.

The battle where gun shots and sounds of Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) as well as bomb explosions took the centre stage had sent hundreds of residents including some prominent traditional rulers (name withheld) fleeing the town through the bush and some by

road or vehicles to neighbouring villages including Maiduguri and Konduga towns.

A resident of Bama, one Mallam Abba Usman who fled to Maiduguri on Monday morning told our Correspondent that “there was an attempt by the Boko Baram sect to enter Bama town or capture Bama as they did in Gwoza some weeks back, but thank God for the good efforts of the military troops stationed near the mobile police unit who repelled the attack in a joint effort with their colleagues from the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army who gallantly succeeded in repelling the attack killing about 45 of the insurgents and wounded over 30.”

He added that “the situation actually scared many of our people and even forced some of us to run to Maiduguri town for safety while some I learnt are in Konduga as some are said to be in the rural villages hiding”.

Another resident of Bama, Alhaji Masa Bukar who fled to Maiduguri and is presently at a refugee camp at Konduga motor park along Bama road oppositeUuniversity of Maiduguri said, “we are here because we woke up this morning during the subh prayer hearing gunshots and RPGs shots around the Bama Technical College and mobile police unit Bama along Banki road. We were advised to even

leave the town by the military and civilian JTF. They asked us to leave Bama to give them the chance to fully fight the Boko Haram people. So we have to leave. Some of us had to stop over along the way, taking refuge in Kawuri, Goniri and Konduga, but we decided to come to Maiduguri where there is heavy military presence.

We are afraid and scared. Our people are still coming out from Bama. Although few hours ago, we saw military reinforcement moving towards the Bama town from Maiduguri. Many military vehicles and armoured cars have passed to Bama this morning to join their colleagues in the fight against the Boko haram insurgents.”

Presidency's given me full support to prosecute 58 indicted on Alakyo killing — Al-makura

.Peace meeting holds today

By Abel Daniel

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AFIA — GOVERNOR Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State has said that he has President GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan’s backing to implement the white paper on the killings of over 120 security personnel in Alakyo Village in Lafia Local Government Area of the state.

Al-makura, who made the revelation, yesterday, during his visit to some communities that have been ravaged in the southern senatorial zone, vowed to deal with all the perpetrators and sponsors of the crisis in the state.

“I know those who are involved in the crisis and we are not going to spare anybody including the politicians who are behind the persistent ethnic insurgency in the state. The president has given me the go ahead to prosecute all 58 persons indicted by the commission of enquiry on the killings of security operatives last year”.

Almakura further hinted that he would not set up any other panel of enquiry on the recent crisis that had claimed over a 100 people and destruction of over 200 houses including the palaces of two paramount chiefs.

“The security agents in the

state have arrested over five suspects and some others who were identified by the security agents to be fully involved during the recent crisis shall be fished out for appropriate prosecution”, Almakura added.

Almakura also said that there are plans to hold a peace meeting that would bring all the stakeholders in the state and all the aggrieved communities together for a face to face peace talk with the aim to end the ethnic and insurgency conflict that have continued to ravage the state in the past three years.

The governor also assured that security has been put in place to assist those who may want to remove their belongings from the

affected areas, stating that some relief materials have been doled out to the internally displaced persons in some of the camps within the state.

While lamenting over what he called ‘serial attacks by militants’, he called on the inhabitants of the affected communities in the state to remain calm as government is willing do everything possible to help them.

Areas visited by Almakura to ascertain the level of damage include Dadere, headquarters of the Dadere development area, Ankwan Mamman, Agwade, Tudun Adabu all in Obi local government. Others include Asakio, Agyaragu all in Lafia local government.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Stop campaign of calumny, Ekiti govt blasts PDP ...Advises incoming govt to concentrate on how to better people's lives

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—EKITI State Government, yesterday blasted the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over unrelenting campaigns of calumny against it, describing the PDP as a pathological liar and urged the party to engage itself on how to better the lives of the people of the state when it assumed office next month.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, in a statement in AdoEkiti, described alleged lies being dished out by the PDP in the last couple of weeks as part of a sinister plan to incite public disaffection against the Fayemi administration.

He said the allegation that landed property and other assets of the state government were being disposed off to political appointees and associates of Governor Fayemi at give-away prices, was absurd, contending that there was no way the Fayemi administration would allocate land in government-owned estates to anyone no matter highly placed without following due process and strict adherence to the approved rates, were available for interested parties to peruse.

Describing the allegation that government assets in Lagos and Abuja were being sold as “tale by moon light”, Ekundayo challenged the PDP to substantiate its allegations and show proof of the alleged sale.

Do they think we have no morals like them?” Everyone in Ekiti can vividly recollect how the Ikogosi

Warm springs was looted and every valuable thing including 50 air conditioners, 75 brand new mattresses and beds rugs, brand new bath tubs, toilet and electrical fittings were looted under the watch of the PDP government in 2005. ''The Ikogosi warm springs tourist resort which was stripped bare by these locusts have since been transformed into the number one tourist attraction in Nigeria by the Fayemi administration. Why is the PDP in a hurry? ''What are they afraid of? Let them wait till they receive our hand over note when they take office on October 16th, 2014 as all information they will

require is contained therein.

They should know that this administration has tenure. Let them stop the pretense and the game of guessing and preempting the state of our state.”

Ekundayo cited another instance of false and misleading accusation from the PDP to include the allegation that the Fayemi administration recruited over 3,000workers into the state Civil Service after the June 21st Gubernatorial Elections.

Faulting the PDP’s claims, Ekundayo said 500 Mathematics and some core science subjects teachers were recruited in November, 2013 based on existing vacancies while only 493 Civil Servants were

recruited in February, 2014 into key vacant positions in the State Civil Service.

“In any case what is wrong in recruiting Ekitis into the State Civil Service if there are vacancies and budget provision to take care of such?” he queried.

Dismissing another allegation by the PDP of massive recruitment into the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti as hogwash, the commissioner said that the ivory tower had its governing council responsible for the day to day running of the institution, stressing that the allegation was another figment of magination of the PDP in its desperate wild goose chase.

INSPECTION TOUR: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (2nd right) during his inspection tour of the abandoned Nigerian Railway Corporation Port Work Yard at Marine Beach Apapa on Sunday. With him was the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (right).

Immigration: 45 arrested persons neither terrorists nor Ebola patients

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS yesterday declared that the 45 immigrants arrested weekend, during a joint raid with policemen attached to Area ‘A’ Command, Lion Building, in two hotels in Lagos, were neither terrorists nor Ebola patients, as widely rumored.

Rather, it explained that the immigrants were legally in the country and had the necessary documents.

A breakdown of the arrest as disclosed by the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Justina Ahmadu, showed that 41 of the immigrants were Congolese while four were Senegalese.

Out of the 41 Congolese, two of them according to Ahmadu were refugees registered in Nigeria, with the National

Commission for Refugees, while 39 others were on transit enroute Czech Republic.

Their arrest as gathered, followed information received by the Police and NIS that some foreigners from the Ebola infected countries had sneaked into Nigeria.

Their apprehension further sent panic across Lagos state, as it was rumoured that they were Ebola patients who fled from where they were quarantined in their respective countries.

Describing such claim as false, Ahmadu explained that a profile on the immigrants showed they did not enter the country illegally.

Consequently the immigrants as gathered, were released at about 1am on Saturday.

According to her: “On Friday, August 29, 2014 , at

about 7pm, we carried a joint operation with the Nigerian Police Area A command, at the Travelers Inn Hotels Lagos Island, where we arrested a total of 45 immigrants comprising 39 Congolese , former Zaire; two Congolese refugees registered in Nigeria with the National Commission for Refugees and four Senegalese. “ O n profiling them, It was discovered that the Congolese entered the country through the Murtala Mohammed

International Airport, MMIA with valid travel documents and appropriate transit visa en-route Czech republic.Their mission in Nigeria is to obtain Czech republic visa in Abuja.

They are all artists.

Gani Fawehinmi saw Boko Haram coming —WIDOW

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—AS activists gear up to mark the five years anniversary of the demise of the late foremost human rights activist and Lagos Lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, his widow, Ganiyat Fawehinmi, yesterday, said his late husband, foresaw the current Boko Harem insurgency confronting Nigeria before he died.

The late activist died on September 5th, 2009.

Ganiyat, who spoke at a briefing ahead of the annual three-day memorial programme for the late activist, said “I remember that before my husband died, he warned that if we do not consider issues of insecurity in the country, the country will soon begin to experience bomb blast daily. ''Then people castigated him but today, we are in it.

I do not think there is no week we did not hear cases of bomb blast. If they had heeded my husband at that time, we would not be experiencing insurgency at the moment. This was one of the issues he raised before his death. Look at the case of the Chibok girls, who were yet to be rescued and several bomb blasts that had occurred in the country.”

Lions Club hands over cancer home to LUTH today

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HE Lions Club, District 404B, has handed over a newlybuilt ultramodern building for cancer patients to the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. The edifice, which was named Mercy Home was constructed in the premises of LUTH to ameliorate the plight of cancer patients and their relatives.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, immediate past governor of the club, Mrs Stella Agbogun described Mercy Home as her core project as District Governor.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 —11

Our condition for peace with Amosun — KAKA ...Says sending people to beg Osoba is hypocritical

By Bashir Adefaka

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AGOS—FORMER Deputy Governor of Ogun State and a serving Senator, Alhaji Olugbenga Kaka, has given conditions for peace to reign in the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to him, the solution to the crisis in the party lies in the hands of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Kaka told senior editors during a courtesy visit to the Lagos corporate head office of the Vanguard newspapers, yesterday that peace would return to Ogun APC if the governor did the needful rather than sending emissaries to beg former governor Olusegun Osoba.

Senator Kaka said the conditions for peace included: re-organising the party structure, ensuring all-inclusive government, ensuring that each of the 20 local councils of the state has a commissioner instead of the current scenario where some councils have three and four commissioners while some councils have none.

He said if Amosun ensured justice and equity the Aremo Osoba camp would work in peace with him.

Describing the recent claim by Amosun on his effort to pacify Osoba, the leader of the party in the state, as cheap blackmail emanating from a “height of hypocrisy”, the former deputy governor said the solution was for Amosun to look back on his wrong steps and decisions and make amends.

His words: “All the rigged-in executives from wards to the national level will, first of all, have to give way to genuinely elected representatives starting from first unadulterated compiled lists of delegates up to wherever it gets to. Thereafter, if there is room for good primaries, so be it. In fact, I was the first person to say that

there is no automatic ticket for anybody, including Amosun. I said it a long time ago. That was what created the enmity and other things.''

Senator Kaka, himself an APC chieftain, highlighted some of the sins of Amosun and explicitly stated why he would not be forgiven until he did the needful.

He said the governor had not called a consultative meeting since the inception of his administration following their collective electoral successes three and a half years ago.

The Senator said Amosun had carried out all programmes and projects of the APC-led government without consultation with stakeholders and that all he had done was to do things in the name of the party but without any of the stakeholders being able to defend it even in the face of criticisms by opposition.

According to him, “Amosun will have to go all out now and reach out to all the injured people. He had been very

elusive any time we made attempt to table our pains before him. But we have had cause to talk to some of our leaders such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and even former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led a high power delegation to meet with him but they met brickwall.

“It is cheap blackmail for Amosun to say he sent people to beg Aremo Olusegun Osoba in the sense that it is hypocritical for him to send people to the same person with whom you live within the same house and bedroom. It is a known fact that before the governorship ticket was given to him ahead of 2011, Aremo Osoba’s house was second to none. When last he visited Aremo’s house and why. When last did he pick his phone and call Aremo?

“The people who worked tirelessly to ensure that we won the elections were all relegated to the background to the extent that there has been no consultative meeting that can be

called all-embracing. Is it Aremo he should be begging for that? It is on record that he sponsored a candidate against the Aremo’s son even after granting him the ticket. It is on record that all the National Assembly members, he has positioned series of candidates to take over from them, while he has been busy fighting for second term for the past two years.

“So, asking people to beg Osoba and expecting that Osoba would forgive him is not the issue. If Aremo Osoba accepts his appeal, is that the end of his problem? Are the others that were affected included in the begging? And if Aremo accepted, then Aremo would be on his own! Because, like I said, the political space is bigger than Aremo and the governor. So, attempting cheap blackmail on Osoba is not going to be the solution to the problem.”

FULL INTERVIEW ON THURSDAY.

VISIT: From left — Mr. Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Senator Gbenga Kaka, and Mr Kunle Adekoya, General Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, during Senator Kaka's visit to Vanguard's corporate headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

MIMIKO: Ondo APC woos aggrieved LP, PDP members

By Dayo Johnson

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K U R E — A L L Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State is aggressively wooing leaders and members of the Labour party, LP, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, displeased with the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the PDP. Vanguard was yesterday informed by a LP leader that talks were ongoing with APC as agreement was yet to be reached on sharing formula of political positions especially

automatic tickets for those that would defect to APC. APC is believed not have taken position on the issue of automatic ticket for displeased leaders of LP and PDP, which is said to be slowing down their defection.

Chairman of the APC in the state, Isaac Kekemeke was said to be insisting that anyone joining the party and had political ambition would face the party primaries.

Vanguard l e a r nt that Kekemeke had made it that the party would not impose

any aspirant in any of the 18 council areas of the state.

APC Chairman told Vanguard that the party was ready to “harvest” members of LP and PDP into the Party, declining however to confirm if a contact committee had been set up by the party, but simply said” some of the leaders of the two parties are already talking with the APC in the state” The party ’s Publicity Secretary Abayomi Adesanya, in a statement had said those who wished to defect to APC were

welcomed, saying “To us in Ondo APC , our doors are opened for people to join our great party, those credible individuals that are still in the Labour Party especially the House of Assembly members. ''Our doors are also open to some serving commissioners and also many PDP members that would not be comfortable with Mimiko joining the PDP just because of his political antecedent. They are all welcomed in our Party APC to realize their dreams. To us all animals are equal.”

Customs/ LASTMA crisis: Customs to sanction offending officers

By Godfrey Bivbere

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IGERIA Customs Service, NCS, yesterday said it would sanction all officers involved in the unfortunate violent attack on men and officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency, LASTMA, few days ago.

NCS in a statement by its Public Relations Office, Wale Adeniyi, noted that investigation was on to ascertain whether the men said to be wearing Customs uniform were actually its officials.

Adeniyi pointed out that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against such officers if confirmed that they were officials of the Service.

According to Adeniyi, “While sympathizing with the LASTMA officials who suffered injuries or embarrassment as a result of the avoidable incidence, the Service wishes to condemn in strong terms, the attack on officials of agencies, especially government agencies discharging their legitimate functions. ''It is worrisome to us that the barbaric action was said to have been perpetrated by officers wearing customs uniform in official vehicle. This act is not permissible under our laws and therefore will not be tolerated. We believe that efforts geared towards ensuring sanity on our roads will reduce accidents and impact positively on trade facilitation.

“Accordingly the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi has directed that all the officers and men involved in this shameful act be placed on “standby” while a thorough investigation to determine their culpability has already commenced. Any officer found guilty will be dealt with decisively ''NCS is a disciplined and self respecting organization that seeks to create synergy among other partner government agencies for the common goal of attaining a better society.''

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

AAU students appeal to Oshiomhole over lack of infrastructure on campus

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY— STUDENTS of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, yesterday appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to set up a committee to investigate alleged lack of infrastructure and extortion of students by the management of the university.

The students under the aegis of Concerned Students and Youths on Political Advancement and National Development, who stormed the state Government House and the NUJ Press Centre, lamented that they have no standard classrooms despite the yearly subvention from the state government.

President of the group, Iyoha Ewedagie, said the decision to protest to the state government was to draw the attention of the governor to the development, who might think that all was well with the students of the university.

“We came to complain our plight in the school. It is so painful that the class rooms in our primary and secondary schools are better than what we have in the university.''

Amaechi laments harassment of supporters by Police

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has alleged that his supporters were being harassed by Police in the state.

Speaking on the recent arrest of the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Omuma Local Government Area of the state, Mr Emeka Wogu, the governor said his supporters have become target of arrest and torture by the Police.

The governor who spoke through his media aide, Mr Dave Iyofor condemned the arrest and alleged torture of the council boss.

Wogu who narrated his ordeal in the hands of the Police, had alleged that he was handcuffed, tortured and treated like a common criminal.

He said he was accused of

allegedly ordering his loyalists to destroy bill boards bearing posters of President Goodluck Jonathan in his council.

Wogu said “Heavily armed policemen numbering over 40 to 50 dressed in war gear came to arrest me. At that point, I was told by one of them that I was under arrest. They handcuffed me, tortured me and dragged me into their vehicle and took me to old GRA Police Station and bundled me into the cell with common criminals and later transferred to SARS around 2a.m., and locked me up in the midst of over 150 armed robbers. The cell was too full that the inmates couldn’t even find a place to lie down.”

The caretaker committee boss, who denied the allegation by the Police, added that he was considering legal action against the Police.

“No petition was shown me

MEETING: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State (centre), his Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime (left) and the Anambra State Deputy Gov, Dr. Nkem Okeke at the South East governors' meetingin Awka, yesterday. Photo By Ikechukwu Obi. when I met with the Police Commissioner. All the commissioner told me was that he got a report that I ordered that the President banner be destroyed.

“I want to say that the plan was to remove me or

intimidate the party, harass, cow or remove me from the scene for some time. I want to say here t hat is totally unacceptable. I am consulting my lawyers to seek redress. It has also impacted on my person.

I feel so terribly humiliated.”

Ijaws in Delta, Edo, Ondo urge N’Assemly to create Toru-ebe state

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OMADI—COALITION of ex-militants, youth bodies, religious and cultural organisations from Ondo, Edo and Delta states has urged the National Assembly to include the creation of Toru-Ebe state among the proposed states, when President Goodluck Jonathan submits the final report of the just-concluded national conference for ratification .

The goups' coordinator, Mr. Preye Ekpebide, who is the Delta State chairman of phase three amnesty programme spoke to journalists after its meeting in Bomadi, Delta State.

H e said the call

became necessary following the failure of the just concluded confab to include Toru-Ebe among the states to be created.

He argued that none of the proposed 18 proposed states did not meet 100 percent of the criteria for state creation except the Toru–Ebe state, lamenting that the delegates the people thought would speak for them were bought.

Ekpebide said the onus was on the National Assembly since they were vested with the constitutional right to include or expunge areas of the 1999 constitution, calling on Senator James Manager and all other Ijaw-speaking Senators and members of the House of Representatives to seize the unique opportunity to press for

the creation of Toru-Ebe State state.

“Toru-Ebe state geography included Ijaws from Delta, Edo and Ondo and is economically viable as it account for 85 per cent of Nigeria’s wealth, with cultural infinity and homogeneity. Our demand for Toru-Ebe state dates back to the pre-independence era.

“The people of Toru-Ebe have been political, economic and socially backward due to balkanisation of the Ijaw nation, despite the huge revenue accruing from the area. The Senate Committee on State Creation must urgently address the situation

when the President submits the proposal of the national conference recommendations for their ratification.”

NTA launches new station

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HE Nigerian Television Authority , NTA will launch its new channel and array of programmes at an event tagged ‘Marketing Open Day’ for advertisers , media buyers and end-users of television services.

The event which is aimed at showcasing NTA’s new products and services will hold today in Lagos.

Ijaw leader denies being induced to influence choice of candidates

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—AN Ijaw community leader from Egbema Kingdom of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Macaulay Ayiwei has denied issuing a statement credited to him by a faceless group that leaders of Ogbobiri ward collected huge sums of money to ensure that their preferred candidates were nominated during the just-concluded local government elections primaries in the area.

Ayiwie, in a statement in Benin, Edo State, warned those using his name for clandestine political purposes to desist from such actions or be prepared to face the consequences that may followed.

He explained that the Ogbobiri leaders being accused of collecting money to influence the choice of candidates for the council elections are respected leaders who would not soil their hard earned names for pecuniary interests.

Describing the allegations as false, baseless and unsubstantiated, he appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders in the state to disregard the media publication in its entirety.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—13

Ikolo Esan to organise confab

Outrage over naming of baby as Crown Prince of Igbodo A

By Austin Ogwuda

SABA—THE ‘emergency ’ crowning of a day-old-baby as the Crown Prince of Igbodo Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, has raised dust in the community, as it was claimed that another woman, who is not an indigene of Igbodo, who was sometime ago driven out of the palace, had delivered a boy and a girl for the monarch.

While the Iyase of Igbodo (the traditional Prime Minister), Dr. Joseph Unomah, who was one of the natives in the forefront at ensuring that the Obi married an indigene, who will produce a heir apparent to the throne, insisted that the crowning was perfectly in order, another traditional prime minister in a neighbouring community in the state condemned the act, describing same as an exercise in futility.

The Onishe of Ubulu-Uku

(traditional prime minister) and former deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Chief Emma Ejiofor, said: “The Obi and the community are just wasting their time as there is a natural law of primogeniture coupled with the Nigerian Constitution.

Their present efforts will

amount to nothing and is in futility.”

His Igbodo counterpart, Dr. Unomah, said: “The children of the Obi of Igbodo including children whose mothers are not indigenes of Igbodo are of the royal blood and they are entitled to be addressed as princes and prin-

cesses. An heir to the throne is instantly crowned a crown prince on the day of his birth.

This practice is in consonance with the custom and tradition of the land.”

The crown prince named Ugochukwu was crowned at St. Luke’s Hospital, Asaba, where he was delivered and is yet to be discharged from the hospital with the mother.

2015: Support me, Gbagi begs Clark

By Festus Ahon

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GHELLI—FORMER Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, has appealed to Chief Edwin Clark to support his Delta State gubernatorial ambition in the 2015 general elections.

Gbagi who spoke when he paid consultative visit to Chief Clark in his Kiagbodo country home, said he believed in the capacity of Clark, “to be among those that

will determine who the next governor of the state should be.”

Recalling that he was appointed a minister through the assistance and recommendation of Clark, he begged him (Clark) to repeat the same gesture in his aspiration to become the next governor of Delta State.

In his remarks, Chief Clark said he had not endorsed any candidate for the governorship position of the state, warning those who use his name to campaign to desist henceforth.

Saying that there will be a level playing ground for all aspirants where the best

candidate would be selected for the job, Clark noted that he was not a dictator and could not therefore, impose or support any form of imposition of candidate on the people.

He said no single man can “make anyone a governor but only who God has ordained to become the governor of the state.

You can have all the support of those you think have the say but when you are not selected by God, you will fail.

“And when God chose you no matter how many oppositions or those fighting and contesting against you, they will all fail because God will set confusion in their midst to scatter them or cause them to withdraw for you.”

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HE ESAN ethnic nationality in Edo State Central senatorial zone, comprising five local government areas, is planning a four-day conference with the theme Esan and National Development to the vision and direction of the highly resourceful and frontline group in the coming years.

Slated to hold in November in Ekpoma, the conference will feature discourses in different areas of life and will be attended by 500 participants drawn from the academia, professionals, traditional rulers, politicians, women, youth, the physically challenged and prominent sons and daughters in the diaspora.

The event to be organised under the auspices of Ikolo Esan, in partnership with other Esan groups such as Association of Esan Professionals, AEP, will discuss education, arts, culture, infrastructure, environment and erosion control, agriculture and healthcare development.

Delta guber aspirant mourns Aziza

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GHELLI—A gubernatorial aspirant in Delta State, Ambassador Gabriel Oyebode, has described the demise of the President General of Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, Gen. Patrick Aziza (rtd), as a loss to the country.

Amb. Oyibode, said that the political contributions of Aziza and his endless efforts to restore peace in Urhoboland and across Delta State were few of his achievements he would be remembered for.

In his condolence message, the Delta 2015 guber-hopeful, prayed the family to “take heart and believe in God, that his departure was not for shedding of tears but our preoccupations should be how to strategise and continue the good works he has being doing for the great people of Urhobo and Nigeria in general.”

He urged the UPU, as an apex body in Urhobo land to be united and be strong. “When a house-

hold leader dies without a successful and vibrant successor, the house becomes an empty shell, let it not be so with the UPU.

“The death of Aziza should not create vacuum in the administrative structure of the union.”

Ex-Delta student leaders urge Obuh to declare for gov

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ARRI — A coalition of past tertiary education student leaders from Delta State under the auspices of Delta Intellectual Movement, DIM, has called on Mr. Tony Obuh to declare for the state guber race in the 2015 general polls, citing his pedigree as the major reason for the call.

Leaders of the coalition at a meeting in Warri, Delta State, noted that they were compelled to join the call for Obuh to declare for the governorship “because of his immense contribution to the well-being of Delta students since 1999, when he was Director in

the Office of Secretary to Delta State Government.”

Delta State Chairman of the coalition, Mr Stanley Umukoro in a statement explained that Mr. Obuh has been a mediator between the state government and a tertiary education student leader since Delta State was created.

Describing Obuh as a detribalised man, who all past student leaders and well meaning Deltans are indebted to, DIM said “Obuh’s experience in government as a seasoned administrator will greatly transform Delta State if given the mandate to govern come 2015."

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

C M Y K

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 15

Impeached Enugu Deputy gov redeployed to civil service zAs Chime swears in new Deputy Governor

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By Tony Edike

NUGU—ENUGU State government has re-deployed impeached deputy governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, to the state civil service.

This came as Governor Sullivan Chime yesterday swore in his new deputy, Reverend Raphael Ifeanyi Nwoye.

The governor announced the redeployment of the former deputy governor to the State Civil Service as a deputy director on Grade Level 15.

Onyebuchi was in the civil service before being appointed to political office by the Nnamani administration.

Meanwhile, Governor,

Sullivan Chime has sworn in his new deputy, Reverend Raphael Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye.

The event which took place at the EXCO Chambers of the Government House, Enugu, came on the heels of the impeachment a week ago of the former occupant of the position,

ENUGU DEP GOV: From left: Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and the State Chief Judge, Mr. Innocent Umezulike, watch as the new Deputy Governor signs his oath document, shortly after his inauguration, at Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, by the State House of Assembly.

Reverend Nwoye was cleared last Thursday by the House. His oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Innocent Umezulike.

In his speech at the ceremony, Chime congratulated the new deputy governor, saying with his coming on board, the machinery of government would continue to run smoothly.

The governor said: “Drawing the analogy of a broken down vehicle, we have just replaced a bad spark plug, the vehicle is repaired and journey will be smooth again.”

He said the new deputy governor was not new to him as they had both served together as commissioners in the previous administration.

Chime added that he was sure that Rev Nwoye would bring his experience and background “not just as a Minister of God but as a fine gentleman”, to bear in the discharge of his duties.

On the circumstances that brought about the advent of his new deputy, Chime said: “What has happened, I believe it happened in the best interest of Enugu State and not only government.”

He enjoined the deputy governor to serve with due diligence and cooperation with the government as well as the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

In his response, the new deputy governor expressed gratitude to God and to Governor Chime for the opportunity to serve in his new capacity.

He lauded the vision and good works of the governor and pledged his unalloyed support and commitment to ensure that Enugu people continued to enjoy the benefits of good governance being delivered by the Chime administration.

The new deputy governor was serving as the Bishop in charge of Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, Enugu, District of the Christ Ascension Church.

Adamawa: I've not stepped down for Fintiri —Modibbo

By Soni Daniel, Region-

Y

al Editor, North

OLA—A major con tender in Adamawa governorship election, Dr Mohammed Modibbo, yesterday, dispelled rumours that he had stepped down from the governorship race for the state Acting Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

Dr. Modibbo, who is the former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, is one of the Peoples Democratic Party aspirants for the October 11 governorship election cleared by the party to vie for the ticket.

Speculations had been rife in the state that Modibbo, who is a strong contender in the race, had stepped down for Fintiri, who got the nod only on Sunday to vie for the ticket after being disqualified earlier on Saturday.

Modibbo said in a statement by his Media Assistant, Julius Toba, that he was in the race and the candidate to beat and could not have withdrawn for anybody, describing the false information as cheap propaganda by those afraid of him.

While calling on his teeming supporters to disregard the rumour, Modibbo described the latest action of his opponents as a deliberate attempt to misinform the people of the state so as to give them unmerited advantage in the race.

2015: Okwu faults Obiano, Umeh over any platform whatsoever to Jonathan's endorsement

O

By Enyim Enyim

N I T S H A — OUSTED national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, has faulted Chief Victor Umeh’s leadership of the party over the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015.

According to him, it is unfortunate that APGA endorsed President Jonathan

for the election even when his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is yet to do so.

Speaking in his Achi country home, during a visit by the South East stakeholders and executive members of the party loyal to him, Okwu accused Umeh and Anambra State governor, Dr Willie Obiano, of anti- party activities.

“Democratically, governor Obiano erred by using

endorse President Jonathan when he (Obiano) was still a member of APGA and when the PDP which the President belongs was yet to endorse him to run for the 2015 presidential election,” Okwu said.

He equally described as undemocratic the declaration by Obiano that Umeh was the only APGA senatorial candidate of the party for Anambra Central senatorial zone in the 2015 general election.

16— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

FRSC impounds 258 vehicles, convicts 101 defaulters in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

A VISIT: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (centre), Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Adekunle (left), Chief of Staff, Prof. Ganiyu Olawale (right), Member (South West) Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof. Olu Aina (2nd left), Head of Oyo/Ogun states ICPC office, Mr. Olukide Sesan (2nd right) when the ICPC delegation paid a courtesy call on the governor in his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office, yesterday.

WKA—THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, yesterday said it impounded 258 vehicles and convicted 101 traffic offenders along the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Bridge-Head road axis during its special operation last week.

Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Edo, Delta and Anambra

states, Mr. Nseobong Akpabio gave the figures in Onitsha while speaking at the end of Operation Shield IV special patrol in the area.

Akpabio said that the traffic offenders were convicted by FRSC mobile court for offences that included overloading, reckless driving, lane violation, non-us-

age of seatbelt, excessive passengers, excessive emission of carbon-monoxide, among others.

He said that in line with the FRSC strategic goal to reduce road traffic crashes by 15 per cent and fatality by 25 per cent by the end of 2014, the commission put in place Operation Shield IV with specific focus to tackle the causal factors.

According to him, the operations focused mainly on offences the motorists had consistently failed to observe.

He said that in carrying out the exercise, both regular and special marshals were involved in the exercise.

He said: “All ambulances and recovery vehicles from Benin, Agbor, Issele-Uku and Asaba were deployed strategically. At the end of the five-day exercise, a total of 355 traffic offenders were apprehended for violating 440 traffic offences and 258 vehicles were impounded within the period of the operations."

2015: APGA ‘ll sweep polls in S-East —Umeh

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

N I T S H A — N AT I I O N A L Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, last weekend boasted that the party would sweep polls in the South East geo-political zone in 2015 general elections, having stamped its feet properly in Anambra State for the past eight years.

Former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, however, disagreed with Umeh’s claims vehemently on the ground that it would not be possible for APGA to make such an in-road in Enugu State, dominated by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Both Umeh and Nnamani spoke at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square,Awka,duringarallyconducted by members of Join Jonathan Journey, JJJ, to ask President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 17

I

N my article on the recent election in Osun State, provocatively titled “How APC Lost the Osun Election;” I was lavish in praising the INEC. I said: “Attahiru Jega is by far Nigeria’s best publicservant. He is yet again, the real winner of the Osun election; and he is doing a fantastic job transforming the electoral-process in Nigeria for the better and even the best. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Jega and his entire INEC team for the excellent job they have been doing.”

However, in one fell swoop, INEC has contradicted this assessment by becoming yet another instrument in the hands of the #Bring Back Our Northern Domination brigade. These conspirators have tried several gambits in their determination to wrest power from Goodluck Jonathan and the SouthSouth.

They have used threats, blackmail, defections, Boko Haram insurgency, and even the Chibok kidnapping; all to no avail. Now, it would appear that they have also succeeded in conscripting INEC to their plans to shift power back to the North by hook or crook.

INEC clean-up INEC has recently taken two self-contradictory actions, one after the other. Unless the latter is immediately reversed, it will go a long way to compromise the integrity

ghost registration still ended up getting more polling units.”

APC advantage

INEC's new membership in #Bring back our Northern domination INEC was able to reduce the national voting population considerably. In 2011, we were told that there are some 70 million registered voters in Nigeria. Now that figure has shrunk to less than 60 million.

8,414 are in the South. The regional breakdown is as follows: North-West 7906; North-East 5291; NorthCentral 6318; South-West 4160; South-South 3087; South-East 1167; and FCT 1200.

INEC schemes

Northern agenda

Having cleaned up the register by drastically reducing it, INEC then decided to contradict itself. It created some 30,000 additional polling-units in the country, when the clean-up exercise suggests there is actually no basis to create more polling-units at all.

Indeed, the more logical conclusion should be that we need less, and not more, polling-units.

In effect, what the North lost by the removal of the fictitious ghost-voters was then re-awarded by the allocation of additional polling-units. For example, Zamfara that was discovered to be the guiltiest state in the inflation of its register with over one million ghost-voters was then awarded 1,000 more polling-units. Given the fact that each polling-unit has a maximum of 500 voters, this means Zamfara was awarded additional 500,000 potential voters as compensation for its loss of ghost-voters. It also means INEC compensated the North with 10, 807,500 potentially new voters; as opposed to 4,206,000 in the South. This is more than enough to swing any election to the Northern advantage.

Since ballot-papers would be provided for these new polling-units, INEC has also surreptitiously increased the scope for ballot-stuffing; and it has made this disproportionately to the Northern advantage. That illicit advantage would be available for Northern use in the 2015 election as well as in future elections in Nigeria; if these additional polling-units are not scrapped with immediate effect.

In the zonal allocation of new polling-units, INEC awarded 7,906 to the NorthWest alone; the bastion of the anti-Jonathan #Bring Back Our Northern Domination brigade. This is nearly as many as the 8,414 it awarded to the entire South. By some strange logic, INEC gave more additional polling-units to the Federal Capital Territory (1,120) than it gave to the entire South-East (1,167).

,

The APC complainant-in-chief, Lai Muhammad, is suddenly now in love with INEC

of the forthcoming 2015 elections. In the first place, INEC decided to clean up the voters register, a task for which it has received widespread public commendation. So doing, it discovered millions of ghostvoters. In the determination to lay the foundation for inflating their poll numbers in elections, our political parties have been careful to orchestrate multiple voter registrations.

INEC’s clean-up exercise testified to the #Bring Back Our Northern Domination brigade. It confirmed the Northern supremacy over the South in the business of cooking up voting population figures in order to promote Northern supremacy in elections in Nigeria. INEC discovered far more ghostvoters in the North than it did in the South. One of the biggest culprits here is Zamfara State, which had ostensibly 2,045,131 registered voters. However, during the clean-up exercise, it was discovered that 1,130,245 of these were ghost-voters. That means a whopping 44% of the names in the Zamfara voters register were fictitious After screening the register, C M Y K

,

But then INEC actions became even more bizarre. It decided to award far more additional polling-units to the North than to the South; in spite of the fact that it discovered more ghost registrations in the North than in the South.

It would appear that when some people in INEC woke up to the fact that their clean-up exercise had led to a greater decrease in the Northern voter population than in the South, they decided to make amends by the creation of additional polling-units; on the excuse of the need to decongest the existing ones.

It just so happened that they then discovered conveniently that the “congestion” was far more prevalent in the arid and desert North than in the coastal savannah and rainforest South.

The decongestion of polling-units may indeed be desirable in light of the experience during the 2011 elections, but INEC’s solution becomes highly suspect because of its regional bias.

INEC created 29,129 additional polling-units.

20,715 of these are in the North (including the Federal Capital Territory); while only

Widespread furore

N

ot surprisingly, there has been widespread outcry over INEC’s new arrangement, and justifiably so. The people of the SouthEast especially are mortified.

How can the Commission justify such blatant shortchanging of the South-East

vis-à-vis other all geopolitical zones in the federation?

Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, was loud in rejecting the exercise: “The people of South East PDP reject entirely the alleged allocation of polling booths by INEC. We view it as a great disservice to the unity and progress of this country if the entire South will have 8,000 polling booths and the North will have 21,000. We demand that this should be suspended forthwith as it is completely against the spirit of one Nigeria, the unity and progress of our dear country.”

“By these allocations the north-west allocation of 7,906 is equivalent to the whole of southern Nigeria with just 8,412. Similarly, each of the North-East and North-West zones gets more polling units than the whole of South-West along with Lagos, which is the state with the highest number of eligible voters nationwide.”

The Social Democratic Party was also quick to reject INEC’s sleight of hand.

Its spokesman, Prince Frank Ukonga, describes INEC shenanigans as designed to manipulate the 2015 General Elections in favour of the North. As a presidential aspirant under the SDP, Ukonga also saw the development as a possible scheme for the North to continue to dominate the South in future elections even after the departure of Goodluck Jonathan.

Afenifere chieftain, Chief Supo Shonibare, also considered INEC actions mischievous. He said: “I am not aware INEC is an authorised body on population census. If it is based on estimate, it is wrong to give a section of the country more polling units at the expense of the other.”

“What has happened, however, is that Nigeria’s INEC, led by Professor Jega, has insinuated itself into a dangerous political game which defies simple logic.

After carrying out a cleaning exercise to sanitise the voters register, which has reduced the total number of validly registered voters in the country, the same INEC has gone ahead to allocate its new 30,000 units in such a manner that some states that had already lost so much to

One telling element in all this is the silence of the APC. Suddenly, the APC, the traditional cry-baby of the Nigerian politics, is maintaining a deafening silence on this issue. The APC normally complains about everything to do with the electoral system. Every so often, it comes up with broadsides that it has unearthed another ridiculous plan by the PDP, in collusion with INEC, to rig elections and truncate Nigerian democracy.

But now, suddenly, the APC is singing a different tune. Its complainant-in-chief, Lai Muhammad, is suddenly now in love with INEC. He said recent reassurances by Jega offer hope of free and fair elections. This turnaround should be enough to make any right-thinking person suspicious.

It is not difficult to see why APC should be pleased with the new face of INEC. APC is the vanguard of the #Bring Back Our Northern Domination brigade, and it is determined to choose a Northerner as its presidential candidate. INEC new pollingunit shenanigans are clearly to the advantage of the APC and the North.

APC has its projected strength in the North-West, North-East, and South-West.

INEC has given 17,357 additional polling booths to these areas. PDP, on the other hand, has its projected strength in the North-Central, South-East and South-South.

INEC has given only 10,572 units to these areas.

Since the same INEC will be responsible for determining the precise location of these additional polling-units, there is no guarantee that the bulk of them will also not be placed in areas likely to favour one party to the detriment of the other.

Unsatisfactory justifications

I

NEC has not been able to give a satisfactory explanation for its actions.

The Commission said it decided to create additional 30,000 polling-units across the country in order to decongest existing polling centres. This brings the total number of polling-units in the country from 119,973 to 150,000. This is ridiculous.

By having 150,000 new polling units, we now have 75 million potential voters but only 60 million actual voters.

INEC must not only be above board, it must be seen to be above board. In life, perceptions are often more important than reality. By its actions, INEC has made itself complicit in the plot to marginalise the South. This poses grave dangers to the integrity of the coming elections. There is only one option left for INEC. The 30,000 additional pollingunits must be scrapped.

Otherwise, the 2015 elections will be compromised even before they begin.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 Just when we were bracing up to shout: Hurrah, that we, as a nation, have been able to contain the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, made the heart-dampening announcement, last Thursday, that another Ebola death had occurred in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

According to Chukwu, the victim was a medical doctor who treated one of the patients that had contact with the human vector of the plague to Nigeria, Patrick Sawyer. With this announcement, it is back to the trenches. The situation is even more uncertain, as the nation did not have the Port Harcourt case in its sights all along.

The health authorities have no choice than to launch a new dragnet to bring in a new group of people who had contacts with this doctor and his circle of contacts into quarantine.

The good part of the story is that Ebola is no longer a stranger among us. It is no longer a mystery outbreak for which we need panic, as many of us did when it made its first landfall in our country. Nigerians

Ebola’s ne wP or new Por ortt Harcour Harcourtt frontier down to the grassroots now know the necessary steps to take in order to protect themselves from this killer infection which, till date, does not have any surefire cure.

The federal government obviously attaches great importance to the need to overcome this Ebola outbreak, and has ordered that all primary and secondary schools at both state and federal levels, including public private outfits, must remain closed till October13,2014, while all summer educational activities must be suspended forthwith.

We appeal to the Rivers state government to emulate the Lagos state government to

cooperate with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that the same level of success in the Lagos sector, which has been acclaimed worldwide, is achieved in Rivers.

That should be the way forward anywhere this disease shows its ugly head.

The Ebola outbreak is a bold illustration of the fact that humanity is linked together, and must join hands when faced with a danger to all.

Even long after the authorities have declared Nigeria free of Ebola, this infectious disease will continue to be a threat so long as it still exists in any part of the world. Such threat will only go away when an effective cure has been developed, or better still an efficacious vaccine invented to tackle it like others we have experienced through history.

We must encourage one another to maintain lifestyles that will keep diseases, including Ebola, at bay, such as good personal and environmental hygiene, avoiding contact with some animals and reporting common symptoms to the appropriate authorities.

OPINION

By Godwin Etakibuebu

H

OW can it be said that a deadly Ebola Virus Disease [EVD], imposed on Nigeria by "one mad man" from a foreign country is becoming a factor of unification for Nigerian? Can that be true? Does a thing like that exist? Can anything good come from Ebola Virus Disease? Save your answer or agitation for a while until we meet with someone important somewhere first.

President Goodluck Jonathan is a man not too often given to emotions. One good quality the man from Izon tribe of the Niger Delta possesses in abundance is the capacity to listen. He accommodates people in a pathological formant, even when the subject being discussed by his guest is not relevant to his thought. This quality of the man is more of inheritance. It is in his blood because the typical Izon man has an enduring "withholding" and "shock-absorbing" capacity. This is why they are brave. They are daring and they are enduring even in the face of daunting excruciating situations like crises or wars.

In displaying this type of characteristic, the Izons are at home with the Kanuris of the Bornu Empire of the far Northern Nigeria.

The easily deduced common factor that almost made both great tribes one is most likely to be found in the hostile environment of their individual places of habitation. While the Kanuris of the North survive in the jungle of the desert, just like the camels or horses, the Izon survives in the turbulent and unsteady waters of the ocean, just like sharks or whales. Both must be wild in the two most C M Y K

Ebola Virus Disease and national unity hostile environment of human nature, where they live, to survive. Again, let us leave this environmental subject and the type of people it produces for another day and come back to the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

On Monday, August 11th 2014, it was another Goodluck Jonathan; emotionally laden, that spoke on this virus. "It is unfortunate that one mad man brought Ebola to us, but we have to contain it. As a government, we promise that we will do everything humanly possible to contain the Ebola Virus". The venom the President poured at that occasion on the late Patrick Sawyer, even as he narrated how the "mad man" escaped from his country - Liberia after the burial of his sister, killed by Ebola Virus Disease, into Nigeria to discharge his "weapon of mass destruction" underscored his genuine concern for all Nigerians. His was the pain of a father who could not hold himself back on seeing calamity befalling his children.

The President quickly, after the emotional outburst, decided to move all Nigerians on the path of escape from the route of this deadly EVD, which is a wise thing for any good leader to do. He summoned all the thirty six governors of the federation [with their thirty six commissioners of Health] to come to Abuja for deliberation on how to tackle the EVD outbreak. It is from this point that the other side of this deadly Virus; albeit the good side or the one l refer to as the unifying factor for Nigerians, started manifesting. Not too

many people believe that President Jonathan invitation would receive respectful response and this expectation was not without a reason.

Before the metaphor of EVD on the Nigerian soil, it is a common knowledge that every issue of discuss in the country is contentiously contested amongst three major blocs namely: The first is Political parties, and here it must be deadly agreed and disagreed between the two majors parties namely the People Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress. The second is tribal dichotomy which leaves only one absurdity at play at all times, and that is "permanent disagreement" between the North and the South - it does not matter how good the project is to Nigerians. The third which is the last one is the religious 'divide'Moslems and Christian - a demonic structure that does not promote the love of God, which is a cardinal concept of both the Holy Bible and the Holy Koran, allowed by the founding fathers of Nigeria for regional cum selfish interests.

These three forces identified above have made it impossible for reason to prevail in accruing aggregated advantages of collectivism for the citizenries since "DIVIDED WE CAN ONLY FALL" and we have been falling for this long while. It is against this background that many thought that the thirty six governors, appropriately spread across these three border posts of political partisanship [PDP/APC], tribal dichotomy [north/south] and religion

intolerance [Christian/Moslem] would not honour President Goodluck Jonathan clarion call for salvation of Nigerians. Alas!

We did not know that what these three evils have put asunder, a greater evil in the name of Ebola Virus Disease can put together with automatic alacrity without the sermons and negotiations of any National Conference.

Look to what happen now that the EVD forced our unity, at least for this one time, we are able to bring all our human and material resources together fast enough to check and take control of the epidemic.

The whole world, as typically represented by the World Health Organisation, pours accolade on Nigeria. Nigeria has now become a shining example of how "to do it right", courtesy of EVD. What is that thick thing in this Virus that everyone; Christian/Moslem, PDP/ APC and North/South respects and honours so much, that for once the President's clarion call was obeyed without the usual bickering? Could it be the exclusive death sentence it [EVD] has?

Whatever has made EVD to become a "compelling General officer commanding" for Nigerian political leaders and bringing them to total submission, there is a lesson the ruling class, ditto the larger society, can learn from the event.

One of such lessons is that if we agree to remove "madness woven with foolish and selfish greed" from our politics,much can be achieved for the country.

*Mr. Etakibuebu, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—19

A

RECENT visit to Port Harcourt, Rivers state, was an eye opener. A vibrant bubbling city, massive road net work, all dead ends opened up and linked with the city. You can't help but notice governance in action. Projects going on everywhere; schools, hospitals, monorail and many more. All of these were achieved within the first four years tenure.

The people were happy and Amaechi's profile had began to rise. In fact, Amaechi was a good poster boy amongst performing governors like; Fashola, Akpabio, Oshiomhole and others.

One may want to ask therefore; if Amaechi has done so well, what then is the problem? Amaechi allowed his achievements and popularity to affect his ego, his political calculations and permutations became warped, he began to wear shoes that were far bigger than his size can fit. He became an arrow head for the northern/muslim opposition and he became distracted in the pursuit of his programmes. This distraction is seriously affecting the fortunes of the state in his second coming. If he had remained in the PDP like Alhajis Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu of Jigawa and Niger states respectively did, he would have been assured of a vital role in the post 2015 affairs of the PDP wins the presidential election, but, as it is now, Amaechi appears to have lost it.

My big brother barrister Ballantyrne Ugege of Faith chambers, Warri likened it to the story of Moses in the Bible; in spite

of his good deeds in the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt, he could not get to the promised land because of one simple but fatal mistake.

Is Amaechi's decision to collaborate with the people, planning to remove the presidency from his own South-south brother a wise one? Who stands to benefit from the whole brohaha? Is the interest of the Rivers state citizens factored in it? After all of his good works, what becomes of Amaechi?

Will it be good for Amaechi to subsume the interest of the Rivers people, for his own political goals?

Will he succeed in taking the Rivers people, that are traditionally central, to the opposition? Will he be able to withstand the federal might? Is the country's politics ready for his kind of revolution?

Can he bear the title "traitor" to the South-south cause? Is the faceoff with the federal government not affecting the smooth development programmes he is initiating in Rivers state? Are there no other ways he could fight his cause, without appearing to betray the South-south cause?

Some of Amaechi's admirers have argued that, he is on the right path, someone must be able to stand up for principles, even at the risk of death. But, then I ask? Who is the principled one amongst the lot of our politicians? Where are the angels in the group that he has joined? Nuhu Ribadu, the hope of the people in the fight against corruption, has joined the PDP. Jimmy Agbaje, a frontline progressive politician in Lagos has also, joined the PDP. People in the PDP are also switching camps-

How many exACN governors, now in APC will dare to contradict Tinubu's instructions?

None

,

Adeleke, Oyinlola- to APC. So, where is the principle? The principled one is the one who remains with his ideological bed fellows, expressing his position, whether those in authority likes it or not, like Lamido did. And, if you look at all of the governors of today, Lamido's action has earned him a lot of respect and saved him from unnecessary embarrassment, like what has happened to the likes of Murtala Nyako.

W

ith Amaechi's intelligence and political skills, one had assumed that he will be able to meander his way to a favourable position, as Dr.EmmanuelUduaghan of Delta state and Mr. Godswill Akpabio of Awka Ibom state have done. In the beginning, through his link with Ibori, Uduaghan was not in the good books of Jonathan, but, through some deft political manoeuvring, he has been able to place himself at the fore front of PDP politics, nay the nation. It is only a bad politician that will deliberately work to fail. Some say, it is because of a woman. I will come to that later.

Much ado about Saraki and Kwara

By Sikiru Adebayo

A

S usual, the latest brew from Is'haq Modibbo Kawu's pot of half-truth delivered through his column in the Vanguard newspaper, leaves a trend and trail of garnished falsehood. Moddibo's case readily reminds one of the pitiable situation of a stammerer, who rather than learn how to talk slowly so he can be understood, decides to gargle and garble at the same time.

In the last six months, Moddibo has written six opinions all about Kwara State such that a curious mind would wonder if the column is all about Kwara. Worse still, his take is not about making Kwara, his home, a better place for all, but usually direct attacks and unsubstantiated allegations against Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS). One would have expected that for a cerebral individual, it would have been a huge opportunity to reach out and speak on many issues bedeviling the nation and ordinary Nigerians by proffering solutions to issues, but Moddibo seems to have a different idea and a warped one at that about the role of a columnist.

Somehow, today, it might not be out of place if a reader asked if the column was dedicated to Kwara and ABS! Or, perhaps, wonder if he has agreement to use the platform to discuss ONLY Saraki, week-inweek-out . Else, how can one explain the fact that Moddibo is fast breaking media records as the only known columnist in Nigeria with only ONE SUBJECT and ONE TOPIC to talk about! Really, even a researcher seeking a chair in the university would have diversified focus to demonstrate interdisciplinary competence to get his or her award!

To underscore Moddibo's vacuity of intelligence and elementary history, in his C M Y K

penchant to create a monster out of Saraki, he muddled up several facts about the nomination of ministers. Just for the record, Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, was not the first minister from Kwara State who would not be appointed by Saraki or come from the Saraki political dynasty. There was Hajia Aminat Ndalolo, who was nominated by the former Chief of Staff to President Olusegun Obasanjo, though it is public knowledge that the Sarakis contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence. What about Princess Funke Adedoyin, who was a candidate of then Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His memory is too blur to remember Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo who emerged from the ranks of pro-democracy activists?

By this, therefore, there is no such thing as victory in the appointment of Suleiman by people who are not working with ABS. And in any case, how would he have been appointed without the input of ABS if the federal lawmaker was still with the PDP? If ABS was still working with the ruling party to appropriate our collective resources for the benefit of a few in the name of oil theft, he would still have got the nod to present a candidate. Even at that, his candidate, who was nominated from the rank and file and later removed in a fit of political anger, would have still been there. But Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) is above petty politics.

Moddibo's misfiring did not stop at that.

It is so sad to read what Moddibo, who belongs to the group of privileged elite whose agenda is to dominate the rest of us because of our humble background, also dished out to the public as knowledge of the state of education in Kwara State. While admitting that no human institution is perfect, the picture as painted by Moddibo so clearly contradicts what is available on ground. The once in a year visit by Moddibo can definitely not afford him a good grasp

,

By Sunny Ikhioya

,

If Amaechi had remained

There is no way a state government can achieve optimum performance without the support and co-operation of the Federal government in our Nigeria of today, unless, you want to subject the people to unnecessary sufferings. With all of the resources and might at the disposal of the Lagos state government, they were frustrated out of the independent power stuff under the Bola Tinubu administration. You can only make a lot of noise through propaganda and win but, you cannot win the war. Amaechi's action has caused a lot of tension in Rivers state and so many have been sent to the grave needlessly.

Also, it is said that; when you cannot contain the battle at home, you will not be able to fight the larger, outside battle. The biggest opposition to Amaechi are from his own kith and kin Ikwerre and upland Rivers people; Nyesom Wike. Austin Opara, Chibudum Nwuche, Sekibo, Odili and many others in the camp of the Federal PDP. When you add the riverine people, who are Ijaw brothers to Jonathan, the forces arrayed against him is be very formidable.

The politics of Rivers state is that of betrayal and brothers killing brothers. Dr. Obi Wali and many Ikwerre top shots like Nsirim were killed by their own Ikwerre brothers. During the reign of Odili, Ada George who was Odili's principal as governor, was reduced to insignificance, his voice was not heard throughout Odili's tenure. Enter Amaechi as governor, at a time Odili was afraid to step on Port Harcourt soil, that was how bad the strain was, in their relationship. Now, Wike, who was Amaechi's Chief of staff, is the arrow head of those trying to contain Amaechi. So, in Rivers state politics, betrayal is normal,

Surely, many of those he used to pester the former governor, would not forget the forlorn look on his face when it became apparent that ABS was not going to divert millions of naira in public fund for a private engagement

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of real situation in the state. The every child counts policy of the Saraki administration in the state, which was endorsed by both the Department for International Development, (DFID), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO), remains a road map for Nigeria’s education advancement.

Those familiar with this situation would continue to wonder whether Moddibo’s unceasing attack on ABS could be because Saraki, as governor, refused to provide funds for the floating of his proposed multimillion naira printing press after he lost his job at Daily Trust. Surely, many of those he used to pester the former governor, would not forget the forlorn look on his face when it became apparent that ABS was not going to divert millions of naira in public fund for a private engagement. And, so if for that reason, Moddibo remains a life-time-ABScritic, so be it.

T

he Saraki, I know, has paid the school and examination fees of some of our indigent pupils. Just as his father, Oloye, rehabilitated a number of community

the people are used to it.

If Amaechi had remained alone, or, joined a party that is not as reactionary as the APC, the burden would have been lighter but he had dared to hold the tiger by the tail and whatever consequences arising from it will be his to take.

The argument that the President's wife over stepped her bounds, therefore; Amaechi must fight on, is not water tight. In the interest of peace, harmony and progress for the Rivers people, Amaechi should have taken it easy. Who is that man who does not have the over bearing influence of a woman behind him?

How many of those goading Amaechi, especially amongst his brother governors will take the bull by the horn the way he has done? How many ex -ACN governors, now in APC will dare to contradict Tinubu's instructions? None. Which Nigerian first lady have, ever been taken for granted? Was it Victoria Gowon or Miriam Babangida, or Miriam Abacha or Turai Yar adua or even Stella Obasanjo, whose husband told the whole world that, he will not recognize the office of first lady, only to be mute when his wife took charge.

Why should people expect less from Patience Jonathan, when you consider the fact that she is not as lettered and exposed as the other ones. Destiny has placed power in the hands of her husband. Woe unto him who steps on the wrong side of a King's wife. The saying "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" is true. Using it as an excuse to fight the President was a big mistake.

Will Amaechi win this battle come 2015? We wait and see .

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

schools in the state. While building rural roads, health centres and empowering numerous number of Kwarans, the younger Saraki also embarked on an unprecedented community development projects, yet the likes of Moddibo who has contributed nothing to their communities see nothing good in ABS. It is good to drum into Moddibo’s ears, as well as into the ears of those he has been milking through his 'shop' of jaundiced writings that if they think by turning the truth head down, they will effect any change in Kwara State, they are clearly wrong. The kind of change Kwarans and entire Nigerians crave for is the type that seeks to explain where the stolen oil money go into.

How millions of youths cannot secure employment after painstakingly studying in the universities only for government not to have a well-designed programme of job generation.

Truth which Moddibo and his cotravellers have refused to see is the fondness and bond between ABS and the Kwara people. A bond built on trust and peoplebased policies, and not the ranting of some self-seeking gang, who only come to Kwara to seek votes only during election times. Dr. Saraki does not visit home once in four years or pay hospital bills or distribute food items only during election period, but during and after elections; almost daily and there is no pretence about it.

One last appeal to Moddibo is that: if you so much care about the people of Kwara, then use your column to raise issues that will help Kwarans. There are general issues such as the level of unemployment and what the federal government can do to help. You should help Kwarans put the question of whether a state must be under the control of PDP before the people can enjoy basic entitlements as Nigerians, to the federal government?

*Mr. Adebayo, a social critic, wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State.

20—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 2 , 2014

Devastated by flood, Abuja residents cry out R

ESIDENTS of Trademore Estate, Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are still counting their losses after they were held hostage for hours by a rampaging flood that over ran the estate recently. The flood, occasioned by a heavy downpour in Abuja, covered over 60 houses. Also affected was a Catholic Church still under construction, which was pulled down by the heavy flood.

The flood, which started at about 5:30 am kept all the residents indoors till around 8:30 am before they could move out of the estate.

it had gone beyond the capacity of the estate owner, and therefore requires the Federal Government’s intervention.

According to him, the management of the estate had done much in the past to bring such devastation under control, but for the fact that the flood came from the main city required the attention of a high profile contractor like Julius Berger to bring the situation under permanent control.

“The flood is not from rain fall within this estate but from the one that fell in the town, and if anything must be done to check it, I think it is the Federal Government that will

The people here are Nigerians and they deserve government sympathy by way of bringing a permanent end to this frequent devastation

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Some of the victims, who spoke to Vanguard Metro, VM, lamented their losses of early morning flights, job interviews and other important engagements and called on the Federal Government to come to their aid.

A senior engineer with the estate’s management office, Mr. Emeka Ugwueze, blamed the flood on heavy down pour in Abuja city, which he said was the primary source of the flood. He said the flood from the main city was so heavy that

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do that because no small contractor can handle this high magnitude of flood unless a bigger contractor like Berger is brought here by the Federal Government. This is already beyond the owner of the estate, who I know had done a lot to avoid this kind of incident.

“The people here are Nigerians and they deserve government sympathy by way of bringing a permanent end to this frequent devastation through an intervention measure.”

*Some affected residents bailing water out of their home

*St John Mary Vianney Catholic Church, Trademore Estate, Lugbe, also affected by the flood The extensive damage the flood caused was the second since a similar incident occurred in May this year,

during which lesser residential houses were affected. It was after this that the management cleared the

drains and took strict measures within the estate to avoid future occurrence.

Spirit of Lagos calls for entries for songs competition

BY BOSE ADELAJA

A

S part of efforts aimed at changing the mindset of Lagos State residents towards their environment, public infrastructure and their fellow man, among others, the Spirit of Lagos, SOL, has invited Lagos residents to participate in a song competition to select a theme song that will resonate with Lagosians and promote the ideals of Lagos

State.

The competition, which is expected to drive engagement and adoption of SOL’s messages among Lagosians, is open to residents of Lagos, irrespective of their states of origin, ethnicity, religion, class, gender, etc. The competition will run from September 1 to 26, 2014.

Project Director of the organization, Niyi Omotoso, at a press conference held in Lagos, at the weekend, said that the winning theme song must align with the objectives of the SOL’s ‘Change Your Thinking’ campaign which is to restore those unique values that made Lagos a safe, just, prosperous and neighbourly place to live in and visit in the past,” According to him: “The best theme song must, amongst other things, be new and never been played in any of the media platforms or performed anywhere prior to the competition, promote the unique attributes that made Lagos a centre of excellence, inspire social justice, civic responsibility, citizenship and neighbouliness, and must not exceed three minutes.”

Amongst other things, the winner will gain a recording contract, become an SOL ambassadorship, cash prize of

N500,000 and a chance to perform the song alongside some notable Nigerian artistes at the Lagos State Governor’s Ball scheduled for the third quarter of this year.

The first and second runnersup in the contest will be rewarded with cash prizes of

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BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

The best theme song must promote the unique attributes that made Lagos a centre of excellence

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N200,000 and N100,000 respectively, while the song with the highest vote will get N50,000 cash reward.

He called on interested Lagosians to compose and record either audio or video song of between two and three minutes and either upload it directly on the SOL Facebook page.

All contestants are expected to enclose their full names, addresses and phone numbers in their entries as well as the Spirit of Lagos Facebook page before sending in their entries.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 21

$3.8 bn Egina project takes off, to create 50,000 jobs

BY GODWIN ORITSE

F

RESH hopes have emerged for the successful implementation of the Egina oil and gas project valued at about 3..8 billion dollars, following a renewed pact between the technical facilitators, LADOL and Samsung Heavy Industries.

The project otherwise known as Egina Floating Production Storage and Off take (FPSO) earlier awarded to the two organizations, is now taking off under a fresh Joint Venture (JV) partnership called, SHI-MCI Free Zone Enterprise.

Already, the project to be cited at the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) base in Apapa has taken off with the LADOL and Samsung jointly investing about $300 million in the creation of the new facility.

The construction of the facility is expected to last for 18 months and once completed, it will be capable of fabricating 1,000 tons per month as well as integrating all other FPSOs expected to be built in Nigeria for the next decades.

Managing Directors of the JV, Mr. KS Lee and Dr. Amy Jadesimi, in a joint statement on behalf of Samsung and LADOL, respectively, said the project is set to generate a whopping 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria over the next few years.

The project, which has been described as first of its kind in Africa, is being built for Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, being the operator of the oil field, as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The project is being encouraged by the provisions of the Nigeria’s Local Content Act 2010, which mandates the domestication of up to 70 per-cents of oil and gas activities, a move that is expected to put the country at par with Brazil, the world sixth largest economy.

In a note of excitement, the JV bosses

described the project as “one of the largest FPSO in the world with a storage capacity of 2.3 million barrels, and a targeted production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day.

“In short, billions of dollars that are currently spent overseas will be domesticated in Nigeria for the first time and billions of dollars in new revenues will

From Left : Portfolio Executive, Broll Property Services Limited, Mr. Yinka Omotosho; Managing Director, Propertygate Development & Investment Plc, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi; and Managing Partner Ayo Adejumo and Co, Mr. Ayo Adejumo, during Propertygate’s 2nd bi-annual breakfast meeting in Lagos.

SMEs adoption of IFRS to commence from December 31 — PWC

By PETER EGWUATU

181.4

-2.35

3,183.00 -15.00 15.61

-0.38

102.10 -0.53 93.85 -0.01 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.73 STERLING 256.465 EURO 204.1662 FRANC 168.8455 YEN 1.4876 CFA 0.294 WAUA 234.7445 RENMINBI 25.1466 RIYAL 41.2558 KRONA 27.38 SDR 235.0039

155.23 257.2937 204.826 169.3911 1.4927 0.304 235.503 25.2283 41.3891 27.4685 235.7633

155.73 258.1225 205.4857 169.9367 1.4975 0.314 236.2616 25.31 41.5225 27.557 236.5227

CBN Exchange Rate as 01 /09 / 2014

be earned from market expansion.

“This increase in in-country capacity will position Nigeria to become West Africa’s hub, generate sustainable long term GDP growth required for Nigeria to become one of the world’s leading economies in line with vision 2020”, they said.

Industry watchers believe the sitting

of the project at LADOL base being the only 100 per-cents indigenous oil and Gas Company in the country, with the strong backing of Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries will boost local content endeavor in the country.

According to analysts, building the facility will significantly increase the sizes of the fabrication, engineering, procurement, training, design and raw materials such as steel and allied markets in Nigeria.

The essence of the facility according to Jadesimi and Lee, is to ensure that large vessels including FPSOs are integrated (partially constructed and assembled) in Nigeria.

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HE International Financial Re porting Standard, IFRS for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs is expected to be adopted from December 31, 2014.

The Senior Manager, Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services Group PriceWaterhouseCooppers Nigeria , PWC Uloma Ojinmah, disclosed this during an IFRS Media Training Workshop organized by BusinessDay Nigeria in Lagos.

While speaking on the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN roadmap and its implication she said “The phase one implementation of the IFRS started with the publicly listed entities and significant public interest entities. These entities were expected to prepare their financial statements using applicable IFRS by December 31. 2012. For the phase two implementation, other public interest entities are

expected to comply with the standard. In fact, all public interest entities are expected to mandatory adopt IFRS, for statutory purposes by December 31, 2013. The other public interest entities are entities that are not listed which have significant public interest because of the nature of business, size and number of employee.

For the phase three, it is expected that SMEs will adopt theirs from December. In fact, IFRS for the SMEs shall mandatorily be adopted as December 31, 2014.”

She explained that while adopting the IFRS for the first time, a company’s first set of IRFS financial statement should present its financial position and performance as if the company had reported using IFRS. According to her “20 optional exemptions and seven mandatory exceptions limit extent of retrospective application are available to guide companies when applying the principle.

On the implementation impact, she said “Adjustments are required to assets and liabilities to establish the opening statement of financial position. Such adjustments, which are to be passed via retained earnings include: Recognition of new assets and liabilities; De-recognition of some assets and liabilities and Remeasurement of some assets and liabilities by using fair value versus historic cost.”

Speaking further, Ojinmah said that IFRS will have a broad impact on Nigerian companies as every details of information required in preparing financial statement are required.

Some of the impact, according to her include: Capital impact, tax impact, analyst reactions, share price impact, peer comparability, amongst others She stated that IRFS will impact businesses in may ways, such as: people, business relationships , tax and regulation, communications, financial implications, and systems and processes.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Maintaining ATM is expensive and requires economic incentive for owners to deploy and maintain these machines.

If a part of this cost goes unabated, the banks may be forced to reject transactions coming from their customers at another bank ATMs

INVESTORS ,

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Elumelu, Ovia’s return 'll turn their banks’ fortune around — Industry stakeholders

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

L

AST week, the Board of United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, announced the appointment of its erstwhile managing director/CEO, Mr. Tony Elumelu, to the Board as the chairman.

The appointment was a repetition of the same trend initiated by Zenith Bank the previous month with the return of Jim Ovia as its chairman, after both men retired from their respective banks in keeping with the CBN’s directive that limited banks’ CEOs’ tenure to 10 years. Stakeholders in the banking industry believe that it is well deserved give the track record of both men.

Reacting, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, Managing Director/CEO, Cowry Asset Management Limited, said the return of Mr. Tony Elumelu and Mr. Jim Ovia to the boards of UBA and Zenith Bank respectively as board Chairmen would bring a lot of intensity to the boards of these banks given the personality attributes of both men.

He explained that both men are credited with growing their banks to their current pre-eminent positions in the Nigerian banking industry, adding that they are imbued with drive, energy and vision required to drive their institutions to the next level, particularly during this turbulent period in the industry.

“In addition, they both have the political reach to influence policy direction in the Nigerian banking industry. There is no doubt that as the chairmen of their banks, they will bring these attributes to bear in the running of their respective institutions “It should therefore be expected that the fortunes of UBA and Zenith should improve in the immediate future with the return of their erstwhile managing directors as chairmen of their Boards,” Chukwu stated.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Abayomi Obabolujo, President, Association of Avid Shareholders, AAS, said their return will bring back healthy competition and rivalry in the banking sector.

According to him, Nigerian shareholders would be the primary beneficiaries of their return as both banks in a way stepped down their performances with their exit.

He, however, said that there would be few banks that would not be able to cope with their return looking at the vibrancy they will bring to the industry.

His words, “The return is going to bring healthy rivalry back to the banking industry because when the two of them left, competitiveness in the C M Y K

industry left and healthy rivalry among the banks left.

“These men are very aggressive and are passionate about banking.

If you look at when Tony Elumelu came into the old Standard Trust Bank, now United Bank for Africa, within short period, the bank was all over the place. He was one of the people that brought about this second generation banking concept we talk about today, others are falling by the road side.”

“So, in a nutshell, the market will benefit from their experiences, aggressiveness and from their entrepreneurship spirit and that will help the market because they understand it better.”

According to Mr. David Adonri, CEO, Highcap Securities Limited, although the CBN policy that prevented them from continuing as CEO of their respective banks was obnoxious, the banks have moved on pretty well in their absence. “Notwithstanding what the banks have achieved without these versatile and extremely gifted bankers, their coming back as chairmen will further strengthen their respective banks,” Adonri said, while congratulating them on their return and wishing them success.

“However, I hope this will not divert their attention from the new non-banking businesses they have birthed which are even greater value propositions for the economy than banking,” he added.

In own reaction, Mr Tola Odukoya, Vice-President, Dunn Loren Merrifield, said that both men are visionary and their return was long expected given that they were somewhat forced out of the banking system.

He stated that he had expected Elumelu to make a come back as chairman of UBA to put the bank back on track. “It is something that is expected. I didn’t expect them to just walk away from the industry just like that. I know they will come back and drive the banks. Ultimately, shareholders and other stakeholders of the banks will be better for it,” he said.

Speaking specifically on Elumelu’s performance, Odukoya said, “Look at UBA’s shares, it is one of the least priced stocks among the top three banks, talking of banks like FBN Holdings Plc and GTbank. So, his coming back will help to drive the bank’s performance.

When he took over Transcorp, the share price was at about N0.50kobo, but today, you can see where the share price is. So, I have always known that he will come back to continue from where he left off.”

Bank customers and the new ATM charge

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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ITH effect from yesterday, September 1st 2014, bank customers that make more than three cash withdrawals from the ATM of other banks in a month will begin to pay N65 per transaction from the fourth cash withdrawal.

In banking parlance, cash withdrawal from the ATM of other banks is called Remote-on-Us ATM cash withdrawal. Prior to December 2012, bank customers pay N100 every time they use the ATM of another bank (different from their own bank). The N100 is shared between your own bank (the issuer), the paying bank (that owns the ATM used for the withdrawal) and the Switch Company (that provides the infrastructure to process the payment).

But the CBN in order to encourage use of ATMs for cash withdrawal decided that customers should be relieved of this charge, and that the banks should bear the cost. Hence rather than customers paying for the services, the switch and the customer’s bank (the issuing bank) pays.

The implication was substantial loss of income for the banks. The policy indeed boosted awareness and confi-

dence in use of ATMs for cash with ever, as customers increase the us cash withdrawal, the cost of providi to maintain them also increased. The is more pronounced with the banks est number of ATMs and branches This coupled with the phased red non interest fees of banks (e.e. C concomitant effect on banks’ profit, ex on the banks to explore ways to re increase their income. This led to t the CBN to introduce the N65 c Remote-On-Us ATM cash withdraw in a month.

“Maintaining ATM is expensive economic incentive for owners to de tain these machines. If a part of thi abated, the banks may be forced to tions coming from their customers a ATMs, thereby frustrating the inte payment systems,” the Central Ba (CBN) said in a statement explainin duction of the charge.

MARKET NEWS

Guinness may report profit decline amid surge in innovation brands

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

G

UINNESS Nigeria Plc may report decline in profitability in its full year ended June 30, 2014 going by the nine months financial statement already in the public domain.

For the nine months ended 31 March, 2014, the company reported 11.4 percent decline in revenue and 30 percent fall in profit before tax to N7.823 billion from N11.234 billion within the period.

This is despite cost cutting measures initiated by the management that resulted in reduction in cost of sales by 13 percent from N48 billion to N41.6 billion.

Even though, the company’s management had expressed optimism that its performance will improve in the last quarter of its financial

year, it is expected that the trend will affect the full year results.

However, the company has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, of a Board meeting to be held on Thursday, 4th September 2014 where the full year audited financial statements and dividend declaration will be discussed.

Commenting on the third quarter results, Seni Adetu, Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, had said “In spite of the positive contributions from strategic innovations like Orijin Bitters, Snapp and Satzenbrau to net sales, high finance costs in an increasing interest rate environment negatively impacted overall profitability. We will continue

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 23

hdrawal. Howse of ATMs for ing ATMs, and e increased cost s with the largin the country. uction in other CoT), and the xerted pressure duce cost, and the decision of charge on any wal above three

e and requires ploy and mains cost goes unreject transacat another bank eroperability of ank of Nigeria ng the re-intro-

While there have been debate over the appropriateness and fairness of introducing this charge, the most important thing for bank customers is to first have a clear understanding of the charge.

The first thing is that you will not pay for the first three Remote-On-Us ATM cash withdrawal in a month. This means, every month, you have the opportunity to use the ATM of other banks for cash withdrawal three times without paying.

But you start paying from the fourth time you use the ATM of other banks to withdraw cash. Secondly, you will not pay when you use the ATM of your own bank to withdraw cash. So, you can use the ATM of your bank without paying as many times you want in a day, or in a month. You are not to pay.

The above implies that the N65 charge is avoidable. The CBN introduced it to help banks reduce cost of offering ATM services. You too can reduce your cost of enjoying the convenience offered by ATMs by limiting yourself to the ATMs of your own bank. Of course, this requires that you should identify branches of your bank close to where you live or work, or along your daily route, and plan your cash need accordingly. .

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INVESTORS SPEAK

More on penalising defaulting companies on dividend payment

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

V

ery soon, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will begin to sanction companies that fail to pay dividend within the timeline specified in the resolution passed by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, AGM, with five per cent fine on the total dividend payable by such companies .

This is part of the existing General Undertaking in the Exchange’s Listings Requirements executed by every Issuer before their securities were approved for listing on the exchange, and is believed it will enhance market performance and growth while sustaining a strong investor protection framework.

Contrary to this belief, some shareholders of companies listed on the Exchange who spoke with Vanguard Investors Forum, on the matter believed the move was avaricious with no good intention for the investors.

Excerpt: Chief Timothy ADESIYA, President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA): s far as the dividend decla ration is concerned, it is the prerogative of companies’ directors, especially when there is a profit. So, before you talk about either to declare dividend to shareholders or not, there must be a precondition that the company during the financial year has made profit and the fund is available.

And once the fund is available, the evidence to show that companies have sufficient fund is to pay the declared dividend at the right time and at the due date.

When this is not done, it is not good enough and the erring companies should be brought to book.

So, penalising them with the five per cent of the declared dividend is like taking blood from an anemic patient. And we regard this as another avenue through which the regulatory authorities intend to make money by all means, and this is always at the expense of the shareholders’ fund.

In a situation whereby the declared dividend is not yet paid, and the people who did not invest, regulatory authorities that had taken

A

to invest in our brand portfolio and optimisation of our market logistics, expecting that these and other initiatives will lead to improved revenues and overall performance.”

In 2011, the leading brewer announced an investment of N52 billion in its business to expand production and route to market infrastructure for its premium and innovation brands. While the premium brands have remained a strong portfolio of consumer brands holding their own against competition, the innovation brands are exceeding forecasted growth numbers, gaining significant market share as is very visible on the table tops in leading bars in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and other cities where these new brands have been launched.

The company confirmed that the sale of its innovation brands like Orijin Bitters, Snapp, Alvaro, Satzenbrau and Orijin Ready to drink were still up for the second consecutive quarter.

Adetu observed that the business is upbeat because the impressive performance of recently introduced innovation brands will be a big boost for Guinness Nigeria’s future performance. “That the best sales news from innovation brands is cheering because the investment committed to its development is stimulating growth. This will ensure value creation for our shareholders in no distant future.

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FORUM

There are some cases when you mandate your account, but registrars still transfer wrong amount into it. By so doing, they have short changed many shareholders

•Chief Timothy Adesiyan their commission on every trading on the floor on daily basis are still looking for ways to compete with shareholders on the minute dividend declared by companies, is not good enough.

This is not good enough, it is avaricious, wicked and not with good intention. It is just another way to grab more money. And when they grab this money, what do they do with it? They sleep in Hotels for months and use it to cater for their expenses at the expense of the shareholders. This is also not good enough.

What I am saying in a nutshell is this: collecting five per cent of the total dividend payable is not in the interest of the shareholders who they claim they are protecting because the money is still at the expense of the shareholders’ funds.

Godwin ANONO, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN): There is an issue going on in the market now whereby some companies will declare dividend at the AGM as one of the resolutions. Some shareholders will then gang up to ensure that they nullify the resolution, giving the reason that because the dividend declared is too small usually between two to three kobo, it should be ploughed back into the company’s operation.

After the meeting, they will meet with the managers of the company telling them what they have saved them through that effort. Then they will ask the managers to give them

•Godwin Anono something, and if you look at the volume of shares owned by this category of shareholders, they do not have more than 500 units, but they are depriving somebody that has 10 million units of his/her returns.

So this is one of the dirty politics going on at the venue of most AGMs and that is what calls for the intervention of the regulator that once declaration of dividend is in the AGM agenda, there should be no going back. And on this sanction, the regulators need to be very strict once a dividend is declared at the resolution during AGMs there should be no ploughing back.

Inability of companies to pay dividend five days after the AGM contributes to unclaimed dividend. Because many of the registrars and companies have problem with their data which they ought to resolve prior to the AGM but failed, it is usually after dividend is declared that they try to fix it but before they know it, the time is already against them.

There are some cases when you mandate your account, but registrars still transfer wrong amount into it.

By so doing, they have short changed many shareholders and it is only when such shareholder cries out that they will make moves to correct it. But in a situation whereby the person did not take notice of that mistake, that money will end up in the wrong hands.

So, these are issues the regulators really need to sit down and proffer solutions and see that things are done properly.

C M Y K

24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

FG must end external borrowings – Reps

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

C

HAIRMAN, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, has said that the Federal Government must put an end to external borrowings and take practical steps to reduce the cost of governance in order for Nigeria to successfully tackle its numerous economic challenges.

She made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 15th Annual Lecture of Catholic Brothers United in Lagos.

Speaking on the team, ‘Centenary Celebration: Appraising Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Development, Erewa said in addition to reducing its foreign debt profile, the country must also diversify the national economy like solid minerals development, agriculture, aviation, tourism, gas, entertainment and sports in order to move out of its current economic quagmire. She said, “The government should halt external borrowings and we have to demand that the trend be halted. That is why in the National Assembly, we have always opposed unnecessary borrowings. Now, they are asking for another $1billion to help fight insecurity.

The question is, what have we

done with our money?”

According to her, “For Nigeria to move out of its prevailing economic troubles, corruption must be reduced to the barest minimum, the cost of governance must be deliberately reduced and there must be prudent management of the economy while the leadership must properly focus.”

She added that for real economic progress to be made, infrastructural deficits in the country must be quickly and

properly fixed and a new revenue formula in favour of states and local governments be put in place.

The journalist turned lawmaker, who lamented that the federal government’s transformation agenda has done little to address the numerous economic challenges bedevilling the country as indicated by high unemployment and poverty rates, emphasised that the nation needs to urgently halt the deepening process

of rural-urban migration, rural decay and urban dislocation.

She however noted that promotion of SMEs and a deliberate policy of cheap money through low interest rates, the control of inflation and avoidance of excessive and frequent currency devaluation as essentials for encouraging domestic production and promoting international competitiveness must be instituted.

Unveiling: From left: Regional Sales Director, Mr. Afeez Ajibowu; Managing Director/Chief Executive Mr. Seni Adetu; Head, Consumer Planning and Research, Ms. Tayo Salami and Marketing Manager, Obinna Anyalebechi all of Guinness Nigeria Plc during the Guinness "#madeofblack" campaign media launch in Lagos.

Advertising practitioners protest APCON council appointment

BY Princewill Ekwujuru

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EADS of Advertising Sectorial Group, HASG, have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind the appointment of Prince Ngozi Emioma and others as members of Council of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON. The HASG is comprised of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, Media Independent Association of Nigeria, MIPAN, Advertising Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN. The group made this call through the president of AAAN, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, who also is a signatory to the letter protesting the appointment, where it disclosed at a press briefing in Lagos that the “council” purportedly “appointed” and headed by Prince Emioma does not conform to sections of the Act establishing APCON as a federal regulator.

Nwosu said the appointment of Prince Emioma and other

members of his “Council” not qualified to be on the APCON Council, “as neither of them fulfils the expectations of the APCON law.”

According to him, “we will like to use this medium to appeal to Mr President to please formally rescind the purported appointment of Mr Emioma and his team . The purported appointment is against the APCON law and was made in error, as had been done in the past. Mr. President should please ensure that the APCON law is protected and maintained so that APCON as a federal regulator can function according to law effectively.”

Continuing, he said; “APCON has worked very hard through qualified Nigerian professionals to effectively regulate and control the practice of advertising in Nigeria since 1988.

APCON’s role as a federal regulator is so critical and sensitive in being a professional watch-dog that monitor the type of advertisements are exposed to Nigerians.”

To allow unregistered practitioners to take over the management of the Council will be against the law, illegal and

counter-productive. We want to add that other professional councils like the Nigerian Medical Council, the Nigerian Legal Council, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, the En-

gineering Council etc are managed by duly qualified and certified professionals,” he reiterated

NPA killing our operations — PTOL

BY Godfrey Bivbere

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ANAGEMENT of Ports and Terminal Operators Ltd., PTOL, has accused Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, of deliberately working against it.

Making the accusation in his office when the company hosted the management of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, (the post economic regulator) the General Manager, Operations, PTOL,Abdullahi Ahmed, said while the Authority has failed to carry out maintenance dredging of the channel leading to the port, it has not failed in the collection of N1million as stipulated in the concession agreement even when there are no jobs for them.

Ahmed also accused NPA of protecting Intels by refusing to allow owners of oil and gas cargoes who want to use their terminal from doing so, insisting that all such consignments must go to Onne port.

Before now, he continued, piloting of vessels was handled by ship or cargo owners who pay private pilots to bring their ships to berth, noting that NPA's recently introduced 3rd party pilotage.

He frowned at the recent introduction of collection of increase berthing rate by the NPA which he said would affect their operation drastically.

According to him, the collection of the berth rent that commenced last month despite the same charges slammed on cargo owners by terminal operators after the concession exercise is expected to further increase the cost of cargo clearance from the nation’s ports.

Kolade tasks taxation practitioners on transparency

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HE immediate past Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Dr Christopher Kolade has tasked taxation practitioners in the country on the need to imbibe transparency and accountability in their area of influence.

He made this remark in Lagos while delivering a keynote speech at the investiture of Aderonke Oloruntoye as the fourteenth chairman of the Lagos district society of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).

Kolade noted that transparent leadership should begin with the individual citizen.

“I look at myself and I know that I have a lot of work to do. If this country is to return to good leadership, none of us can be exempted from the efforts that are needed”, he said.

In her acceptance speech, Oloruntoye thanked the members of the institute for election her to take up the mantle of the district for the next two years saying that the focus of her administration would be on enlightenment the masses on taxation and empowerment of taxation practitioners in her jurisdiction through courtesy visits, trainings and seminars.

C&I Leasing, Svitzer sign MoU for NLNG contract

BY Abdul-Lateef Ligali

C

&I leasing has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Svitzer, a unit of MAERSK group, with the aim of securing a contract from Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

In a statement by C&I leasing, the contract will enable them perform terminal support tugs and pilot vessels for the Nigerian liquefied natural gas.

According to a report, one of the world largest towage and salvage company, Svitzer, will provide assistance to set up a simulator-based training center in C&I Leasing's Port Harcourt office, as well as providing access to proprietary vessel management and operational software to enhance skills of its staffs and improve reliability and availability.

Commenting on the MOU, C&I Leasing noted: “this represents a significant step in our efforts to compete more aggressively in supporting the Federal Government’s laudable local content program.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 25

NIM to promote best practice in leadership

Labour warns construction firms over unfair practices

By William Jimoh

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HE Nigerian Institute of Management, has announced plans to hold a two days Annual National Management Conference (ANMC) as part of efforts by the institute to promote international best practices in leadership and management in the country.

The conference tagged: “Straightening the Institutions of Nationhood: the Challenges of Management,” comes up later in the month at EffurunWarri, Delta State; said President of the institute, Dr. Nelson Uwaga.

Uwaga, stated this while admonishing 48 newly conferred fellows who joined the existing 709 fellows of the institute at the Awards, Fellows and Spouses’ Day Luncheon held in Lagos, where he added that His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan will be the main speaker while other top-of-the-line individuals will be delivering the subthemes papers.

The president said that aside the conference, the institute will also continue with its public policy advocacy programme which addresses burning and contemporary issue of national importance in its managing Nigeria series under the auspices of NIM academy of corporate management.

ADVAN charges stakeholders on digital switch over

BY Princewill Ekwujuru

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TAKEHOLDERS in the broadcast industry have been called upon by Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN to step up preparations for the digital switch-over era.

President of ADVAN, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi, made this call while addressing participants at an interactive session with the National Broadcasting Commission NBC, on the Digitalisation of the Electronic Media in Lagos.

While addressing the forum, which comprised of various stakeholders in the digitalisation process, urged the participants to begin to look at various opportunities that will emerge as a result of the coming digitalisation era, while putting in place necessary facilities and procedures, to ensure a smooth transition to the new era.

Director General of NBC, Chief Emeka Mba, who was keynote speaker during the interaction session delivered a paper on “Transition to Digital Television in Nigeria: An Overview of What Is Coming”.

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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RGANISED labour in the nation’s construction industry, has warned employers to end all forms of unfair labour practices to avoid industrial unrest, warning that henceforth, it will resist any exploitative employment policy that

degrades jobs of members.

Under the umbrella of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers, NUCECFWW, at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, resolved to investigate and monitor employers in the industry who engage in casuali-

sation and all forms of short term employment contracts.

It maintained that sufficient compensation, benefits and good welfare passages should be paid to members through unrestricted legitimate right to union activities, collective bargaining and other lawful engagements in resolving issues with employers, particularly Chi-

From left: Tade Owodunni, manager, DSCL Corporate services Ltd; Femi Falola, Director, internal audit, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services, Etisalat Nigeria; Adebisi Adeyemi, Managing Director, DCSL Corporate Services Limited; Edward Okolo, Head, Financial Standards & Corporate Governance Department, Securities & Exchange Commission, and Kayode Omoregbe, Senior Lecturer in Finance, Lagos Business School, at the DSCL Audit Committee Seminar, with the theme: “Improving the Performance of the Audit Committee” in Lagos.

nese and Asian owned companies.

The Council applauded the resilient efforts of the national leadership in tackling the issue of casualisation, noting that the efforts had led to the conversion of 4000 casual workers to permanent employees of CCECC and CGC. “Council appreciates the alertness of the union in monitoring of employers compliance with best industrial relations practices in our industry which has helped to reduce friction between the union and employers, and has put management on their toes, facilitate alertness and make both the government and employers to appreciate the need to proactively nip issues in the bud,” The Council had also called on Ministry of Labour not to allow employers scuttle and deny workers their inalienable rights stating that in the event of judgment against the employers, the ministry should take active steps to ensure that the award is implemented.

DISCOS urged to patronise local meter manufacturers

By Udo Ibuot, Chief Sub Editor ANUFACTURERS of prepaid and post paid electricity meters in the country have urged the electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, to begin to look inwards and patronise locally produced meters.

The meter manufacturers said their members were at a loss to observe that the DISCOS were reluctant to patronise both the prepaid and postpaid meters from them despite the great need for such meters by consumers.

They noted that while meters manufactured in Nigeria passed through environmental tests of humidity, temperature and heat, foreign manufactured meters did

M

not pass through such rigour, stressing that Nigerian manufactured meters were better than imported ones.

The manufacturers spoke during an interactive session with members of the Consumer Rights Advancement Organisation, CRADO, at the Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, MEMMCOL, at Orimerunmu, Ogun State.

Speaking under the auspices of Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, EMMAN, the General Manager, Commercial, of the Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, MEMMCOL, Mr. Olayinka Lawal, said patronage of Nigerian meters would enable these local

manufacturers to retain their trained engineers, adding that his company was operating with skeletal staff at the moment, having already asked about 60 per cent of the 150 workforce to stay home.

Lawal said MEMMCOL produced meters in line with the standard transfer specification, noting that that this allows other meters to communicate or interface with one another.

On why the power distribution companies had not taken advantage of the local production of prepaid and postpaid meters, Lawal said with its installed capacity of 1.2 million meters a year or 100,000 meters a month, his factory could meet the demands of the distribution companies, stressing that the

eTranzact, EFInA invest N56m to boost financial inclusion

E

BY Jonah Nwokpoku

T R A N Z A C T International Plc, Nigeria’s mobile banking and payments services provider and a finance development organisation, EFInA have invested $350,000, about N56 million in a mobile money activation project that will enhance financial inclusion in Nigeria.

The project, tagged “The PocketMoni 500” has kicked off in Kano and Ogun States in Northern and South Western Nigeria respectively, and is aimed at driving the adoption of mobile

money in those areas by educating and signing up local merchants and consumers. eTranzact International PLC, which facilitates mobile banking services of 11 banks through its mobile switching platform, processes over 1 trillion Naira every year and has more than 11 years’ experience processing financial transactions in Africa, got a Central Bank Mobile Money license for PocketMoni, its mobile money wallet in 2012.

With low internet penetration a major challenge to the adoption of mobile money in Nigeria, eTranzact said, the key value

proposition of PocketMoni is ubiquity, being able to send, receive money and make payments using USSD, SMS, GPRS/lnternet and the web.

Speaking about the project, the ChiefExecutiveOfficerofeTranzact, Mr Valentine Obi, said; “eTranzact is excited to announce this project at this time. Since we began our mobile money service in Nigeria, it has been clear that significant effort had to be made by stakeholders at all levels to educate and incentivize merchants and users, and in collaboration with our partners, we will continue to push until the cashless policy goal is achieved.”

company has brought all stakeholders to the plant to observe the production process.

He said, “all CEOs of all the DISCOs have been here. Eko, Ikeja, Ibadan DISCOs have been to the factory. Minister of state for power, the minister of trade and investment, Aganga, the current minister of industry, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC commissioner, Ekpo, has also been here. Even the NERC commissioner for standards, Mr. Awolokun has been here.

“The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has also been here up to four times. However, because the plant has stopped full production following the lack of patronage, the final approval of SON has been put on hold.”

At the UNISTAR and MOJEC electricity meters manufacturing companies, CRADO realised that a sizeable stock of all types of electricity meters were being manufactured and available in the country but were not being patronised by the DISCOs. Speaking on the visit, president of the Consumer Rights Advancement Organisation, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said he was shocked to realise that despite the humongous demand for prepaid and postpaid meters, and their local manufacture by several firms in the country, the DISCOs were reluctant to buy them and supply to electricity consumers in the country.

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 2, 2014

Ondo: Mimiko's moves After dithering procrastination, Governor Segun Mimiko is set to defect from Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The move will not only alter the political landscape in Ondo State, but also redraw geopolitical permutations in the Southwest.

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & Dayo Johnson

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HE news that Governor Segun Mimiko is defecting from Labour Party to the PDP was to many a storm in a tea cup. To some, especially in Abuja, he is more PDP than many PDP governors and showed so when he delivered for the party in the last presidential elections more than half of the party’s governors.

But no matter his efforts in pushing the interests of President Goodluck Jonathan, the jabs from fellow governors remained a discomfort to the Ondo governor.

When last month Governor Mimiko stood on a five man panel with five other governors at a Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN event on poverty alleviation schemes, the Labour governor was the first to praise the efforts of the Jonathan administration in uplifting the Medium and SmallScale Enterprises Schemes, saying that that was a sufficient reason to releect the president.

Political chasm Whether stimulated by jealousy or he saw Mimiko as an interloper, Governor Babagida Aliyu of Niger State was to jab Governor Mimiko to defect to the PDP if he saw the good things that were being done by the PDP federal administration.

But defecting to the PDP had neverbeenaneasytaskforMimiko, given the political chasm that has existed between him and the mainstreamofthepartyinhisnative Ondo State since he walked away from the party in 2006.

MimikocametothePDPfromthe Alliance for Democracy, AD where he served as a commissioner, and was reportedly largely instrumental to the defeat of the AD government by the PDP in the 2003 gubernatorial elections which brought Segun Agagu, to power.

No one has proved it till today, but it has been largely whispered in political circles that there was an agreement for Agagu to serve one

•Jonathan term and thereafter, Mimiko would run for governor in 2007. However, by 2006 the signs were that such an agreement if it was ever made would not be honoured and Mimikowhohadbecomeaminister in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration was forced to leave the PDP to contest against Agagu in the 2007 election on the platform of Labour Party which he set up in the state. Though Agagu was declared the winner by the electoral authorities, the result was upturned by the courts after a trenchant judicial battle more than one year later.

Though now dead, Agagu and hisassociatesneverforgaveMimiko for the humiliation which was reinforced in 2011 when Mimiko humbled Agagu, his former boss in the Ondo South Senate election by pushing his adopted Labour man to win the seat.

Though Southwest political leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was supportive of Mimiko’s judicial battle against the PDP in the period between 2007 and 2008 when he was declared winner by the Court of Appeal, Mimiko and Tinubu also parted ways in the period before the 2012 gubernatorial election , forcing Mimikointoasortofpoliticalorphan thathadtobattleentrenchedpolitical establishments for re-election in 2012. It was a hard fought battle in which he triumphed.

Given his roots in the PDP and the apparent failure of the then PDP state leader, Agagu to firmly hold the structures of the party in the state, it was not surprising that cleavagesappearedwithinthePDP

•Mimiko with some of the PDP members creating a faction that supported Mimiko’s re-election against the desire of Agagu.

The faction led by a former diplomat, Ambassador Olu Agbi, included party chieftains among whom were Chief Segun Adegoke, Dr Akin Olowokere, Mr. Demola Adegoroye and Mr. Kunle Agunbiade. The faction had rubbed delicate nerves ahead of the 2012 election when it endorsed Mimiko as against the candidate produced by the Agagu faction of the party, Chief Olusola Oke. Inevitably, the Agbi faction of the party which has consistently been supportive of the Mimiko government is now generally known among political stakeholders as PDP –Gbesibe.

Meanwhile, the other faction led

by Agagu according to sources also shifted its sights towards the Asiwaju Tinubu forces in the Southwest. Just before the death of Agagu last year, the faction it was learnt was set to embrace the Tinubu led All Progressives

Congress, APC in the Southwest for a working agreement or possible merger.

That faction of the PDP is also known among political stakeholders in Ondo State as PDP Jagaban.

Though Mimiko has been the issue in Ondo politics for close to seven years, sources close to the governor say that his decision to retrace his steps to the PDP were forced by political exigencies.

One major reason it was learnt is the weight or cost of being the only governor in the Labour Party.

Besides the cost of funding the party, the governor it was learnt was uncomfortable with the loneliness around him. The jab from Governor Aliyu at the CBN event last August was only a reflection of such jabs.

Besides, Governor Mimiko is also projecting the implications for him and President Jonathan in 2015 were he to support the president as a Labour governor.

Associates of the governor reveal that many votes were lost to Labour

Mimiko's future home PDP GBASIBE

PDP JAGAGBAN

•Welcomes the move •Love Mimiko •Will remain in PDP

•Panicking •Despise Mimiko •May defect to APC

in 2011 when the Labour Party took the decision to support the president in the presidential election and also at the same time support Labour candidates in other tiers.

“Presidential election and National Assembly elections are going to be done the same day so, he can't canvass for Jonathan for the presidency and campaign for Labour Party for the National Assembly elections. It will be hard to sell to our people, the difference in election,” an associate of the governor said. “Many members of the electorate won't understand the voting process of voting for the PDP and also voting for Labour Party in the same election,” the associate added.

His imminent entry into the PDP is, however, bound to reshape political calculations as PDP Jagban which is the officially recognised faction is bound to be unsettled by his entry as their one time enemy becomes their political leader. Sources say that a 60:40 sharing ratio in favour of Mimiko has been agreed between the governor and PDP national leaders.

But outside Ondo State, the entry of Governor Mimiko into the PDP is bound to reshape political permutations in the Southwest where Tinubu had until lately held full sway. With a two term governor in the person of Mimiko now in the fold, the shape and scene of the PDP in the Southwest are bound to be expanded putting an apparent question to the claim by the APC that the southwest is their foothold.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 2, 2014—27

2015: Early signs from Niger The declaration of the Niger East Senate by-election as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was an anti-climax in a political contest symbolic of what is to come in the months ahead.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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HE two major combatants were Nuhu Zagbayi, the immediate past deputy governor of Niger State who served under the Abdulkadir Kure administration and David Umaru, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, a veteran political combatant in the state.

In the inconclusive results declared by INEC at the weekend APC was credited with 84,689 votes, APGA, 2099, PDP, 89,640 while SDP was scored 460 votes out of the 199,790 voters accredited voters.

The by-election was forced by the death three months ago of the Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, a former labour activist cum political veteran who had occupied the seat since 2007.

Political veteran Senator Kuta had before his death reportedly been engaged in a subtle war political war with Governor Babangida Aliyu following allegations that the outgoing governor was scheming to take over the seat from Kuta in the 2015 election.

However, the unexpected death of Kuta on June 12, 2014 remarkably reshaped the political configuration of the state and the 2015 Senate race.

Given that Governor Aliyu could not step down to contest for a seat that would be given up in less than a year, it was suggested that the governor would draft an ally to fill in the position for him pending the end of his tenure in 2015. Whether the governor thought of that or not, the PDP after five meetings produced what it described as its consensus candidate in the person of Zagbayi. In presenting Zagbayi, the PDP state deputy, Barrister Tanko Beji, “Why we chose him is because he is the best; he is our preferred candidate; he is the candidate of the people; he is a politician; he is a gentleman; he is everything you think of. Dr Shem is our candidate.

“Am telling you that a consensus has been reached by the party; therefore no other candidate can

emerge as far as PDP is concerned because party elders and organs have met and agreed on Dr Shem and has been stamped,” he told a national newspaper.

But there were, however, speculations that the large influence of the presidency was brought to bear on the PDP in Niger State to draft Zagbayi, who is reported to have been a close friend of President Goodluck Jonathan when both men served as deputy governors.

While the PDP produced Zagbayi, the APC presented Umaru, a dogged politician who had contested the governorship of the state on the banner of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. Umaru who is reported to

•David Umaru have strong network on the ground was largely endorsed by former President Ibrahim Babangida who described him as a son in the days ahead of the election.

It was thus not surprising that the Senate by-election was seen as figurative of what to come in the forthcoming general election.

It was especially so, given the

•Nuhu Zagbayi profile of both candidates who are strong members of their different political parties.

Remarkably, in a religion sensitive state like Niger, religion was removed as a factor given that both men are Christians and members of the same church, the Evangelical Church of West Africa, ECWA. In an election which the PDP

easily swept to victory in 2011, the mobilisation of support for Umaru last weekend was indicative of the strong challenge that the party could face when push comes to shove in 2015.

Meanwhile, both parties have again resorted to the trenches ahead of the conclusion scheduled for this weekend.

2015: Rivers Ijaws stake their claim It is a political ambition that may rankle some, but not the Ijaws in Rivers State who at the weekend resolved in their determination to get the governorship of the state.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

J

UST as they are found in all the coastal states in the country, the Ijaw ethnic group remarkably is found in all three senatorial zones in Rivers State, specifically in ten local government areas of the state.

So, it was not surprising that the people at the weekend came out with a demand “We therefore remind the National and State leaders of the respective parties to remember that a social debt is owed to the people of the Rivers Ijaws with respect to Governorship of Rivers State,” spokesman of the Eastern Delta Peoples Association, Youth Wing, Mr. Kingsley Pepple said at a media interactive session last weekend.

Continuing, he said: “It is only but fair to offset these existing social debt.

A candidate of the Ijaw extraction, definitely settles the civic debt owed the people of the Riverine. Luckily Rivers Ijaws can be found in the three senatorial districts of the state,” he said in obvious reference to the long agitation of the people of ethnic Ijaws to govern Rivers State.

Continuing, he said the group had collected twenty five thousand signatures so far from people of the state who endorse an Ijaw governor for

•Amaechi 2015.

The group further said that two former governors of the state would address the peaceful rally, adding that it would hold at the Isaac Boro park.

“Twenty groups have also expressed support and soidarity with the Eastern Delta Peoples Association. Two former governorship and eight other highly respected dignitaries of the state are billed to speak at the unity rally scheduled for October in Port Harcourt”, he said.

The group further appealed to other ethnic groups in the state to support the drive by the Ijaws to be governor of the state.

“We ask for the same measures of friendship and support that we have freely given in the past, to enable a daughter or son of our challenged locally to occupy the Brick house and give adequate attention to our plight and that of other Rivers communities”, he said.

Noting what he said to be attempts by other more endowed interest groups to derail the ambition of the group, he said: “We have seen varying forms of maneuvering , selling of outright lies, distortion of history and inducements to deny rivers Ijaws the same opportunity that we freely gave to our brothers in the past , thereby seeking to erase us out of the political equation of Rivers State.”

“Our leaders, sons and daughters have agreed not to reject any money or gift offered to gain their support by these agents of disunity & hatred , simply because the item can be of service to them at some point. On 2015 polls, we have resolved to support a Rivers Ijaw candidate. We therefore encourage all men of good will, lovers of justice, equity & unity to keep pumping in the money in as many schemes as possible to support our economy. The vote of the People of Rivers State is not for sale.”

Chairman, Steering Committee of the parent body, Elder Lawrence Jumbo later inaugurated the leadership of the youth wing in ten local goverment areas of the state where the Ijaws are found.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Man minus machines equals a labourer (3) Being the third instalment of an inaugural lecture delivered by Lawson Olabosipo Adekoya, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife

I

NTENDED cylinders separate grains based on differences in shape while inclined drapers effect separation on the basis of differences in surface textures of the particles.

In contrast, the electromagnetic separator effects separation based on differences in the electrical properties of the grains and the foreign matter.

All the above previous methods have limited successes in removing stones from grains.

However, the specific gravity table has been reported to achieve efficient separation of stones from grains (Henderson and Perry, 1976).

In order to domesticate the principle for the cleaning of local grains, such a machine will have to be specifically designed and made adjustable for varieties of

, PR OF WSON ADEK OYA PROF OF.. LA LAWSON ADEKO

local food grains such as maize, rice and cowpea.

As a first step in meeting this goal, Koya and Adekoya (1994) determined some physical, mechanical and aerodynamic properties relevant in mechanically-removing stones from some local food grains. The relevant properties were physical (size, shape, mass and density), mechanical (coefficient of static friction) and aerodynamic (suspension velocity). The properties were determined for

two varieties of maize (Farz7 and TZSR-W), two varieties of rice (Faro II and BG 90/ 2), and three varieties of cowpea (Ife Brown, TVX 3236 and IT84EFactory machine 124). Relevant properties of rock and mineral guineensis Jacq.) is a tree particles (often referred to as without branches but with many stone) that usually constitute wide leaves (or fronds) at its top impurities in grains were (or crown). Bunches, each of compiled from Telford et al which contains over a thousand (1976). fruits, are held in the axils of the Using the above data and basic leaves and are arranged in a design principles, a machine for rosette around the crown. The oil removing stones from local grains palm is a native of tropical Africa was designed and fabricated growing wild in many parts of (Adekoya and Koya, 1998). The West Africa and the Congo basin. machine consisted of an The oil palm is a very oscillating table, the important economic tree. The two transmission, the fan and air most important products of the chamber, and the power source. oil palm are palm oil and palm The oscillating table was an kernels, both of which are inclined perforated plane made obtained from the fruits. Palm oil from expanded metal with is used primarily for human an overlay of mosquito consumption, but a substantial netting. The oscillatory amount is also used in the motion of the table was manufacture of margarine, imparted through a crank- soaps, etc, while the oil from the rocker mechanism driven by kernel is used mostly for an electric motor (Plate 8). pomades, oil paints, etc.

Separation by specific gravity separator is based Mechanical on two conditions. (1) the harvesting lifting or floating effect produced by the upward Generally, for fruit crops, the motion of air through the majority of mechanical perforations in the harvesting systems utilized today oscillatory table, and (ii) are shake-and-catch methods pure-slip conveyance of (Futch et al, 2006). The oil palm granular materials on an defies this harvesting method oscillating conveyor within because the fruits are compactly a certain range of packed in bunches which are frequencies. Test results showed hidden in leaf axils in the crowns. that for varieties of the same Also, the trunk of the oil palm grain, the optimum values of the is not compliant enough to create parameters that affected the the required vibration phase machine operation were difference between it and the basically the same but were fruits (as is found between the different for different grains. tomato fruits and vines for The machine successfully example). Additionally, the separated up to 94%, 90% and bunches have very thick and 74% of the stones present in rice, strong stalks and could be at cowpea and maize varieties heights of over 9 m. respectively in the first pass of Work done by Bevan and Gray the grains.

(1969) in Malaysia showed that •Oil Palm Harvesting on for palms aged between 9 and Plantations: The oil palm (Elaeis

16 years, 43.5% of the total manhours for annual production was expended on harvesting. The corresponding value for palms aged between 17 and 25 years was 45.4%. According to Hartley (1977), booms mounted on tracks or high floatation wheeled tractors were tried in Honduras and Costa Rica. The booms took the harvesters to the crowns of palms up to 12m in height, and the bunches were cut and they

,

By PROF. LAWSON ADEKOYA

oil palm and oil palm harvesting on plantations in Nigeria in order to facilitate the mechanisation of the process. The research was carried out on the oil palm plantations of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) in Benin-City. The data sought were the following: i. base circumference of the oil palm measured at a height of 30 cm from the ground surface,

Locally, the oil palm is currently being manually harvested using simple implements such as cutlasses, axes, chisels and the Malaysian knife

fell into a trailer drawn behind the tractor. The method was cumbersome because it was difficult to manoeuvre the tractors around the tree trunks and also ensure that the bunches fell into the trailer.

Locally, the oil palm is currently being manually harvested using simple implements such as cutlasses, axes, chisels and the Malaysian knife. The method used depends largely on the height of the tree. The methods currently being used in Nigeria are: the chisel method (for plants less than 2.5m in height or within arm-reach), the ladder and cutlass/ladder and axe method (for moderately-tall trees beyond arm-reach), the knife and bamboo pole method (for trees from moderately-tall up to 9 m in height), and the rope and cutlass/ rope and axe method (for trees beyond the reach of the knife and pole method).

Adekoya and Makinde (1990) carried out preliminary investigations to obtain data on

,

ii. trunk circumferences measured at a height of 2 m from the ground surface and at intervals of 1 m, iii. bunch stalk circumference, iv. force required to cut a palm frond, v. force required to cut a palm bunch, vi. number of bunches on a tree, and vii. mass of a ripe bunch.

Further work by Adetan and Adekoya (1995) showed that harvesting of the oil palm can be broken down into five separate activities which can be classified as: i. locating, reaching and cutting of the ripe fruit bunches and underlying fronds, ii. stacking of the cut fronds along the row, iii. searching for and collecting the cut fruit bunches and the scattered loose fruits from the ground, iv. transporting the fruit bunches and the loose fruits to Continues on page 29

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—29

Ta b le 1: Landmar k da tes in the de velopment of the moder n car Landmark dates dev modern

Man minus machines equals a labourer (3) Continues from page 28 the collection centres in the field, and v. loading the fruit bunches and the loose fruits into vehicles for transportation to the processing plant.

Additionally, a time and motion study was carried out on the two methods used for harvesting tall trees: the bamboo pole and knife (BPK), and the single rope and cutlass (SRC) methods, in order to determine where intervention was most urgently needed (Adetan and Adekoya, 1995).

Data was collected on the times used for carrying out the first four activities described in the previous paragraph.

The research showed that: i. With the BPK method, the greater mass and length of the harvesting pole made harvesting very uncomfortable. ii. Transportation of the long and heavy harvesting pole to, from, and on the field was very

detached from the bunches, and hence when the search and collection should be terminated.

Therefore, there is always the probability of leaving an appreciable proportion of the detached fruits uncollected especially in high-yielding but weedy plots. vi. The fruit collector always complained of waist pains, and because of this problem, there was a tendency for an incomplete search and collection of detached loose fruits. The preceding and current observations informed us that there could be resultant high cumulative losses in the collection activity.

Based on the facts that the climbing before cutting substantially reduced harvesting rate, and that much risk was involved in climbing, it was decided that further research should be done to make the BPK method more suitable for harvesting tall trees. This was effected through an improved

A simple solution to these problems was to design an engineered rope with a device that enabled the climber to free his hands and legs from the rope and the oil palm tree without falling down or impacting his body on the tree

,

onerous. There was the risk of injuring other field workers with the Malaysian knife on the long pole. iii. Severe damages were inflicted on the fruits from tall trees as they impacted the ground. This was likely to substantially raise the free fatty acid level of the oil produced from them, which would lead to a lower quality of oil. iv. There were the risks of accidental falls and snake and insect bites in the SRC method. v. In either method, the search for, and the collection of the detached and scattered fruits were never fully accomplished because it was impossible to know how many fruits were

pole-and-knife method of harvesting the oil palm (Adetan et al, 2007).

Basically, the research consisted of the design and fabrication of a telescoping mechanical pole that was easier to carry, was easier in engaging fronds and bunch stalks, and was able to harvest both short and tall trees. By treating the pole as a cantilever, deflection analysis was carried out (Juvinall, 1967) on various lengths and diameters of locallyavailable aluminium poles to determine the sizes to procure for the construction.

The telescoping was achieved by using three sections of aluminium pipes of different diameters with

The rotary tomato harvesting machine.

C M Y K

,

S/N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Date 1769 1876 1886 1894 1903 1904 1906 1908 1909 1911 1912 1914 1916 1917 1920 1922 1925 1926 1927 1929 1930 1931 1933 1936 1937 1938 1940s 1950s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

the Malaysian knife attached to the topmost section.

T o complement the telescoping pole, a catchment platform was designed and fabricated from high density f o a m sandwiched between a t o u g h polyethylene tetraphalate tarpaulin material on top and a fairly tough nylon (polyamide) material at the bottom. The foam made the spreading and folding of the platform easy and also helped to absorb some of the kinetic energy of the falling bunches.

Field tests showed that the combination of telescoping pole and catchment platform significantly reduced the detachment of the fruits from the bunches and also ensured that the few detached fruits do not possess enough kinetic energy to be dispersed from the catchment platform. These actions reduced the severe damages inflicted on the fruits as they impacted the ground. The telescoping harvesting pole was easily disassembled and packed together for easier transportation to the fields, was much lighter than the bamboo pole, and was easily used to harvest trees of different heights (Plate 9). Of course, it also had a longer life than the bamboo pole.

Successful commercialisation Mr. Vice-Chancellor, I am happy (or is it sad?) to inform you that the telescoping harvesting pole is presently being manufactured in Malaysia and exported to many oil palm producing countries including Nigeria. The telescoping harvesting pole (without a catchment platform) has been sighted in service at the Araromi Oil Palm Plantation, AraromiObu, Ondo State and Swanlux Farms, Coker Village (near Osogbo), Osun State. My sadness is due to the fact that there is no royalty accruing to the University or the researchers from the commercialisation of the idea!

With the “successful” commercialization of the telescoping harvesting pole, as it were, attention was shifted back to the improvement of the traditional climbing rope. The traditional climbing rope is made from vines or some other vegetative material. The major

Invention incorporated in the car The first horseless carriage The Otto engine A patent for “a carriage with petrol engine” Front-mounted engine under the bonnet Enclosed car and glass windscreen Steering wheels in place of tillers Built-in baggage compartment The first rumble seat Compressed air self-starter Electric self-starter and electric headlights Perfection of the electric self-starter of today by Samuel Kettering Opening of the world’s first car assembly line by Henry Ford Something for women: vanity cases, clocks, crystal flower vases, etc Introduction of car heaters Pneumatic tyres Reverse lights Car rental service Shock-proof glass Chrome trim “Mechanically complete” modern car Front-wheel drive Sun visor for the car interior Independent front suspension First diesel-engine car (a Mercedes Benz) Moving of batteries to a new position under the bonnet Turn signals Sealed-beam headlights, tubeless tyres, and automatic transmission Air-conditioning, electrically-operated car windows, and seat adjusters Catalytic converters Digital speedometers, electronic prompts, and monitoring on-board computers Computer-control of car sub-systems: engine, air-conditioning, etc Rotating headlights, hybrid engines, internet-based tracking systems, etc Ta b le 2: Comparison of cost of mac hine and hand planting machine

S/N

1.

2 3

4 5

Operation

Govt. Hire Hand Machine

Ridging Fuel Labour i.Planting ii.Extra ridging Depreciation Preparation of cuttings Total (N/ha)

problem of the traditional climbing rope is failures due to rope breakages. These failures resulted in falls that were either minor or fatal. On some occasions, the climber is attacked by snakes or insects.

In an attempt to strike the snake and /or drive away the insects, the climber sometimes loses his balance and is cut by the cutlass or bruised by the tree. In this climbing method, it is impracticable for both legs of the planter to leave the tree at the same time. If done, the climber either gets bruised during the impaction of his body on the tree or he is completely immobilised by the rope pinning his body to the tree.

Simple solution A simple solution to these problems was to design an engineered rope with a device that enabled the climber to free his hands and legs from the rope and the oil palm tree without falling down or impacting his body on the tree. Thus he can use his hands, cutlass and legs to defend himself in the case of an attack by either a snake or insects.

The engineered rope was made up of two parts: the body brace belt and the rope. The body brace belt consists of a belt part made of canvas and a brace part made of gauge 16 sheet metal strip padded with rubber foam. The gauge 16 sheet metal strip carried two locks for attaching the rope

5.19 0.79

5.19 1.78

Private Owner Hand Machine

5.19 9.51 0.79 1.78

23.72 3.51 23.72 3.51 0.98 0.98 1.75 1.75 3.16 4.67 3.16 4.67 32.86 17.88 32.86 22.20 part. The rope part was also made of two parts: a safety arm made of aluminium and the rope made from 6 mm-thick canvas lined with a stainless strip, punched so that the surface was rough enough to grip the oil palm tree (Plates 10 and 11). The safety arm was constructed of aluminium and weighed a only 2.5 kg.

Accelerated testing showed that the engineered climbing rope had a life of at least five years while the traditional climbing rope had a life of a few months (usually a harvesting season).

Peeling of Cassava Tubers The cassava root is a tuber. It is the main economically-useful part of the plant. Apart from its use as a source of food for humans, the cassava tuber has many nonfood uses. These include its use as industrial starch in the textile industry and as cassava flour used for blending wheat flour in processing of biscuits, bread, etc.

Several attempts have been made to mechanise the peeling of cassava prior to our work.

Chemical peeling using a hot solution of sodium hydroxide (which has been successful in peeling potatoes) were shown to be unsuitable for cassava tubers (Igbeka, 1985).

Abrasion has had limited success mainly because the process reduced the tubers to uniform cylinders before all peels could be removed (Ezekwe, 1976). Additionally, before the big tubers are adequately peeled, the small tubers would have been literally grated.

To be continued

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 2, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 2, 2014—31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Jeep Cherokee SRT: Blend of power, luxury E

ARLY this year, Weststar Associates Ltd., authorised general distributors of Jeep/ Chrysler/Dodge/Ram in Nigeria, in collaboration with one of its dealers MB Automobiles Services Ltd., introduced the most powerful Jeep Grand Cherokee into the Nigeria Market. The Grand Cherokee SRT is unarguably one of the most powerful SUVs in the market at the moment boasting an amazing 470 horsepower. Jeep gave SRT a midas touch all round.

Enhanced lighting, front fascia and wheels are the first exterior design elements noticed on the new 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT, making it distinctively aggressive and athletically stylish. Blackened bixenon headlamps give the SRT an intimidating look by day, and a signature LED highlights its presence by night.

Inside, the 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT is an amazing blend of fabric and hide, style and function that inspires confidence in every move you make.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is powered by a 6.4 litre Henu engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine delivers an amazing 470 horsepower (351 kw at 6,000 rpm and 465 1b-ft (6300 Nm of Torque at 4300 rpm) The new package delivers improved acceleration of 100 km per hour in 4.8 seconds with quicker shift speeds. Fuel Saver Technology deactivates four cylinders when full power is not required.

There’s also the famous ‘Launch’ control button in the 2014 SRT. Its main function is to allow for maximum acceleration and traction off the line. It is located behind the new Thandle shifter on the centre console and a redesigned SRT-exclusive three-spoke steering wheel. The steering wheel consists of more ergonomically efficient paddle shifters which feature a host of comfort, convenience and connectivity controls e.g. Uconnect Access with voice activation.

Available GreenEdge technology from Harman Kardon provides SRT vehicle owners an audio system as C M Y K

precise as the cars they drive. Its GreenEdge employs efficient speaker and amplifier engineering to improve sound quality while diminishing energy consumption.

Cherokee SRT is equipped with several standard safety features.

Example of a standard safety feature is the Ready Alert Braking system.

Here, air is forced through cooling brake ducts, thereby providing exceptional stopping time. This means that the brakes have been designed to withstand more torture than customers are likely to ever encounter.

Other attractive features include: the Selec-Track system which provides drivers with the ability to dial in precise driving settings. Numerous SRT-specific components give the Grand Cherokee SRT a distinct handling advantage, and a large number of available shift maps allow more customized responses available than ever before; plus the onetouch Liftgate which delivers improved customer convenience, and features a new SRT badge. The lift gate is operated electronically with the push of a button, and standard 4inch dual exhaust tips integrated into the lower fascia, deliver the throaty exhaust note the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT enthusiasts expect.

With An impressive com-

bination of Jeep’s off-road legacy and SRT track capable performance, the

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is one of the most well rounded and versatile

SUVs in the market, and promises to meet up with Nigeria’s topographical

and environmental demands in terms of functionality and capabilities.

Chevrolet sells 3-millionth Cruze T

HE best-selling Chev rolet model crossed the milestone this month,just 16 months after selling its 2 millionth model. From South Africa to the US and Canada, to Laos and the Philippines, Lebanon and Qatar, the Chevrolet Cruze has proved itself a global player among midsized cars.

“The Cruze is an extremely adaptable car that can cater to the demands of nearly every market in the world,” says Alan Batey, GM executive vice president of Global Chevrolet, speaking in Detroit. “It is a testament to Chevrolet’s global focus and capabilities to offer a car that is so highly regarded in so many places.”

The Cruze has to date collected 39 product awards in China, 27 in the US and 12 in Brazil.

Chevrolet is committed to building products in the markets they are sold, and the Cruze is built in 11 different countries on five continents. GM design teams in South Korea and Germany had the global consumer in mind when developing the car in just 27 months in the

late 2000s before debuting in South Korea in November of 2008.

“Medium to small car sales around the world have been growing exponentially as emerging markets, in Asia and South America, increase car ownership while mature markets, like the US, downsize for fuel economy,” says Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader.com. “Smaller cars, like the Cruze, are

driving sales globally and will continue to do so.”

The Cruze also endured intensive durability testing, including extreme weather tests and more than 210 crash tests tailored to the regulatory demands of the countries where it is sold.

To appeal to different market tastes, the Cruze is available in three body styles, including a four-

door sedan, five-door hatchback and station wagon.

Cruze is powered by five different engines globally 1.4-, 1.6-, and 1.8-litre petrol engines, and 1.7- and 2.0litre diesel engines.

Chevrolet recently also launched a new version of the Cruze catering to the styling and packaging demands of Chinese customers. Cruze sales in China lead all countries with 1.13 million sold since launch in 2009.

COURTESY CALL: Managing Director, Stallion Motors, Mr. Parvir Singh (2nd left), Managing Director, BKG Exhibitions, organisers of the 16th Abuja International Motor Fair, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu (2nd right), Head, Marketing Operations, BKG Exhibitions, Miss Franca Igwe (left), and Head, Media and Marketing, Stallion Group, Mr. Santosh Kumar, during a courtesy call at Stallion Motors Headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos.

VOL. 1: NO. 13

TUESD AY, SEPTEMBER 2, 20 14 TUESDA 201

RIVERS: Storm over Ebola Quarantine Ward site •Oduoha community kicks against location •Govt wades in; apologizes, appeases the gods •Health Commissioner, Dr. Sampson Parker promises new Health Centre ByDAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

O

DUOHA-EMOHUA— EBOLA fright: The decision of the Rivers State Government to site an Ebola Quarantine Ward, EQW, at Oduoha –Emohua community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state ignited tension between government and the villagers, last week.

The people feared that siting an Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, centre in the community could lead to the spread of the virus to the area and quickly sealed the proposed site with omu nkwu (tender palm frond).

Investigation by Niger Delta Voice showed that it was a running battle between the community and the Commissioner of Health, Rivers state, Dr. Sampson Parker, Continues on Page 6

•The new Ebola ward at the old Oduoha health centre.

INSET: The temporary building for Oduoha health centre

Gov Liyel Imoke glitters in Ireland

•Signposts Nigeria’s tourism potential

D

•Calabar carnival in Ireland

IN THIS EDITION Dog meat controversy PAGES 2, 3 & 4 C M Y K

Cripple lives in Warri, works as beggar in Ughelli

PAGE 5

UBLIN- IT was twin honour for the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, last weekend, as he bagged two high-status International Awards at the Nigerian Carnival Ireland, NCI, in Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland.

Held at the Round room of the historic Mansion House, Dublin, Senator •Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke Imoke was honoured with the “Global Tourism Ambassador Award 2014” for making Nigeria a SPIRITUAL MISSILE world Tourist destination via Calabar Witches killed Carnival.

Nigeria's first female He was also honoured as the

ambassador PAGE 6

Continues on Page 8

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

DOG MEAT CONTROVERSY: It cures malaria, repels witches —Eaters in Ibusa, Agbor, Ubulu-Uku, Umunede

By EMMANUEL OKOLIE

A

GBOR—THE number of people turning to dog meat (flesh and other palatable parts derived from dogs) for its undocumented health and spiritual benefits is snowballing, compelling sellers to open road side joints where they butcher and sell the meat, fresh or cooked.

From Ibusa to Agbor, Ubuluku and Umunede in Delta State, you see men mostly in hidden or open kiosks demolishing plates of dog meat pepper soup, which they claim stands out from any other meats Dog meat joint As a group of people gathered round a giant size cooking pot in front of a kiosk built with bamboo sticks at Abuedo Quarters, UbuluUku, along the Umunede Ogwashi-Uku Road, Aniocha South Local Government Area, it did not strike one that they were negotiating the parts of a newly slaughtered dog meat.

Some of the customers wanted to buy the parts and personally prepare them for their family members and friends.

Different experience “When you buy dog meat that is prepared by the road side, you really enjoy the meat, but it is a different experience when you use it to prepare soup,” said Tony, a slim built bus driver, who parked his Toyota Hiace bus, which he uses to ferry passengers from Agbor to Asaba to join the ‘dog meat’ queue.

Immunization against malaria On why he eats the meat, he said it serves as an immunization for his family against malaria attack. “We use mosquitoes net in my house, but somehow mosquitoes still find their way into the house, and I know that dog meat fights malaria parasite,” he added.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Austin Ogwuda Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Unah Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Emmanuel Okolie Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa C M Y K

•Dogs butcher at work Foils witches’ attack For some, dog meat prevents them from being attacked by witches and wizards and even makes evil spiritual forces to flee from them. “I do not fear witches because like dogs that have penetrating eyes, witches too see

and they feel I have powers that neutralizes their power,” said Ike Azuka, a teacher who said, “ I visit dog meat joint at least three times a week.”

Traditional doctors’ favourite

At Umunede, Ika North Local Government Area, Ansalem, who sells both dog and goat meats, depending on the animal he gets for the day, told Niger Delta Voice that he sells the bitter part of dog meat to

In Orogun, dog is a deity

traditional medicine practitioners, who pay upfront for it.

Increasing demand He also said that the increasing demand of the meat has led to the increase in price. “In the past, we used to buy a big dog for N3, 000 or N3, 500, but now people want to sell for N5,000 or more.

That makes it very hard to make more than N2000 after sale.”

A dog met seller in Ibusa, Onyeka, who sometimes kills two dogs a day, and serves it with cooked yam, prepared with heavily- spiced pepper soup, said that he has heard some customers saying that dog meat eaters have fortified immune system that wards off any form of infection.

Onyeka, whose kiosk is proximate the Ibusa General Hospital, said that in the past, some customers used to send people to pick the meat for them, but they now walk in confidently to devour the meat. He said more people were eating the meat because of the good it does to the body.

“Whenever I kill dog meat, people hardly wait for me to finish its preparation before they start making demand,” he said.

Another seller, Success, who also runs a kiosk near Ibusa General Hospital, said that he hardly meets the demand of his customers, who according to him, range from the high to the low in the society.

•Other deities are iguana, tiger •Anybody who eats dog falls sick

By FESTUS AHON

UGHELLI- DOG meat popularly referred to as ‘404’ by some people, and which they take immense pleasure in consuming, is a taboo at Orogun Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State. In fact, dog is revered as a deity in the Urhobo countryside.

It was learned that ancestors of the land founded by a warrior called Orogun, practically worshiped the animal because it helped them in the time of war.

Other animals worshiped by Orogun people are the iguana and tiger.

Dog assisted our forefathers in battle A knowledgeable native, Mr. Innocent Efetobor, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said: “We forbid it because it is ‘erosofe,” and erosefe is our god. When the Orogun people fought wars in the olden days, dog assisted our forefathers in the battle field, hence we forbid it.”

“As a matter of fact, any woman who is not an indigene but married to Orogun man, is also forbidden from eating dog meat

and any man who is not an indigene, but married to Orogun woman is also forbidden from eating it,” he asserted.

Deadly offence to eat dog A prominent l e g a l practitioner, who hails from Orogun, Mr Richard •Puppy dogs Omokor, also told Niger Delta Voice: “We do not eat dog meat at all; it is a taboo for any Orogun indigene, man or woman to eat dog meat.”

“As an Orogun man, I do not even use the plate used in eating dog meat to eat. If I go to anywhere they eat it, I do not eat.

If I must use the plate, I will have to purify the plate with native chalk. We can rear it as a domestic animal and sell to people,” he

added.

On why they forbid it, he said, “Frankly speaking, I do not know, I may have to reach out and get back to you. I grew up as child to meet it this way.

He, however, said, “Those who dare it and fail to appeal the gods are in their graves, it is as serious as that. So we do not gamble with it. Once you eat, your skin will begin to change, you will see

colours.”

Iguana, dog, tiger are sacred animals A community elder, who threw more light, told Niger Delta Voice, “Orogun is made up of five quarters, namely; Umusu, Unukpo, Imodje, Ogwa and Emonu. We have sacred animals in Orogun kingdom, namely iguana, dog and tiger. They are sacred animals.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 3

DOG MEAT CONTROVERSY:

•Edem Anwan holding a plate of dog meat pepper soup

•Mr. Ubong Udofia caught in the act

‘404’ medicinal, chases away evil spirits —C-River, Akwa-Ibom consumers •No proof —Medical experts

By IKE UCHE

Standard of living ALABAR—In some communities in the NigerDelta, eating dog meat is a taboo, but among the Efiks in Calabar and other tribes in Cross-River and Akwa-Ibom States, eating ‘404’, ‘J5’, ‘pepperoni’, among others, as dog meat is prevalently known, is a way of life.

The guzzlers tell you bluntly that it is a delicacy that goes smoothly with beer besides the medicinal and healing power. …Know no tribe In a chat with Niger Delta Voice, Mr. Ubong Udofia who has been in the business of dog meat since 1994, said the delicacy knows no tribe as people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio patronize the joint.

“One thing they share in common is the satisfaction they get from consuming the meat, which for some is an everyday affair. We do not in this part see dog meat as a taboo like in some

C

places,” he said.

Remedies Udofia added, “Most people here believe that it cures malaria and other forms of ailments due to the varieties of leaves and other ingredients that we use in preparing it. Truly it works because I and my family have not had malaria in a very long time.”

Preparation “It takes approximately two hours to prepare the delicacy, I do the killing and butchering, while my wife takes care of the cooking, we add local gin while cooking it to bring out the natural oil from the meat because no other oil is used in the preparation.” Some like it with plantain while some prefer it with rice using the scent leaf as sauce, but I sell at least two dogs every day and sometimes three at weekends,” he asserted.

In separate exchanges with Niger Delta Voice, two other dog joint owners, Mr. Mbe Akpan at Big Qua Town and at Mr. Etim Edibe Edibe reinforced Ubong’s assertion.

They said most people prefer dog to goat meat and beef

•A plate of porridge plantain with dog meat

because of its nutritional and medicinal values and also, because of the way it is prepared with plantain and rice.

A customer, Ms Edem Awan, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice said,” I eat it every day because it is very delicious; I particularly like the liver and the head, especially when cooked with plantain pottage.

King of meat

An Ekpe title holder, Chief Okokon Ita, told Niger Delta Voice that it is like a traditional meat, without which stuffs for most traditional ceremonies were definitely incomplete, especially in Efik land, but that there was no voodoo attached to it.

He asserted,” When someone commits suicide, a dog is used to do spiritual cleansing of the land

to prevent the re-occurrence of such bad omen. The dog is used to drive away the evil spirits responsible for such evil happening and it is an age-long tradition among the Efiks.”

“Also, when a child who is growing up finds it difficult to walk, there is a concoction we make with the bones, we use it to massage the leg of the child and within few weeks, the child will start walking,” said Ita. No evidence- Medical experts However, medical experts say there is no proof whatsoever that dog meat cures malaria. But some said it helps to maintain osmotic blood pressure caused by plasma protein because of the high content of albumin and can also prevent arteriosclerosis (the thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity of the walls of arteries).

Oduoha: Rivers community where female dog is a taboo

By DAVIES IHEAMANCHOR

O

DUOHA— IT r e v e r b e r a t e s unbelievably, but it is a taboo at Oduoha, an Ikwerre community, in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, for a female dog to be seen, not to talk of live in the community, but the male dog lives and is taken good care of.

Many people, who have travelled to Oduoha marvel at the tradition, which forbids a female dog from coming into the village but permits the citizens to domesticate and eat the male dog.

Paramount ruler of the community, Chief, Dr. Agbandu Ogbuehi, told Niger Delta Voice that the practice of female dogs not allowed access into the community was instituted by their forefathers, adding that the purpose

was to sanitize and protect the people.

Origin “This law came into existence when our community, Oduoha, which is the first son of Emohua, was beng taken over by enemy communities, the communities come to our community to cause havoc every day. In the course of this, our progenitor met with a top traditional medicine man, who prepared a charm for them. The purpose of that charm is to protect the community against any external aggression. When he returned with the traditional doctor, they prepared a place at the middle of the community and buried the whole sacrifice they made.

Why female dog was banished “The traditional doctor warned the community not to exhume the charm. The next day, before the people could wake from their sleep, a female dog was already exhuming the thing the community had buried for its protection. The people who saw the dog chased it and killed it as instructed by the traditional doctor. Seeing that the female dog came to destroy their life, they made a pronouncement that the

female dog should not be seen anywhere around the community,” he disclosed.

Disaster His words, “Ever since our forefathers made this pronouncement, it has been held to be supreme, we do not allow female dogs into the community, we do not eat it, we also do not allow it anywhere in and around our community, because it is a huge taboo. If it comes into our community, it is a sign of danger.

Any compound a female dog enters in Oduoha, that family will experience series of tragic death and other misfortunes.”

Checkmating female dog “To avoid female dog entering our community, we always educate our children about the pact we have with that unclean animal. What we do is that hence we do not allow female dog into our community, we can buy a female dog and domesticate it in another community. If it gives birth to a male dog, we take but if it reproduces female, the people rearing it for us will take.

If we see a female dog around our community, we make sure that we kill it and throw it into the river.

C M Y K

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

DOG MEAT CONTROVERSY:

feeding which comes from waste food for his dog.

Accidental shooting “Preference for hunter dogs over is also informed by the absence of the risk of shooting innocent humans when employing guns. We hear of stories where a hunter mistook and shot his own partner or an innocent farmer dead during a hunting expedition. We don’t get such with the dog,” Ejator said.

Safe or unsafe to eat In a society apathetic to healthy pets’ keeping, the fear of rabies and other dog related infections dangerous to humans, scare many from consuming dog- bitten meat much like bird flu scares poultry consumers. The question is how safe is it eating animals killed by hunter dogs.

A veterinarian Dr. Fidelis Mukoro, said there was not much to worry about eating dog- bitten ‘bush meat’ if the meat is properly boiled or cooked for eating. The cooking process kills any disease condition or agent that could have been transferred to the hunted meat from the predator dog.

Cooking process •Master dog and masters display the day's catch

Eking out a living with hunter dogs

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

T

RANSVERSING Nigeria where eating of wild animals, better known as ‘bush meat’ is a widespread habit, several consumers addicted to delicacies prepared of the various shades of bush meat are scarcely aware that most are caught for food by hunter dogs.

Around the forests and uncommon plains of predominantly rural Ughelli South Local Government in Delta State, able- bodied men

sensibility, strength and flair – basic attributes every successful hunter dog employs in the game,” he said.

“The training takes the dog on racing through difficult bush terrains, including swamps; tree climbing, whole digging, and living on empty stomach more than normal and voice/ language commands. A critical aspect of hunter dog training involves placing it on special diet, including sharpening its violent behavior and sensory ability with locally prepared

,

A trained hunter dog is an animal sniffer, tracker, chaser, pathfinder, and attacker put together. On a typical hunting day out, usually lasting from dawn to midday, a dog and its master map out a target game area

eke a living from partnering ferocious dogs to comb the bush space for food animal on daily basis. A typical hunter dog’s day out is a game in delight. With its master armed with just a club, at most a machete, the red hot eyed dog serves the hunting partnership as the chief hunter, the master simply a support force.

Military training Ejator Goruvwoghor, vast in the skills of dog hunting says a hunter dog does not come cheap. “In its formative months, those experienced in hunter dog training takes the animal through rigors of doubling its inborn stamina, aggression, C M Y K

,

herbal concoctions, some applied as eye drops. The herbal concoctions build the dog’s ferociousness and fearlessness the same way the TAB injection, popular in military training, builds fearlessness and bravery in military recruits,” he asserted.

Detective, sharpshooter combined His words, “A trained hunter dog is an animal sniffer, tracker, chaser, pathfinder, and attacker put together. On a typical hunting day out, usually lasting from dawn to midday, a dog and its master map out a target game area. The team often made up of a couple of agile

cutlasses brandishing men and homes or restaurants. two to three dogs invade the Cost-effective The excitement and target bush area on a hunch that it could host some game. commercial gains of the daily Both masters and dogs disquiet catches makes the employment the target area to scare out the of hunter dogs not necessarily animals with the anxious dogs money spinning, but a sniffing around.” respectable way to earn a living.

Acting in sharp reflexes, the Ejator said a regular combing hunter dog can sniff an animal of the bush with a hunter dog from a long, hidden distance, fetches the hunter an average which it traces with precision. N3, 000 daily aside having The dog let loose on any enough meat reserved for his sighted prey, tracking it own consumption.

He added that the dog option tenaciously through the roughest of places till it swoops is also less cost intensive than on the target with a bite strong the use of guns and bullets, enough to weaken or kill it which are difficult to procure by before the master comes to get the local hunters with all the the catch with a commendation complexities in acquiring a pat to its back for a job well licensed gun. All a dog master done. need do is providing regular Grass cutters ‘re biggest prey A daring hunter dog could take on dangerous wilds at its own perils sometimes, but in the woods of Ughelli South, grass cutters, which embellishes most Urhobo traditional delicacies is the commonest prey to the antics of a hunter dog. Others include antelopes, porcupines and squirrels, all of which find their way to human •Caged dogs to be killed stomachs at private

“The greater risk rests more with the dog's master through his contact with the raw dog hunted meat. A rabies dog transfers the disease through its saliva. When a hunter rabid dog catches a bush meat with bites on the prey, the rabies is transferred to the bitten animal.

The dog master who must pick up the meat or the end consumer buying it raw could possibly get infected,” he said.

“Even at that, infectious contact by man is equally impossible unless the disease carrying saliva comes in contact with an open wound or injury on the human handler, underscoring blood contact”, the expert said.

He, however, explained that “a rabied dog’s mental and physical condition is so abnormal that a master can hardly employ such deranged animal for the game of hunting.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 5

LAWAL MOHAMMED: LG trains Indian-hemp smoker, 36 others

Cripple lives in Warri, works as beggar at Ughelli

AKWA IBOM LAND OF PROMISE

UGHELLI— WHILE some people are born cripple, others became cripple after birth. Whichever way, it is pathetic being a cripple and nurturing a family from such a badly off position.

Nowadays, majority of cripples are seen on the streets as beggars, begging for survival. Miraculously, some of them still make a good living out of their sad state. In Ughelli, Delta State, there is this beggar, Lawal Mohammed, who has been very consistent on Aro road. Niger Delta Voice spoke with him

By TOM MOSES

M

KPAT-ENIN – MKPAT ENIN Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, has trained an Indian hemp smoker, who used to be a dreaded criminal in the area and 36 other youths in welding, a special vocational know-how in the oil and gas industries.

Chairman of the council, Mr. Ephraim Akpan, who initiated a Youth Empowerment Programme, YEP, in the area, said at the award ceremony of the first set of graduates, “I want to tell you that one of the guys, who has graduated from the programme used to be a nightmare in this community, he was smoking Indian hemp on the road but today, he is a perfect gentleman.”

“He has the hope that he will work and earn millions of naira monthly and has changed in both attitude and outlook,” he said.

•Map of Akwa Ibom State Akpan stated that the training was conducted by Skytraine International Limited, Port Harcourt, adding, “At least N40 million has been expended on the training programme that lasted for two years.”

His words, “When I was Special Adviser in the council, Mobil people would give us a slot, they

may want six GR welders and we will not have even one and people from other areas will take up the slots, but today, we have 37 qualified and competent hands to work in various departments of any oil and gas industry.”

•Lawal Mohammed

By FESTUS AHON

It’s wrong for youths, CDAs to sell land in Benin kingdom — Obasogie B

ENIN CITY— CHAIRMAN, Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Edo State and Obasaogie of Benin Kingdom, Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obasogie, has said that it is unacceptable for Community Development Associations, CDAs and youths in the monarchy to sell community lands without the authorization of the Oba of Benin.

Chief Obasogie, who noted that the indecorous action, even without recourse to the elders of the respective communities, had led to violence and threat to peace, warned the affected youths and CDAs to desist from selling lands without following due process.

Militancy His words, “In fact, we are even surprised that the youths

are having parallel association, nothing like that. What we have in the communities are the native youths, who have always served in communities. They are there to make sure that they keep vigil in their community, protect them, act as security for their own community and defend the integrity and sovereignty of their communities.”

“Now that community youths are now selling lands, the CDAs are selling land, even outside the dictates of the elders of the communities; it is not acceptable in Benin. We want to let them realize that there are things that are due to them, what we call community youths those days are Ighile and we have Okaighele, who heads the whole thing, not community leader or youth leader, those things look so

Diebiri kingdom lauds Uduaghan

W

ARRI— DIEBIRI kingdom in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State, has commended the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for facilitating the selection of their son, Hon Ako Samuel, as the vice chairmanship candidate of People Democratic Party, PDP, in the area in the forthcoming October 25 local government

polls.

The community in a statement signed by the youth president, Comrade Peter Dio and two others, said the governor demonstrated his love for equity and fairness by his action, adding, “Your tender and firm approach to things towards furthering oneness in the society in unequalled and is highly appreciated.”

militant.

“It is not friendly with our culture and tradition. So we want to let them realize that they have a very big role to protect their parents, protect the cultural values of their areas and of course be answerable to themselves so that they can be leaders when their fathers are no more there,” he said.

Approval must come from Oba According to him, “Community Development Associations should know their aims and objectives. Those community associations were not formed to collect levies or illegally sell lands. In the first instance, they are not expected to sell their lands. Those lands were bequeathed to them on trust.”

“There are processes if you want to sell land and the only sole approval comes from the Omo N’Oba because of the position that was vested on the Oba of Benin. And I want to thank the government of the day for taking cognizance of that.

“So people selling and fighting over land sales and carrying out some wanton destruction of lives and properties is most unfortunate, the government will no longer accept that in any community,” he said.

W

HAT is your name and where are you from?

My name is Lawal Mohammed, I am from Kaduna state.

Were you born a cripple or became a cripple after birth?

I was born a cripple, I grew up like this, and my parents according to what they told me tried their best to make me walk on my feet without success.

Perhaps, their inability to make me walk could be as a result of poverty. So, I have been like this.

Why didn’t your parents send you to school, your condition notwithstanding?

My parents did, I went to school but I had to drop out after my secondary education due to lack of fund, I could not proceed to a higher institution to further my study.

Further studies I have five credits in English, Islam Religion, Mathematics, History and Geography. I attended Government College, Bida, Niger State.

So at what point did you become a beggar and for how long have you been on it?

I became a beggar when it became obvious that I have to care for my parents and sibling, being the first child of a family of two. So I have been a beggar for over 14 years now.

Do you have a wife and children?

Yes. I have a wife and three kids.

So how do you cater for your immediate family?

It is with the help of wellmeaning Nigerians, who come to my aid on daily basis. We live on what I get from the streets as a beggar. I trained my younger brother as a furniture maker and today, he is master of his own in Kaduna with wife and children. What class are your kids and where are they?

Do they live with you here?

They are still in primary school, they are not here with me, and they are in Kaduna with their mother, my wife. They attend Galadima Adamu Primary School, Kaduna.

Are you able to provide three meals for them per day?

Not at all, I can barely provide two meals per day for them, in most cases; it is one meal through the assistance of God. What is your wish for the kids, do you wish to train them to tertiary institution?

Very well, it is my wish to give them good education with the help of God, who is the giver of all things.

Where are your parents?

My father is late. My mother is in Kaduna.

So what do you expect government to do for you?

I need government to assist me with scholarship so that I can proceed to the university or polytechnic to acquire tertiary education or fix me up with a job in the civil service.

Today, you are in Ughelli, how do you see the life here?

Well, I do not stay here, I come from Warri every day; life in Ughelli is quite peaceful and good.

So how do you cope with the transportation?

People always help me.

C M Y K

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

RIVERS: Storm over Ebola Quarantine Ward site Continues from page 1 before they finally succumbed to government’s plan to site the EQW in the town, but not without conditions.

Niger Delta Voice learned that the government’s intention was to convert the existing Primary Health Care Centre in the community to a quarantine centre, but it ran into a hitch because the villagers were not consulted.

“That was why they exploded and sealed the place with omu nkwu as soon as they got wind of the plan.

Traditionally, if a land or property is taped up with omu nkwu, it means a declaration of dispute and it cannot be untied except an appeasement is made,” a villager told Niger Delta Voice.

He asserted, “The youths and elders of the community vehemently protested the action, particularly as they hand no foreknowledge.”

The Ebola Quarantine Ward was a pro-active move by

government of G o v e r n o r C h i b u i k e Amaechi to checkmate the spread of EVD in the state before the disease claimed its first victim, Dr. Iky Sam Enemua, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, last Thursday.

Anxiety With the doctor ’s wife a l r e a d y quarantined and many others at risk in the state, there is tension in Odohua, as some of the residents w e r e contemplating fleeing the town.

Some have also •The Rivers Ebola ward q u e r i e d government’s rationale in Niger Delta Voice , bringing Ebola centre to the however, gathered that at the town. heat of the embarrassing Peace overture

Witches killed Nigeria’s first female Ambassador, Elizabeth Ogbon-Day— Heartbroken father, HRH Ogoni-Oghoro I palace.

“I cannot do anything, God has GONI-OLOMU- TWO taken her away, in 2013, one of years after the death of the great descendants of my Nigeria’s first Female father confessed here that she Ambassador, late Mrs. Elizabeth was part of those responsible for Ogbon-Day, at 62 years, her her death, she is a witch, she love-sick father, the Ohworode confessed here,” he added. (traditional ruler) of Olomu I was the target Kingdom in Delta State, HRM, HRM Ogoni-Oghoro I said he Ovie Richard Layaiguen Ogbon, (royal father) was the real target Ogoni-Oghoro I, JP, has of the collection of witches, but agonizingly revealed that she when they could not get him was killed by witches. because of the wall of fire built Confession in the palace around him by God Almighty, The ninety-seven-year-old they swung the death arrow to monarch ordained Royal Canon Elizabeth, who slumped in her in the Anglican Communion, house at Effurun, Uvwie Local some years ago, spoke to Niger Government Area of the state, Delta Voice in his palace. He May 10, 2012, and died before said one of the witches, a blood medical help could come to her. relation and members of her Reminiscence coven, who killed her, confessed His words, “Now, incidentally her despicable role in his what happened has happened, it was a very great pain, her colleagues, even the ones I did not know all came, and today, if I w a t c h television and see her peers, I remember her, but what can I do? .Wounded heart “ S h e mentioned some people, who have been my enemies and how they wanted to kill me, but connived together to kill my daughter, what can I do Late Ambassador Elizabeth Ogbon-Day as a

By EMMA AMAIZE

O

C M Y K

Christian. If somebody says the incident did not wound my heart, it is a lie but what can I do? God has taken a decision but I know that one day, we shall meet in eternity,” he said.

According to him, “Well, it is a very painful incident, it is a bitter pill given to me to swallow unexpectedly, God is supreme, without Him sanctioning something, it cannot happen, and in the Bible, it is said that there is time for everything, some people die young, some at old age.”

Gone with her dream “Perhaps for those who die young as it is said, those that God loves die young. My daughter, even in 1983 wanted to be the Governor of the defunct Bendel State then, I warned her not to go, as she was very young, but she was dogged in her vision.

Without fighting, struggling and without a godfather, she was appointed the first female ambassador of Nigeria.” “ I can assure you if I was not a Christian, what happened would have been worse, they wanted to wreak a catastrophic havoc, she was someone close, very dear and loving to me, but that is it.

The most painful part of it is that for a long time she has been in USA, but this time she decided to come to be in Nigeria and work with fellow Nigerians,” he asserted.

The monarch said, “She had been at Warri but she just relocated to Abuja with a view to be closer to the seat of power, and she told me categorically that after being in the USA and understanding democracy, that she will see what she could do to help fellow Nigerians, particularly the women. Witches did not allow her to fulfill her dream for the country.”

situation, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Parker, convened a meeting with the elders, opinion leaders, Community Development Committee, CDC, youths and women of the community to brainstorm on the way out.

Our source said, “In the meeting, Parker humbly spoke to the community of the urgent need of the quarantine centre in preparation for any Ebola case in the state. He used the medium to sensitize the community on how to prevent Ebola.”

“He promised to build another health centre for the community. He also promised to fund a temporary place where primary health activities will be on before the government completes the proposed health centre for the community,” he added.

Niger Delta Voice was informed that it was after the consultations that the community acknowledged his promises and plea that the people accept that the Cottage Health Centre be used for the Rivers State EQW.

Conflicting feelings However, there are divergent views in the community over the EQW. While some persons wholly accepted the decision, saying it was another form of development, others insisted that the location is dangerous, as it is not in an isolated place.

A member of the community’s Electricity Committee, Mr. Iheanyi Ogwueli, told Niger Delta Voice that the first day government came to locate the centre in our village, without informing the community, the people resisted every of their attempt.

His words, “When we heard this, the paramount ruler summoned the whole community and sent message across to the Honourable Commissioner of Health, who came on Tuesday (August 26),with his entourage and the issue was resolved.”

“Everybody agreed that they should use the health centre. The Commissioner then approved that the state government will build another health centre for the community

Continues on page 7

•Iha Ominigbon/Oguega divination

Re- BENIN KINGDOM: How we court-martial, disarm witches —Edebiri, head of Bini witches

I

N our August 26 edition, we published this photograph of Iha Ominigbon/Oguega divination with an erroneous caption, ‘Esogban divining.’

We did not contemplate disrespect to the Esogban of Benin kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, who we hold in high esteem. The error is regretted — Editor

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 7

RIVERS: Storm over Ebola Quarantine Ward site and we accepted,” he added.

Mr. Ogwueli asserted: “The resolution is a positive one because we want to help the state as we have been doing.

We are also happy that the Honourable Commissioner has given us a good answer and a concrete promise to build another health centre for us.

When I say concrete, I mean that the promise is documented.

I believe it is another level of government presence in our community. ” Chairman of the committee, Mr. Okechukwu Prince Nnokam, corroborated his claim, saying, “I feel very happy about this project because it will promote the community. I do not think we will have so much challenge because the project is a way we can be saved in case of any infection or outbreak in the area.”

“But the government should try the much they can to expedite action in siting that clinic because since it is a highly infectious disease, nobody knows when it will get to any community,” he added.

My reservations — Okwakpam However, a concerned villager, Deacon Emmanuel Okwakpam, rejected the siting of the EQW in Oduoha. He asserted: “Personally, I am against the government bringing Ebola Centre into the community because it will affect us economically. ”

“Some strangers in our land are already saying that they will pack and others may likely not want to come into the community again because of Ebola and all these will affect us.

“A disease of that nature that other communities have rejected is brought to us, why should it be Oduoha. The place the centre is situated is not even as isolated as one will think because there is a building directly adjacent to that site. If you visit the place, you will see that development is seriously entering around that place,” he said.

According to him, “The only thing that we need now is that government should bring more measures to ensure that we do not get the bad side of this Ebola ward. But for the fact that the state government has come and dialogued with the community extensively, we only demand that they take adequate measures to ensure that our health is protected.”

Peaceful protest: CDC secretary, Honest Chukundah, told Niger Delta Voice , “There was disagreement but the Honourable Commissioner came to the community and resolved it. The government wanted to use our Health Centre for Ebola clinic without any consultation with the community, so the CDC swung in to ask the Commissioner what he was doing at the health centre.”

“He explained to us and asked where they can site another health centre for the community. When he left, the community met and the CDC

•The compound and the building for the health centre

Map of Rivers State provide us with that need. presented what they heard Thirdly, we demanded that from the commissioner, so the government should hasten up youths went on a peaceful in the building of a new health protest, which I think is normal. centre for our women for safe They did not destroy anything delivery. When we made these and no arrest was made in demands he accepted them all relation to that. It was totally and said the government will meet these needs in the peaceful,” he said.

Community gives three community,” he said. conditions Chukundah explained: “After that, the commissioner came to the community to officially dialogue with the people and gave much explanation about the disease and its control. So we resolved that firstly, the government must provide protective measures so that one day, one of the Ebola patient will not escape and running into the community.

“Secondly, we do not have pipe-borne water and we do not have good road so that the government will hasten up to

N300, 000 for appeasement,not bribe – CDC chairman

,

Continues from page 6

be more sensitization on Ebola Chukundah further asserted: “We are not praying that that dangerous sickness should come to Rivers state, but even if it does, government should be able to manage it properly in the area. We need more sensitization. That one the commissioner gave to us is not enough. Our people need to receive more education on the Ebola sickness .”

2-month proviso “Government should come and teach us how to have Ebola free environment. We are calling on the government to come to our aid by sensitizing our people. They should also give us life assurance should there be breakout in the community what they will do.

We need more from the government. We have given to the government so we are now waiting for them to fulfill the promises in two months’ time; else we are going to reclaim our health Centre.

“They should please come and pay the rent for the temporary place the community will be using for now. They should put the place in order we can wait for them to complete the new project,” he said.

Why Ebola ward in Oduoha — Ikenga A community elder, Mr Benson Ikenga, added his voice thus: “Government should make arrangement for

Other good things have been coming to the state and they were not sent to us, I do not know the reason why government decided to bring this bad one to us

,

On the payment of fine, he said, “When we protest, according to our tradition, we go with Omu (raffia) and if it is tied anywhere, it means that such place has been locked up. If that is done, before a person will enter such place for any activity, the person must appease the gods of the land.”

“When we explained to the commissioner, he gave the community N300 000 in that regards.

He gave the community the money as an appeasement to remove Omu from the entrance to the health facility. He did not bribe the community to get the health centre. If he wants to bribe the community, is it with N300 000?”

He asked.

There should

the community and ensure that our people do not inherit what they do not deserve. Other good things have been coming to the state and they were not sent to us, I do not know the reason why government decided to bring this bad one to us. This government brought the project of building a modern primary school, till now the project is not half done.

“The Cottage Hospital was brought by them, if the government on their own wishes to use that place as Ebola Quarantine Centre, no problem, but they should ensure we do not all die from this good we have done,” he added.

Tension The death of Dr. Enemua two days after the state government sealed the EQW deal with the community has sparked fresh tension in the town. A citizen, Mr. ThankGod Wahia, said, the people were living in great fear over the confirmation of Ebola cases in the state, adding that as precautionary measures, the villagers no longer shake hands with and have become wary of strangers.

C M Y K

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

•Tinapa Resort in Calabar

Gov Liyel Imoke glitters in Ireland Continues from page 1 “NCI most outstanding personality of the year 2014 Award” for his credible records in the realization of numerous enviable achievements in developmental projects, and for being an exceptional leader.

The Awards ceremony, which climaxed the 5th Anniversary celebrations of the NCI was cohosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke and the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Bolere Ketebu, and had as special guests, High Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation.

Arrival Senator Imoke arrived Ireland via Dublin Airport for the Carnival in the morning of Friday, August 22, accompanied by his

Olatilo.

Shatter, received the NCI Migrant’s Choice Integration Ambassador 2014 Award for facilitating the settlement and building of “a sense of belonging” for thousands of migrants in Ireland while Bisi Olatilo received the NCI Media Excellence Award 2014.

Shatter received the NCI Migrant’s Choice Integration Ambassador 2014 Award for facilitating the settlement and building of “a sense of belonging” for thousands of migrants in Ireland while Bisi Olatilo received the NCI Media Excellence Award 2014.

Believer in continuity At the occasion, Chairman of the Cross River State Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ntufam John Okon, described

,

This is one great leader who believes so much in continuity of governance

aides and some other important personalities.

Ireland Ireland, or officially the Republic of Ireland, is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean. (The northernmost part of the island is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.) Almost 20 per cent of the land is devoted to farming. Less than 10 per cent of farmland is used to grow crops and the majority is used as grazing land for livestock.

Other awardees Receiving awards alongside the Governor at the ceremony were former Ireland Minister of Justice, Deputy Alan Shatter, who was represented by Cleo Lambert and ace Nigerian broadcaster, Bisi

,

Senator Liyel Imoke as a perfectionist; one who loves to see things done with commitment and dedication.

“This is one great leader who believes so much in continuity of governance. Instead of pushing aside the efforts of the past administration, he has successfully transformed the inadequacies that may have been found in the projects of the past administration into top class achievements by linking them all up with innovations.

“Example of this is the linking of the Tinapa Resort to the Summit Hill project through the P8 Monorail electric powered passenger train. Calabar’s new attraction, Summit Hills, is an

•Calabar, Nigeria's cleanest capital exciting real estate project in Calabar and it is already alive and breathing. It consists of a Convention Centre, Hotel, Recreational Facilities, Golf Course, Clubhouse, Nature Reserve, Hospital and a variety of Residential units to create a vibrant and bustling community within a unique Eco system,” he added.

Dividend of democracy The PDP chieftain opined, “His Excellency has brought so much dividend of democracy to the people in his almost eight years in office; as a matter of fact, it was his scorecard as a true and outstanding leader in every sense that earned him the honour of “NCI most outstanding personality of the year 2014 Award.”

Expanding tourism frontiers Head of Cross River State Tourism bureau, Mr. Michael

William, spoke delightedly about how Cross River State has evolved into the strategic position of the benchmark of tourism in Nigeria and sub-Africa region.

He seized the opportunity to invite tourism enthusiasts to the yearly Carnival Calabar. The Carnival event which usually takes a two-day space in the 32 day Calabar festival will hold this year on December 26 and 27.

Good-natured Everyone, especially Nigerians, who had opportunity of meeting Senator Imoke, whose presence brought a unique excitement to the Nigerian Carnival in Dublin, this year, were entranced by the humble mien of the governor and were grateful for an opportunity to stand beside or shake hands with the man, who interestingly does

•Scenes from the Calabar carnival in Ireland

not believe in a governor going about commissioning every little project that is executed by government.

Also in Dublin for the Carnival were the Cross River State Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Peter Ojie, the State Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Chike Okogwu, Member of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, (SURE-P), Prince Philip Orebiyi, Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor and Musa Kakangi Kaduna State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.

There was also the highly esteemed “Carnival Calabar” team, led by Mr. Chris Agibe, amongst a host of other dignitaries from Cross River State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 33

By Theodore Opara

Evoque leads the way with in-car technology T

HE Range Rover Evoque has won three more awards, taking its global haul of accolades to a total of 161 in just three years.

Already widely acclaimed by journalists, critics and owners, the most recent successes have come from the readers of key global titles. In one recent survey the Evoque scored a near-perfect 94 per cent when participants were asked to rate their cars’ audio and entertainment systems as well as other technology, such as phone connectivity and the user-friendliness of onboard computers.

Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes said: “To be recognised by magazine readers is a great honour.

It confirms the success of our efforts in building a unique premium SUV that buyers find truly desirable.

Land Rover has raised the standard of in-car technology to class-leading levels.”

For sub-Sahara Africa, the introduction of Extended Navigation on Range Rover Evoque represented an industry first as a factory-fitted integrated system, combining the latest generation of Tracks4Africa with Nokia Here to provide unrivalled coverage of sub-Sahara Africa in the rural and ur-

ban environment respectively.

The Range Rover Evoque includes a suite of customer focused in-car technologies and safety features with some dedicated purely to off-road capability.

Class Leading Off-Road Features The 4x4i system monitors the vehicle dynamics continuously, providing illustrated information through the infotainment display on the centre console. In addition to this, the Land Rover off-road navigation system provides a comprehensive aid to driving in unmapped areas.

Land Rover Wade Sensing™ uses sensors in the door mirrors to provide the driver with information when driving through water, which is particularly beneficial when visibility is poor and at night. A visual display and warning chimes alert the driver as the water level rises around the vehicle. Maximum wading depth for the Evoque is 500mm.

Innovative Safety Features Surround Cameras improve visibility and driver awareness using five digital cameras, discreetly placed around the vehicle, providing a near 360-degree, real-time

view of the surrounding area.

Blind Spot Monitoring uses side-mounted radar sensors to survey potential blind spots behind or either side of the vehicle, whilst Closing Vehicle

Sensing detects vehicles which are closing quickly from behind and could cause a threat during a lane change manoeuvre.

Drivers are alerted by a rapid flashing of the Blind Spot warning light in the

corresponding door mirror helping to improve awareness for faster reactions.

Reverse Traffic Detection is an additional enhancement to these systems and monitors traffic approaching from either

2014 Ranger Odyssey Challenge: 20 finalists emerge

A

FTER three days and two nights of intense Boot Camp training and evaluation, 17 South African finalists have been selected for the epic 12day 2500 km Ranger Odyssey 2014 in Namibia.

Forty contestants arrived at De Rust,

Ford’s 4x4 training centre at Hartbeespoort Dam, on the 22 nd of August after having been chosen from over 8 000 online entries and more than 1 600 candidates that completed the final phase of the entry process.

The contestatnts were

given comprehensive theoretical training on 4x4 driving and vehicle recovery techniques, and this was followed by their first outings in 10 identical Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT Double Cab 4x4 Automatics on the steep 25 and 33-degree gradients.

Day two began with

Coscharis Mobility counts blessing @ one with Sixt C

OSCHARIS Mobili ty Limited, representatives of Sixt rent a car in Nigeria has concluded plans to commence operations in the heavy haulage business this month as part of its expansion programme.

General Manager/ CEO of the company, Mr. Christian Chigbundu who disclosed this to Vanguard Motoring recently in an interview said that part of their expansion programme include being in Ghana by first quarter of next year and later to other West African countries.

Chugbundu, a chartered accountant by profession and board member of Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria, and a fleet management consultant, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the company in their first year of operation, having C M Y K

grown their fleet from five to over 200 vehicles within the period.

He said: "So far, we have done quite well in our first year but there is always room for improvement. We have grown our fleet from five to over 200 vehicles. We are in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja and will soon open an outlet at the Lagos International Airport.

The chief operating officer further disclosed that they are working with many multi-nationals and several individuals who desire quality service which is the hallmark of Sixt rent a car all over the world.

According to the Coscharis Mobility boss, their goal is to bring a positive change in the fleet management industry in Nigeria hence, they are offering

side of the vehicle during a reversing manoeuvre (e.g. reversing out of a parking space). If a hazard is detected, the driver is swiftly informed via both audible and visual warnings.

an array of products aimed at customers satisfaction.

He listed their products to include: Airport pick up/drop off, car rental (short and long term), leasing haulage, staff/school bus scheme. Others are light truck rental, fleet management, armoured vehicle and protocol/escort service.

He explained that his company is the only one that offers luxury brand of automobiles to their clients such as Range Rover, Jaguar and BMW. Customers can choose to self drive like in Europe and America and return the car after use. This he said has stood them out among their competitors in the country.

Despite all these, Mr. Chigbundu said that Sixt is facing some challenges in doing business

in Nigeria.

He identified the environment on which they operate as the major challenge. Due to the poor road condition, a lot is being spent to keep their vehicles in top form for quality service. The existence of unprofessional player in the industry is another challenge as well as absence of Leasing Law. “What we have in the country is hire purchase law which does not protect players in the leasing industry presently,” he said.

Another challenge, he said is the existence of illegal taxes from the states and local government which have placed a huge cost in the running of the business in this part of the world.

“Because, Nigeria is a developing economy, customers’ understanding of leasing business

is limited,” he said.

According to him, some customers will query you when they rent a vehicle and have flat tyre on the way, but we are overcoming all these challenges because we believe that every challenge is an opportunity for us to grow and make our customers happy because the customer is the king in Sixt rent a car.

On future plans, he said that his target is to grow the fleet to 400 vehicles before the end of the year and one thousands in the near future. Currently, he said Sixt offers more products than Hetz, Avis and Eurocar, using luxury sedans, sport utility vehicles, as Ford products, MG and other vehicle brands marketed by Coscharis in Nigeria.

“We meet the needs of the customers by offering

a hike to the base camp and a session of convoy driving. Next was punishing trail run with a series of challenging obstacles that required a high level of teamwork.

It also put each contestant’s physical and mental endurance as well as inter-personal communication under scrutiny.

their choice of vehicles at all times.

On plans to get better, Chigbundu said: “We have what I can describe as super customer service programme. As at today, we get 80 per cent feedback from anyone who has tested our service (private and individuals).

"These feedbacks are reviewed, analysed and used to improve our services. We will continue to improve on this. We make sure that our vehicles are in good condition and that our drivers and other employees are highly trained and motivated.

What stands us out are the brand (Sixt), our customer service, our fleet of vehicles, our experience, our technology, and our spread and the goodwill of our parent company (Coscharis). Our best area of patronage is the long term rentals for now which contributes 80 per cent of our turnover.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Lack of approved layout for Lekki corridor worries built environment experts

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE uncontrolled urban sprawl due to lack of approved layouts for various development projects along Lekki Peninsula, Lagos has continued to remain a major concern for built environment experts. This was demonstrated last week as Propertygate Development and Investment Plc brought together built environment stakeholders to discuss this nagging issue of housing projects springing by the day along Lekki corridor without approved layouts by relevant government authorities, under its bi-annual Breakfast Session series. The theme of the second in the series of the sessions was “Obtaining Building Plan Approval in Lekki PeninsulaThe Conditionality of Approved Layout”.

Leading the discussion, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Propertygate, a Lagos-based firm of real estate development, investment and advisory services, lamented that lack of approved layouts for various housing schemes and other developments along Lekki Peninsula has been the bane of the uncontrolled physical development of the corridor.

Mr. Ajayi who said the nature of expansion of Lekki Peninsula which is worrisome, is further complicated by government’s mass land acquisition policy which is not followed up with appropriate schemes through which the people can purchase land and develop in compliance with legal requirements, argued that developments along the corridor have continue to spring up as the increase in population of Lagos residents has to respond to natural need for shelter.

Describing Lekki Peninsula as the fastest growing corridor in Africa, Propertygate boss noted that plans are very important for great cities, pointing out that if there is discipline in the implementation of Lekki layout, the development of the Peninsula will look the way it should be.

According to him, good planning will inform the emergence of good cities, pointing out however, that the undeveloped vast land in Lekki Peninsula around 1990 would have been an opportunity for Lagos state government to create a new city in Lekki corC M Y K

ridor, but the state government did no seize the opportunity to create the new city by approving layouts for developments in the area.

Admitting that if the state government takes a reasonable approach towards the development of layouts, a lot of problems as being currently faced in the state, will be eliminated, Ajayi observed that the implications of lack of approved layouts will result to limited access to developed land, increase in of land, curtailment of developed projects, impact on corporate bottom line, impact on local, state and national economy, impact on employment creation

and impact on housing stock.

On the way forward, he said layout should be used as condition precedent to granting of excision, requirement of layout for one hectare of land should continue, built area and already excised should have layouts and government should lead in the preparation of layouts.

M

r. Ajayi further noted that there should be development and planning guides to guide people, planning consultants should be used to complement efforts of government officials while investment can be recouped

from applicants seeking building permits.

Corroborating Mr. Ajayi’s view, Mr. Ayo Adejumo of Ayo Adejumo & Co, a town planning consultant stated that building plan regulations request approved layout plans in excised villages, especially in Lekki Peninsula, Badagry and Epe areas among others.

Also describing Lekki Peninsula as one of the fastest physically and socioeconomically developing area in the Sub-Sahara Africa, Adejumo said the corridor which is a home to many luxury and affordable housing estates, commercial, recreational, institutional and industrial de-

velopments should be devoid of emergence of slums, uncoordinated growth and direction.

Insisting that there must be mandatory layout or development plan to guide people, Adejumo who is the former general secretary of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), said the state government should allow development of housing estates that comply with relevant existing provisions of the Building Plan Regulations, adding that the government should prepare District Plans as provided for in the Model City Plan.

Calling for the incorporation of the existing developments in the new District Plans, he note that acceptance of developments in Lekki Peninsula will guarantee coor-

dinated direction of physical growth and development, and will avoid emergence of slums and clumsy environment in the area.

He pointed out that developers, as stakeholders in physical development and housing provision, should be ready to comply with international standards, best practices and existing relevant and provisions of the state’s urban and development law that promotes and protects Lagos as a real mega city competing with other mega cities of From left: Portfolio Executive, Broll Property Services Limited, Mr. Yinka Omotosho; Managing the world.

Director, Propertygate Development & Investment Plc, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi; and guest speaker, Mr. Ayo Adejumo, during propertygate 2nd bi-annual breakfast meeting in Lagos.

FG links disruption of ecosystem to violation of environmental laws

By Funmi Olasupo

T

HE Federal Government has identified violation of environmental laws and regulations as one of the major undoings of the people and industry players by constituting a major threat to the proper functioning of the nation’s ecosystem.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam stated this in Abuja, during a one-day Federal and States Regulatory Dialogue on the Implementation of National Environmental Regulations last week.

Mallam, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, lamented the extent of damage the people had done to the environment through unwholesome practices.

Organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA), the forum is a yearly

platform that brings together key stakeholders in the environment sector across the three tiers of government to share experiences and fashion out best practices in compliance, monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws.

The Minister said such practices had over the time resulted in water pollution, indoor and out door air pollution, industrial pollution, biodiversity loss, erosion, flooding, land degradation, desertification, sprawling urban solid wastes, open and bush burning, noise pollution, wildlife crimes, climate change and ozone layer depletion among others.

She noted that NESREA is saddled with the responsibility of enforcing all environmental laws, including coming up with regulations and setting stan-

dards, and would not fail to prosecute anyone that contravenes the laws.

On some of the agency’s efforts to ensure fidelity with nature, Mallam stated, “Within the last four years, NESREA has held four sessions of the Regulatory Dialogue, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Thirty three National Environmental Regulations cutting across different sectors of the environment were presented at the sessions for review and adoption.

“Twenty eight of these have been gazetted and are being implemented.

The remaining five are undergoing due diligence at the Federal Ministry of Justice in preparation for gazetting”, she said.

The minister also cited the implementation of the national vehicular control programme by the agency as one of its efforts in combating the issue of air pollution. Continues on page 35

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 35

LAND SWAP: Abuja to get N3.2trn secondary investment — Bala Mohammed

By Henry Umoru

T

T

HE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed has disclosed that with the successful implementation of the ongoing Abuja Land Swap Initiative, over N3.2 trillion secondary investment is expected to be generated for the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking while receiving the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, an engineer in his office, the Minister explained that apart from N3.2 trillion, the sum of N450 billion is already accruing to the FCT Administration from the Land Swap primary investment, which according to him, is the cost of the infrastructure to be provided by the investors.

Senator Mohammed who described Abuja as a national mega engineering project that is a success story in the history of Nigeria, however appreciated the contributions of the Nigerian Society of Engineers to the development of this model city.

The Minister reiterated that the Abuja Land Swap Initiative is the first of its kind in the entire African continent, which has only been realized during the transformational period of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Administration.

While promising to allocate a befitting plot of land for the NSE to construct its head office in the FCT, he challenged the Society to muster all its contacts to get all the needed resources to build a gigantic edifice expected of the professional body, adding that he would support the proposed international engineering conference scheduled for Abuja, even as

•A housing model in Abuja he said that such a conference will open Abuja to the World and avail the Territory new frontiers.

Earlier in his remarks, NSE

President who pleaded with the Minister to allocate a plot of land for the society to build its headquarters, however solicit-

ed for continued cooperation of the FCT Administration and the Society for the mutual benefits of the two bodies.

NIQS holds workshop in Uyo

“

THE challenges of environmental sustainability and the imperatives of efficient cost management in Nigeria” will be the theme of a three-day national training workshop billed to hold between September 5 and 8 in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom state capital.

The workshop which is being organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), will hold at Ibom Hall in Uyo. A statement signed by the Institute’s Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mr Jide Oke, explained that the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi will be the special guest of honour while Governor Godswill Akpabio will be the chief host.

The workshop which attracts 20 CPD points, according to Mr Oke,will

brainstorm on three subthemes.

Participants expected at the training workshop include

construction industry professionals, company executives, government agencies and other nonconstruction professionals.

FG links disruption of ecosystem to violation of environmental laws Continues from Page 34 According to her, the two major planks in the vehicular control programme include outright ban on the importation of two-stroke engine and the yearly emission testing of vehicles.

Mallam added that the ban on two-stroke engine has been incorporated into the country’s National Physical Policy and currently being enforced by NESREA with the cooperation of the Nigeria Customs Service and another security agency at the Ports.

Speaking at the event, NES-

REA Director General, Mrs. Ngeri Benebo, stated that the regulatory dialogue which is in its fifty session, was conceptualised to chart a course in ensuring an inclusive environmental compliance, monitoring and enforcement programme in Nigeria.

She noted that this year’s session was to assess how the nation had performed in the area of implementation of the environmental regulations with a view to among others, harmonizing the roles of various stakeholders for effective enforcement.

OPIC, Gran Imperio, others to sponsor Real Estate Unite 2014

By Kingsley Adegboye

A

S part of its corporate responsibility to boost real estate industry in Nigeria, the Ogun Property Investment Company (OPIC) has indicated interest to sponsor this year’s Real Estate Unite 2014. The two-day Real Estate Unite 2014, being organized by a real estate advocacy firm, 3Invest Ltd. Also lined up for sponsorship are development companies including the developer of Essential Home, Gran Imperio Group (GIG), ARM Properties, Cadwell Structon Limited, Diamond Bank, UPDC and

NIQS seeks partnership with Nigerite

CMB Building Maintenance & Investment.

Debuted two years ago, Real Estate Unite, an annual event dedicated to shaping the course of real estate business in Nigeria, is billed to hold between October 2 and 3 at the the imposing Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Chief Executive Officer of 3Invest, Ruth Obih, who made the statement last week in Lagos at a press conference to announce an idea that is swiftly gaining prominence within the construction industry and beyond, said that with Nigeria’s rebased GDP, the sub-Saharan real estate market presented an attractive

investment opportunity; a portfolio which currently accounts for about 7.6% of the nation’s GDP but could be as much as 40% if better mobilized.

According to Obih, this year’s theme, “F.I.R.E”, which means Finance, Infrastructure, Redtapism and Education, would answer pertinent questions like how to raise for building projects; why infrastructure investing should be addressed; how red-tapism can be eradicated from the housing sector; and what the way forward is for the education sector in terms of investing and security.

Governor Babatunde Raji

Fashola is expected to declare the event open, while Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will be the special guest of honour at the two-day event.

Confirmed speakers include Hakeem Ogunniran of UPDC; Simon Walley of World Bank; Kunle Osilaja of Ecobank; Hassan Usman Hassan of ASO Savings; Femi Adewole of Shelter Afrique; Prof Olumide Olusanya of UNILAG; Dr. Chii Akporji of Ministry of Finance; and Mr. Sonnie Ayere of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company among others.

HE Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), has appealed to Nigerite Limited, a foremost building solution company in Nigeria, not to relent in its supportive role towards the institute’s programmes, urging the Lagosbased manufacturers of range of roofing sheets and ceilings company to consider how it can join forces to further deepen its relationship with the institute.

Officials of the institute, led by the chapter’s chairman, Mr. Olayemi Shonubi made this appeal during a courtesy call to Nigerite’s Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja office to formally welcome the new Managing Director of Nigerite, Mr Frank LeBris, to Nigeria.

“This visit provides us an opportunity to express our appreciation to Nigerite regarding its support for our programmes and to see how we can further deepen the relationship between Nigerite and the institute,” NIQS Chairman said.

Shonubi added that the institute hopes to build on its relationship with the building solution company, spanning over 20 years now, which has been mutually rewarding.

“We are happy that some of your new products are out now; especially concerning the dry construction, because we believe it is the way to go. We want to get introduced to them so that we’ll be able to specify these products to people because we know that Nigerite’s products are the way to go,” he said.

Responding, Le-Bris restated Nigerite’s commitment to the progress of NIQS, saying “We have two new embossed ceiling products we call Prestige Ceil and Legend Ceil while another one is on its way. By the end of this year or next, we will have a launch of new products and you will be informed and invited and we expect that you will be well represented. I believe that we will make a good team.”

Elaborating on dry construction, Le-Bris informed the surveyors that there are different thicknesses used in the technique. Although the take-off has been quite slow according to him, the company has been trying to meet with the government at all levels and other people to explain how dry construction works.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 2, 2014

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44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

ARIES: YOUR best bet today is to seek important co-operation of influential people and that of your spouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are, the better for you.

TAURUS: IF others want you to conclude an important financial transactions that can possibly be done today, you’ll need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not be as conducive as today.

GEMINI: The more self assertive you are the better but then it is important you don’t take things and people for granted. Be wise CANCER: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of understanding within your working arena today, tomorrow may turn the whole thing the other way.

LEO: HERE is an exciting day that will climax tomorrow. After a long time, others will see how passionate you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

E

VERY bit of ... what we had done with our life, how we spent our seconds, minutes, hours, our days, or weeks, months and years we will give ac-

What Is Life? — 2 count to the owner of our life.

Every examination determines subsequent fate of those examined. Life is not too different.

TERROR MUDA

Where we will go in the hereafter will to a large extent be determined by what we sow here on earth.

Therefore, it goes without saying that

in “Never say goodbye”

if we spend a greater part of our life chasing shadows, doing irrelevant things, womanizing, practising idolatry etc, these will detract from God’s original purpose for our life.

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO: IF your desire is to make money today, you will need to be less emotional and prepare for domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life.

LIBRA: GOOD relationship between the Moon and other Planets will bring you good opportunities. Be less argumentative and take your love life more seriously.

SCORPIO: THIS is your day when things will go according to your plans. Financial success indicated but if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring disappointment.

SAGITTARIUS: THE Moon encourages you to be as assertive as possible but you will need to expect certain level of opposition. Try to be more friendly.

CAPRICORN: HAPPENINGS within your working arena should be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you are more practical about your health.

Be more loving.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on your nerve tomorrow. Be graceful in your expression.

PISCES: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble tomorrow, either at home or along your career/business lines, should be well taken care of today. Be very open.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

What’s my immediate future?

Dear Joshua I am interested in what you are doing. Please tell me what I should expect concerning my immediate future. Would I succeed travelling abroad for business ?

Emma, Mushin.

Dear Emma, Few years back you have started a very longer (years) great cycle of success and happiness, and this year you will be moving closer to the peak of the said cycle; meaning that your 42nd year on earth will be much more better than all your previous ones on earth.

Visible signs of the positive things will physically manifest during your major first period of the year 2014 that will come between September 19 and October 16, 2014. Then because of transiting lucky Jupiter in Sagittarius – your Solar 9th house of travelling and distant affairs you can be successful at acquiring visa and have a fruitful foreign travels.

However that is not to say that there will not be any challenge. Actually like it happened about two/three months ago when work and accident related issues were the major challenges, there will be repeat of such when AROUND DECEMBER 2014..

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—45

Fashola, Oshiomhole, Wamakko shun APC Govs' Forum in Owerri

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI — THE meeting of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors' Forum kicked off, yesterday, in Owerri, Imo State capital, without their counterparts from Lagos, Edo and Sokoto states Raji Fashola, Adams Oshiomhole and Aliyu Wamakko -in attendance.

Although no reasons were advanced for the conspicuous absence of the three governors, the third progressive governance lecture series, however, went on as planned.

Addressing the Forum, chairman of the event and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, challenged the Federal Government to tackle the current health and security challenges facing the citizenry at present.

While expressing regret that the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, had become “the worst monster confronting the African continent,' Alhaji Abubakar also reasoned that the current health challenge required adequate investment in the health sector to spare the people from possible extermination.

Taking a hard look at the theme of the lecture, 'Dealing with the challenges of building a physically healthy nation through preventive, protective and innovative medicare,' Alhaji Abubakar decried the upsurge of “maternal and infant mortality in the country.

He promised Nigerians that if the citizenry gave their approval in 2015 through the ballot box, “an APC controlled Federal Government would take necessary steps to transform the country for a better tomorrow.”

Speaking also, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, advised Nigerians to distance themselves from politicians propagating and promoting campaigns of calumny and character assassinations.

While noting that those who engage in blackmail did so “to achieve parochial and sectional ambitions,” Oyegun roundly

dismissed those he called “mischief makers,” who linked the APC with the discredited Boko Haram sect.

Oyegun, who said APC was neither a Yoruba, Hausa nor Igbo party, however, described the party as “a national vehicle composed of progressive minds who have the capacity to transform the country” for a better tomorrow.

“I want to assure you all that

the APC is on the path of greatness and the 15 years of PDP misrule in the country will come to an end by February 2015 and this is a challenge to all of us,” Oyegun told the APC governors.

The APC National Chairman also disclosed that if Nigerians gave the party the nod, they will tackle the nagging problem of corruption and insurgency, as well rescue the citizenry from “administrative ineptitude of the

PAVILION: Arc. Sani Gidado, Director, Architectural Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development; President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Waheed Brimmo, and Mr. Mahesh Asnani, Managing Director, Emel Group, during Emel International Pavilion, at Archibuilt 2014, in Abuja.

Obiano makes case for economic re-invention of S-East G OVERNOR WILLIE Obiano of Anambra State has made a case for a more aggressive approach to the development of the South East in a manner that would ensure its survival as an economic bloc.

In an address at this year’s edition of the World Igbo Congress in Houston, entitled 'Laying the Foundations of Hope,' Chief Obiano argued that as true sons and daughters of the great Igbo ancestors, who had mastered the art of democratic leadership long before the arrival of the colonial masters, Ndigbo must define the challenges of the

present time and rise to them.

Chief Obiano, who was represented at the Congress by his wife, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, further noted that the Igbo of the 21st century had evolved dramatically over the years to the growing acknowledgement of the world.

She, however, regretted that in spite of the individual accomplishments of Ndigbo, Igboland had continued to suffer economic neglect.

Articulating his position on the least considered response to the threat of Boko Haram against the Igbo and their businesses in the

Confab report'll enhance Nigeria’s political stability — Njemanze

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI — FORMER member of the defunct national conference, Prince Bob Njemanze, has said that the nation’s unity and political stability would be further enhanced, if the recommendations of the parley were fully implemented.

Njemanze, who made his C M Y K

PDP at the centre.”

In his own address, Chairman of APC’s Governors' Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha, raised the alarm that the nation’s health care sector had sadly come to a standstill.

He pointed out that the three health-related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, of reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates, HIV, Malaria and tuberculosis were yet to be met.

feelings known while fielding questions in Owerri, also applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for convening the conference.

“I must commend the President for not interfering with proceedings, while the national conference lasted.

“If the latest recommendations are properly implemented, the country would be better for us all.

It is now guaranteed that one new

state must be created in the South East,” Njemanze said.

He explained that the national conference gave the various tribes the opportunity to stop the mutual suspicion among the delegates.

Addressing some issues in Imo State, Prince Njemanze advised Governor Rochas Okorocha to concentrate his future political adventure within the state rather than taking a shot at the presidency.

Northern parts of the country, Chief Obiano argued that the time had come to build the economy of the South East to serve as a safe harbour to Igbo merchants who face life-threatening situations in different hostile locations across the world.

He said: “It has been said that more often than not Ndigbo have often risen to the height of political cohesion when pushed to the wall or faced with the threat of extinction.

“Those who hold this view usually point at the Biafran War as an instance when our people lived out the true meaning of the well-known Igbo maxim of Onye aghana nwanne ya.

“But the ability of Ndigbo to cohere as a group when faced with extinction has been repeatedly challenged in recent times by the endless onslaught of Boko Haram in the North.

“As no true Nigerian leader will advocate an armed resistance to Boko Haram by any geo-political zone in the country, the question I would like to really ask is, when will the persistent threat of Boko Haram provoke Ndigbo into reinventing the South East geographical zone?”

Abia youths support for Abonta

By Laju Arenyeka

A

GROUP, Concerned Abia Youths Forum, CAYF, has called on the people of Abia South senatorial district to see the aspiration of Mr. Nkem Abonta as an opportunity to address the nagging issue of underrepresentation in the zone.

General Secretary of the group, Mr. Benjamin Okali, who made this known in a statement,described Abonta who currently represents Ukwa East/West federal constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, as the clear leader among the candidates for the senatorial position.”

Okali said: “Most say that even if the race comes to a hundred metre race, a relay, or a marathon that Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta would likely win the race even before it gets started.

"They quickly point at his unflinching support and participation to the realisation of the economic destiny of Ukwa people as their representative in the Federal House of Representatives.

Institute reviews programmes

N

AT I O N A L TEACHERS’ Institute, Kaduna, has commenced a review of its programmes, with a view to strengthening and expanding them, across the country, the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, has said.

Sharehu, who revealed this at the workshop on strengthening and expansion of the Institute’s programmes in Kaduna, said the workshop was organised by the Institute with academics from universities and other tertiary institutions across the country to brain- storm on selected areas, such as English, Mathematics, Physical Education and Integrated Science.

He said the introduction of the Nigeria Certificate of Education programme by Distance Learning System in 1990, has helped in taking education to the door step of teeming population of Nigerian teachers, who would have been constrained to attain higher qualification through the conventional process only.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Isoko group condoles with Ima Niboro over mother's death

T

HE ISOKO Interna tional Movement for Peace and Progress, has condoled with the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Olorogun Ima Niboro on the demise of his mother, Deaconess Agnes Owoma Ukeseh (Nee Ekemike) who died on Wednesday, August 27, 2014.

Okezi Odugala, National Coordinator of IMPP, a non-political association made up of Isoko indigenes both home and in diaspora, described the late Deaconess as a woman whose Christian virtues were reflected in her exemplary life both within and outside the Emevor community in Isoko, Delta State.

IMPP, said in testimony of her astute service in the vineyard of the Lord, an ultra-modern church was dedicated and named after her earlier in the year.

"It is on record that late Deaconess Ukeseh was one of the first Orthodox midwives in the then Bendel State. IMPP urged Olorogun Ima Niboro to take solace in the fact that late Deaconess Ukese lived a worthy Christian life and is presently in the bosom of God Almighty."

Oasis Christian Centre holds onvention

L

AGOS—OASIS Christian Centre, Egbeda, Lagos will commence its 2014 annual convention tomorrow, at the church premises.

A statement by the General Overseer, GO, of the church, Rev Ebenezer Oyeyemi, said the five day convention will end on Sunday, September 7, 2014 with a thanksgiving service.

The theme for the 2014 convention is “Awake to Righteousness” while the text is from the 1 Corinthians chapters 15, verse 34.

The convention would feature ministration by anointed men of God both from the church and outside, lecture, health talks and counseling.

Wada denies rift with ex-gov Idris L

By Boluwaji Obahopo

OKOJA—GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State, yesterday dismissed insinuations that the once rosy relationship between him and his predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris had gone sour, saying the so-called sour relationship was being fuelled by opposition for political gains..

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, the governor insisted that the continuous rumour of a frosty relationship between the duo was being instigated by the opposition aimed at pitching him against his predecessor for cheap political gains.

The Adviser who spoke in Lokoja when the officials of Wada Good Governance Support Group, WGGSG, paid him a visit, said no matter the level of attack from the opposition and Wada political enemies; the governor remained undaunted, but committed to the transformation agenda of his administration.

According to him, “Wada is on a transformation trip, and remained focus towards delivering on his electioneering promises. All these rumours do not in any way deter him towards ensuring that he lifts

Kogi State to an enviable height. The governor does not want to join issue with anybody or group of people whose ‘business’ is to cause conflict, because Wada is a governor with human face. It is not that he does not have answer to all the attacks by those who feel offended by his emergence; but

he has remained subtle knowing full well that he is only answerable to the citizen of the state and not too few who want to draw him to media war.”

The media aide said contrary to attempts to pull the governor down, the governor had become an enviable “brand in the State due to his good works and gov-

ernance with human face that remained unparallel in the history of the State.”

The official of the WGGSG led by its chairman, Ali Yakubu, said their visit was among others to present a letter of condolence to the governor on the demise of his father, Pa Ejiga Wada who died at the age of 100.

DONATION: From left: Mr Joseph Bodunrin, Regional Business Manager, NBL, Mr Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, representing MD/CEO, NBL and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, during the commissioning of a School project donated by Nigerian Breweries Plc to Olukeye/Asejire Community, Ibadan, Oyo State. Photo: Dare Fasube.

SERAP TO JONATHAN: Control Ebola with rights-based approach to healthcare L

AGOS—SOCIO-ECO NOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to “promote a rightsbased approach to healthcare for millions of disadvantaged Nigerians to control and combat the Ebola disease.”

In a statement by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization said: “We note that the government’s reaction so far has contributed to curtailing the spread of the disease.

But the inadequacy of a reactive approach to the problem is illustrated by the low survival rates of victims here in the country when compared to those in countries with developed and functioning healthcare systems.

"The unfortunate reality is that the full enjoyment of the right to health still remains a distant goal for millions of Nigerians especially those who continue to live in poverty as a result of years of mismanagement and high level official corruption.

“This problem is further exacerbated by the absence of functioning public health and health-care facilities, grossly insufficient resources and offi-

cial corruption. The result is that payment for basic healthcare remains beyond the reach of majority of Nigerians,” the organization said.

According to the organiza-

tion, “The Ebola outbreak provides an opportunity for the government to formulate a coherent health policy that is based on human rights principles. And President Jonathan needs to ur-

gently provide the leadership to make this happen. As a starting point, the President should now publicly support the inclusion of a legally enforceable right to healthcare in the constitution.”

DELTA 2015: Lawmaker seeks royal blessing

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ARRI—THE Chief Whip of Delta State House of Assembly, DTSHA, Mrs Omawumi Udoh, has informed the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, of her intention to seek re-election as the lawmaker representing Warri South 1 constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.

Udoh also told the monarch and his chiefs that it is impor-

tant for her to be re-elected to sustain the gains she has recorded as a three-term legislator.

Briefing newsmen after the visit, Udoh said: ‘’It takes time to get things done. I feel there is a lot more yet to accomplish. This task is therefore not for unsteady or untested hands that would seek to learn on the job. We need an experienced, tried and tested hands. With so many new assembly members and a new gover-

nor in the making, it’s important for incumbent legislator like herself to return so her constituency doesn’t lose momentum on the progress so far made. ‘’I have a lot to show for my three term in the House. I have sponsored more than 10 Bills in the State House of Assembly. Prominent amongst the Bills are: Waste Management Bill, Ecology Bill, Delta State Sickle Cell Bill, Delta State Micro Finance Bill, and Estate Regulatory Authority Bill.’’

KWARA GUBER: Youths endorse Babalola for gov

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By Demola Akinyemi

LORIN—A Coalition of Youths in the Kwara State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ilorin, has endorsed Sunday Babalola, one of the aspirants as the preferred gubernatorial candidate for the party in 2015 election.

The youths pleaded with the elders and other stakeholders in the PDP to consider kwara

South for their choice since the ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC, has already zoned its choice to the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed area, for him to contest for second term.

At a briefing jointly addressed by the President and Secretary, Messrs Adedeji Adekunle and Adegoroye Adeniyi respectively among others, said: “Our reason

for the Omu-Aran born engineer is predicated on the premise of fairness, equity justice and rotational leadership in view of the fact that kwara south is best positioned for the next governorship ticket for the purpose of equal representation. The choice of Kwara South candidate for our party will go a long way to guarantee victory in 2015 in view of the yearnings, aspirations and desires of kwara and indeed southerners and northerners in Kwara State."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 —47

IGP tasks Nigerians on security

INSURGENCY: Army calls for closer working relationship with media

By Demola Akinyemi

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By Peter Duru

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AKURDI— NIGERIAN Army has called for a closer working relationship with the media to enable it effectively combat the lingering insurgency and terrorists activities that threaten the unity and security of the country.

Commander, 325 Ground Training Group, GTG, of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Christopher Dola, spoke at the combined graduation ceremony of Advanced Intelligence Course 11 and Document Security Course Six of the Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence, NAFSAINT, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Air Commodore Dola said: “Our media must know that revealing security weaknesses invites exploitation of such weaknesses. Therefore, cooperation between the two is crucial to make intelligence more effective and ensure our national security.”

He acknowledged the role the media played in fostering unity in the country, adding that the military intelligence and the media must continue to partner to engender peaceful coexistence in the country.

Earlier, the Commandant of NAFSAINT, Group Captain Benson Omoyungbo, said officers were currently being availed adequate training in counter terrorism in the institution as a result of the support the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu, had extended to the NAFSAINT. Omoyungbo said: “As a result of this support, the Nigerian Air Force is in the process of acquiring modern intelligence equipment to boost training at the NAFSAINT. The support has also enabled us expand our scope by ensuring that officers are well grounded and trained in the area of counter terrorism and insurgency.

"The training is critical in our overall efforts to key into the CAS vision and also contribute in the achievement of the key drivers of the vision as well.”

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From left: Dr Lugard Aimiuwu, Past President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), NIM ; Dr Nelson Uwaga, president and chairman of council, NIM and Dr Sally Adekwu-Bolujoko, past president, at the NIM awards, fellows and spouses’ day luncheon in Lagos. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu.

Bauchi PDP chieftain, 50,000 others defect to APC

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI — A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Ningi Local government Area of Bauchi State, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC, alongside over 50,000 supporters ahead of 2015 general elections.

The decampees were received by the APC state chairman, Alhaji Uba Ahmed Nana, at the Ningi mini stadium with a large turn-out of the party big-wigs from all walks of life.

Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, said their decision to dump the PDP was as a result of the failure of the party to consolidate on the gains of democracy in tandem with their campaign promise.

He said: “We regret staying in the PDP for years when there is nothing to show in the transformation of the country.

Poverty, political, insecurity and economic impoverishment have been the order of the day since it took over the affairs of the state in 2007.

"As we gradually approach the 2015 general elections, there is an urgent need for a change of events in the political atmosphere of the country. This is what has motivated over 50,000 PDP members to decamp to APC.” Receiving the decampees, the APC chairman said the defection of the PDP had proven beyond any doubt that APC had bright prospects ahead of 2015 elections.

Nana said: “It is no news that our dear nation is entrapped in the prison of poverty, unemployment, insecurity,

violence and economic deprivation. All these problems are the architect of the PDP-led government and that is why APC is waxing stronger to bring a change.

"We must maintain the status quo of monitoring our votes in the 2015 elections as a measure to protect the interest of the APC in its determination to capture Bauchi and the entire country.

"This event has made history by receiving over 50,000 politicians who dumped the PDP to APC to address the challenges this nation is facing. I want to serve a note

of warning to those that are working as political contractors to the PDP to desist from the act because the APC is now united and will fish all of them out of the party.”

Those who graced the occasion were the APC gubernatorial aspirant, former Police affairs Minister Dr. Ibrahim Lame, APC state deputy chairman Hon. Harsanu Guyaba, senator Mohammed Ahmed, retired AIG of police Mohammadu Sani Ningi among other dignitaries.

Kwara APC youths back Gov Ahmed for second term

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN— THE Kwara South Youths of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which comprises seven local government areas of the senatorial district, yesterday expressed support for the second term ambition of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, for continuity and equity.

The seven of the 16 local government areas in the state are Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Isin, Oke-Ero, Isin and Ekiti.

Coordinator of the youths’ wing, Mr. Sunkanmi Ereoye, spoke at a briefing in AjaseIpo against the backdrop of the youths' alleged violent disruption of the elders meeting last week.

According to the coordinator, “as youth leaders and one of the most important groups in our political system, we were

surprised at our exclusion from the Elders Forum Consultations with stakeholders.

"Ten of us went to the venue of the meeting. On getting there, however, we could not agree on the mode of participation at the meeting since all of us could not participate in the meeting.

"The resulting disagreement led to an unfortunate fracas among us which has sadly been misrepresented as an attack on the APC leaders. That is far from the truth.

“As youths who also pray to grow up and become elders, we will not attack our elders for any reason. If we have any disagreement with the party structure and leadership, we have non violent ways of conveying our grievances internally.”

LORIN— ACTING Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has pleaded with Nigerians, irrespective of political and religion affiliations, to collaborate with security operatives in war against insecurity in the country, urging Nigerians to see security as a collective responsibility of all for the country to successfully win the battle against rising security challenge.

Abba spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the luncheon in honour of newly promoted members of the Alumni Association of National Institute for Policy and strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Kwara State chapter organised by former President of the institute, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim.

According to him, “security is a collective responsibility and on all Nigerians must be interested in what is happening around them."

The IGP, who was represented at the occasion by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone II, Mr. Ambrose Aisabor, said: “Nigerians should support the security agencies by ensuring that they make available necessary information that will help the agencies.

The people in the country should shun all forms of acts capable of hindering the desire and commitment of security agencies to put an end to this security challenges facing the country. It is only an atmosphere of peace that development will come to the doorsteps of the populace hence the need for cooperation of all and sundry.”

The IGP who described the honour being given to the former members of the NIPSS in Kwara as well deserved, urged them not to relent in their efforts at using their new positions to add values to the socio-economic development of the country.

Also, former president of the NIPSS Alumni Association, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, said the programme was organised to recognise excellent and merit.

He advised the recipients to be up and doing in the task of moving the nation forward in their new positions.

In his remarks, the guest speaker, the chairman, Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, Alhaji Kola Belgore, decried the economic situation facing the nation.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

SEMINAR: From left; Mr Femi Omowumi, Information Specialist, US Consulate, Lagos; Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Ikem, Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba, Lagos; Dr Eduardo Cue, Guest Lecturer from Germany and Mr Jide Johnson, Head Of Department, Mass Communication, NIJ, Ogba during a seminar organised by the school at the school premises in Ogba, Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

INVESTITURE: Special Adviser on Media to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Hakeem Bello (left) being congratulated by a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha (right) during his investiture as a Fellow of the Guild at the 10th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) with the theme, “Credible Elections and Good Governance: The Role of the Editor”, in Katsina, Katsina State on Saturday.

LECTURE: From left; Vice Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Soboma Ajumogobia; Rev. Sis. Agnes Mary Hassan; Guest Speaker/Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Chairman of the occasion/Group Executive, Domestic Bank, Ecobank Group, Mr. Patrick Akinwutan; and President, Catholic Brothers United, Mr. Emmanuel Uwukhor, during the 15th annual lecture of the association at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

LUNCHEON: Immediate Past President, Alumni Association of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim; Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi and Secretary-General, AAIN/Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu at a luncheon for the newly promoted members of the AANI, Kwara State chapter in Ilorin.

RALLY: Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen (left) and former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omeahia during the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, weekend.

(RIGHT) BRIEFING: From right: Mr. Olaniyi Omotosho, Project Director Spirit of Lagos, Oyinkan BadejoOgunsanya, General Counsel to Lagos Governor; Dr. Mariam Masha, Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Transport Education and Mar. Yomi Layinka, Project Consultant, during the press conference to introduce a theme Song for Contest on Sprit of FORUM: From left; Mr. Olakunle Soriyan, Principal Lagos, held at Freedom Transformation Strategist, Olakunle Soriyan Company; Adetayo Park, Lagos Island.

Eniibukun, CEO, CleanAce Drycleaners; Mrs Saidat Lawal- Photo: Bunmi Azeez Mohammed, Senior Manager, Segments MTN; Mr. Marek Zmuslowski, MD, Jovago-Com. and Mr Ayo Olagboju MD, TAVIA, during MTN Link Forum in Lagos. Photo by Diran Oshe.

INDOMIE/LEARN INITIATIVE: From left; Mrs Tonne Saheed, Senior Project Officer, LEARN; Mr Tope Ashiwaju; Head of Public Relation and Events, Dufil Prima Foods Plc and Mrs Bisi Awoyomi, Project Officer, LEARN, during the 2014 Indomie/LEARN Initiative held at Iponri High School, Lagos.

UNVEILING: From left: Head Acceptance and Acquiring Verve Intl, Mr Abayomi Olomu; Chief Marketing Officer, Interswitch, Mrs Cherry Eromosele and Marketing Manager, Consumer Segments, Interswitch, Mrs Enyioma Anaba, during the unveiling of the Shop Small Win Big campaign, held at Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 49

No political linkage to Bring Back Our Girls campaign — Ezekwesili

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Dapo Akinrefon & Charles Kumolu

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RSTWHILE Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, denied any political linkage or external financial support for activities of the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG movement.

Ezekwesili who led members of the movement on an advocacy visit to Vanguard, at the point of tears affirmed that life for her can never move on as usual until the 219 girls abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State are safely returned.

Mrs. Ezekwesili’s points were corroborated by other members of the advocacy group including former commissioner for justice and attorney general of Lagos State, Mrs. Wonu Folami, president of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, among other professionals who affirmed that they were not layabouts but people who were moved by empathy on the fate of the girls.

Speaking to Vanguard editors, Mrs. Ezekwesili said that it was regrettable that yesterday, being the 140th day after the kidnap of the girls, that no definite word could be said about the fate of the girls. Noting her earlier empathy and support for reported efforts by the security agencies in the recovery of the girls, she said she, however, felt let down when she discovered that the information and equivocations by security and administration officials were false.

While lamenting the lethargy of government on the issue of the girls, Mrs. Ezekwesili said one of her worst days as a Nigerian was when the BBOG sit-in in Abuja was disrupted by hired thugs on May 28.

Denying any political

connection to the activities of the group, she said: “There is absolutely no political motivation in the Bring Back Our Girls movement. There was absolutely no conversation concerning politics and as many of you would know, I am not a politician. I am so politics-neutral. That has always been my premise. They called me names in the past, there is nothing different. They are calling me names again simply because I dare to challenge the prevalent orientation and attitude.

“So, there is nothing that is political about this movement. It is an orchestrated attempt or perhaps an orchestrated strategy to malign what is a purely compassion driven advocacy by citizens, who are oblivious because I don’t care about political persuasion.”

From left, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs Wonu Folami, Mrs Sekinat Yusuf and Miss Toyin Adeleye, during the courtesy visit to Vanguard newspapers corporate office, by the Bring Back Our Girls in Nigeria team, yesterday.

Political persuasion Affirming that she is not jobless as portrayed in some quarters, Mrs. Ezekwesili said: “I know that I am prepared to pay the price for this project. I have heard some people say that I am jobless. I am not jobless, Oby Ezekwesili is not jobless because I act as an economic adviser to a number of African presidents. I go to their countries and I live in their countries on a quarterly basis. I had to put it on hold for it not to be said that over 200 girls went to school and disappeared and I just carried on as if nothing happened.

“If my child was part of the girls missing, would I just move on?

Not everybody can enter into this conversation the way these men and women you are posing this question to, have entered. Rather than the people who don’t care about this issue say “thank God there are some who care”, they spend their time attacking those who are showing empathy?”

Asked on the outcome of the several interventions by some foreign countries in the search

L-r: Azu Akanwa, Production Editor, Kayode Mathew,News Editor , Dada Adekola, Cartoon Editor, Jide Ajani, Sunday Vangaurd Editor, Ms Titi Jolaoso,Financial Controller, Mr Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs Wonu Folami, Mrs Sekinat Yusuf, Miss Toyin Adeleye, Kunle Adekoya,General Editor and Joe Akintola,Photo Editor and others during the visit by Bring Back Our Girls in Nigeria, Photos: Biodun Ogunleye yesterday.

effort, she said: “We have been told often by the countries that have offered to assist (US, UK, China, France, Canada, Australia and Israel) that this is a Nigerian problem. It is our government that must give the status report of the rescue operation. They only came to assist, they did not come to take over the problem. I think the only important group that needs to keep pressing this point is the media. You cannot abdicate your responsibility to another country.

BBOG takes protest to Abuja streets

By Emmanuel Elebeke, Gabriel Ewepu & Fatima Kareem

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FTER 140 days of fruitless search for the abducted Chibok girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, in April, the BringBackOurGirls campaign group, yesterday, intensified their campaign by protesting on major roads of Abuja.

The group comprised citizensdriven advocacy group made up of Nigerians from different religions, ethnic and social status and backgrounds who have come together to stand in solidarity for the missing Chibok Girls.

Their placards read: If you keep quiet, it is a matter of time, it will happen to you; Any of our Chibok girls could be your daughter; We can’t have a normal life until our girls have life; we elected Jonathan, he has our mandate, not Shekau, so we can only ask our President to BringBackOurGirls; Time is running out, where is our humanity? where is our love? where is our conscience?

BringBackOurGirls.

Addressing the public, the spokesperson of the group, Aisha Yesufu said their demand was that the issue of the more than 200 abducted Chibok girls be

prioritized and that relevant authorities should act decisively and ensure the girls are brought back safe and alive to the waiting and loving arms of their parents, arguing that a nation as big and rich like Nigeria could not have abandoned over 200 girls to perish in the hands of terrorists.

She cited similar incidents before the Chibok episode like the massacre of young boys in a school in Buni Yadi and the kidnap of 20 girls from the school, for which nothing was done for the murdered boys by the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.

“In international relationship, other countries come to support, especially on matters that have humanitarian implications.

Terrorism is a global scourge, there is no border that closes against the terrorist any more, people feel that you must share in the problem. That does not mean that these countries will now take over a Nigerian problem. So, when we ask them for updates, that is the response that they give.”

On the attack on the group at its sit-in at the Unity Fountain, Abuja on May 28, she said: “The group that was asked to come and move us out of unity fountain, that was one of my saddest day in Nigeria. It was an incredible mix of people. For me, the pain was that the parents of these Chibok girls were of the same social class. They began to dance around and called us Boko Haram. And then, I saw young men who came to beat up our group, when they got close to me, there was something that restrained them. So, they could only push, took handbags and broke chairs that we used.

Afterwards they started fighting because those that were supposed to come and give them money, had taken off with most

of it.”

Charging the media to intensify focus on the fate of the abducted girls, she said: “We came out of compassion and that is one of the reasons why we are here. If the media performs its role in enlightenment and getting people involved, it will not be difficult because we do not have the capacity to get as many people involved as the media. We are hoping that what propelled us to come out, will propel others to come out.”

At the point of tears, Mrs. Ezekwesili described how she was moved by emotions when she described the meeting between one of the escaped girls and the Afghani girl child advocate, Malala Yousafzai.

According to her the unnamed girl described how life had become painful for her on account of some of her own friends still held captive by the terrorists. The BBOG movement has had daily sit-ins in Abuja as part of a global effort to draw attention to the fate of the Chibok school girls who were abducted by elements of the Islamic Boko Haram group 141 days ago.

"Sit-ins are also held in Lagos every Saturday at the Marina in Lagos."

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 51

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52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

WORKSHOP ON EBOLA—From left: The President, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele Hunsu with President of NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and Vice President of NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu at a one-day sensitization workshop on Ebola Virus Disease held in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Expect more Ebola virus cases —FG Continues from page 5 State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker who made this known yesterday said she had to be sent there because she showed symptoms of the disease, adding that result of the Ebola test done on her would be released later in the day.

The commissioner said the two other staff of the Samstil Clinic owned by the late Dr Enemuo who were quarantined had been released because result of the Ebola test conducted on them showed that they were negative, adding that only one Ebola confirmed case was at the centre.

“We have brought back the sister of Dr Iyke Enemuo who went to Abia State. She is symptomatic and we have sent her to the quarantined centre.

“The three cases we had at the quarantine centre, two tested negative while one, an elderly lady who was in the same room with the late Dr. Enemuo at the hospital where he was admitted tested positive. The two

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cases who tested negative were the doctor and pharmacist at the late Dr Enemuo’s hospital. They have left the quarantine centre but we are still watching them within the 21-day period,” he said.

Remains of Enemuo, other high risk corpses for burial in PH The commissioner who noted that late Enemuo's wife was in stable condition at the treatment centre in Lagos, however remarked: “The corpse of late Dr Iyke Enemuo and other high risk corpses in the UPTH will be buried under supervision of the Ministry of Health officials in Port Harcourt so that we don’t expose relatives to danger. The families will be there but will not be allowed to touch the corpse. Families can make suggestions where they should be buried but it will be in Port Harcourt,” he said.

He said there were four volunteer doctors, six expatriate staff and eight volunteer nurses han-

dling cases at the quarantine centre in the state, noting that more persons were being trained.

He further appealed to those who had contact with the late Dr Enemuo but had not shown up to do so, stressing that Ebola was not a death sentence.

“Ebola is not a death sentence. All we need is early detection. We have a lady that moved to Akwa Ibom from the hotel, we are still to get her.

Anyone who had contact with Dr Enemuo that is yet to show up should please do, Ebola is not a death sentence,” he pleaded.

On the strategies being adopted for containing the EVD, Chukwu said it had remained the same - focusing on appropriate information, education and communication; sustaining surveillance systems; provision and equipping of isolation wards/centres; provision of adequate care for confirmed cases; active and aggressive contact tracing; and reduction in harmful practices that promote the spread of the virus.

“We have further strengthened our Emergency Operations Centre

in Lagos with support from the Dangote Foundation which has made available N152m for the operations of the EOC. On our part, we have continued to ensure that workers at the EOC have requisite knowledge to stay safe while helping to keep track of and provide care for EVD patients.

We have also ensured that the workers have been receiving their incentives.

“We have now concluded plans to conduct two major trainings in all the states. The states are, however, expected to cascade these trainings down to the LGAs with support from the development partners, whom we are already talking with in this regard among others. These trainings are Training of Trainer (TOT) for Health Workers on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak and other Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) and TOT for State Health Educators on awareness creation, community sensitization and mobilization. Arrangement has been made to include the military and para-military in the training.”

He said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has received approval for the re-production of copies of the

protocols and SOPs for management of EVD cases as well as protocol for submitting samples to the laboratories and burying of EVD victims.

“The Federal Government considers it very important to have the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in ensuring adequate protection for our health care workers. We have also decided that all PPEs to be bought should be in line with specifications provided by the WHO. It was also decided that PPEs will only be procured from WHO recommended manufacturers/ suppliers. WHO has already supplied us with over 6000 PPEs which we are currently using. However, we have already initiated discussions with the WHO for the procurement of 4000 basic PPEs and 500 Heavy Duty PPEs (for use by the morticians).

Saudi suspends Labour visas for nations hard hit

by Ebola Saudi Arabia has stopped granting visas to workers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the countries worst-hit by the deadly Ebola virus.

The “preventive measure” is based on “directives from the foreign and health ministries to avoid” the spread of Ebola to the kingdom, the official news agency SPA reported.

The virus, for which there is no treatment or vaccine, has claimed 1,552 lives out of 3,069 reported cases — 694 in Liberia, 430 in Guinea, 422 in Sierra Leon and six in Nigeria, according to latest figures from the World Health Organisation.

Saudi Arabia made a similar decision in April when it announced the suspension of visas for Muslim pilgrims from Guinea and Liberia.

The Hajj annual pilgrimage, the world’s biggest Muslim gathering, draws two million people to Saudi Arabia each year, including many from the West African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak. This year it falls in October.

The “temporary suspension” of labour visas from the three African nations “ will not affect the labour market in Saudi Arabia” where the number of workers from these countries “is very little,” SPA quoted Deputy Labour Minister Mufrej al-Haqbani as saying.

He said laboratory tests before arrival were “strictly required” by the labour ministry for all foreigners coming from west Africa. Ebola has also spread to Nigeria and Senegal.

Sweden discovers suspected case of Ebola A suspected case of the Ebola virus discovered in the Swedish capital Stockholm is being investigated.

“So far it’s just a suspected case,” an official said, without giving more details.

The person fell ill after visiting an area known to be hit by the virus and is now being held in isolation, the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reported on its website.

Aake Oertsqvist, a specialist in infection control responsible for the Stockholm area, was quoted as saying the risk of an Ebola outbreak in Sweden was “very low”.

“The virus is not airborne, but is spread among humans through direct or indirect contact via blood and other fluids,” he was quoted as saying.

Ebola hitting women harder than men New data has shown that a disproportionate number of women have been infected with the Ebola virus. Both men and women are being hit by the disease, but the difference in who is getting the brunt of this outbreak is staggering.

According to UNICEF, women account for 55 to 60 per cent of the 1,552 deaths from Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since May. However, reports say that health teams on the ground in Liberia report much higher numbers with women making up 75 per cent of the people who have been infected.

Some are pointing to women’s penchant for nurturing as the main factor behind the disparity.

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s blood, tissues and bodily fluids. It is not airborne.

This, when coupled with the fact that women make up the majority of caregivers, is huge reason why the disease has hit females the hardest.

Executive Director of the Women’ NGO Secretariat Liberia Marpue Spear said this mentality about gender roles is also what’s keeping more men from situations where they could risk infection.

V anguard anguard,, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014— 53

Israel seizes 400 hectares of West Bank land

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A boy in Amerli with food items, yesterday, after Iraqi forces broke through to the jihadistbesieged Shiite town the previous day, where thousands of people have been trapped for more than two months with dwindling food and water supplies.

Iraq retakes more towns from Islamic State •UN team to investigate ISIS crimes

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RAQI Kurdish forces and Shia armed volunteers have retaken more northern towns from the Islamic State group, killing at least two of its senior fighters.

A day after breaking the siege in the town of Amerli north of Baghdad, government forces retook the town of Sulaiman Bek on Monday, removing another key stronghold of the Islamic State group.

Iraqi officials said they killed, Mussab Mamoud, the town’s Islamic State head, and Mazen Zaki, the military wing commander, along with more than 20 other Sunni rebel fighters.

Iraqi security officials said eight of the fighters were Chechen. They also

said the fighters include dozens of nationalities, including experienced Chechen snipers Government forces are still trying to clear the town of explosives left by the armed group which was previously known as ISIL. Iraqi security forces backed by Shia armed volunteers have now begun clearing operations - meant to flush out remaining fighters and detonate bombs laid by the fighters and expected to take several days.

The small farming town became an Islamic State stronghold after it was seized last year by Jaish al-Tariqiyah al-Naqshabandiyah - Baath party

Libyan MP asked to form new government

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IBYA’S elected parliament, the House of Representatives, has asked Abdullah al-Thinni to form a new caretaker government, amid political division and ongoing violence in the country.

“The House has reappointed Abdullah al-Thinni today as the prime minister, asking him to form a crisis government within a period of time not exceeding two weeks,” a spokesman said on Monday.

The move came as the government said it had lost control of most ministries and state institutions located in Tripoli after rival armed groups took over the capital.

Last month, senior officials and the elected parliament moved to the remote eastern city of Tobruk as an alliance of armed fac-

tions led by forces from the western city of Misrata took control of Tripoli, having expelled a rival group.

All ministries, the central bank and the state-owned National Oil Corp (NOC) are located in the capital.

Thinni had been prime minister of the oil-rich country since March, but his position has been challenged by a rival parliament refusing to recognise the House of Representatives.

Last Thursday Thinni and his cabinet announced their resignation to make way for a new government based on parliamentary elections held in June.

A government statement said the interim government was in contact with officials and “trying to ensure the continuity of services from afar.”

loyalists led by Saddam Hussein’s former deputy Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri.

Meanwhile, the United Nations agreed yesterday to send investigators to Iraq to examine crimes being committed by Islamic State militants on “an unimaginable scale”, with a view to holding perpetrators to account.

HE United States has urged Israel to reverse its decision to seize nearly 400 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank, a move anti-settlement activists termed the largest land grab in 30 years.

Israel announced the m a s s i v e l a n d appropriation on Sunday in the Etzion settlement bloc near Bethlehem just days after Gaza ceasefire.

A Palestinian official said the latest land grab

by Israel would cause only more friction after the Gaza war that left more than 2,000 Palestinians dead and over 10,000 injured.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called on Israel to cancel the appropriation. ”This decision will lead to more instability. This will only inflame the situation after the war in Gaza,” presidential spokesman Abu Rdainah said.

A US State Department official called the announcement as “counter-

Case filed against Pakistan protest leaders

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HE Pakistani government has brought a case against two opposition leaders at the centre of the anti-government protests that has seen the state television headquarters in the capital stormed earlier in the day.

Police station secretariat in Islamabad has registered a case under an anti-terrorism act against politician Imran Khan, religious leader Tahirul-Qadri and hundreds of their supporters for organising riots, damaging state buildings and attacking security forces.

Anti-government protesters briefly occupied the building of state television, PTV, and cut transmissions of the broadcaster ’s news services in Urdu and English for 45 minutes.

Transmission was resumed after paramilitary soldiers arrived at the building and cleared it.

Amid the political chaos, the country’s powerful army chief Raheel Sharif met the beleaguered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. No statement was issued

after their meeting in the capital.

But on Sunday the army had said that further use of force to resolve the escalating political crisis would only worsen the situation.

The opposition leaders have been calling for the resignation of Sharif over allegations of corruption and vote rigging in the last year’s general elections won

by Sharif ’s party.

productive to Israel’s stated goal of a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians”.

“We urge the government of Israel to reverse this decision,” the official said in Washington.

Peace Now group, which opposes Israeli set-

tlement activities in the West Bank, territory the Palestinians seek for a state, said the appropriation was meant to turn a site where 10 families now live adjacent to a Jewish seminary into a permanent settlement.

Obama notifies Congress of airstrikes in Iraq

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RESIDENT Barack Obama has sent official notification to Congress of his order for last week's airstrikes and humanitarian aid drops to help Iraqis threatened by Islamic State militants.

The White House on Monday released a letter formally letting Congress' leaders know that Obama approved the mission that repelled Sunni fighters in the northern Shiite town of Amirli and dropped food, water and medical supplies for civilians.

Such notifications are required by law and are considered a formality.

The Islamic State group has control of vast swaths of Syria and Iraq, has killed civilians from that region and beheaded American journalist James Foley.

The United States has conducted airstrikes in northern Iraq to halt the advance of Islamic State fighters. It is also considering extending its air campaign into Syria.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command said that American military forces continued to attack Islamic militant targets, using fighter and attack aircraft to conduct three airstrikes Sunday and

Monday near Mosul Dam. It said the strikes destroyed three trucks, severely damaged another, destroyed an armed vehicle and took out a mortar position near the dam. The Central Command said all aircraft exited the strike area safely.

Ukraine’s troops retreat from vital airport

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KRAINE’S military has pulled its forces back from defending a vital airport in the east against what is decribed as a column of Russian tanks, as President Petro Poroshenko accused Moscow of direct and open aggression.

The withdrawal from the civilian airport outside the city of Luhansk was the latest in a string of reverses for Ukrainian forces fighting pro-Russian separatists who Kiev says have the direct support of hundreds of Russian troops and armour.

An army statement on Monday said Ukrainian paratroopers were engaging a Russian tank battalion near the airport.

Deputy chairman of Hamas' political bureau Mussa Abu Marzuk (R) hugs a member of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the Islamist movement's armed wing, as he visits relatives of killed senior Hamas commander Mohammed Abu Shamala in Rafah in the southern of Gaza Strip.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Edo market women curse those that poisoned Uniben VC

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN CITY — AS the race fto succeed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Professor Osayuki intensifies, over 1,000 market women under the aegis of Market Women Association, stormed the palace of the Benin monarch, yesterday, demanding that a qualified Benin son should succeed Oshodin as Vice Chancellor of the university.

The market women led by Madam Blacky Ugiagbe, also condemned what she described as frivolous petitions against the current Vice Chancellor by some persons she called “enemies of progress,” noting that they intend to fish out those who allegedly poisoned Prof. Oshodin by all means.

She hinted that when they are found, they will be handed over to the gods of Benin land.

The women, who commenced the protest at 10a.m., defied the early morning rain as they sang war songs.

They visited the Palace of the Oba of Benin, where they were received by Benin Chiefs after which they stormed the state Government House.

Group boosts Areyenka’s political aspiration

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HE INSPIRED Group, TIG, has said that the aspiration of a former Delta State Commissioner on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Ada Areyenka to represent Warri federal constituency in the House of Representatives, was a response to calls for unbiased representation of the various ethnic groups in the zone.

The group, which has members from the three local government areas in Warri, commended the political leadership in the zone for insisting that the position should shift to Warri South Local Government Area in 2015.

Briefing newsmen in Warri, TIG President, Mr. Michael Tidi, said “Arenyeka is not seeking political power for personal reasons, as that the Itsekiri, Ijaws and Urhobo would be well represented.

Security agents foil kidnap attempt on minister's aide's mother, 73

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA — A combined team of policemen attached to the state security outfit, Doo Akpo, yesterday, foiled an attempt by gunmen to kidnap Madam Nwokoya, 73 year old mother of the Personal Assistant to Minister of Petroleum Resources, Engr.

Innocent Nwokoya in Famgbe community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Vanguard learnt that one of the gunmen, was nabbed by the team of policemen, Joint Task Force, JTF, code named Operation Pulo Shield and youths of the Famgbe community while others escaped with gun shot injuries.

The incident, it was learnt, occurred at 3a.m., at the quiet settlement, located across the Ikoli River in the state capital.

It was learnt while the gunmen were trying to locate their target, who reportedly passed the night

in her daughter-inlaw's room, security operatives swooped on them based on a tip-off.

The gunmen were said to have engaged the security operatives in a shoot-out leading to the arrest of the hoodlums.

According to a close family source, the kidnap plot failed because the woman did not sleep in her room.

“They were desperately searching each room in the house before the security operatives confronted them in a shoot-out,”

the source said.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it happened. Some gunmen stormed the Famgbe community in an attempt to kidnap the mother of the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

"The police, operating on a tipoff, laid ambush for the gunmen and engaged them in gun battle.

While one was arrested, others escaped with bullet injuries.”

NLC Delta asks govt to end Chevron's unfair labour practices

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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IGERIA LABOUR Congress, NLC, Delta State council, has called on the state government to prevail on the

management of Chevron Nigeria Limited and its contractors to end alleged unfair labour practices to avoid a looming industrial unrest in the company’s operations in the state.

Chairman of the state NLC, Mr. Williams Akporeha, in a statement, warned that perceived persistent casualisation and willful dismissal of workers by and its

LUNCHEON: From left, Immediate Past President, Alumni Association of National Institute, AANI, for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim; Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi , and Secretary-General, AANI/Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Issa Aremu, at a luncheon for the newly promoted members of the AANI, Kwara State chapter, in Ilorin

contractors would soon throw the state into unprecedented industrial crisis.

According to him, “Labour cannot continue to watch a tactical institutionalisation of slave labour

by Chevron and its contractors.

It is bad enough that Chevron management forbids the unionisation of their contract employees. The wicked aspect of it is that these workers have been forced to agree to unacceptable working conditions just to earn a living, now they are practically being enslaved daily by their paymasters supervised by Chevron.”

He noted that the Warri zonal council of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, NUPENG, had already called out their members on protest, a situation he described as a ticking time-bomb.

He said: “As we speak, the Chevron branches of NUPENG are on strike and you know how these things work, it can attract solidarity and escalate.

Actualise Aziza's dream, Aguariavwodo tells UPU leadership

By Festus Ahon

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ENATOR EMMANUEL Aguariavwodo has charged the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, not to be deterred in their determination to actualise the dreams of the departed President General of the union, General Patrick Aziza (rtd) for the Urhobo nation.

Aguariavwodo, representing Delta Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, who spoke when he paid a condolence visit to the Aziza family and the leadership of UPU in Adagbrasa, Okpe Local Government Area, Delta State, said that the demise of Aziza was very painful.

He noted that Aziza led a fulfilled life and worked relentlessly towards moving the Urhobo nation forward.

Expressing satisfaction with the efforts of UPU in building bridges

across other ethnic nationalities in the state, he advised the body not to relent in reaching out to everyone, so as to solidify the relationship with neighbours of

the Urhobo nation.

Responding, the acting President General of UPU, Chief Joseph Omene, said that the visitation was a testament of the

Senator’s high regard for Aziza, adding that the Urhobo nation have never regretted his representation at the National Assembly.

2015: We'll field our best team - Edo PDP

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN — WITH barely seven months to the 2015 general elections, Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has assured party faithful that it would field its best at the polls, assuring that there will be no imposition of candidates.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who gave the assurance, in Benin, while receiving Mr. Ehiogie WestIdahosa, who was at the party secretariat on Sapele Road to formally inform the leaders of his

intention to contest the Edo South senatorial race under the PDP platform, said: “The PDP has resolved to send only its first 11 team to the contest and will keep at home its best scorers.

“We will throw the contest open to ensure that only the very best emerges. The issue of who represents the state at the National Assembly is not for ‘Alleluyah’ boys; people must show us reasons they want to represent us.”

He commended Idahosa for the quality of his analysing and delivery in the House of Representatives for 12 years,

noting that with his pedigree he was capable of representing any parliament in the world.

Chief Orbih, while advising him to go about his campaign in a civilised manner, called on other political aspirants on the platform of the party to emulate Idahosa in their campaigns.

Earlier, Idahosa told the party leadership that he was vying for the Edo South senatorial seat to enable him offer qualitative representation to the zone and Edo State. He expressed gratitude to the PDP for the exposure it gave him and made him who he is today.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—55

Jonathan's re-election bid: ACPN threatens to drag TAN to court …says group violating Section 221 of constitution

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA — ALLIED Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, yesterday, threatened to challenge the pro-Jonathan group, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, in court for canvassing votes for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection bid ahead of 2015 presidential election.

The party which picked holes in the current nationwide activities embarked upon by TAN, ahead of 2015 presidential poll, accused the organisation of operating with impunity, as the dark days of military dictatorship.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, Acting National Chairman of ACPN, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima, said TAN had no right under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do what it was doing.

He referred to “restriction orders in Section 221 of the Nigerian constitution prohibiting association other than a political party from canvassing for votes for any candidates at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidates.

“Our greatest predicament at the moment is the non-inclusion of a third party campaigner in the Electoral Act. This is happening across the political landscape causing a great dislocation and a fragrant disregard for the electoral process.

“They dominate the electoral circle like a colossus. You will agree with me that Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria, TAN,

spends millions of naira daily to campaign for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Is TAN now a replacement for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on whose platform the president was elected in 2011 general election? Who is behind the Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria? What is the source of the massive funding for its operations?”

“In Nigeria, our problem is not the absence of laws, but the culture of impunity. Are the people behind TAN above the law? This is a challenge for the Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC. “We also expect the INEC to act now and should it fail to act, we will go to court to challenge the activities of TAN.” Galadima implored the National Assembly to urgently include in the amendment to the Electoral Act a provision to regulate the activities and funding of a third party campaign in Nigeria, adding that there could not be a free and fair election in 2015 in Nigeria, if the processes leading to the election were not fair.

He also condemned the militarisation of recent

governorship election conducted in Ekiti and Osun states by the Federal Government.

Galadima noted that although provision of security was important to safeguard the lives of the electorate and election materials, excessive presence of all manner of security men could intimidate and scare the electorate, thereby preventing people from exercising their franchise.

“The deployment of over 35,000 security men for a polling unit of less than 2,500 in Osun State governorship election is condemnable,” he said.

DISENGAGEMENT: From left, Director, Finance and Adimiration, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps,Mr. Ibidapo Obe; ex-Volunteers, Alhaji Badamasi Yakubu, and Director of Programmes, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Dr. Abiodun Adeleye, during the disengagement /award of certificates to 2012-2014 biennum ex -volunteers, in Abuja.

....Gov Lamido distances self Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North & Aliyu Dangida

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HE BATTLE-LINE appears drawn between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State over the 2015 elections.

Lamido, a two-term governor under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, distanced himself from the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 by the North-West zone of the party.

Although he is yet to formally declare intention to run for the presidency, Lamido, last week, hinted at the possibility of seeking a higher office in Nigeria, as he would not be going to the Senate as his colleagues are doing.

It will be recalled that the North-West zone of the PDP had, weekend, in Kaduna released a

communiqué throwing its weight behind President Jonathan’s reelection in 2015, citing impressive performance as its reasons.

But Lamido, who is also from the zone, addressed journalists in Dutse, the state capital, distancing himself from such endorsement, which he described as unjustified and unnecessary.

Speaking through the deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud, Lamido said there was no way he could back Jonathan’s re-election, given the fact that he had not fulfilled any of the promises he made to the people of the state.

The state chapter of the PDP also sided with the governor, querying those who purportedly signed the communiqué issued in Kaduna, on Sunday, with Vice President Namadi Sambo in attendance.

Lamido said: “The government

and people of our dear state (Jigawa) are not in any way in support of the content of the communiqué read after the PDP North-West zonal meeting in Kaduna where they announced the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the

presidential election under the party in 2015 general elections.

“We are not part of the decision; we did not know the content of the communiqué read after the PDP North West zonal meeting in Kaduna."

N-West leaders are deceiving you, women leader warns Jonathan

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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BUJA — THE President, Northern Women Peace Forum and board member, National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, Hajia Binta Kuraye, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan to be careful with the political class in the North-West zone of the country, particularly Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders to save his second term ambition.

Binta, who spoke on the chances of the President to clinch victory in the forthcoming general elections in 2015, said, if the President hoped to win the election in the NorthWest zone of the country, he must begin now to change the leadership of the party in the area, who she described as a political liability to his second term ambition.

The women leader expressed disappointment over what she called a deceptive posture of leaders of the zone before the Presidency and doubted their sincerity and commitment to secure victory for the President in 2015 presidential election.

According to her, "those leaders have lost touch with the grassroots and failed to provide them good governance.

“We have serious problem of leadership in the NorthWest zone of Nigeria. I am appealing to the President to change the leadership now or risk losing his second term ambition.

“If he wants a smooth sail in 2015 in the North-West zone, the best bet for the President is to disengage the present crop of leaders and bring on board new ones," Hajia Kuraye said.

...8,000 groups rooting for him —Presidency

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA — AHEAD of the formal declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election, the Presidency disclosed, yesterday, that at the moment, 8,000 support groups nationwide were rooting for him.

Disclosing this, yesterday, in his office when he received the report of the Special Committee on the restructuring of the Goodluck Support Group, GSG,

Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, noted that these groups wanted the President to come out for reelection.

He, however, promised that the Presidency would properly position the various groups for the challenges of 2015 general elections.

The committee, which was set up to study and recommend for the re-organisation of the Goodluck Support Group, GSG, to evaluate how the various

directorates and units operate in relation to one another, was set up by the political adviser three weeks ago.

It has as members General Adamu T. Ibrahim as chairman, with Chief. Olusola Oke, Prof.

Nick Ezeh; Chief Williams Makinde, Prof. Mohammed AlAmin, Sen. Nimi Barigha Amange, Dr. A. Y.Ahmed, Alhaji Lamido Umar Chikaire, Prof.

Tony Edoh, Hajia Barakat Sani, while Dr. Godson M. Nnaka is secretary.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Entrance to the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA

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BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

S the general elections draw close, Lagos state has started witnessing some developments which were hitherto considered alien to the Centre of Excellence The state controlled by the All Progressives Congress, APC, does not pretend over its exercising firm grip over its 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

To a large extent, the 57 Councils run fairly smoothly with good rapport between the Chairmen and the Councillors.

But for Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA, the harmonious relationship within that tier of government ceased recently.

In fact, there is bad blood between the legislators, executive arm of government and some residents over the management of the council. And it has crippled activities at the council secretariat.

Crippled activities When Vanguard visited the council secretariat along Ikosi road last week, the council chairman and the Secretary to the Local Government, SLG have since abandoned their offices at the council secretariat. And both offices were under lock and key.

While the council chairman, Mr. Abdulfatai Oyesanya, now administer the activities of the council from his home, SLG, Mr. Shola Odubero could not be located.

This, sources said was sequel to the move by the lawmakers to impeach the council chairman which commenced on August 19th, and backed by series of protest from the residents, over allegation of high handedness.

The seven legislatures led by the speaker, Mr. Owolabi Taiwo

Impeachment saga rocks Lagos council •Lawmakers accuse council boss of embezzlement, nepotism •As chairman, council secretary flee from office •Councillors are selfish bunch — Chairman alleged that Oyesanya began to mismanage the council funds immediately after assuming office in 2011, They also accused the council chairman of nepotism.

Previous impeachment moves Vanguard gathered this was the third impeachment move on the council boss. The first was in May 4th, 2012 but was halted by some party leaders who waded into the crisis. And the plan was shelved, before the second in June 2013.

A civil servant in the council, who pleaded anonymity, said that the impeachment would have been completed but suffered setbacks because Odubiro has abandoned his office in order not to transit the impeachment letter from the Clerk to the Chairman, which is the first stage of the impeachment process.

The reason for the impeachment move – Speaker

Taiwo, the speaker in an interview with Vanguard, said; “This year, the council chairman bought two 40-feet container at N12 million. The chairman also spent over N33 million to purchase vehicles for himself immediately he assumed office.

The vehicles were N11.9 million Prado SUV, two Kia SUVs for N13 million for his wife and fatherin-law, Toyota bus worth N5.6

million and another bus for N2.7 million.

“The Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of council has depreciated due to the ongoing embezzlement in the council.

The revenue generated within the council is not remitted into its purse rather it goes into personal account,” he added.

The lawmaker said the “Lagos State House of Assembly committee on Local Government matters during their visit last year to the council confirmed all these.”

According to him, “Previously, we had 16 revenue collectors but today, we have 53 and the fund is not reflecting in the council

purse. Rather than the IGR to increase, it was depreciating. And we called Special Adviser to the council chairman on revenue collection; Mr. Sikiru Alabi popularly called Elegusi, who said he was still test running the process of revenue collection. And the alarming thing was that taxes and levies were Continues on page 57

The Customs officers, LASTMA

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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RISIS erupted at the Mile 2 office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA ( Zone 22) at the weekend, when some officials of the Nigeria Customs launched an attack on men of the agency, vandalized four vehicles and destroyed valuables within the LASTMA premises.

The customs officers from the Apapa Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service, were said to have invaded the yard to ask for release of a vehicle that was impounded for driving in a direction prohibited by Law (one way) at Coconut area of Mile 2, Lagos.

The invasion of LASTMA office was as a result of the arrest of a wine-coloured Honda Pilot Sport Utility Vehicle,

SUV, with registration number LAGOS EKY 521 CZ believed to belong to a senior Customs officer which was impounded about 9:15am on that fateful day for driving against traffic and taken into the LASTMA yard.

Subsequently, an hour after the arrest, a group of customs officials in convoy of three patrol vehicles fully armed with automatic rifles led by an officer who introduced himself as a Deputy Comptroller, stormed the LASTMA yard reportedly inflicted injuries on officials on sight.

The vans they brought bore the mark of the Apapa Area Command.

An official of the agency, Mr. Musiliu Edu and a police Corporal Saliu Isiaka were severely battered for recording the act and their cameras seized at gunpoint.

Another official of the agency, Wensu Idowu was hit in the mouth with a gun butt and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The LASTMA Zonal Head, Victor Adeyanju recounted that the officers who were all in uniform stormed the office and demanded for the unconditional release of their colleague’s vehicle but were informed that there is a standard procedure for the release of vehicles.

“This angered the customs officers causing them to intensify the beating and dragging of our men on the floor and the threat not to leave the premises without the impounded vehicle,” Adeyanju said.

According to an eyewitness, pandemonium actually broke out when the invading customs officers started shooting sporadically and held people inside the offices hostage while those

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Impeachment saga rocks Lagos council Continues from page 56 collected from the residents and such money is not remitted.

“In spite of the huge revenue, this administration has not constructed any road since inception. And other projects the present administration embarked on have been abandoned. And one of them is the council administrative block.”

Worried by these, Taiwo said; “During the presentation of the supplementary budget, we demanded that the council must construct one road in each of the wards. We believe election is fast approaching and this is a quick way for the citizens to feel the impact of the government.

On the accusation of nepotism, the lawmaker lamented; “We summon the contractor handling the construction of the council administrative block, Messer Allah Yah-Afisu NIG. Ltd, 12, Adedoyin street, Palm groove, but to our surprise, the company does not exist. And Agums Global Resources, 112 Aladelola, IkosiIsheri, the address was the resident of one of his aide, Mr. Ajibola Michael.

Accusation of disruption of public peace by the Chairman Taiwo said “One can visit the Mile 12 market the perishable section led by one Alh. Haruna Muhammed, to confirm this.

He has made several attempts to remove the leader of the market. And the moves have constantly caused mayhem. These once led to the deployment of over 200 armed mobile policemen to the market to restore law and order simply because he wanted to impose a leader of his choice on the traders.”

Also the speaker said; “Oyesanya is using his office to terrorize the residents of the council. We have seven councillors and they are saying the same thing. None of the Supervisory councillors has authority to say what is happening in the council. When the councillors summon the supervisory councillors to get further clarification on issues, all they say is that the council chairman has accurate knowledge of what is happening in the sector. The chairman does everything

alone.

Residents protest, back impeachment move: Since the move to impeach the council chairman commenced, the lawmakers have gained more support as residents have embarked on series of protests to support the move. Last week, men and women, who claimed to be members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, protested to the council secretariat to support the removal of the council chairman. They also warned the lawmakers not to shelve the move, as they did in the past.

One of the protesters, Mr. Sulaimon Olabiyi, alleged that some of the party leaders have started moves to scuttle the impeachment, noting; “The impeachment move must continue.”

The lawmakers are self-centred – Council boss

Speaking to Vanguard in an interview at his residence, Oyesanya described the councillors as a self-centred bunch, saying; “They are only concerned about sharing the council funds rather than executing projects that would develop the council.”

The council chairman further argued that the council had constructed more roads and concluded several empowerment programmes than the previous administration.

Oyesanya said his administration has concluded several empowerment programmes for the unemployed youths and has assisted the aged in the council.

He said “While other councils have stopped paying their lawmakers sitting allowance, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA was still paying its councillors”, adding that the seven councillors receive over N700, 000 monthly as their sitting allowance.

Assembly orders parties to maintain status quo The state House of Assembly has directed the council chairman and the councillors to maintain the status quo pending the recommendation of the House on the matter.

This was contained in a circular issued with reference No: LSHA/LM/C/23/VOL/.III/580, on August 21st, 2014, titled: Re: Notification of impeachment of Engineer Abdulfatai Ayodele Oyesanya.

face-off at Mile 2 outside the yard ran for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

It took the concerted effort of the police from Festac Police Division led by the Divisional Crime Officer, Superintendent of Po-

lice, simply called Ifeanyi and his team to restore normalcy.

The customs officers, however, escaped on the way to the station but one of their official patrol vehicles was impounded and taken to the Festac Police Station while the impounded SUV was deposited at the LASTMA headquarters.

The officers who hurriedly left forgot a name tag belonging to one Audu A.A. Also expended bullet shells littered the LASTMA yard.

Meantime, the Apapa Area Command’s spokesman when contacted told Vanguard that although there was a minor issue with some LASTMA officials the command and traffic agency’s management are sorting the issue out.

Ebola sanitation

When Lagos declared Ebola sanitation

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

T

HE last state-wide environ mental sanitation exercise for the month of August was a first of its kind in the annals of Lagos state, dedicated to control the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Millions of Lagos residents came out en mass to clean up their environment.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment went round and demonstrated preventive steps and ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

The residents who patronize cart pushers have also been warned by the state government to desist from the act, .

The State government also released precautionary guidelines urging residents to observe and maintain high personal and environmental hygiene to prevent the outbreak of Ebola.

Environmental hygiene Vanguard gathered that there have been several reported cases of hospitals that send away patients suspected to have traits of the Ebola virus- exhibition of symptoms associated with malaria, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, confirmed that the State Government dedicated that month’s xercise to Ebola control.

He stressed that the State Government has zero tolerance for acts such as defecating and urinating in the public, street trading, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and constructions of structures along drainage alignments.

Bello also affirmed that as a responsible and responsive Govern-

ment, the present administration would continue to be in the forefront of the campaign for a healthier and sustainable environment.

“Now that we have an index case of the Ebola virus disease in the state, this is another wakeup call for all Lagosians to desist from unhygienic acts that could spread the disease.

Over the years the present administration had embarked on massive public enlightenment to educate Lagosians on the need to desist from unhygienic acts like open urination and defecation, he said Bello also advised Lagosians to sustain the Solid Waste Management Programme of the State Government through the patronage of LAWMA/ PSP operators for the disposal of their solid waste and LSWMO for waste water management challenges.

Advancing reasons for some hospitals rejecting Ebola suspected patients, Dr. Francis Duru, Associate Professor, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said they do so because many of these hospitals know that Ebola virus is highly contagious.

According to him, ‘’Most private hospitals may be avoiding patients because they lack facilities like isolation or quarantine units, personal protection equipment (PPE) and trained personnel to carry out the necessary care.

“Secondly, laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis requires equipment, reagents and trained personnel that most hospitals don’t have. It would have been a disaster if the index case had been treated in any of the many run-of-the- mill private hospitals in Lagos”, he said “While the response of many hospitals may encourage self medication, an intense health enlightenment campaign should be mounted to educate the general public on how the infection is acquired and transmitted and how to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.’’

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

• Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe (left) with the Chairman, Minibus Long Journey at the Jabi Motor Park, Mr. Olugbade Olagunju and the Deputy Chairman Mr. Gaji Ibrahim during a sensitisation campaign on hand washing with soap and water to prevent the spread of Ebola virus, in Jabi Mortor Park Abuja recently.

colleagues in West Africa. They suffer from a terrible lack of infrastructure and the sort of testing that everyone in our society takes for granted, such as the ability to do a complete blood count—measuring your red blood cells, your white blood cells and your platelets—which is done as part of any standard checkup here.

“The facility in Liberia where our two patients were didn’t even have this simple thing, which everyone assumes is done as part of your annual physical.

“Our two patients also gained an enormous amount of fluid in their tissues, what we call edema. In Ebola virus disease there is damage to the liver and the liver no longer makes sufficient amount of protein; the proteins in the blood are very low and there is an enormous amount of fluid leakage out into the tissues. So one of the takeaway messages

How Ebola-infected patients are ‘cured’

By Sola Ogundipe

M

EDICAL Director of Specialised Infectious Disease unit at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Dr.Bruce Ribner has stated that, in general, patients who have recovered from Ebola virus infection have developed a very robust immunity to the virus.

Ribner who led the team that cared for the two American aid workers, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who were released after being pronounced "recovered" from Ebola contracted Ebola while working in west Africa, told Scientific American that Ebola survivors develop antibodies against the virus and they also develop cell-mediated immunity.

"In general, the finding is it's basically like being immunisedit would be unusual to get infection with the same strain. We are still evaluating that in our two patients.

Cross-protection is not quite as robust. There are five strains of Ebola viruses. Even though that data is not great, the feeling is there is potential for being infected if you go to a different part of Africa and get exposed to a different strain.

Ribner said the two survivors would be followed as outpatients, and as part of evaluation. "They have agreed to undergo additional testing so we can better understand immunity to Ebola virus. We are meeting with them periodically.

"What we found in general is that among our Ebola patients, because of the amount of fluid they lost through diarrhoea and vomiting, they had a lot of electrolyte abnormalities. And so replacing that with standard

fluids without monitoring will not do a very good job of replacing things like sodium and potassium. In both of our patients we found those levels to be very low.

“One of the messages we will be sending back to our colleagues is even if you don't have the equipment to measure these levels, do be aware this is occurring when patients are having a lot of body fluid loss."

Immunity: “We are still evaluating that in our two patients. Cross-protection is not quite as robust. There are five

strains of Ebola viruses. Even though that data is not great, the feeling is there is potential for being infected if you go to a different part of Africa and get exposed to a different strain.

“We are going to be following those two patients as outpatients, and as part of our evaluation they have agreed to undergo additional testing so we can better understand immunity to Ebola virus. We are meeting with them periodically.

Lessons

“We are not being critical of our

is to pay closer attention to that and perhaps early on try to replace some of these proteins that patients’ livers lack.

Evaluation: Looking at Ebola survivors who were discharged and successfully resolved the infection, following up several months later and evaluating their family members, there has never been any evidence that family members became infected. A lot of the thinking now is this probably was not live and is not important in terms of control of infection. We did

give both of our patients the standard recommendations, which are contained on the CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control] Web site—not having unprotected sex for three months. Among the handful of patients that received the experimental drug ZMapp, some have died. Considering the mortality rate for the current Ebola strain is almost 50 percent what can we say about ZMapp?

Experimental drugs: Experimental drugs are experimental drugs because we don’t know if they will work. That is true both with the preparations patients received in Liberia and other preparations that are being considered for treating patients with this infectious disease. We are a long way from being able to say that someone that received one of these agents benefited, it had no impact or it may be that their outcome may be impeded.

Until we have good studies looking at outcomes of patients who received these medications, compared to patients who didn’t receive them, we should be very cautious.

Hysteria: I would go further to say that there is a fair amount of almost hysteria and people feeling they must have these preparations to survive.

In the past people thought they needed agents for treatment, and the agents actually turned out to impair people’s ability to survive. The focus should remain on aggressive intensive care and the ability to correct abnormalities metabolically, rather than receiving any magic vaccine or product that may or may not improve survival.

Rabies: Vets task Lagos Govt on legislation

By Gabriel Olawale

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NE thing that the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA Lagos Chapter, wants the Lagos State House of Assembly to do is enact a law that will ensure responsible pet ownership in the state.

The genesis of this request is on the premise of the untimely deaths of Musa James, a 14-yearold JSS 1 student, 21-year-old Aishat Opakunle a fresh OND graduate, as a result of a bite from a rabid dog.

Making the call in Lagos, the Chairman, Dr. Alao Mobolaji, said the deaths could have been prevented with immunisation.

“Both James and Aishat reside at A114 Road 1A, Mologede Estate, Meiran, Lagos. They were reported to have been bitten on the 11th of July, 2014 by a neighbourhood dog named ‘Jerry’, a mongrel belonging to one Mr. Ogundiran. Aishat

• L-R: Dr. Tayo Ajala; Chairman, NVMA, Lagos chapter, Dr. Alao Mobolaji; Dr. Aroso Olufemi and Dr. Benedict Okonkwo during the NVMA briefing on deaths from a rabid dog.

Opakunle died Friday, 8th of August, 2014, while James died after a brief battle for his life. Both showed signs of rabies which include fever, delirium, abnormal behaviour, numbness and loss of muscle function, drooling of saliva. The suspect dog died five days after biting these two young

people.

Further, he said: “We spoke with the boy just a day before he passed on, and he was already showing critical signs of the disease, and unfortunately the following day around 7pm, he passed away.”

As explained by Mobolaji, James

was bitten in the face and hand, with the marks still showing by the time he was seen. “He didn’t tell anybody until Aisha died and they raised alarm that she died showing the same sign that was the day his own crises started.”

Noting that such untimely death from dog bite was uncalled for, Mobolaji said rabies is a disease that is highly preventable by simple immunisation and has even been completely eradicated from some parts of the world.

Calling on the state government for immediate removal of all stray dogs in Meiran Area of Alimosho LGA and screened for any possible of rabies infection.

“The government should institute a compulsory pet registration programme complete with animal identification tagging and enforcement of leash laws and massive awareness against rabies to be embarked upon in Continues on Page 60

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014—59

Cathem: End in sight for blindness diseases in Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna

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LINDNESS remains one of the most debilitating illnesses in the world today. No thanks to the fact that it is a problem which encompasses several degrees of impaired sight, ranging from the simple impairments of sight, to a total lack of sight, is currently plaguing the Nigerian population.

Unarguably, blindness is no respecter of age, race or gender. As long as an individual has eyes, he or she is at risk of blindness from several causes.

Statistics from published reports of the National Survey on Blindness in Nigeria show that out of 100 Nigerians that are blind, cataract was accountable for 43 cases. Glaucoma accounted for 17, corneal scars 8, while the remaining 32 is said to be due to Non-Communicable Diseases.

4 in 10 Nigerians are blind: According to reports, four Nigerians out of 100 are blind, and even after issuing spectacles for best correction, the rate still remains as high as not less than 3 of 100.

Experts are worried that with alarming increase in the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes which the World Health Organisation, WHO, has listed among the leading causes of blindness, the number of Nigerians who are visually impaired may rise to 10 million by 2020.

Nigeria has the largest number of diabetics in Africa; an estimated burden of about 1.7million and the number is expected to increase to 4.8 million by the year 2030.

Early diagnosis According to a Vitreo-Retina specialist, Dr. Aloy Majumdar, early diagnosis and management of diabetes is a major factor in the prevention of blindness in diabetics.

Unfortunately, legion of problems which include brain drain, dearth of ophthalmologists, poor eye care, etc., are currently worsening efforts by stakeholders and government to achieve the Vision 2020 which targets ‘sight for all’.

An eye specialist, Dr. Gboyega Ajayi, had in a report, lamented that despite the huge number of Nigerians that were in urgent need of eye care, the country could only boast of 300 ophthalmologists, adding that, 80 per cent of cases of blindness in Nigeria could be avoided if genuine eye treatment was sought at the early stage.

Sadly, for the country to adequately take care of those in need of eye treatment, there is need to train not less than 1,500 ophthalmologists by 2020.

But today, Nigerians can heave a sigh of relief, as end is in sight for challenges militating against eye care in the country, courtesy of the recent expansion by an indigenous eye hospital, Cathem Eye Hospital, Lagos to provide advanced Vitreo-Retina surgical for patients who ordinarily will sell their properties in quests to get medical treatment abroad.

Relief: With the introduction of VitreoRetina facilities, Nigerian patients will now have access to advanced vitreoretina care.

The facility, fully equipped with hi-tech diagnostic instruments and retina

• It is estimated that 80 per cent of blindness in Nigeria are avoidable if genuine eye treatment is sought at the early stage. management facilities would help to bring relief to patients with blind eye disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular hole, retinal tears, myopia associated retinal degenerations and age-related macular degeneration.

Located in the heart of Lagos, the hospital is silently championing the campaign against “brain drain” and ensuring that Nigeria reduces the amount of foreign exchange, normally spent by patients seeking medical care in advanced eye care procedures/ treatment.

The ultra-modern centre also has latest technology for cataract surgeries and glaucoma.

Speaking, the Medical Director, Dr. Brigid Erikitola confirmed she was moved by the plight of Nigerians, who travel abroad daily for eye surgeries in this rare speciality.

Erikitola said the need for the Centre was imperative as many Nigerians travel abroad due to few facilities for retina surgery in Nigeria.

Of major concern is the fact that retina surgery, done early in the disorder gives better results and thus should be carried out urgently so as to give a better visual outcome. Delay in the proper management usually leads to irrecoverable loss of vision.

In his view, the Vitreo-Retina

specialist, Majumdar, argues about the need to identify, diagnose and adequately treat the retina disorders as of paramount importance in the final outcome.

Diabetes: Elaborating further, he stated that Nigeria has the largest number diabetics in Africa: an estimated burden of about 1.7 million and the number is expected to increase to 4.8 million by the year 2030. Diabetes and its associated disorders like kidney, eye, heart, nerves and skin are definitely going to be a huge burden over the medical care facility all over the world and Nigeria is no exclusion.

He said that most of the diabetics were quite ignorant of the blindness consequence of the diabetes related disease of the eye which is extremely prevalent but less diagnosed and not usually given the due importance as to the kidney diseases related to Diabetes.

Retina management: Majumdar maintained that Cathem Eye Hospital is equipped with the technically advanced retina related diagnostic and management facility, capable of delivering the appropriate retina management to patients in line with the International protocols followed in developed countries.

Further, he explained that the Retina Surgical facility available is compatible for the minimally invasive Vitreo-Retina surgery (MIVS) and Sutureless vitreoretina surgical techniques which ensure quicker recovery and least discomfort to the patients.

The Advanced laser facility available at the hospital ensures appropriate laser treatment with minimum collateral damage to healthy tissues thus improving the results.

“People suffering due to the retina disorders will now have a world class retina management facility in the country, thus eliminating the need to travel abroad for the international standard eye care.

Diamond Bank offers loan facilities to check medical tourism L OAN facilities for provision of medi cal care can now be obtained in Nuigeria through Diamond Bank Plc’s newly launched initiative to obtain desired medical treatment in the country.

Known as Diamond MediLoan QualityCare, the initiative which is designed to provide loan facilities for improved healthcare delivery in the country, is a partnership with SafeCare, a medical advisory and standards organisation.

The product which has four tiers of financing, ranging from N200,000 to N56 million, can enable operators of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, diagnostic centres and other medical establishments can apply for and obtain loan facilities from the Bank to acquire medical equipment, fixed assets and to undertake renovation and expansion of existing facilities in order to deliver efficient and qualitative service to their clients.

Deputy Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, said the Bank took keen interest in the health sector due to the strategic importance that good health plays in overall wellbeing.

“For any nation to develop, three things are very critical and important; educa-

• (L-R) Dr Tayo Bello, Chairman, Lagos State HEFAMAA; Aishah Ahmad, Head, Retail Financial Services, Diamond Bank Plc; Uzoma Dozie, DMD, Diamond Bank Plc; Dr Ngozi Onyia, Non-Executive Director, PharmAcess/Medical Director, Paelon Memorial Clinic, and Jude Aniele, Head, Retail Banking, Diamond Bank Plc at the launch of Diamond MediLoan QualityCare in partnership with SafeCare in Lagos recently.

tion, health and food. Citizens, particularly the workforce must be educated, healthy and well-fed. If the workforce lacks any of the three, they can’t be competitive and if they are not, the country can’t develop. That’s the reason we are addressing the problem of financing in

the health sector.

Through this newly launched product, health practitioners would have access to finance to purchase necessary equipment so they could provide affordable and qualitative services.”

60—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Scientists ‘hunt’ malaria with magnets

A

• A delegation from MTN Nigeria was at the Governor's office in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to present Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs and other items against Ebola Virus Disease to the Lagos State Government . From R-L: Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed looking on as Governor Babatunde Fashola, receives the items from Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie. Also present were Executive Secretary, MTNF, Nonny Ugboma, Chairman, Rodot Nigeria, Mr. Remi Adeseun, and Corporate Services Executive, MTN, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, in Alausa, Lagos State, yesterday.

Vets task LASG on rabies Continues from page 58 all existing local governments around the state. Presentation of up-to-date vaccination certificate of pets by a qualified veterinary surgeon is medical practitioner, Dr. Ajala Tayo, explained that whenever somebody is bitten by a dog, the first thing the person should do is to wash the spot with soap and running water before going to the hospital for further medical attention.

“Most rabies cases are from multiple bites, even the owner can be a victim. The dog that bit James on the 11th August, had

started showing signs of rabies. When a dog starts showing such signs, the owner should have taken the dog to the veterinary doctor to be quarantined for 10 days during which if dog was rabid, it would die. The dog in question died August 17, five days after the reported bite.

Before clinical signs start in man, the wound might have healed but once the clinical sign of rabies start, there is no known drug that can prevent death. That is what makes rabies so sad and painful.

The disease could have been prevented with just one vaccination,” she noted.

RESEARCH team from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, SMART, has devised a way to use magnetic resonance relaxometry,MRR, a close cousin of magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, to detect a parasitic waste product in the blood of malaria- infected patients.

“This technique could offer a more reliable way to detect malaria,” says Jongyoon Han, a professor of electrical engineering and biological engineering at MIT. Han, one of the senior authors of a paper describing the technique in Nature Medicine, said:"There is real potential to make this into a fielddeployable system, especially since you don't need any kind of labels or dye. It's based on a naturally occurring biomarker that does not require any biochemical processing of samples."

With traditional blood-smear technique, a technician stains the blood with a reagent that dyes cell nuclei. Red blood cells don't have nuclei, so any that show up are presumed to belong to parasite cells. However, the technology and expertise needed to identify the parasite are not always available in some of the regions most affected by malaria, and technicians don't always agree in their interpretations of the smears.

"There's a lot of human-to-human variation regarding what counts as infected red blood cells versus some dust particles stuck on the plate. It really takes a lot of practice," he says.

The new SMART system detects a parasitic waste product called hemozoin.

When the parasites infect red blood cells,

they feed on the nutrient-rich hemoglobin carried by the cells. As hemoglobin breaks down, it releases iron, which can be toxic, so the parasite converts the iron into hemozoin -- a weakly paramagnetic crystallite.

Those crystals interfere with the normal magnetic spins of hydrogen atoms.

Sunola obtains heart friendly award

T

HE Nigeria Heart Foundation, NHF, an organisation recognised by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has endorsed Sunola Vegetable Oil as a Heart Friendly Oil. The endorsement follows that of the Nigeria Heart logo the product obtained in July 2014.

Receiving the award on behalf of Sunola Foods Ltd., Mr. Manoj Nambair stated: “We are really proud to receive this award from the Nigeria Heart Foundation and promise Nigerian consumers that Sunola will be giving healthy products to consumers in future.

He promised to meet the nation’s needs.

Sunola is an indigenous oil that has been in production from soya bean oil for about 30years in Nigeria.

One of the attributes of Sunola Oil is that it is cholesterol free and contains good unsaturated fat which is good for the body.

It also contains good ratio of Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids, MUFA, which reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol in the body

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO everybody and welcome to this week’s edition of new adult products review. First on the list today are novelties for women that enable them feel better about themselves. Even the most beautiful woman in the world dislikes something about her body.

That is why the right lingerie is important. Clothes have this magical transformational quality about them and therefore do so much for the psyche and selfesteem. When you are dressed well, you feel on top of the world. That is why the lingerie we are introducing today are unique, edgy and have the ability to transform the wearer into a desirable sex pot of sorts. They are many of them but and some examples are the Cut it Out Tube Dress, the Stretchy Lame Chemise with Removable Garter and G String and the Night Cat Costume.

If women are judged by their looks, men are definitely judged by their sexual performance. That is why sexual ability is so important to men. Today we are introducing two products that can radically transform a man’s sexual ability. They are the Durex Performax Ribbed and Studded Delay Condom and the Gladiator Power Cream. Durex Performax Ribbed and Studded Delay Condoms is not your average condom. It is a special condom laced with a numbing agent that lowers male genital sensitivity to prevent premature ejaculation. It is also ribbed and studded for female stimulation and enjoyment. So this is a key product for boosting male performance. For men who do not like wearing condoms especially the married ones, the Gladiator Power Cream is ideal for you. It is a desensitizing ointment that also prevents premature ejaculation when applied on the penis before intercourse. It can be used by all men and has no dosage or side effects.

Now I have a question for the men reading this column. Have you ever found yourselves in a situation where your wives or girlfriends demand to be pleasured several times in one night? Believe me, it is a scary situation if you lack the sexual stamina and

recovery ability required for such a task. That is why today, we are also introducing the X Again Platinum Enhancer , another super sexual performance supplement for men that helps them in the areas of strengthening weak erection, aiding multiple sexual performance, prolonged action, erection on demand and mammoth stamina. When consumed, X Again Platinum Enhancer starts working in less than one hour and one capsule alone will keep a man firing like an animal for three whole days.

No matter how good you are in bed, you must be able to bring in new ideas once in a while, to keep your partner looking forward to your time in bed. For this, you will need the Kamasutra of Sexual Positions Book, a fantastic full colour sexual positions guide for couples. It is new and amazing.

Last but not the least are two products that enable women take romance and the sexual experience to a whole new level. The first of these is the Simply Irresistible Pheromone Powder. It is a unique type of powder that is infused with pheromone sexual attractants that enable the user seduce the opposite sex without putting any effort into it. It is ideal for women who are in search of a partner but are too shy to be direct.

And to aid sexual enjoyment, we have the Jelly Eager Beaver Vibrator for women which is a blend of the rabbit vibrator brand and the realistic dong. The Jelly Eager Beaver is sizeable, vibrates and rotates with a dedicated clitoral stimulator. Women can use this in bed with their partners or when alone. The bottom line is the feeling of fulfilment and satisfaction that such a quality toy can bring to your life.

And that’s it for today. We will discuss more new products next week. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 61

Enyeama out of Congo clash •Obasi doubtful, Igiebor, Nwofor, Azeez bubble in

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OACH Stephen Keshi has granted team skipper, Vincent Enyeama, leave of absence from the two games against Congo

and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on September 10, because of pressing family issues.

“It’s better we excuse him, instead of bring-

Mikel

Continues from BP country, officials announced.

Celtic ace defender Efe Ambrose and CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa are also expected in Calabar on Tuesday.

Team secretary Dayo Enebi, who confirmed the arrival of the players, noted that Emmanuel Emenike and Elderson Echiejile are also scheduled to come in on Tuesday.

Israel-based Nosa Igiebor and Turkish Super Liga defender Godfrey Oboabona were some of the early arrivals in the Calabar camp as Nigeria began

preparations for a 2015 AFCON qualifier this weekend.

Middlesbrough defender Kenneth Omeruo and Azeez Ramon from La Liga side Almeria also hit the Eagles camp on Monday as the early arrivals swelled to nine.

The other early birds are Uche Nwofor and Juwon Oshaniwa.

The five home-based players called up, namely Chigozie Agbim, Gbolahan Salami, Azubike Egwuekwe, Ighodaro Osagona and Kunle Odunlami are already in camp.

Giwa Continues from BP day in Abuja. But, National Sports Commission, NSC , officials said yesterday that Giwa was on his own. ‘’Nobody wants a ban on Nigerian football. We’re trying to settle the matter. No man is bigger than the country. Giwa himself denied ever making such a statement to the media when we confronted him’’.

Giwa took the helm of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last Tuesday, ousting the incumbent president Aminu Maigari, who was prevented from attending an executive committee meeting after being arrested by the secret police.

Maigari’s detention — allegedly to stop him chairing the meeting — led to Nigeria’s referees’ association to direct its members not to take charge of league games and forced LMC, organisers to suspend weekend fixtures.

FIFA waded into the row on Friday, telling the NFF that it did not recognise Giwa’s appointment and ordered

him and his newly “elected” officials to stand down by midnight on Monday or face sanctions, including a possible ban.

A ban would throw into doubt Nigeria’s first 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo on Saturday.

Super Eagles are the defending champions.

But Giwa said: “We call on Nigerians not to panic. The NFF is not intimidated and we do not expect any sanction because we have done the appropriate thing. For us, it is noise-making.”

Nigerian football has been embroiled in a bitter leadership struggle since the World Cup after Maigari and his executives were first sacked by a court and a government administrator took over.

The court order was later set aside but Maigari was then impeached on corruption charges by his own executive committee but then reinstated.

FIFA said proper procedures had not been followed and ordered fresh elections.

ing him down here without him concentrating for the game. I have asked him to sort himself out and he can join us in the future.

For now there is no replacement for him because there is no time to do that” he declared.Meanwhile, Eagles officials have threatened to report German side, Schalke 04 to world soccer governing body, FIFA if Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi fails to come for the Nations Cup qual-

ifiers.

Team Administrator, D a y o E n e b i Ac h o r, who has been working round the clock to ensure that all invited players arrive on time for the games revealed that the German side called to say they have submitted the international passport of the player for the coming Champions League hostilities, which may force the player to miss the games, as the passport will not be released on time.

Osaze Continues from BP ered from the pitch.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said after the 10 win that the injury was nothing serious.

Sadly, that is no longer the case.

Stoke City are now looking at possibility of

having Oussama Assaidi on loan as his replacement, the Stoke Sentinel reported.

Stoke had tried to buy the Liverpool winger earlier this summer following his successful loan stint at Stoke last season.

Amaju Continues from BP the polls , following the decision of the immediate past President , Aminu Maigari not to seek a second term, last night assured delegates that if they elect him President of the NFF that he will place more emphasis on youth development and the league.

“I am assuring delegates and Nigerians that if elected the next President of the NFF that we will concentrate more on youth development. We will also make the league a thriving business for the players and ensure that our referees go on refresher courses to update their knowledge of the game, The FA Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, reputed to be the best-run FA in the country, told Sports Vanguard that he will make the NFF self-sustaining if given the mandate to steer the ship of the NFF. “I promise to bring my wealthy of experience and robust business network to attract the best sponsorship deals for all our programmes if elected NFF President”, added Amaju.

Under his leadership, the Delta State Football

Association, currently enjoys the longestrunning football sponsorship deal in Africa, spanning 14 years with Oceanic Bank, now Ecobank The DFA has also interned over 500 coaches in the last 12 years at the NIS & Sports Institute in Mosogar, while some coaches have gone overseas for training, through private sector initiative.

Under Amaju’s stewardship, the DFA also sent referees to England for training, with one referee, officiating in Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford as part of the training, which was financed by the private sector.

Delta is the first State FA to broadcast its FA Cup finals live on television. This has been on for three years.

And to Amaju’s credit, Delta is the first State or Regional FA in Africa to build a World Class Secretariat, called Patrick Okpomo Football House, which is due for commissioning in about two weeks. The facility was built through private sector initiative

US Open Serena charges into q/final

F

IVE-TIME champi on Serena Williams was an easy fourthround winner yesterday at the U.S. Open.

The world No. 1 superstar won her 18th straight match in New York with a workmanlike 6-3, 6-3 handling of Estonian slugger Kaia Kanepi in 64 minutes at Ashe Stadium on Labor Day in the United States.

Williams is now 4-0

lifetime against Kanepi, with Monday marking their first meeting since 2009.

The 17-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams is now 76-9 lifetime at the Open, where she beat former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the last two finals.

How I beat Kvitova, by Krunic Wimbledon,” said Krunic.

S

ERBIAN world number 14 and qualifier, Aleksandra Krunic is still savouring her conquest of Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova at the US Open .

Third seeded Kvitova lost the third round tie 64, 6-4 to the pint-sized 21year-old from Belgrade, who came through qualifying and had never won a match at a major before this year’s event.

“It was an honour to play on the same court as Petra, she’s a great champion. I watched both her wins at

“I wanted to be myself on court, play as long as possible. I didn’t expect to win. I hoped to win a set.

“On match point I thought ‘Don’t serve a double fault.’ I just wanted to keep the ball in until she missed,” added Krunic.

•Krunic

FRCN celebrate as Vanguard draw ‘’I am not happy that we

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EDERAL Radion Corporation, FRCN, erupted into celebration yesterday when they un-expectedly gained a 1-1 draw with rave of the moment, Vanguard’s Kirikiri Warriors in the opening day of the NUJ Media Games.

The Warriors who are at the vanguard of the Games sulked over the draw while their opponents jubilated at the end of the match at the Legacy pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere. ‘’We consider the draw as a loss to us and will not pay their bonus to drive our disappointment home’’, a disappointed Chairman of Vanguard’s NUJ chapel, Innocent Anaba screamed.

could not get FRCN out of the way despite controlling the game and having more chances at goal."

But, we urge the referees to know the rule of a 5-Side game’’, Anaba notorious for his outbursts said.

Emma Ebrugbe put the match beyond FRCN with a marvellous shot that should contest for the goal of the tournament.

Sunday Joseph, Martin Obigho, Raymond Palo, Ovie Yesan, Onyebuchi Albert, Sunday Win were outstanding.

Vanguard’s Kirikiri Warriors would take Thisday for breakfast today when they line out for their second game. A win against the Nduka Obaigbena side would see Vanguard romp into the second round.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Hernandez to Hull, but not Ayew

Messi to miss German friendly

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IONEL Messi is set to miss Argentina’s friendly match against Germany this week, it has been confirmed.

The Barcelona man was revealed as having picked up a groin injury in the Blaugrana’s win over Villarreal on Sunday.

And yesterday, the Albicelestes have confirmed that the attacker will miss the re-match of the World Cup final.

It means that Messi will have to sit out Tata Martino’s first game as national team boss.

P

•Falcao

Falcao joins Man U for £300k a week M

ANCHESTER United yesterday agreed a sensational deadline-day loan deal for Radamel Falcao.

The move for Falcao indicates that Louis van Gaal is ready to let England striker Danny Welbeck go, following Javier Hernandez out of Old Trafford, with the Mexican today joining Real Madrid on loan.

Tottenham are contenders for Welbeck.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino is known to be a fan of the 23-year-old and Spurs have so far missed out on both Salo-

•Messi

mon Kalou and Loic R The £5-6million loan fee United have paid Monaco for Falcao takes their outlay to nearly £40m although United’s willingness to take on his wages reveals how desperate the club are to pay what it takes to return to the top four.

He is likely to become United’s best-paid player unless they have negotiated a huge cut in his earnings. Falcao is understood to have been commanding more than £300,000-a-week at Monaco.

ALERMO sold Abel Hernandez to Hull City, but Marseille’s Andre Ayew rejected the Tigers for Serie A. Hull City and Palermo both announced the move simultaneously, but the 24-year-old Uruguay international is a club record signing.

It’s reported in Italy that Hull City also tried to sign Ayew from Olympique Marseille, but that he turned them down.

The 24-year-old striker is in the final year of his contract with OM and it’s claimed his agents are trying to offer him to various Serie A clubs on transfer deadline day.

It’s Real for Chicharito M

ANCHESTER United striker Javier Hernandez has joined Spanish side Real Madrid on a season-long loan.

Real have an option to buy the 26-year-old, who joined United from Guadalajara in 2010, at the end of the deal. Hernandez scored 20 goals in his debut season as United went on to win the Premier League title in 2010-11.

•Chicharito

Carvalho snubs Arsenal

Cech: I may quit Chelsea P

ETR Cech has re fused to rule out a late Chelsea departure if the offer is right, amid reported interest from PSG and Monaco.

“I have not thought about that but I think it is possible.

“I don’t count on anything but, at the same time, can’t rule out anything if there is an offer you can’t refuse.”

Asked if he could picture joining another Premier League club, Cech replied: “This is a question I thought I would never be asked. I don’t know.

“The offer would have to be right for everyone.

I don’t want to rule out anything, I don’t know the answer."

•Cerci

•Cech

Liverpool sell Borini to QPR

L

IVERPOOL have reportedly accepted a £12m QPR offer for Fabio Borini, so Juventus and Inter miss out.

The striker had been consistently linked with a return to Serie A this summer, even if the Italian clubs were only prepared to take him on loan with an option to buy.

Cerci joins Atletico

A

LESSIO Cerci has completed his move from Torino to Atletico Madrid, signing a threeyear deal.

The Italy international was rumoured to have become a Colchoneros player over the weekend, with Diego Simeone’s men beating off Inter and Arsenal to get the winger.

•Carvalho

S

PORTING star Wil liam Carvalho has ruled out a deadline move, insisting that he is fine at the club.

The midfielder has been a long-term target of both Arsenal and Manchester United, and has a release clause in the region of £35.8million.

The player has ruled out a move away from the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

“I am under contract with Sporting and I’m a Sporting player,” Carvalho told A Bola.

“There is no way I can say I am going to leave.

I am fine at Sporting.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Mikel joins Eagles today C

HELSEA star Mikel Obi is expected to join up with the Super Eagles training camp in Calabar on Tuesday as he has already arrived the

Continues on Page 61

Giwa dismisses FIFA, NSC denies him T

HE new head of Nigerian football, whose disputed appointment has thrown the domestic game into turmoil, has dismissed the threat of sanctions from world governing body FIFA. “We have seen the letter from FIFA and digested the full content of it,” said Chris Giwa.

“Nothing has changed as far as we’re concerned. We will present our position to FIFA... and they will be convinced beyond any reasonable doubt,”, Giwa told Journalists yester

Amaju unfolds growth agenda for NFF

Continues on Page 61

•Amaju

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

front-line aspirant for the Presidency seat of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF), Pinnick Amaju has been wooing delegates to the Elective Congress scheduled to hold on September 4 in Abuja, with a firm promise to turn around the fortunes of Nigerian football for

Enyeama to miss Congo clash — Pg.61

good.

Amaju, who threw in his hat into the ring for

Continues on Page 61

•Mikel

Osaze out for rest of season O

•Osaze

S A Z E Odemwingie could be out for the rest of season amid fears he has seriously damaged his cruciate knee ligament, according to a media report.

The news on Odemwingie is a crush-

ing blow for a player starring in Stoke’s last season revival just a few months ago.

The Nigeria forward collapsed with nobody around him at Manchester City on Saturday and was stretch Continues on Page 61

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Believe (5) 5 Difficult (6) 8 Giant (5) 10 Carrier (6) 11 Detail (4) 14 Smaller (6) 15 Desperation (7) 18 Favourite (3) 19 Trap (3) 21 Flaunt (4) 23 Revolt (5) 24 Pip (4) 27 Defective (3) 29 Swab (3) 31 Shyly (7) 32 Invented (6) 34 Unusual (4) 35 Advantageous (6) 38 Broom (5) 39 Flaw (6) 40 Mock (5)

DOWN 2 Regret (3) 3 Streak (6) 4 Fasten (3) 5 Unite (4) 6 Started (6) 7 Annually (6) 9 Coached (7) 12 Gratuity (3) 13 Jot (4) 16 Relax (4) 17 Refute (5) 20 Monotonous (7) 22 Omit (4) 24 Holy (6) 25 Chieftan (4) 26 Give (6) 28 Picture-house (6) 30 Through (3) 33 Liability (4) 36 Drunkard (3) 37 Vase (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Result 5, Reap 8, Dived 9, Mar 10, Nous 11, Nice 12, Egret 13, Repair 16, Less 18, Alas 20, Bet 22, Mat 23, Log 24, Fade 25, Aped 28, Debate 30, Spine 32, Root 33, Deer 34, Ire 35, Level 36, Tied 37, Change.

DOWN: 1, Remark 2, Stripped 3, Lentil 4, Disgusted 5, Renewal 6, Edit 7, Pier 8, Due 14, Remainder 15, Tag 17, Sap 19, Location 20, Bar 21, Tempted 26, Dearth 27, Recede 29, Fret 30, Sole 31, Eel.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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