Herdsmen kill royal father, nephew in kaduna

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 63019

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N200

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

2016 budget: NASS slashes Fidelity Bank padding from N500bn to names Balarabe N75bn; Buhari may get acting MD reworked copy today 8 6

Herdsmen kill royal father, nephew in Kaduna •Disarm them now — AUDU OGBE

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief Luka Binniyat & Gabriel Ewepu

•Says 5,000 hectares already acquired for ranching K •No grazing reserves bill anywhere —EKWEREMADU

A D U N A — GUNMEN, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Sunday night, assassinated the District Head of Fadan Karshi, a busy commercial town in Sanga Local Government Area, southern part of Kaduna State.

The murdered District Head, Mr. Bala Madaki, 66, was killed alongside his nephew, Emmanuel

Continues on Page 5

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C M Y K

BONGA OIL SPILL: FG institutes N1.3trn suit against Shell 14

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POCKET CARTOON challenge

From left: President Muhammadu Buhari, with Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, as the President received in audience, Catholic Bishops at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Herdsmen kill royal father, nephew in Kaduna Continues from Page 1 Tanko.

According to a community leader in the a r e a , Pastor Mike Makarfi, the violence took place around 10:30pm Sunday night.

He said: “It was very hot last night (Sunday night) and people were sleeping outside. Around 10 p.m., the chief moved into his house with his family.

Then some gunmen who our people said were Fulani, stormed his compound and started shooting.

“They went into his room and shot him point blank. They also shot a small boy, Emmanuel Tanko, who was writing his final year secondary school exams. The boy was the nephew of the late chief.

“Right now, Fadan Karshi is deserted. Shops and service centres are shut. People are either staying indoors or are leaving town. No one knows what is coming next.

“Police are patrolling the streets, but I am not sure if they have any clue about the murderers. I want you to recall that this

was the District Head that received former Governor Mukhtar Yero on September 22, 2014, when our women protested half naked because of the scale of killings by Fulani going on at that time.

“Today, the type of killings going on are those of isolated people. Cattle are also grazing freely on people's farms in these areas of Sanga and people are afraid to do anything about it. Now they are targeting people and eliminating them.

“What people are saying about the killings of our district head is that he may have been killed by Fulani who have a grudge against him and this community.

“In May, 2014, some Fulani armed men invaded the police station here and seven people were killed. As they were escaping, two were killed in an exchange of gunfire between them and the Police.

“The Fulani Association later petitioned the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and copied the governor.

They said that our late District head should be

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO HENEVER a man wakes up is his morning, it doesn’t matter how much time you have lost, you can start now and make your life count. It's up to you.

W

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Success doesn’t have to equal struggle.

Sometimes ease is the quickest way to achievement— Heidi Kristopher

S

OMETIMES your path to success is laid smooth because you have earned the right and wisdom to make a success of it. Learn to flow with the path where everything comes easily rather than trying to punch through brick walls and climb your way high, let success come to your pace and much easily.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A child on the back of the mother does not know that the journey is far.

arrested, dethroned and prosecuted for the death of the two Fulani. We still have a copy of the petition. We suspect that his death may be connected to that incident.

“This is unfortunate, because in the past one week, we have had some respite, just for the violence to turn this way,” he said.

The Kaduna State Police spokesman, DSP Zubairu Abubakar, told Vanguard that he was aware of the incident, but that he was waiting for the DPO from Karshi to furnish him with details.

“I don’t have the details yet. When I do, I will surely give you,” he told Vanguard.

However, at press time, he was yet to come up with any information.

Disarm herdsmen now — Audu Ogbe

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, has said that the most potent strategy to end incessant attacks by herdsmen on farmers and other rural dwellers was for the military, police and other security agencies to immediately disarm them.

This came as Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the National Assembly would not support the creation of grazing reserves anywhere in the country, noting also that there was no grazing bill before either arm of the National Assembly.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in Abuja, weekend, the minister said no other strategy would end the attacks, if the herdsmen were allowed to go about armed, with impunity.

According to him, herdsmen go about with automatic weapons and the nation’s security agencies must go after them wherever they are and take away the arms.

Tackling the

On how to tackle the challenge of the widespread attacks by herdsmen, the minister said: “It is very difficult now. One thing I am going to suggest, which we are putting into writing to Mr. President, is that we must disarm all herdsmen.

“The army and the police should find them wherever they are now and take all the guns from them, as the first step.

They carry these AK-47s on their shoulders, they tie them around the bellies of the cows. They must be disarmed immediately.”

He noted that the problem between herdsmen and farmers was more complex than it appeared, adding that only a well-designed government policy could bring it to an end as it had spread from as far as Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna in the far North to the North Central states of Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and now to the Southern states of Enugu, Edo, Oyo, Ogun and others.

Blames community leaders

Ogbe said community leaders often add to the complexities of the herdsmen/farmers clashes as some of them collect money and cows from Fulanis and enter into land acquisition agreements with them, which often turn awry and end in violence.

His words: “Communities sometimes play a role in this.

Sometimes community leaders see herdsmen arrive and the local chiefs collect money, collect cows and tell them to go on grazing and when they wander onto people’s farms and troubles start, such community leaders go into hiding or go silent and the Fulanis bring out a receipt of the agreement they have with these chiefs, claiming that they bought the land for grazing.

“It is all very complicated but the President has given instructions that the army and police should find them and neutralise them, which is the first step.”

FG to check influx of foreign herdsmen

Ogbe, who is considered a key member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, argued that the escalating attacks on villagers by Fulanis was a recent development and that Nigerian Fulanis were not known to usually attack host communities.

Consequently, he said the Federal Government would take practical steps to check the influx of foreign herdsmen into the

country.

His words: “The Fulanis we knew never attacked any farmer, it is a rather recent phenomenon and they have done killings in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau Enugu, Ondo, Ogun and Benue.

“After disarming the herdsmen, the next step is to shut our borders from entry of cattle from foreign countries into ours.”

5,000 hectares already acquired for ranching Responding to calls for grazing reserves, grazing routes or ranching as a way out of the current violence, the minister said the only viable option open to the nation’s cattle business was ranching.

“The question is the (grazing) route is a passage leading to where? To grassland or to someone’s farm? Grazing routes are not the issues; ranching, yes, on the scale we are talking about now, spread across many states.

"We have already acquired 5,000 hectares of land from nine states. We wrote and the governors gave us land but we have to farm them out to private sector investors who will prepare the land and make sure they can harvest grass six to seven times a year, dry or rainy season, and the cows have fresh grass to eat."

He argued that the nation’s cattle were about the worst cared for and could not, therefore, give optimum yield in terms of milk and beef because of movement from place to place in search of food and water.

The Buhari administration’s plan, he revealed, was to see that the cattle and herdsmen were saved from having to go about looking for food and water by keeping them in ranches, provide water boreholes and earth dams to ensure the cattle produced more milk and more beef for the nation.

Rice up-scaling programme He also outlined the rice up-scaling programme and other agricultural produce, with a view to achieving selfsufficiency, save foreign exchange and even export to other countries

of the world.

The minister said Nigeria currently fed many African countries and had no other option but to significantly increase food production.

He said: “We consume seven million tonnes of rice annually. A million tonnes will fill up 33, 334 trailers. You need to put this into figures for people to know what a million tonne amounts to. 33, 334 trailers of 30 tonnes each multiplied by seven. ‘’One million tonnes loaded in trailers will stretch 495 kilometres which is Lagos-Benin but that isn’t all.

“We are also feeding Sudan, sometimes Libya, Chad, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso. They come to buy from Nigeria and recently we had a request of 37,000 tonnes of maize from Central African Republic because there was a drought there.’’

No grazing reserve bill anywhere — Ekweremadu Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has said the National Assembly will not support the creation of grazing reserves anywhere in the country.

Addressing journalists on Sunday after a meeting of the South East governors and stakeholders in Enugu, Ekweremadu said there was no bill on the creation of grazing reserves before the National Assembly.

He said the purported bill for the creation of grazing reserves was a “hoax,” urging the press to stop such rumours.

He said: “There is no such proposal or bill on the creation of grazing reserves, either in the Senate or House of Representatives. Nobody is considering it; not even at the executive level. I do not think they are considering it but we will not support it, even if it has been considered.”

Ekweremadu said the meeting was convened in reaction to the attacks on the people of Uzo-Uwani by suspected herdsmen.

He said the meeting reviewed all that happened since then and thanked all stakeholders who had shown sympathy to victims of the attack.

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY MAY 3 , 2016

Fidelity Bank names Balarabe acting MD

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IDELITY Bank Plc has appointed Mr. Mohammed Lawal Balarabe as acting managing Director, following the removal of the former helmsman, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo.

Balarabe was as an Executive Director, North Directorate at Fidelity Bank Plc and served as its Executive Director of Commercial and Consumer Banking, North Directorate since April 24, 2012. He was previously Executive Director of Oceanic Bank International Plc since October 2, 2009, Deputy General Manager and Regional Bank Head of North East of United Bank for Africa Plc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Finance from Nottingham Trent University in 1986, England and Masters of Science in Finance from the University of Lagos in 1995.

Recall that the former Managing Director of the bank was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly helping former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke to launder $115 million cash.

Preach against corruption, lawlessness, Ambode tells religious leaders

By Olayinka Latona

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday called on religious leaders to partner government by praying and preaching against lawlessness, corruption, disorderliness and

disobedience which could impede the progress and stability of the country.

The governor said there was serious need for the church to support the government in shaping the society as Nigeria was in dire need of God’s greater prosperity and blessing at this

trying period.

Ambode, who spoke at Our Saviour’s Church during the opening ceremony of First Session of the 33rd synod of Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), said: “I pray that the efforts of our religious leaders will not be in vain. We all know that Nigeria is in dire need of God’s greater prosperity and blessing at this

SYNOD: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); Justice (Mrs.) Adedayo Oyebanji (left); Justice George Oguntade, rtd (2nd left); Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Ephraim Ademowo, (3rd right); his wife, Oluranti and Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Prelate (Dr.) Emeka Uche (right) during the official opening of the First Session of the 33rd Synod, Diocese of Lagos Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at the Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, yesterday.

N5.5BN DEBT: Ecobank seeks to restrain firm from accessing from having access to its funds judge should not have funds in 20 banks in the banks pending discharged the injunction

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—ECOBANK Nigeria Limited has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to restrain Anchorage Leisures Limited from accessing its funds in 20 banks over an alleged N5.5 billion debt.

The bank is claiming that Anchorage and its sister companies, Honeywell Group Nig. Ltd and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, are indebted to it.

Ecobank said Honeywell

Group should be barred from accessing its funds in Zenith, Access, Citibank, Standard Chartered, Wema, Enterprise, Union, First, Skye, Sterling, Unity bank, Keystone, United Bank for Africa, Mainstreet, First City Monument, Diamond, Stanbic IBTC, Guarantee Trust, Fidelity and Ecobank.

The court had discharged interim orders made against Anchorage last October 27, but Ecobank appealed.

The bank is praying the court to restrain the respondent

President Buhari needs our prayers, says Gani's wife

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—WIDOW of late legal luminary, Chief Mrs. Bukola Fawehinmi, has urged Nigerians to be patience with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the midst of present hash economic reality, saying, and “Mr. President needs our prayer”.

She spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the 78th, Posthumous Birthday programme in honour of her late husband, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, organized by Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation, GAFAMORG, Lagos, According to her, Buhari

was an honest and passionate about taking Nigeria out of the woods since 16 years ago, saying “Nigerians should continue to persevere and pray for Buhari, he can do it well. Buhari means well for Nigerians and the country. Remember, he made a statement of fighting corruption and making Nigeria great again, which was pregnant with meaning. ''If my husband were alive when he made that statement, Gani would stand up single handedly to assist him without asking for a kobo as salary or incentive.

determination of the appeal.

The court had, last October 27, granted an interim injunction preserving the res (funds) pending hearing of the bank’s application for the appointment of a provisional liquidator over Anchorage’s assets.

But, Justice Jude Dagat, on March 18, discharged the orders following an application by Anchorage that the orders had expired.

Ecobank, through its lawyer Mr Kunle Ogunba, SAN, said the

because it was to subsist until its winding-up petition was determined.

“The interim order made on October 27, 2015, was made particularly to prevent the respondent from dissipating its funds in the custody of all the banks listed.

“There is urgent need to preserve the res (subject matter) of the appeal to avoid foisting a situation of helplessness on the Court of Appeal, a superior court of record,” Ecobank said.

time and there is no other people that can actually do that for us except we take it from the spiritual blessings that actually come out from the church” “There is a correlation between nation’s economy and the church.

If the economy prosper, it is very clear that the welfare of the people in the church will also improve. That put the burden on those of us who are in the government to ensure that the economy prosper or else people will not come to the church. There is always a symbiotic relationship between the government and the church”.

He expressed his administration's determination to sustain the symbiotic relationship that had existed between the government and the Lagos Diocese over the years.

On the theme of the synod, “The Marks of the Church”, governor Ambode said: The theme of the synod is significance looking at the challenges confronting our nation and there is no better time to talk about the position of the church in this trying time and how it affects the nation as a whole. I hope the decisions that will be taken in this synod will benefit not only Diocese of Lagos but our nation at large, cutting across every common man on the street”.

Also speaking, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade, commended Ambode for his remarkable footprints in the state in the last 11 months, saying that the good works of the governor could indeed be felt everywhere.

Oguntade, however, expressed optimism that Ambode had succeeded in laying a strong foundation for a successful tenure in office which would be of immense benefit to the people.

On his part, Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Ephraim Ademowo, also commended Ambode for his giant strides so far, saying the state was surely in good hands.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 7

$15bn lost to corruption affected Nigeria’s economy — OSINBAJO

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—VICE President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), yesterday disclosed that a mind-boggling sum of $15bn lost to corruption in security equipment procurement had adversely affected the economy of the country.

He said this in Ibadan at the 50th anniversary of the “House of Lords, Nigeria”, which held at the University of Ibadan.

He vowed that this administration would not spare any corrupt official warning that “those found to be corrupt will not only disgorge the property stolen but will have to pay for it in terms of sanctions according to the law. We believe that it is important to sound this warning that no public officer can steal the resources of this country and try to escape. I hope that this message is loud and clear and it will inform right behaviour in the future”.

This came just as he allayed the fears of Nigerians over erratic power supply saying 7,000 megawatts would be generated within the next 18 months.

While lamenting the adverse effects of corruption on the socio-economic situation in the country, he added that the level of corruption in the public sector was alarming.

He said, “We need to have a

sustained fight against corruption.

This country simply cannot sustain the level of public sector corruption that has bedevilled us for so many years. If you look at the sheer amount of money that has been lost to the various cases of corruption, you will find out that far too much has been lost.

“Our country ’s external reserves stands at $27bn few days ago, but the total amount lost just to corruption in the provision of security equipment in the military is close to $15bn, which is more

than half of current reserves of the country.”

“Power is a major factor in nation building. But the most important part of this is that the aspect of power generation that is weak at the moment will be quickly restored. The most important aspect in the power generation is first, gas; and secondly, transmission. It is in our plan not only to produce more gas, but also that we are able to pipe the gas to appropriate stations.

“We are going to generate 7,000 mega watts of power in 18

months. But the problem is pipeline vandalisation. The President has however ordered a full scale protection of the pipelines by the military ”, Osinbajo said.

The Vice President, who spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the Public Presentation of a book, “Nigeria: The Challenges of Growth and Development” by an elite group, ‘’The House of Lords”, also pledged that the current administration would allocate 30 percent of the total budget to the execution of capital projects across the country.

UNVEILING: From left; Mr Emmanuel Offei, Manager to Lolo1 of Wazobia F.M; Mrs Omotunde Adebowale, New Brand Ambassaddor of Lapo Microfinance Bank, known as Lolo1 of Wazobia F.M; Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, MD, Lapo Microfinance Bank, and Mrs Josephine Nwachukwu, Executive Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Lapo Microfinance Bank, during the signing agreement, and unveiling of new Brand Ambassador of Lapo Microfinance Bank at Lapo Head office Annex, Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

PDP CHAIRMANSHIP: Why I didn’t support Bode George — FAYOSE

By Dapo Akinrefon

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D O - E K I T I — GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has explained why he declined to support the ambition of Chief Olabode George in becoming the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He also advised the All Progressive Congress (APC) to forget winning again in 2019,

boasting that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will win and form the government at the federal level.

Fayose, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, appealed to elders in the party to give room for younger elements to reposition the party.

He said: “I have a lot of respect for Chief Bode George, he’s our leader. But when we come to the

‘No elected public officer should earn 10 times more than minimum wage'

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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UMAN rights activist, Comrade Femi Aborisade, has said that no elected public officer should earn more than 10 times the minimum wage.

At a pre-May Day symposium, titled, “Inclusive Socio-Economic Space for Sustainable Development”, Aborisade said: “Governments that are unable to pay wages as and when due can hardly spare a thought for the future.

All public sector salaries (particularly those of the

executive and legislative arms of government) be published on local notice boards and on the internet.”

Aborisade said that for sustainable development, there should be daily publication of earnings from sale of crude oil in the international market.

“The concept of sustainable development is therefore concerned with how to manage societal resources today in order to guarantee the welfare of ordinary people at the present in such a way that does not disturb the welfare of future generations,” he added.

nitty-gritty, we must find out the motive. Chief Bode George told me personally that he wanted to be chairman of the party. I told him no, ‘I won’t support you’.

With all due respect to the elderly people in this party; they must take the back stage. People are tired of seeing the same old faces.”

“I have been hearing Ahmadu Ali since 1978, when we sang Ali must go. Chief Bode George was governor of Ondo State almost 40 years ago. They are our leaders, we love them, but they should take the back stage.” Fayose also accused the APC of failing to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians,” he said.

Berating the APC for not improving the lot of Nigerians since it came to power, the governor said the APC had worsened the situation.

He said “let me explain something to you; it is not what the opposition (APC) did before 2015 that made them win, it is what the party in power (PDP) failed to do.

“When the party in government (APC) fails to provide fuel, queues are back in filling stations, they are daily trimming their promises. Exchange rate has almost killed the naira, businesses are dead. You can’t import any more.''

Ogun PDP Chairman, scribe suspended over alleged diversion of N250m

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took a new dimension yesterday as nine out of 14 members of the state working committee suspended the state chairman, Adebayo Dayo and secretary, Semiu Sodipo indefinitely for alleged gross misconduct.

The nine officers accused Dayo and Sodipo of allegedly misappropriating N250 million money realised from the sale of state expression of interest forms and returns from the national expression of interest forms, indiscriminate imposition of candidates and exclusion of party officials from the ongoing PDP congresses.

But in his reaction, the embattled chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo, said the action of the nine officers was illegal and in clear breach of the party constitution.

On behalf of the nine officers Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, yesterday, the PDP Organising Secretary, Dr Folasade Filani,who spoke, said the suspension was in accordance with section 21 (5) of the party’s constitution.

Other members of the state working committee include Elder Sunday Soledolu (Deputy State Chairman); Elder Isiaka Amusa (Vice Chairman, Central); Muritala Adegoke (Treasurer), Waliu Oladipupo (Publicity Secretary) ; Alhaja Nike Odutola (State Woman Leader); Taofik Osundara (Youth Leader); Bola Sanni (Legal Adviser) and Chief Ibukunolu Ojosipe (Auditor).

The nine members however, unanimously elected Chief Ibukunolu Ojosipe and Muritala Adegoke as interim chairman and secretary respectively.

HERDSMEN MENACE: Gani Adams makes case for state police ...As Yoruba youths slam Northern govs in every state based on their

By Joseph Erunke & Kelechukwu Iruoma

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OLLOWING the continuous killing spree by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, has called for the creation of state police to curb the menace across the nation.

This came as Yoruba Youth Council, YYC, condemned the open support by Northern

governors to the series of attacks carried out by Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country.

Adams also said that Nigeria needs to be restructured to overcome its present travails.

Otunba Adams, who spoke to newsmen during the marking of his 46th birthday ceremony at Ikeja, Lagos, said, “At the national conference in 2014, we recommended state police in every state, we recommended ways we could handle conflicts

culture and system but they were all rejected because some powerful people did not want it.”

On its part,YYC, through its National President, Eric Oluwole and Publicity Secretary Oladeinde Dare, after an emergency meeting yesterday, said: “We considered the position of the Northern governors and their leaders on the criminal display of Fulani herdsmen as an attestation to the colonization agenda of the Fulani people on Southerners.”

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

2016 budget: NASS slashes padding from N500bn to N75bn May forward reworked copy to Buhari today

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph

Erunke

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is warming up to receive a reworked copy of the 2016 budget any time this week from the National Assembly following the agreement by the lawmakers to remove most of the unbudgeted items they introduced into the fiscal document for pecuniary gains.

Reliable sources close to the NASS told Vanguard that the lawmakers had realised that it was wrong for them to have usurped the functions of the executive by introducing items not contemplated by the Presidency into the budget and illegally transferring capital votes to such items.

The source said that given the furore that had attended the budget, the National Assembly Committee on Appropriation and Finance had opted to drop its tough stance against the Presidency and remove the vexatious issues that made President Buhari to reject the budget.

A top source close to the budget document told Vanguard that the lawmakers had agreed to expunge all the illegal projects estimated at about N500 billion, which they inserted into the document for the President’s assent.

The source said that the lawmakers had since read the body language of the President that he is not going to shift his grounds as far as the budget is concerned and had decided to remove the vexatious areas to allow peace to reign in the interest of Nigerians.

Under the new arrangement, the lawmakers are willing to slash N500 billion which they illegally transferred from key national projects to ‘constituency projects’ to a more reasonable and tolerable N75 billion.

The lawmakers came to the decision when they got wind of the resolve of Buhari not to listen to any of them until the distortions done to the budget were removed with immediate effect.

A senior Federal Government official, who is familiar with the budget, confirmed to Vanguard, last night, that the Presidency would not have minded if the insertions done by the lawmakers were not significant enough to affect the overall performance of the budget.

“Now if they have reduced their distortion from N500 billion to a manageable N75 billion, it is very likely that the President would gladly assent to the budget,” the official said last night on condition of anonymity.

“This President does not want to sign a budget that will not allow him to deliver on his promises to Nigerians and draw

the country backwards instead of moving forward," the source added.

Asked if the Presidency would still take steps to sanction those who colluded to distort the budget, the source said the Presidency was keener on implementing measures to reflate the budget than imposing sanctions on erring elements for now.

NASS may forward reworked copy to Buhari today

Meanwhile, the National

Assembly may today forward the amended version of the budget to President Buhari for his assent.

It was gathered, last night, that the 10-man committee set up by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, is still working on the grey areas that caused the delay which made President to withhold his assent.

It was further gathered that the committee might round off its assignment today for onward transmission to the President.

The committee, Vanguard reliably gathered, has been

meeting at Transcorp Hilton to avoid the prying eyes of journalists from getting details of their corrections on the budget.

A member of the committee, however, confirmed to Vanguard last night that “we’re working round the clock to ensure that before midnight today (Monday) all the differences would have been properly ironed out.

“Immediately we achieve this, we’ll transmit it to the executive arm for the President’s assent.”

CONDOLENCE: Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) pays obeisance to the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken n'Uselu (left) during the governor's condolence visit to the Edaiken on the transition of His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin, yesterday.

It's harder to do business in Nigeria now than in 2015 —World Bank

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AGOS — IT is harder to do business in Nigeria now than it was in 2015, the World Bank Group’s ‘Doing Business Report’ has revealed.

According to the report, Nigeria went up the ease of doing business ranking, yet doing business actually just got harder in the largest economy in Africa.

In 2015, Nigeria ranked 170 of 189 countries, with a distance to frontier (DTF) or ease of doing business score of 47.33, against Singapore’s 88.27 and Eritrea’s 33.16.

In the 2016 version of the report, Nigeria climbed one rung of the ladder to 169 position, but its ease of doing business score fell to 44.69.

Singapore remained the easiest country to do business, with a DTF of 87.34, while Eritrea remained at the bottom of the ladder, plunging further to 27.61 from 33.16 in 2015.

At 32 and 62 respectively, Mauritius and Rwanda remained the best destinations for business in Africa, while Ghana led the West African park at 114 of 189 countries.

Commenting on issues regarding businesses in Nigeria, the World Bank said informal construction and bad building affect the public and businesses in Nigeria.

“Where informal construction is rampant, the public can suffer. Take the case of Nigeria, which lacks an approved building code setting the standards for construction,” the report read.

“Without clear rules, enforcing even basic standards is a daunting task, and many buildings fail to comply with proper safety standards.

Structural incidents have multiplied.

“According to the Nigerian Institute of Building, 84 buildings collapsed in the past 20 years, killing more than 400 people.”

Power generation was also identified by the global financial institution as one of the reasons unemployment is high in Nigeria and why multinationals leave Nigeria.

“Industry is a core sector for the generation of national wealth and employment in

Nigeria, but faced with an electricity sector hampered by poorly utilized generation capacity, high transmission losses and frequent outages, companies turn to selfprovision of electricity.

“This raises their production costs, reducing their competitiveness and thus their demand for labour. The erratic and inadequate power supply in Nigeria has often been cited as the main reason forcing multinationals to relocate production lines to other countries. Power outages also affect output levels.”

On reforms carried out so far, World Bank said: “Nigeria made transferring property in Lagos less costly by reducing fees for property transactions.

“Nigeria strengthened minority investor protections by requiring that relatedparty transactions be subject to external review and to approval by disinterested shareholders. This reform applies to both Kano and Lagos.”

Why Senate peace c'ttee failed to meet deadline on submission of report

By Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA —THE Senate Peace Committee, which was inaugurated two weeks ago, with a mandate to urgently restore peace in the red chamber, appears to be facing serious threats, following insistence of senators, who have suits in courts, not to withdraw them.

The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, had while inaugurating the committee on April 21,charged members not only to reconcile all aggrieved senators but also address all issues affecting the Senate and submit its report within seven days.

But the committee could not meet up with the deadline on the submission of its report, expected last Thursday.

Vanguard gathered that the committee might not even round off its activities in the next two weeks due largely to some weighty issues that may take it weeks to tackle.

It was gathered that the committee’s efforts at getting litigant senators to withdraw their suits in courts against the Senate leadership was rebuffed as they insisted that such was not part of the agreements reached, which led to the formation of the reconciliatory committee.

Chairman of the 12-member committee, Senator James Manager, PDP, Delta South, could not confirm or deny that the litigant senators were opposed to withdrawing their suits in court, while speaking to Vanguard on telephone.

Police recruitment:

Commission receives 843,008 applications

A

BUJA — THE Police Service Commission, PSC, said it received 843,008 applications as at 1p.m., May 2, from applicants seeking enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force.

This is contained in an update issued by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission in Abuja, yesterday.

He said 243,327 applications were received for Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) cadre; 197,990 and 401,691 applicants applied for the Inspector and Constable cadres, respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016—9

Fani-Kayode, Okon to Northern govs:

Call your herdsmen to order

By Henry Umoru

A

GREEN WALK: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (4th right), his wife, Olufunso (5th right), Head of Service, Elder Sola Adeyemi (3rd right), Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Otunba Dayo Adeneye (2nd right), Commissioner for Cooperative and Community Development, Mr. Gbenga Ademosun, and others at an awareness road walk tagged Green Walk organised as part of activities marking the 50th birthday of Mrs. Amosun in Abeokuta, yesterday.

FG to pay subsidy on petrol from recoveries made in Q1 of 2016 New fuel price likely

By Michael Eboh with agency reports

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government has said it would pay subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, from the recoveries made in the first quarter of 2016.

This is contained in the latest Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, template released in Abuja, yesterday.

The PPPRA said between January and March, the Federal Government was able to save about N10 billion as a result of selling the product above the expected open market price.

According to the new template, the expected open market price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, has risen to N99.38 per litre for independent and major oil marketers and N98.62 per litre for NNPC retail outlets.

It added that the expected open market price was the actual price of the product without subsidy and was based on the current exchange rate of N197 to a dollar.

It said at the current price of N86 per litre at NNPC retail outlets, the Federal Government was paying N12.62 per litre as subsidy on the product and N12.88 per litre as subsidy for other oil marketers’ price of N86.50.

A breakdown of the template revealed that for NNPC retail outlets and independent and major oil marketers, the Landing Cost of PMS imported into the country was N84.32 and N85.08 per litre respectively, It stated that the distribution margin, which include retailers, transportation, bridging fund and dealers margin, among others, stood at N14.30 for both the NNPC and other marketers.

According to the statement, this

brings the current expected open market price to N98.62 and N99.38 for NNPC retail outlets and other marketers, respectively.

FG to annouce new fuel price But for government’s decision to pay subsidy, the Federal Government would have in the next couple of days, announced a new fuel price, with the product selling at between N100 and N105 per litre for both the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s, NNPC, retail outlets and stations belonging to other oil marketers.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, had last month, during a visit to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, disclosed that

from May 2016, the price of Premium Motor Spirit would be reviewed to reflect current trends in the global petroleum industry.

Kachikwu had stated that the review in the prices was supposed to be done in April, but had to be suspended because of the fact that the country had been able to save a lot of money within the first three months of the year, adding that the savings would be used to fund the gap recorded in pricing in April.

The new price of the product would have been announced either by Kachikwu or by the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA . The new price would be based on the PPPRA pricing template, which is the major indicator and basis of the Federal Government’s Price Modulation Mechanism.

World Bank moves to disclose more information on Abacha’s loot

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

L

AGOS — THE World Bank is set to release more information on how the recovered loot from late General Sani Abacha was expended by the government of Nigeria.

To this end, the bank has referred the appeal by a civil group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to the Bank Archives Unit for processing for public access.

The disclosure was made, yesterday, by SERAP in a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

The development is coming on the heels of the appeal the organisation lodged with the bank in February 5, 2016 on the ground that its earlier decision on its initial request did not

reveal “important portions of the information requested on how Abacha loot was spent.”

According to Mumuni, the Bank Access to Information Committee, AIC, in its decision on appeal issued in case number AI3982-A dated April 29, 2016, to SERAP, disclosed that “although the appeal by the organisation was not filed within 60 days of the bank’s decision as required by its Access to Information Policy, SERAP appeal nonetheless “contains a request for additional information, not previously submitted by the requester and which the bank has neither considered nor denied.”

It, therefore, referred the matter to the Archives Unit to process the request for public access.

BUJA— FORMER spokesperson to exPresident Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, has asked Northern governors and other leaders from the zone to call to order suspected Fulani herdsmen, who had been terrorizing persons from other parts of the country.

Fani- Kayode, who noted that the warning became imperative, said the action of Fulani herdsmen could lead to retaliation, saying enough is enough.

Fani-Kayode spoke as pioneer National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Anietie Okon, described the action of the Fulani herdsmen as barbaric and totally unacceptable, and urged the governors to call the herdsmen to order.

He said Nigeria could not afford to witness yet another civil war.

Both Kayode and Okon in separate text messages to Vanguard, were reacting to the position of Northern governors to the effect that Fulanis were not culpable in the spate of killings at Agatu in Benue State, Enugu, among others.

Fani-Kayode said: “This madness and endless attempt to rationalise and justify it has

to stop. It is in the interest of the northern and Fulani leaders to call their herdsmen and militants to order.

On his part, Senator Anietie Okon said: “It is a confirmation of complicit involvement of a very substantial number of the leadership elite in the north, with governors as mere poster boys of the conspiracy that birthed the roiling insurgency that is blighting the country. ‘’The governors are privy to its mutation into an invading murderous force down the road towards the southerly reaches of the country.

“The abdication and dereliction of responsibility for ensuring security of citizens as is obvious from the cavalier posturing and tardy response to the vicious and wanton destruction of lives and communities, underlines without any questions the betrayal of the mandatory and basic imperative of guaranteeing the citizens right to security any and every where as covenanted under the constitution.

“The glaring insensitivity as conveyed by the position of the Northern governors is indisputably fed by this complicity. I salute Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his brave and passionate response to the very trying challenge.”

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Soldiers, youths clash in Cross River communal conflict

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—THREE persons were reportedly killed and two soldiers injured as irate youths in Mkpani community clashed with soldiers drafted from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar to quell the communal fight between their community and Nko. A reliable source in the community said the Mkpani youths were asked by the soldiers to remove the barricades they mounted on the UgepIkom highway, Sunday, at the Mkpani junction, but the “boys mistook them for mercenaries and fired at them prompting the soldiers to call for reenforcement.

The source added that when the re-enforcement team arrived they reportedly killed three persons, “so the conflict raging since last Friday, has claimed the life of several persons including a pastor, Eno Ubi; a butcher and two young men from Ugep, a neighbouring community, working in the rubber plantation.”

The conflict between the two communities started with the out-break of the inter communal clash between the people of Inyima in Yakurr Local Government Area and their Oyadama neighbours in Obubra Local Government Area of the state.

The conflict was aggravated, Saturday, with the killing of two Ugep persons by yet to be identified persons at the Nko Robber Plantation, which serves as boundary between the two warring villages.

While the Nko people accuse the Mkpani youths of the killing, the Mkpani people see the killing as an act by Nko people to drag Ugep into the fracas in order to join forces with them to fight Mkpani.

6 feared dead in Customs, smugglers clash in Ogun ...No, only 2 people died —Customs, Police PROs

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—PANDEMONIUM broke out, Sunday evening, at Oke- Odan township in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State,

ATTACK: S ome of the Edo State Deputy Governor's aide wounded during an attack on their boss, at Auchi, Edo State, weekend. See story on Page 12

following the alleged killing of three children and four others by Customs officers while pursuing smugglers.

Vanguard gathered that the Customs officials pursued some suspected smugglers, who allegedly smuggled two vehicles loaded with rice, coming from Igolo, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic and heading towards Sango in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Some witnesses, who spoke with Vanguard, said the Customs officials seized the vehicles and were driving them to their Idi-Iroko office when they were ambushed by some suspected smugglers.

The clash reportedly led to the death of three children, a roadside mechanic, panel-beater and a secondary school leaver, simply identified as Ade. The Customs officer reportedly called for reinforcement that came shooting sporadically with stray bullets hitting some residents that resulted in the death of six persons while some sustained various injury.

But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi and his Customs counterpart, Usman Abubakar, while confirming the incident, said two people lost their lives.

Abubakar said three of their officers sustained injuries during the attack by the smugglers, adding that three of their check-points were also burnt down.

He said: “Two people have been confirmed dead. Our officers were attacked by smugglers on their way to Idi-Iroko office after seizing two vehicles loaded with rice at Ajilete.

“These smugglers carried guns, cutlasses, axe, broken bottles, and they stoned our officers with a view to recovering their vehicles with the contra-band.

“We had to call for reinforcement of Military and Police before we could escape from the smugglers, they burnt down three of our check-points.”

In his reaction, the Police Public

Relations Officer in the state, said the command was aware of the clash between armed men and smugglers.

He further said only two casualties were recorded in the crisis and that the alleged mastermind of the incident identified as Oke Gbenro had been arrested.

Anisulowo: Ogun police promise N5m reward to informant

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—SEVEN days after former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, was abducted, the Ogun State Police Command has offered a N5m reward to any informant, who can offer useful information to the police that can lead to her rescue.

Senator Anisulowo, who represented Ogun West senatorial district at the Senate between 2003 and 2007, was kidnapped by four gunmen on Sawonjo-Imasayi Road last Wednesday, on her way from her farm.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abeokuta after a security meeting with some officers of the command and security chiefs.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said other security chiefs present at the meeting include the Commander 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brig. Gen. S Danwalis and the Director of Department of State Service in the state, Mr. Kabir Sanni.

Adejobi reported that the state Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali , appealed to the public to support the police and give useful information that could assist in the rescue of the kidnapped victim.

Wedding day killing: Army authorities vow to prosecute soldier involved

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY—THE Authorities of the 4 Brigade Nigeria Army, Benin City, said it has arrested the soldier, who allegedly killed one Mrs. Akparobi Orobogha around Jakpa junction, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend.

The late woman, who was on her way to attend her daughter’s wedding, was allegedly shot by one of the soldiers deplored to enforce the no movement

restriction during the monthly Environmental Sanitation exercise.

The soldier alleged that the tricycle driver conveying the woman refused to stop when ordered to stop.

However, the Brigade in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, expressed regrets over the incident, saying that the soldiers concerned have been arrested and investigation is ongoing.

According to the statement,

"the soldier concerned has since been arrested and investigation is ongoing. The Brigade wishes to assure the general public that once

Lawyer escapes from kidnappers, recounts ordeal

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—AN Ughelli based lawyer, John Okoriko, has recounted how he escaped from a gang of gunmen at Oghara, Agbarha-Otor after he

13-yr-old boy escapes lynching, confesses: I keep guns for robbers

By Esther Onyegbula

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EADER OF a gang of young minors that has been terrorizing traders and customers at the popular Idumota market in Lagos was saved from being lynched by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency recently.

The 13-year-old boy, name withheld, was arrested by traders

for alleged stealing and robbery within the markets.

For the quick intervention of the LASTMA officials, he would have been killed by the traders, who were seen beating him mercilessly with different objects.

The boy, however, said he was forced into stealing as his parents abandoned him. “I was born in this market. My father and mother are also selling in the

market, but they don’t cater for me. I roam about to eat and fend for myself. About 40 children sleep with me in shops at night.

We wake early to leave the shops before people start coming for business.

“Sometimes last year, while I was playing football with other children, some guys from Jankara area called me and gave me a gun.

They said I should help them

investigation is concluded the finding will be made public and the soldier if found culpable will be prosecuted according to military law.

keep the gun. They also called one of my friends called Daniel and also gave him guns to keep.

We hid the guns in our clothes.”

He continued “ There was a day that they took us to Agege to rob. Daniel and I kept the guns they used for the robbery operation that day. They have taken us to other places to rob too.

They don’t give us anything.

was abducted at Ughelli, Delta State.

Recounting his ordeal, Okoriko explained that the hoodlums after going through his phone and seeing some bank transactions, demanded N100 million as ransom for his release, but he appealed to them that he can only raise N100, 000.

According to him: “At about 6:00a.m., Saturday, while they were asleep, I appealed that I be allowed to empty my bowel as I was pressed. One of them sleepily showed me a spot to do so.

“It was at that point that I fled into the forest till I met an old man, who told me where I was and gave me his mobile phone with which I called a friend that came to pick me up.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 11

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Delta NLC tasks Okowa on pensions

By Gloria Adokwu

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A R R I — D E LTA State Council of Nigeria Labour, NLC, yesterday, called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prioritise regular payment of pensions.

Factional chairman of the state NLC, Mr. Williams Akporeha, made the appeal while addressing a cross section of workers and pensioners, who paid him a visit in Warri as part of the May Day celebration.

Akporeha noted that a lot of pensioners, who served meritoriously, were now suffering unduly as a result of delayed and irregular payment of pensions and retirement benefits.

He said: “Congress wishes to appeal to the governor, Dr. Okowa, to consider the plight of pensioners as priority at all times. It is also possible with your intervention to ensure that pensions are paid as at when due, even as effort is being made to clear pension backlog.”

Army vows to prosecute soldier involved in wedding day killing

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

E N I N — AUTHORITIES of the 4 Brigade Nigeria Army Benin, Edo State, have said that they have arrested the soldier who allegedly killed one Mrs. Alice Akporobi around Jakpa Junction, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend.

Mrs. Akporobi, a typist with the Delta State Judiciary attached to the Magistrate’s Court, Oleh, was on her way to her daughter ’s wedding during weekend’s environmental sanitation exercise when the soldier killed her at a military checkpoint in Jakpa Junction, Effurun.

In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, the Brigade expressed regrets over the incident, saying the soldiers concerned had been arrested and investigation ongoing.

C M Y K

Odubu describes Oshiomhole’s allegation on attack as laughable

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—EDO State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, has described as laughable the statement credited to Governor Adams Oshiomhole through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, that he (Odubu) equipped thugs to disrupt and shoot at his security aides during the attack on him and his entourage in Auchi, weekend.

Odubu, who spoke at his meet-the-delegates-tour in Esan North-East and Esan South-East Local Government areas of the state, yesterday, said: “We have it on good authority that some people were given money not to come out to receive us. Even a mad man cannot equip persons to shoot him.

“The whole convoy of the deputy governor was the target. I have been the number one target. If not for the security men that shielded me and other supporters, it would have been a different thing.”

Police probe

Meanwhile, the state Police Command says it has set up a crack team to investigate the violence which erupted in Auchi, during Odubu’s visit to the secretariat of All Progressives Congress, APC, to meet with party delegates.

Also, one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of APC, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condemned what he described as dastardly, the attack on the deputy governor, saying it was not in the spirit of equity and fair play by which all the political gladiators should align.

Similarly, the Benin National Congress, BNC, has urged police to investigate the matter so as to ascertain whether it

was actually an attack against the deputy governor or an attempt to tarnish the image of Governor Oshiomhole, who is from that area.

Dr. Odubu, who said power lies with the people, promised that creation of jobs would be his major priority amongst others, adding that a zero interest rate loan will be disbursed to women to help boost their trade if given the mandate, as he addressed a large crowd of delegates at Esan South-East and Esan

I was very close to my father—Crown Prince

T

HE Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness Eheneden Erediauwa has described the transition of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa as emotional for him as he was very close to his father.

Speaking in his Uselu Palace during a condolence visit to him by Governor A d a m s Oshiomhole, H R H Eheneden Erediauwa said he was probably the “first Crown Prince in the history of B e n i n Kingdom that had been so close to his father.”

Governor Oshiomhole told the C r o w n Prince: “We are all shattered by this very sad news. In my f o r m a l

FIRS seals tax defaulting companies in Rivers

T

North-East.

Meanwhile, Obaseki, in a statement in Benin, yesterday, called on security agencies to investigate the ugly incident thoroughly to unmask the culprits and expose their sponsors to ensure that they were brought to book.

He appealed to politicians to avoid comments and rhetoric that could encourage violence and to adopt a policy of nonviolence.

HE enforcement teams of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, sealed the business premises of 10 companies that defaulted in remitting their taxes to the Federal Government.

The Coordinator of FIRS in Rivers, Edo and Delta states, Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who is leading the enforcement drive, told reporters that “the campaign is in line with the directive of the FIRS management with clear instructions to seal up all companies that have refused to file returns and have not paid their tax liabilities.

“We want to stop the lukewarm attitude to tax.

Time has changed and the attitude towards payment of taxes must change.”

tribute, I have already made a statement that represents my evaluation of the life and times of our Royal Majesty.

“The state government will stand by your Royal Highness and by the royal family; and will do what the great people of our great state will expect us to do at this hour.”

Revisit NDDC master plan, Semenitari urges stakeholders

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta D e v e l o p m e n t Commission, NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, has called for collaborative effort among stakeholders in the region to implement the Niger Delta regional development master plan.

Describing the master plan as a fantastic blue print for the development of the region, Mrs Semenitari, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the second South-East, S o u t h - S o u t h Development Forum said there was urgent need to revisit it as a guide to effectively develop the region.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016—13

Spill from ruptured pipeline ravages Delta communities

COMMISSIONING:

From left— Mr. Chucks Obuson, Chairman, Oshimili South Local Government Area; Mrs Orezi Esievo, Administrator, Martha Foundation, Lagos; Dr. Nick Azinge, Commissioner for Health; Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, Deputy Governor; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and High Chief Emmanuel Omoefe, Chairman, Martha Foundation, at the commissioning of medical devices and equipment donated to the state by the Foundation, in Asaba, yesterday. PHOTO: Nath Onojake.

By Akpokona Omafuaire

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Oshiomhole's N25,000 minimum wage, a Greek gift— EDO PDP

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, Edo State chapter, has described the May Day announcement by the state government of increase in the minimum wage for civil servants in the state from N18,000 to N25,000 as a Greek gift and politics taken too far.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, in a statement in Benin yesterday, also described the increment as hasty and a betrayal of trust on the part of the state government.

He accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of announcing the increment at a time the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was negotiating a N56,000 minimum wage for civil servants.

Orbih insisted that everybody in Edo State knows that the real challenge in the state civil service was about recruiting employable youths into the service and not about deceiving the people with unrealistic wage increase.

The PDP state chairman, who noted that the number of the governor's political appointees has continued to increase, said the number of civil servants has continually dwindled owing to death and retirement of workers without replacing them, adding that the salary increase was too little, too late.

He said: “This is a Greek gift to Edo workers, considering the

fact that the governor has continually neglected workers’ welfare and treated them with disdain before now. Who does not know the motive behind this fake gesture that is

coming at a time every state in the federation is facing economic recession?

“We challenge the governor to pay outstanding salary arrears, pensions and other

entitlements of workers, rather than talk about a N25,000 minimum wage. We challenge him to free the local governments from the bondage he has put them.”

NANS gives Education Minister 14-day ultimatum on sacked V-Cs

By Innocent Anaba

N

ATIONAL Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has given the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, a 14-day ultimatum to recall the 13 vice chancellors sacked by the Federal Government in February.

National President of NANS, Mr. Tijani Shehu, in a letter to the minister, explained that the ultimatum became necessary following the failure of the minister to take advantage of the window of opportunities provided by Nigerian students to resolve the issue amicably.

The students described the refusal of the minister to reinstate the sacked V-Cs, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, as “an attempt to politicise our universities and arrest academic progress and we vow to stiffly resist this.”

The students stated that having exhaustively appealed to the minister ’s conscience and rational reasoning on the matter without any meaningful outcome, “you (minister) will at this point heed our call for the reinstatement of the hitherto sacked 13 vice

chancellors within 14 days of this notice or face the full wrath of Nigerian students.”

NANS warned that if its demand was not met, it would be interpreted as an “invitation for the Nigerian students to occupy your office and demand your immediate resignation.”

Gov Dickson meets organised labour, as strike looms

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State will meet with the leadership of the state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, this Friday.

The meeting, the second in about 14 days, Vanguard gathered, might not be unconnected with the 21-day ultimatum issued to the s t a t e government by organised labour to pay a l l outstanding salaries to its workers and pensioners.

Organised labour had in

a communique, last Thursday, after a joint meeting of its affiliate unions held in Yenagoa, warned that its members would embark on strike if the government fails to settle the salary arrears at the expiry of the ultimatum.

The state government owes four months salaries to civil servants, while employees of the eight local governments are being owed about eight months’ salaries.

However, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the fresh meeting with the labour leaders slated for Friday would among others, discuss the welfare and future of workers and other major concerns of labour in the state.

ARRI— CRUDE oil spill from ruptured Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, UtorogunForcados Trunk line in Otor-Edo, has wreaked severe havoc in OkpareOlomu and neighbouring communities in Delta State.

President-General of Okpare-Olomu community, Chief Asafe Oluku, who raised the alarm while conducting newsmen round a polluted river, explained that it was the 16-inch trunk line from Utorogun to Forcados that ruptured.

Oluku described the oil spill as a “major incident” that calls for immediate attention of relevant authorities, pointing out that it has affected economic activities of fish farmers and other users of the river in the whole area.

He appealed to the Federal and state governments to assist the community with relief materials to cushion the effects of the oil spill.

Anglican Communion warns against idolatry

By Festus Ahon

U

GHELLI—THE Church of Nigeria, Ughelli Diocese of the Anglican Communion, held its first session of the seventh synod with a call on Nigerians to shun idolatry.

Bishop of Ijesa North East Diocese, Rt Revd.

Joseph Olusola, in his sermon during the Synod held at St Paul Anglican Church, EkiugboUghelli, charged Nigerians to take heed lest they fail, adding that things were not going well in the country.

Speaking further during the Synod with the theme Take Heed: A Divine Imperative to Examine Our Ways, he advised the people to stop worshipping titles and positions.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Parliamentary writers demand NASS clerk, Fika’s resignation

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, & Henry Umoru

T

HE crisis in the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, over the appointment of a new Clerk of the National Assembly, deepened after the Association of Parliamentary Writers, APW, called for the resignation of the commission's chairman, Dr. Adamu Fika.

The call, following a similar one by seven of the 12 commissioners in the NASC, was upon what the association described as the move by the chairman to turn civil service rules on its head in the bid to stop the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Ben Efeturi, from succeeding the outgoing Clerk, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa.

The Clerk of the National Assembly is the head of the National Assembly bureaucracy with privileges and pay equivalent to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The crisis heightened last week after Fika rejected an order by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, not to leapfrog the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr. Sani Omolori, over his superiors serving as Clerk of the Senate and the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.

BONGA OIL SPILLS: FG institutes N1.3trn suit against Shell

By Innocent Anaba

T

HE Federal Government has dragged Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, claiming N1.3 trillion against the oil firm for the December 20, 2011, Bonga oil spills, which created ecological and environmental challenges for coastal communities in Delta and Bayelsa states.

The suit is protecting the interest of fishermen and persons, numbering about

285,000 from 350 communities and satellite villages, affected by the Bonga crude oil spillage.

The government, in the suit, is demanding N884 billion as compensation for the oil spill that destroyed the affected communities.

Nigerian government is also demanding another N495 billion as restitution and restoration of the devastation of the economic zone of the Nigeria territorial waters and N50 million as cost of the legal action.

CBN's anti-inflation policy sucks N663bn from banks exchange at its weekly bidding however, appears to have

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

W

ITH the reversal of its monetary policy easing previous month Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has deployed monetary instruments freezing about N663 billion in the last one month even as the apex bank is set to mop up additional funds from the banks this week.

The apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, at its second meeting this year held in March, voted to review the monetary policy rate, MPR, upward from 11 per cent to 12 per cent.

It also increased the cash reserve ratio, CRR, upward from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent, while maintaining the liquidity ratio at 30 per cent The measures were aimed at curbing inflationary pressure which has been attributed to high liquidity in the financial system.

CBN also hoped to curtail huge demands for foreign

by suppressing liquidity levels in the banks.

The new policy direction took full effect in April with resumption of the Open Market Operation, OMO, and other treasury bills auctions which sucked up N390 billion in the first two weeks sending interbank interest rates and y i e l d s upwards.

Though, the apex bank have applied the mop-up measures in line with cash inflows in the banking system, total inflow so far is N270.4 billion in form of maturing OMO funds, leaving a negative flow of N392.6 billion.

T h i s negative flow,

Fidelity posts N4bn first quarter profit before tax

By Nkiruka Nnorom

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has announced a profit before tax of N4 billion for its first quarter ended March 31, representing 14.6 percent decline from N4.7 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2015.

Also, its profit after tax fell by 10.5 percent to N3.6 billion from N4 billion in 2015. The bank’s gross earnings were down by 5.5 percent from N36.4 billion to N34.4 billion in the equivalent period in C M Y K

Co-defendants in suit are Shell Petroleum N.V, B.V Netherlands International Indusrie-E Handel Maatschappij, Shell Transport and Trading Company Plc, and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, who are all allied companies of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.

In an affidavit sworn to by a Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment Department of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Mr. Akindele

2015.

Other highlights of the result showed that net interest income was up by 30 percent to N16.1 billion from N12.4 billion in 2015, while customers’ deposit increased by 1.9 percent to N784 billion from N769.6 billion in full year 2015.

The bank’s net loans were 2.1 percent increase from N578.2 billion to N590.1 billion.

Similarly, the bank’s total equity stood at N187 billion as against N183.5 billion, while the total assets went up to N1.28 trillion from N1.23 trillion, indicating four

percent growth.

The bank attributed the financial performance to continued slowdown in business activities due to lower government revenues arising from depressed oil prices, lower interest rate regime and weaker macro-economic environment.

The bank said in a statement by its Head, C o r p o r a t e Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, that it continued to improve the earnings capacity of its balance sheet (fund-based income) despite the decline in fee income.

been cushioned by inflow of N299.7 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC. Though the banking industry is expecting N150.6 billion inflow tomorrow, industry operators are also expecting more CBN instrument to mop it up.

Olubunmi in the suit, counsel to the plaintiffs, Awosika Adekunle, averred that he had the consent and the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr A. Malam (SAN), Attorney General of the Federation and Director General of NOSDRA, to depose to this affidavit.

He stated that the plaintiffs brought the suit for themselves in relation to damage and devastation done to the exclusive economic zone, ecosystem, marine life, and the environment caused by Bonga crude oil spills of December 20, 2011.

Meanwhile, based on an application by plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr Dada Awosika, seeking the order of the court to serve court process on four of the defendants who are based outside the country, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, while adjourning the case to June 6 for mention, ordered that all the court process in the case be served on Shell Petroleum N.V, B.V Netherlands International indusrie-e handel Maatschappij, the Royal Transcorp and Trading Company Plc and Royal Dutch Plc.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016—15

Judge hands off tax forgery suit against Ikpeazu

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA-—JUSTICE Musa Shuaibu, who was assigned to preside over hearing the tax forgery case suit No. FHC/OW/191/2015, instituted against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by an aspirant in the December 8, 2014 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries, Mr. Friday Nwosu, has withdrawn from the matter.

It will be recalled that Justice Shuaibu was the second judge to hands off the tax forgery suit after Justice F. Olubanjo, who was formerly sitting at the Umuahia Division, also withdrew from the matter, when Nwosu petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, accusing her of needlessly delaying the matter.

Justice Shuaibu who was the presiding Judge of the Federal High Court, Owerri, was later transferred to Kaduna Division, but ordered by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Ibrahim Auta to hear and conclude the matter in Owerri.

Justice Shuaibu was billed to preside over the adoption of written addresses by the parties in the suit in the pre- election dispute which had suffered several adjournments.

Vanguard gathered that the Chief Judge had directed the presiding Judge of the Owerri Division, Justice A.I. Allagoa to hear the matter.

Fulani herdsmen attack: Igbo should be patient, peaceful —FG Ugwuanyi doles out N100m for communities' security 472 Neighborhood Watch groups to complement efforts Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Malaysia kicks against Grazing Bill Ekweremadu, lawmakers storm Nimbo, insist on justice

By Peter Okutu, Nwabueze Okonkwo, Chinenye Ozor & Dotun Ibiwoye,

A

BAKALIKI—THE Federal government, weekend, called on the people of the South East geo-political zone to be patient, law-abiding and peaceful as President Muhammadu Buhari was committed toward bringing to a halt the issue of insurgency across the country.

This came as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State,yesterday, doled out N100 million to fund Neighbourhood Watch groups in 472 communities to complement the services of security agencies in the state.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, made the call in his country home at Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state,

where he received key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, within the South East zone in his residence.

Onu, who appealed for calm among the people of the zone, charged them not to take laws into their hands as the President had already given directives towards curbing the recent menace of criminality.

“The President has condemned it; we appeal to our people in the South-East to exercise patience.

Ugwuanyi’s largesse Following the perceived inaction of security agencies in Enugu State that culminated in the slaughter of 46 natives of Ukpabi,Nimbo community, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, doled out N100 million to fund Neighbourhood Watch groups in 472 communities to

complement the services of security agencies.

The governor also mandated the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Human Capital to quickly inaugurate Neighbourhood Watch groups in all the 472 communities to forestal a recurrence of Fulani herdsmen invasion of any part of the state.

This came on a day, the traditional rulers and town's union presidents in the state in a communique stated in part: "We are also grateful to the governor for the donation of the sum of N100 million in support of the security efforts and activities of the communities. We have resolved to go back to our respective communities to mobilize the people and sensitize them on the need to support the initiatives of the government as they relate to security of lives and properties in Enugu State.

TOUR: The traditional ruler of Nimbo, HRH Eze John Akor (right), taking the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (middle), and Sen. Chuka Utazi, on a tour of the ruins in his community in the aftermath of the recent attack by suspected herdsmen.

EMC launches new technology solutions to modernize data centres

By Emeka Aginam, in Las Vegas

A

T THE ongoing EMC World 2016 forum holding in Las Vegas, the United States of America, EMC Corporation has released multiple new modern data centre products and services that are fundamental to customers’ modern data centre transformation initiatives.

The forum is an annual gathering of EMC customers, partners, industry analysts and members of the global media.

The announcements span major new all flash storage, cloud storage, copy data management,

software-defined storage, and service and support capabilities.

EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver information technology, IT, as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing.

The new development is expected to lead to complex data centre priorities, while maintaining traditional business applications as efficiently and in a low-cost manner as possible without compromising service integrity, and using those savings to support next-generation

application development needs.

The new wave of solutions including new EMC Unity family of all-flash storage, Virtustream Storage Cloud platform; EMC MyService360 service-centric online dashboard, EMC Enterprise Copy Data Management, eCDM, and ViPR Controller 3.0 announced at the forum is the first step toward balancing these conflicted IT priorities, to modernize the infrastructure on which IT is built.

Speaking on the new development, David Goulden, EMC Information Infrastructure, Chief Executive Officer said that, “the IT industry is in a state of

massive transformation, resulting in both disruption and great opportunity.

“Every business leader, across every industry, is facing the dilemma of how to support and grow traditional IT infrastructure while modernizing the data centre in order to support the development of new applications and advance their digital agenda.

Some are doing all of this simultaneously.

“The products and services announced today will help advance the customer’s journey to build a modern data centre in order to thrive as a digital business.”

Rebuilding Nimbo community Barely one week after the attack of Nimbo community in UzoUwani Local Government Area, Enugu State by the Fulani herdsmen, citizens of the state in the United Kingdom, have offered to assist rebuild burnt houses, damaged properties, and donated clothings and food items for the refugees of the community.

The Special Adviser to Enugu State governor, Mrs. Olangwa Eziekwu made the offer when she visited Nimbo refugees at Nsukka stadium where she donated cartons of Indomie noodles, bags of rice, tissue papers, fruit drinks, among others, and promised to bring more in no distant time as citizens of the state in Diaspora would send more relief materials to the victims and the displaced ones of the community.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Malaysia cautions FG Also yesterday, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Malaysia, urged the National Assembly to discontinue further deliberation on Grazing Land Bill, which is on the floor of the upper chamber at the moment, as it would cause more harm than good.

The Igbo Diaspora group in Malaysia, in a press release by its President, Mr. Biafra Diboh and Secretary General, Prince Benson Kpechie commiserated with Nimbo community in UzoUwani Local Government Area of Enugu State over the massacre of over 40 people last week.

“The National Assembly should imediatley discontinue further deliberation on Grazing Land Bill that is on the floor of the upper chamber of the House at the moment, as it would cause more harm than good," Diboh said

Ekweremadu, Lawmakers storm Nimbo, insist on Justice Meantime, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has assured the Nimbo community that government and federal lawmakers from the State would not rest until justice was done concerning the destruction of lives and properties by suspected herds.

Senator Ekweremadu urged the people of the community to continue to live in peace while a permanent solution to the problem was being sought, just as he assured them that the perpetrators of the attacks, which led to the destruction of lives and property in the community, would be brought to book.

Speaking on Sunday when he led a team of National Assembly members from Enugu State, on an assessment and condolence tour of the community, Ekweremadu further called on all Nigerians to respect the sanctity of life as well as the culture and tradition of host communities where ever they find themselves.

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Ex-OMATA boss accuses FG, DSS, security agencies of pampering Fulani herdsmen

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—FORMER President General of Onitsha Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, OMATA, Chief Ozoh Anaekwe has accused the Federal Government, Department of State Services and other law enforcement agencies of pampering and treating the Fulani herdsmen with kids gloves, while being hard on non violent Indigenous People of

Biafra IPOB and Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB. Addressing newsmen yesterday in Onitsha, Chief Anaekwe accused the Federal Government of not being interested in the security of other parts of Nigeria, except those in Northern Nigeria, and accused the DSS boss in Nigeria of being biased in his job . He said that any responsible government or agency should not be selective

in giving people security, but noted that the Federal Government and the DSS including other security agencies have all failed in that direction and should bury their heads in shame.

The former OMATA boss called on the South East and South South people of Nigeria to boycott eating cows to register their protest to the Federal Government against the activities of the Fulani herdsmen, adding

Abia to demolish illegal structures at Ariaria market

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—IN a bid to rebuild the Ariaria International market, Aba, the Abia State government has said it would soon commence the demolition of illegal structures at the market and therefore solicited the cooperation of traders and shop owners towards the upgrade of facilities.

Chairman of the Abia State Market Development Committee, Chief Solomon Nwaigwe who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Aba, lamented the

level of decay and flooding in the market which he attributed to the activities of traders who erected illegal structures on top of the drainage system and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways, causing water to overflow the gutter and find its way into the traders’ shops.

Nwaigwe disclosed that the rebuilding of the market will take place in phases beginning with the Park 1 and 2 areas whose traders have been directed to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall, and assured legitimate shop

owners in the market of getting back their shop(s) after the exercise while illegal owners will forfeit ownership of such illegal structures.

According to him, the committee was set up by the state government to restore the master plan of the market and upgrade it to the standard of an international market.

“It might interest you to know that we have carefully carried out proper checks at the market. And we discovered that the traders have built illegal shops on top of drainages in the market.''

that he has resolved in his family that they will not eat cow meat for one year to mourn those killed by the Fulani herdsmen, adding that if they continue their killings after one year, they will extend their boycott.

“If a leader wants to give his people security of lives and property, he will first of all budget for information, because it is through this you know what is on ground. What is happening in the country is that the All Progressives Congress, APC government is only interested in recovering money, while not being interested in the security of people, except those in the North.

“We are forced to ask if the lives of those in the Northern part of the country are more important than those in other parts, and if money is more important than the lives of the people in those states their security has been abandoned by the government and security agents?What is the work of DSS and other law enforcement agents if 500 people can gather from the Northern states to the South East, enter into the bush and from the bush invade communities and destroy whatever they see there?."

Buhari too slow to ignite change — CLERIC

By Prisca Duru

F

OUNDER and President of Bible Believing Mission Incorporation, Aba, Abia State, Pastor Kingsley Innocent has said that inspite of the expectations of Nigerians that things will turn out well with the Buhari led administration, the President is too slow to ignite a change.

Pastor Innocent who spoke in Aba said, “At this moment, our president is rather too slow in igniting and effecting the kind of change that Nigerians want. Rather, things are getting worse by the day. I urge the Federal Government to sit up as quickly as possible to ensure that this change is realized. This was the reason we voted for him. We expected much more than what we are getting. This administration is too slow. We have heard of the verbal change but it goes beyond it. We want to see the president turn the nation around. It is a difficult task but it is possible and achievable.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3 3, 2016—17

Jonathan: To arrest or not?

I

MET Robert Azibola in the trenches in the dark days of General Sani Abacha.He was one of the young activists then who were singing uncomfortable tunes in the ears of the dark-goggled dictator.I lost contact with him for several years until I ran into him in the lobby of an hotel in Abuja early 2015.That was when he told me he is cousin to then President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

I was to hear of him about 38 days ago(as at the time of writing this) when the news filtered in that he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, over some pipeline contract he handled with the office of the National Security Adviser(NSA).

His family says he was detained illegally for nine days before the EFCC could get an order from a magistrate court to legally detain him.The family went to Abuja to get a court order for him to be released but which the anti-graft agency refused to obey.

Anti-graft agency The detention order from the magistrate court expired on 19th April and it became difficult to get a magistrate to issue another order since all of them have been served the High Court order ordering his release.

The EFCC used another device.He was transferred to Lagos where it was easy to get another magistrate to issue another detention order after he had been held for three days. His wife is also said to have been detained for hours and released in the course of his ordeal.She was released because of their young children and asked to report daily.

In 38 days,the EFCC has not charged him to court .His family insists that his prolonged detention is because he has refused to admit that his company is a front for Jonathan.

They fear his captors want to break him so he could admit whatsoever they put to him.

The EFCC should as a matter of urgency charge Robert to court so he could defend himself against whatever charges they have against him.Holding him indefinitely can only confirm the family fears that he is being held to get to a target.

C M Y K

This story of gunning for Jonathan has been in the news for months now but the plot seems to thicken now.Various EFCC sources have informed the media over and again that it is only a matter of time before they put him in their net.Chairman of the anticorruption advisory board,Prof.

Itse Sagay at one point said the EFCC would need the permission of President Buhari to effect Jonatan's arrest.Senator Joseph Waku had granted an

was going out he would be accompanied by three drummers.

The talking drummer is not a man who only entertains but serve as intelligence officer and communicates effectively with those who "hear" the drum.

Wale Adeoye and I once visited the Alaafin of Oyo and we were told to come back at some latter day. As we approached his palace we were ushered into his sitting arena and he surfaced.We asked him how he knew we were around and he told us the talking drummer already told him as we approached the gate.

If our President wants to arrest anything for now Necessary rites then he should arrest the incessant He told us how if he failed to wake up at the appropriate time spate of herdsmen to perform the necessary rites, attacks in Nigeria the drummer would say to to which has led to the him "Atanda dide enikan kii fise igbonse ran omo re"(delegati deaths of almost a non delegari-he who is thousand innocent delegated does not delegate ) to Babamogba. Once he Nigerians under his isBack approaching another watch masquerade the first drummer would incite him saying "run into him,hit him".The second drummer would however tell him "Babamogba if they are deceiving you don't deceive

yourself".The third drummer would come with a warning "Babamogba,when the chips are down,you are on your own".

After all the drummers are done,Babamogba would then take an informed decision.

Like the second and the third drummer, this column is looking at two major issues which the brothers of the first drummer who are calling for Jonathan arrest are not addressing.

The first is that when Jonathan called General Buhari to accept defeat even before the announcement of final results hope was rekindled that we were about to say goodbye to the politics of "do-or-die" and that the African continent would have more of such powerful example.We were glad when Bori Yayi of Benin Republic sang from Jonathan's hymn book by also congratulating his opponent who defeated him in the country's general elections.

Greatest offence The humiliation of Jonathan would dim that prospect as many African leaders would prefer to die in office rather than handover and be humiliated.They would be making reference to what happened to Jonathan who surrendered power.

Their model would become Robert Mugabe who was once asked by a BBC reporter on when he would say bye to the people of Zimbabwe and his answer was "where are they going?" He was quoted to have said that the greatest offense he could commit is to organise elections and lose.

The second point is that there are two many flash points so far for the regime at the moment to be opening new ones.The Boko Haram insurgency,the Shiites problem, the IPOB quest for self-determination,the

murderous acts of Fulani herdsmen etc are full on the regime's plate.A rash dealing with Jonathan would open another war front in the Niger Delta as it would create an occasion for those spoiling for a fight in the creeks to make use of their weapons.Even those who don't like Jonathan will use his arrest to do their own fight.They would be asking for the precedence of a former President who has been so hounded .Why would the bean cake be one's bone when it comes to the turn of the toothless? The Yoruba say it is when you kill a madman that you will know he didn't drop from the sky, I read a statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) in northern states on the purported plan to arrest Jonathan where they stated inter alia : “CAN Northern states wishes to advice that such an action, if actualised, has the capacity to lead to serious confusion that will affect Nigeria economically and otherwise. We are afraid that such an action may spark chain reaction.

“If our President wants to arrest anything for now then he should arrest the incessant spate of herdsmen attacks in Nigeria which has led to the deaths of almost a thousand innocent Nigerians under his watch. He should arrest the dangerous slide in the power sector; he should arrest the slide in the economy. We believe at this time and with the current realities our former president must not be denigrated but honoured, because honour must be given to whom it is due.”

If the EFCC has questions for Jonathan,they can approach him to ask him questions without attempting to humiliate him.Just my two cents!

Feedback

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Re:Nigeria North? :Nigeria or Nor

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interview calling for the arrest of the former President.

There is no doubt in my mind that all these are water testing in the grand scheme to humiliate the former President.

Do I hold the view that Jonathan is above the law and should not be investigated if there are infractions against the law?No! I am one of those who have canvassed that the immunity clause even for serving officials be removed and therefore would not stand against investigating former officials.But then,it is not all that are lawful that are expedient.

God bless the soul of Senator Abraham Adesanya.

Whenever the old man was being goaded to take a decision that could backfire, he was wont to tell the story of a masquerade called Babamogba. The masquerade was a powerful and feared one. Whenener he

OUR piece on the above subject matter was really spot on. It addressed the contemporary issues challenging us as a nation especially the people of the two sides of the Niger. President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, inspite of that speech on his inauguation day you mentioned, is not a pan Nigerian just like his other scions of Arewa.

Arewa have never seen themselves as Nigerians. They are Nigerians when the mood is right. You can see the lopsided appointments he has made so far. Not to talk of his open dislike for our brothers East of the Niger. What has he said with the Fulani pogrom in Agatu, Benue ,Oyo, Enugu, Delta,Ondo,Ekiti,Abia,Taraba, Plateau ,Kaduna etc.

Now Enugu. You remember in 2001 he asked Lam Adesina then Governor of Oyo State after the Oke Ogun farmers/Fulani clash. "Your people are killing my people, why? Why has he

not taken any action like he did in the Oyo state episode. He has not spoken since the wake of killings. Instead he has been speaking through proxies. The renewed Fulani invasion of farming communities in various path of the country especially in the non Hausa-Fulani territories gives the impression of territorial expansion and a continuation of Fulani Jihad.

Continuation of Fulani Jihad Have you noticed the sophistication of the attacks.

These people bear sophisticated firearms which they display openly and the State is indifferent. Have you heard of any reaction from Arewa?

One thing to note is that most of the cattle belong to the same people formulating our policies.

This explains the palpable silence. After all the blood of Fulani is more superior to the blood of non -Fulanis. You

remember the recent and highly irresponsible and incendiary remarks of the DG of DSS on the killings in Abia and the man is supposed to be a leader with a broad view of a nation like Nigeria.

The question is what was the purpose of that remark? Of course to begin another round of the extermination of the 'kafirais'. Jonathan's concession of victory to PMB saved a lot of lives of 'yan kudu' (southerners) of Nigeria.

Had Jonathan won the election,the plan was to unleash on any southerner in sight in the North(there were evidence of mass stocking of light Arms in various parts of the north).

When they talk of integrity, was the election that brought PMB devoid of sharp practices?

In many parts of the north under aged children freely voted with electoral officers threatened with violence. In all these the people of the South west will soon see the other side.

Mike Akpofure,Benin City.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 THIS year ’s May Day activities in Nigeria were marked with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) jointly tabling a demand for the upward review of the national minimum wage from N18,000 to N56,000. A rival faction of the NLC led by Comrade Joe Ajaero simultaneously demanded N90,000.

Labour hinges its demands, despite the parlous state of the economy, on the grounds that a minimum wage review is long overdue. They grumble over the steep rises in the costs of electricity, petroleum products, food items and the general inflationary trends in the economy in the past one year.

These came at a time the 36 governors had just visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja asking for another lifeline, the second within ten months. It will be recalled that President Buhari yielded to pressure from

New minimum wage: how realistic? the governors and approved a N804.7 billion bailout, which was released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in September 2015.

But in November 2015, barely two months after the bailout, the governors, through the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, announced that with 24 states unable to pay salaries, they could no longer pay even the N18,000 minimum wage.

The stage is set for a prolonged and protracted Labour dispute, which will surely worsen the state of the economy.

Labour groups lament that the Federal Government as well as the state Chief Executives have continued to live large in spite of the economic crunch. They have continued to maintain large retinues of political appointees, moving around in chartered aircraft and generally refusing to limit public spending. They argue that if the government cuts down on excesses there would be enough to go round.

Though we regret the refusal of the Presidency, governors and the legislative arms of government to trim down their overheads and lifestyle, we are convinced that this alone will not

release enough funds to finance a new minimum wage. The challenge staring us in the face requires something far more radical and profound.

The Federal and State governments are going bankrupt because an over-centralised economy that depends on oil as the major foreign exchange earner has become unsustainable.

Even if oil prices rebound to the historic levels of 2012/2013, the problem will only hide for a while until the prices crash again.

It is time to restructure and adopt fiscal federalism. We should transfer the power to manage the economy from the Federal Government to the federating units, which will pay taxes to the Centre. We should also re-examine the hugely expensive Presidential system of governance.

Unless something dramatic is done about the economy,we might be facing a system implosion.

OPINION Oil:: 'City States' of the Niger Delta, South-South and Nigeria (2) Continued from yesterday

By Patrick Cole

M

ANY of them were men of considerable wealth and panache; maybe held themselves too seriously.

They were aware of the aura of swagger around them. The relationship with the merchants was not always a matter of trust but rather one of healthy guarded suspicion but reinforced by an underlying honesty.

One Consul used to be a regular guest at the table of king Pepple – whole roasted hogs or goats or cows, various fishes, shrimps, crabs and a multitude of other aquatic delicacies. The Consul lived in Beua; he also visited old Calabar where he frequently invited the Obong – Iyamba – to his table on the gun boat. But each time the Consul went to Bonny he would invite king Pepple who would politely decline. The Consul decided to take the bull by the horn and asked king Pepple why would he not dine with him aborad the schooner; after all the king of Calabar regularly did so.

King Pepple looked at the hapless Captain and said that the captain was wrong to compare him to the Calabar king. When king Pepple went to the UK he was usually entertained by Queen Victoria. The Consul got the message.

King Pepple during one of his trip to London brought himself a steamer fully loaded; he employed staff to run the steamer which brought him home to Bonny. On getting to Bonny, the captain

seems to have nothing to do; the king could not think of what else he could ask the Captain to do. He gave the boat to the captain and crew who sail off to England.

Chief Tom Brown Big Harry imported a Railway Engine Coaches, rails and sleepers intending to run it from Degema to Harry’s town. The crates arrived carrying various parts of the trains but he died before affecting the plan.

The South-South geopolitical zone the home of home- is a polyglot of several ethnic groups The chief’s household was run almost like a barrack: the wives had a roster of who was to do what but the interesting thing daily was when the chief was going to eat. A town crier would go round the compound “the House” announcing that the chief would eat at 7 p.m. Every child in that compound, including the children of his brothers, his sisters would carry a small bowl and report to the dining room.

The chief would dish out portions to each and every child, calling them by their names or the special names he had given them. He would wait until all the children have eaten and left before he would eat.

In the old days it is almost impossible to see an Ijaw chief eat outside his house.

Today, the chiefs dressed in their long

Sketch of the Ijaw Chief’s quadrangle robes, are followed by their wards carrying plastic bags; not only would they eat and drink outside, they would take food and drinks in bags which their boys take home. Obviously hard times have come to these chiefs and they can no longer live like their fathers and forefathers.

Nowadays they would only come to a function at a fee, and would seek every opportunity to extort money from people inviting them for funerals, weddings, etc.

Enough had been said about the peoples, their tradition etc to provide a fertile ground for the querulous to have plenty to quarrel about. There is no comparable role for the chiefs to play today; no comparable income, no comparable influence. Chieftaincy has now become unfortunately a means of making money for the holders of the title who cannot live to the standard accustomed to their parents. The chief’s house would at least be one or two storey’s high with a ground

floor for storage, treasury and so forth. The first floor would be a large saloon and dining room, smaller room to entertain special guest, his bed chamber and a servant’s room. If he has a second floor, these may have other rooms for various purposes.

The wives terraces may contain as many as twenty houses around the quadrangle.

The Ibibios, Efiks, Egenis, Ikwerres, Ikpayas etc. in the Rivers State organised themselves differently because they are farming communities. These brush strokes do not do justices to the other ethnic groups comprising the South political zone.

The Edos are the dominant influence in most of the South South – stretching to Niger to the East Agbor, the Ikas, Ikwales to Asaba and even Onitsha to the West, the Edos influence Urhobos, Isokos, Itsekiris etc; to the North – Ishan, Etsako, Auchi, Ogenebode etc. the Edo influence reached the Yorubas especially Ife and Lagos and beyond, maintaining a cultural similarity especially in the tradition of kingship and sometimes linguists.

The South-South geopolitical zone the home of home- is a polyglot of several ethnic groups. It is difficult to see how this group, apart from a shared senses of injustice about their treatment by other Nigerians especially as far as oil is concerned can operate as a political zone.

It is in this mix that oil and its corrosive influence descended. I will try to explain why the Niger Delta is the way it is since the advent of oil and modern politics.

Concluded *Dr. Cole, OFR, a former ambassador, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016— —19

Mind your religion, leave others alone

By Sunny Ikhioya

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OING through Douglas Anele’s piece: ‘An unbeliever’s interpretation of Easter’ in the Sunday Vanguard of April 10 2016,one is left with one conclusion and that is; Christianity is truly a religion of peace, instead he would by now be hiding in a hole, shielding himself from the fatwa sentence that surely would have befallen him.

Luckily for him, he knows the court to play his game because he cannot try it with every religion.

It is important for writers and public commentators to realise that the biggest threat to world peace today is religion and therefore, issues related to it must be treated with the highest sense of responsibility. You can debate whatever you want within the confines of your philosophy classes.

You can choose any religion you want to practice and even highlight the good in that religion but to denigrate and belittle the religious beliefs of others because you want to exhibit your intellectual capabilities, sourced from foreign books and journals is taking it too far. Every religion the world over is

based on faith and mythology, they are not subject to scientific reasoning and evaluations and if you try to do that you will be over extending it and in the process incur the wrath of the adherents because even till date, there are living testimonies from worshippers whom you cannot disprove through science. The Holy Book envisaged such people like Douglas in the book of Romans 1:2232. I paraphrase; “Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools(22)....And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient(28)”.

Religion has never claimed to be scientific, so attempts to bring scientific logic into matters of religion will not sell. For those of us familiar with students of philosophy, they do all they can to contradict conventional norms, the more they debunk existing thoughts, the more their claim to philosophical knowledge, that is what Douglas tried to do in his analysis of Christian Easter. Searches and researches are vital to moving the world forward in positive directions but when the research is intended to cause

conflicts and dis harmony in society such should be discouraged.

As a philosopher he is free to express doubt but he should consult the Psychologist to enable him

If we can just mind our business and work within the purview of global peace, the world will be a better place for all understand the power of faith in the lives of men. All the major religions of the world are based on faith and, even renowned Philosophers have recanted their harsh analysis of the past. Also, religion has also contributed to the growth of societies; science, arts, administration, and more. The main area of departure between Christianity and others is in the area of sacrifices which Jesus Christ already took care of. If their belief is

The memo Akenzua did on Aburi

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By Eric Teniola

HEN on March 15 last year, the Secretary of the Benin traditional council, Mr. Frank Irabor announced that “the leopard is ill in the Savannah bush”, we knew exactly what has happened to the OmoN’oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa (CFR), the 38th Oba of Benin, who was born on June 22, 1923 and ascended the throne on March 23, 1979. Well to an average Benin man or woman, such an announcement is well understood. The Benin people value tradition and culture. And they are proud of it. I am from Ufosu in Idanre local government of Ondo state that shares border with Edo state, so I should know.

The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler of the Edo people and head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire. The services of Oba Erediuwa are well valued and will not be forgotten. Before becoming an Oba, as Prince Samuel Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua, he was an outstanding civil servant.He in fact rose to become the Federal Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health before he retired in 1973. Along with others, he attended the Aburi meeting held at the Peduase lodge where the conflict of Nigeria was discussed between January 4th and January 5th 1967. Aburi is a town in Ghana. It is a 45 minutes drive from Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Those in attendance at the meeting were Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Colonel Robert Adebayo,Lt-Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Lt-Col David Ejoor,Lt-Col David Hassan Katsina, Commodore J.E.A. Wey, Major Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji KamSelem and Mr. J. OmoBare. Others are Prince S.I.A. Akenzua (Permanent Under-Secretary, Federal Cabinet Office.),Mr. P.T. Odumosu (Secretary to the Military Government, West.),Mr. N.U. Akpan (Secretary to the Military Government,East.), Mr. D.P. Lawani (Under-Secretary, Military Governor’s Office, Mid-West) and Alhaji Ali Akilu (Secretary to the Military Government, North.) The Chairman of the Ghana National Liberation Council, Lt-General J.A.Ankrah, declared the meeting open in his capacity as then head of state of Ghana. The following was agreed upon—that Army to be governed by the Supreme Military Council under a Chairman to be known as Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Federal Military Government, Establishment of a Military Headquarters comprising equal representation from the Regions and headed by a Chief of Staff, Creation of Area commands corresponding to existing Regions and under C M Y K

the charge of Area commanders, matters of policy, including appointments and promotion to top executive posts in the Armed Forces and the Police to be dealt with by the Supreme Military Council. During the period of the Military Government, Military Governors will have control over Area Commands for internal security,Creation of a Lagos Garrison including Ikeja Barracks. In connection with the re-organisation of the Army, the council discussed the distribution of Military personnel with particular reference to the present recruitment drive. The view was held that general recruitment throughout the country in the present situation would cause great imbalance in the distribution of soldiers.

After a lengthy discussion of the subjects, the council agreed to set up a Military committee on which each Region will be represented, to prepare statistics which will show: Present strength of Nigeria Army;Deficiency in each sector of each unit; the size appropriate for the country and each Area command; Additional requirement for the country and each Area command.

Prince Akenzua alluded in his memo that a weak centre will lead to confederation and total disintegration of the country The Committee is to meet and report to council within two weeks from the date of receipt of instructions. The Council agreed that pending completion of the exercise in connection with re-organisation of the army, further recruitment of soldiers should cease.

The implementation of the agreement reached on 9 August 1966, it was agreed, after a lengthy discussion, that it was necessary for the agreement reached on 9 August by the delegates of the Regional Governments to be fully implemented. In particular, it was accepted in principle that army personnel of Northern origin should return to the North from the West. It was therefore felt that a crash programme of recruitment and training, the details of which would be further examined after the committee to look into the strength and distribution of army personnel had reported, would be necessary to constitute indigenous army personnel in the West to a majority there quickly.

working for them, how does it concern an unbeliever?

If we can just mind our business and work within the purview of global peace, the world will be a better place for all. The way the world is today, there is definitely a superior force beyond the comprehension of the ordinary man, this has manifested in several forms and deep thinkers understand this.

Where science stops is where religion begins, even present day scientific discoveries are not new, they have been foreseen and foretold in the past, we are only moving in circles.

Nigeria is a country that claims to be secular in the matter of religion, that means; everyone is free to practice the religion he or she chooses openly and without fear of intimidation or persecution. There must be mutual respect among adherents of different religions, when you leave yours and begin to find faults with the others or distort their known history, you are creating room for conflict and this is not good.

I am not saying here that you should not try to win converts to your faith but this should be done without running down the others or trying to cause discord in the society. You can only highlight the benefit of your religion and show proofs by your works, that is how it should be done.

Nigeria is already very heavily polarised along religious lines, no one should try to pour fuel on an

As far as the Regions were concerned, it was decided that all the powers vested by the Nigerian Constitution in the Regions and which they exercised prior to 15 January 1966, should be restored to the Regions. To this end, the Supreme Military Council decided that all decrees passed since the Military take-over, and which tended to detract from the previous powers of the Regions, should be repealed by 21 January, after the Law Officers should have met on 14 January to list out all such decrees.

The decisions at Aburi amounted to, in terms of political and military control of the country was that the country, should be governed as a Confederation.

Suffice it to say that the vocal military officers like Lt-Colonel Murtala Muhammed, Major Martin Adamu and Major Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma did not attend the Aburi meeting.

Prince Akenzua along with top permanent secretaries including Alhaji Yusuf Gobir, Phillip Asiodu, Ime Ebong, B.N. Okagbue and Allison Ayida deconstructed in Lagos, all that was agreed in Aburi. On arrival in Lagos,Prince Akenzua discussed with General Yakubu Gowon and raised objections to what was agreed in Aburi, Gowon asked him to raise a memo which he did. I am sure a copy of the memo is with General Gowon today while a copy is in the archives in the PRESIDENCY. Civil servants are to be seen and not heard and that is why Prince Akenzua never released a copy of the memo to the world. The memo dated January 8, 1967 began with “Your Excellency, in view of my discussion with you last night, I am raising this memo in the interest our fatherland-Nigeria”. Prince Akenzua traced the long hard road that Nigeria has travelled and stressed on the need to keep a United Nigeria.

In his view, he said in the memo that Gowon has given too much away in Aburi and that it will lead to the destruction of the country. He further added that Gowon has “legalised” total regionalism which “will make the centre very weak.” Prince Akenzua alluded in his memo that a weak centre will lead to confederation and total disintegration of the country. It was the memo that prompted Gowon to summon a meeting of the Secretaries to the military governments and other officials which was held in Benin City between February 16 and 18, 1967. If you look at the minutes of the Benin meeting presided over by Mr. H. A. Ejueyitchie, Secretary to the Federal Military Government, you will discover that it was a total rejection of what was agreed upon in Aburi. The Benin meeting interpreted in its own way the agreement reached in Aburi. After the Benin meeting, Lt-Col. Ojukwu started the “on Aburi I stand” slogan. Thereafter the Federal Government promulgated Decree No. 8 of

already burning fire. It is important that we do not force a radicalisation of the passive Christians with such articles that tend to denigrate their God and Prophet. ‘Wisdom is profitable to direct’ and this is what the likes of Anele should understand.

There are so many things to write about concerning the state of Nigeria. We expect researches that will expose the causes of Nigerians penchant for corruption and other vices. Why has it been impossible for the country to produce capable rulers despite the glut of human potentials?

Why are our universities unable to conduct researches that are relevant to societal growth? Why do we have to import products into this country that we have the raw materials in abundance? Why can’t our universities carry out smooth transition over the leadership in the individual campuses? Why are our university unions only known for strikes and not in their research outputs?

How do we curb the excesses of our politicians? How do we re orientate Nigerians towards a patriotic desire for the country? And many more of such that needed answers to. Anele should concentrate on his religion and leave others alone. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

1967 which gave total powers to the centre. It has been so since.We shall continue to argue and debate the full implications of decree 8 which was promulgated on March 10, 1967.

The ghost of that decree still haunts us today.

On February 16, 1967, Colonel Ojukwu wrote a letter to Gowon. In the letter he said: "At Aburi, certain decisions were taken by the Supreme Military Council - the highest authority of the land under that Regime. For my part, I became dedicated to those decisions, only to discover soon that you and your Civil Service advisers, along with selfish and disgruntled politicians in Lagos, and perhaps elsewhere as well, did not feel the same. As a result you have seen to it that the decision taken at Aburi are systematically vitiated or stalled.”

In his own broadcast, the then military Governor of western region, Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo on May 3, 1967 said: "we tried at Aburi to find the basis for a solution but there was not enough confidence to build upon that basis. As a result, follow up action was slow and argument developed which further impaired confidence. When at last decree No. 8 was passed by the Supreme Military Council, we could not carry the Eastern Region with us.”

In his broadcast to the joint meeting of the advisory committee of the Chiefs and Elders and the Consultative assembly of Eastern Nigeria on May 27, 1967, Colonel Ojukwu said “In Lagos, the Permanent Secretaries there studied the recommendations and, to their credit, brought out clearly and unmistakenly their meanings and implications. Having seen these, however, they unfortunately went beyond their rights and duty as civil servants to advise against the implementation of the Aburi agreements. From there our difficulties started and have taken us to our present stalemate.”

Till today both sides (Gowon and Ojukwu till he died) interpreted what was agreed upon in Aburi in their own way. One of the problems at Aburi was that a portion of the meeting was not recorded. The military excused the civilians at a certain stage during the meeting and it was alleged that during this informal chat that Gowon made certain commitments to Lt. Col. Ojukwu especially on full regionalism. Even till today judging by the decisions reached at the last National Conference, we are still arguing on confederation or federalism. As long as Nigeria remains one under federalism, the memo of Prince Akenzua which was a wakeup call on General Gowon and his efforts later will continue to be appreciated in no small measure. The nation remembers and the nation appreciates.

Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

5 ‘little’ things that irritate clients in marketing communications

By Ntia Usukuma

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CCORDING to Forest Research, acquiring a new customer is up to seven times more costly than retaining a current one. This is why the option of retaining a client should always come ahead of seeking new ones. However, sometimes an agency or media organisation may communicate effectively and create valuable tailor made strategies and content for a client, yet some avoidable “banana peels” can slip in to negatively affect the level of cordiality in their relationship.

So, it’s definitely worth identifying those seemingly minor issues that can affect client’s countenance, before they build up to create serious disequilibrium in client – media / agency relations. Here, are a few of those “minor” hiccups that can dramatically undermine the relationship between a client and her agency.

Poor Positioning Or Transmission Of Adss No savvy client will like his advertisement and that of a competing brand to be placed side-by-side or even on two consecutive pages.

Competing brand Similarly, their commercials and that of a competing brand should not follow each other on radio or television. Regrettably this is still a common practice in our country. Besides, we still have frequent cases in which press advertisement or radio/ television commercials are bunched together. Sometimes, the ad is smudged or over inked.

Sometimes, it is so faint that it’s hardly readable. With the TV medium, you sometimes have pictures without sound and sometimes sound without pictures. These trends can irritate even the most patient client and set him against the media organization and media buying/ placement agency for their negligence and lack of professionalism. For effective exposure to the target customer, editorial matter should always

separate one advertisement from the other and radio/TV commercials should never be in clusters. Remember that people buy newspapers, radio and TV for the news, or entertainment not for the ads. So, it pays for advertisements to be placed close to or within editorial matters.

Frequent Increases In Advertisement Rates Frequent increases in advertisement rates is a mediarelated hiccup that irritates an advertiser so much that the backlash can go beyond the media organization to the buyer who fails to give adequate notice to his clients. The clients might feel they are not “on top” in their media planning functions. In other countries, advertisement rates are increased only when

Frequent increases in advertisement rates is a mediarelated hiccup that irritates an advertiser so much that the backlash can go beyond the media organization to the buyer who fails to give adequate notice to his clients

there is an improvement in the coverage or reach of a medium.

And that improvement is certified by the ABC or joint sponsored research. Here, however, increases are based on the galloping rate of inflation and it is therefore not uncommon to have two or three increases in a year. No client enjoys this.

Lack Of Team Spirit In AgenciesIn most agencies there is always a sense of rivalry between

the client service and creative teams. But when such rivalry becomes unhealthy to the extent that clients are seen as belonging to the executives in the client service then team spirit is really in short supply.

Usually it is always a matter of time before thing filter to the client as the creative team will always demand that the client executive should go and tell his client that “what he is asking for is not possible.” High turnover of accounts will persist when the entire team fails to agree that any problem of the client service department is the agency’s problem and should be solved in the true spirit of partnership.

P o o r Creativity In AgenciesThe client is a l w a y s irritated by a creative team that is not as creative as expected.

Indeed there are general complaints that our level of creativity in advertising is still low because we have never m a d e remarkable impact in international creative award like CANNES, CLIO or AD AGE. More often than not, clients will return copies with claims that ad headlines and media releases are not newsworthy or they cannot surprise or jolt the reader.

Many, too, they claim are

are not witty or humorous. It has been noted that over ninety percent of our headlines are declarative while, abroad, you have an endless variety among which are the quotation, question, pun, incongruity, command, curiosity alliteration and humour. Wherever these complaints persist, you will find the client shopping for a new agency.

Spineless and Uninformed client service executives Agencies are hired as consultant who should be

specialists in their fields. They are expected to provide expert advice. But when client service executives are without guts, they unknowingly irritate the client.

They say “yes sir” to every demand made on the agency by the client without making any effort to educate him on what is possible and what is not possible.

Incidentally they are the faces of agency and they keep projecting the agency in bad light. Such executives are usually called “glorified messengers” and they frustrate those in the creative and media departments.

These executives promise to refer virtually every point raised at agency meetings to the “”appropriate” department in the agency. They are never fully in the picture regarding how things are done. They frustrate the creative and media departments through constantly bombarding the former with frivolous questions.

They show no understanding of the problems of the support services. They have no foresight.

They don’t know how to manage a crisis. The client service executive should be a general practitioner and should be knowledgeable about all aspects of advertising or PR but alas this is not always so. With such an executive, the client would soon be calling up another pitch to replace the agency.

Courtesy: The Advertiser, a marketing information publication of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN)

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

FG, NSIA to drive investment in health sector

By Michael Eboh

are at advanced stages.

Giving details of the partnership, the statement said, “NSIA has entered an Agreement with Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to jointly develop a specialist cardiovascular hospital in Lagos.

T

he Federal Ministry of Health, yesterday, entered into an agreement with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, managers of the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, to launch a comprehensive healthcare investment programme covering all six geo-political regions of the country that will also help stem the loss of over $1 billion per year spent by Nigerians on medical tourism.

The NSIA, in a statement in Abuja, said the aim of the investment program is to catalyze private sector investment to bridge the healthcare infrastructure gap, contribute to the reduction of the disease burden and facilitate improvement of Healthcare in the country.

According to the statement, the healthcare projects are being developed by the NSIA, in partnership with Federal Government Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centres (Federal Healthcare Institutions) located in each of the six geo-political regions of the country.

Under the partnership, the NSIA said that specialist hospitals and modern diagnostic centres which will provide advanced medical care and modern diagnostic services are being developed.

It noted that at the moment, a total of 10 Memorandum of Cooperation (MOCs) have been signed, noting, however, that six agreements

NYSC, CBN, BoI plan loan scheme for corps members — DG T HE National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) says it is planning to introduce a loan package for corps members in view of the prevailing

-1.00

$3,224.00

17.00 -0.1

$45. 94 -1.43 $44. 77 -1.15 CURRENCY US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

BUYING 196 196.5 286. 5128 287. 2437 223 . 6948 224. 2655 203.5941 204.1134 1.8278 1.8325 0.3202 0.3302 276. 335 277. 04 30.2134 30.2909 52. 2625 52.3958 30. 0429 30.1196 277. 7908 278. 4995

SELLING 197 287. 9746 224.8361 204.6328 1.8372 0.3402 277.7449 30.3684 52.5291 30.1962 279. 2081

CBN Exchange rate as at 02/05/2016 C M Y K

approval from the Federal Ministry of Health to enter into a binding agreement with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for the development of a modern medical diagnostic centre to be colocated within the main hospital complex at Kano.

INSPECTION: From left, Ndubuisi Nwankwo, AGM, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA; Chief Mike Ajayi, GM, Western Ports; and Ashif Juma, MD/CEO, AG-Dangote Construction Company, during inspection of AG-Dangote concrete road construction at Itori-Ibese road, Ogun State by the NPA and Federal Ministry of Works.

$119. 85 $16.15

The specialist hospital is expected to provide cardiovascular treatment, including diagnostics, minimally-invasive procedures, surgery and post-surgery care in the country. “As part of the program, NSIA also secured

economic hardship in the country.

Director-General of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Sule Zakari, made this disclosure yesterday in Sokoto when he addressed the 2016, Batch ‘’ A’’ corps members.

Zakari stated that the proposed loan package is being packaged in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry ( BoI). ‘’The loan scheme will provide certain amount of interestfree loans to the corps members after the completion of their one year serv-

ice. The money will be advanced to them with a view to establishing their various business ventures as the white collar jobs are becoming increasingly scarce. The beneficiaries are expected to be made self reliant and even become employers of labour,’’ Zakari said.

The NYSC, D-G urged the corps members to be passionate in whatever they do, saying, “doing so will help you to explore your potentials and capabilities.’’

Zakari further reminded the corps members that NYSC is all about national service and national in-

The various activities lined up at the orientation camp were aimed at preparing them for the challenges ahead during and after service

tegration. He averred that the management of the scheme were encouraging inter-marriages amongst the corps members.

The D-G said that the various activities lined up at the orientation camp were aimed at preparing them for the challenges ahead during and after service. Zakari called on the corps to integrate with the host communities, dress decently, as well as respect their cultures and traditions. He admonished the corps members to help in providing the needs of their host communities. ‘’ You should endeavour to transform the host communities by adding value to them,’’ Zakari urged.

The D-G also warned the corps members against unnecessary and unauthorised journeys during their service year. He assured the corps members that the management of the scheme and all the stakeholders were fully committed to their security and general welfare. The 1604 corps members deployed to the state are currently undergoing a three-week orientation at the NYSC camp in Wamakko, Sokoto State.

— 21

Nigeria, Angola’s ratings down on Moody’s

T

HE credit ratings of Nigeria and Angola, Africa’s two biggest oil producers, were among four countries downgraded by Moody’s Investors Service, citing the negative impact depressed oil prices have had on these governments’ balance sheets, liquidity and creditworthiness.

Nigeria and Gabon were cut to B1 from Ba3 as “the prospect of lower-for-longer oil prices” raises liquidity risks and external vulnerability, according to statements released by the ratings firm weekend. Angola was lowered to B1 and the Republic of the Congo to B2 from B1 on similar concerns about the countries’ high dependence on oil, constraining their financing options, Moody’s said.

The moves mark the end of a review Moody’s began on March 4 for possible downgrades of more than 10 oil producing nations, as it assessed the impact of the sell off in oil. Russia and Azerbaijan’s ratings were affirmed while Kazakhstan and Trinidad and Tobago were downgraded to Baa3.

Decisions are pending for Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Papua New Guinea.

The collapse in commodity prices has forced governments to trim the spending that has helped fuel their economic growth over the past decade. Fiscal deficits are on the rise as these countries increase borrowing to make up for the shortfall in revenue. In contrast to the other three African nation, Nigeria was issued a stable outlook on confidence in the country’s credit fundamentals when compared to its peers, Moody’s said in the statement.

“The stable outlook is driven by Moody ’s view that the downside risks posed by the weakening of the country’s fiscal strength, and the external and economic pressures anticipated this year and next, are balanced by Nigeria’s strengths, which exceed those of sovereigns rated below B1,” the analysts wrote.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

,

Quarter on Quarter, NB’s revenue grew by 15.2 per cent from the 23.3 per cent decline recorded in Q3 2015. Gross profit notched 35.1 per

,

INVESTOR' INVESTOR'S

Nigerian Breweries: Cost monster continues bruising revenue heels

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

T

HE beer and beverage industry in Nigeria is ruled by a dual market hegemony of two multinational giants, Nigerian Breweries Plc (NB) and Guinness Nigeria Plc. To think that the industry has been enjoying good times given the nature of its product lines, larger and refreshment, in both good and bad economic situation makes the hegemonists the toast of investors any day.

In the last decade, the duo, especially NB, had leveraged this premium market position to muscle out some indigenious operators in the industry buying off their factories and phasing out their brands from the market.

They have also increased their employment profile and expanded their contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, during the period.

But the recent economic downturn seems to be different, in that while people still drink away their sorrows, celebrating in bioth good and bad times, the industry giants are not only turning out top and bottom line figures reflecting the bad economy, there has been significant rise in the market shares of some second generation brands both im-

C M Y K

ported and indigenious.

The financial shift: NB, posted modest topline growth in its full year 2015, bucking the trend of lackluster performance in 2013 and 2014. The 10.3 per cent growth in topline to 293.9 billion was supported by sales recorded by newly acquired Consolidated Breweries Plc, CB. The effective date of the merger with CB was December 31, 2014.

Thus, the income statement of NB for the comparative year did not include the results of CB.

Operating expenses The 2015 results also carried a heavy cost overrun. Operating expenses (opex) to sales ratio doubled to 53.3 per cent in 2015 from a three year average of 26 per cent (2012, 2013 and 2014).

Also, cost of goods sold (COGS0), personnel costs and interest expense surged by 16 per cent, 32 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. The cost overrun could be attributed partly to integration costs post merger. Consequently, profit before tax (PBT) and profit after tax (PAT) both declined by 11.3 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively, as profit from operating activities shrunk to N62.2 billion from N66.9 billion in 2014. Adopting

a blend of absolute and relative valuation methods, equity analysts at Greenwich Trust Securities have adjusted their target price for NB stock to N118.60 with a revised risk free rate and risk premium.

Negative Business Environment: 2015 was a crucial year for Nigerian economy with the myriad of crises-ridden economic policies signposted by the declining global crude oil prices leading to declining foreign reserves and consequent Central Bank of Nigeria’s tight foreign exchange policy.

Also, the unprecedented outcome of the 2015 general election had its impact on businesses. Furthermore, weak corporate earnings were attributed to declining investors confidence owing to the delay in appointing a cabinet by the new administration and the decision not to devalue the Naira.

NB still a cash cow: In spite of the austere economic environment, NB was able to outperform its four year snail growth in revenues. Revenue rose by 10.3 per cent to N293.9 billion compared to N266.4 billion in 2014, when revenue declined by 0.8 per cent.

Greenwich analysts said in the near to medium term, they anticipate an improvement in turn-

over growth by 2.3 per cent as the company steps up output of its innovative ready to drink brands. Quarter on Quarter, NB’s revenue grew by 15.2 per cent from the 23.3 per cent decline recorded in Q3 2015. Gross profit notched 35.1 per cent as operating expenses for Q4 2015 was low within that quarter.

Finance cost for the quarter moderated, 9.7 per cent lower

It is observed that NB has negative working capital of about N86billion, which it needs to finance regularly than the previous quarter at 131.6 per cent.

Although the finance cost for the fourth quarter is lower than the preceding quarter, the number still remains relatively high eating into the firm’s prof-

its. PBT and PAT for Q4 2015 surged by 156 per cent and 258.2 per cent respectively as the company was able to recover from the regular trend of incurring losses in its third quarter.

Due to seasonality effect the PBT and PAT fell to 60.3 per cent and 58.7 per cent, a trend that has reoccurred for five years consecutively due to lower volume sales.

During first half 2015 , the stock performance of NB was in tandem with the Nigerian Stock Exchange Consumer Sector Index and the All-Share Index.

However, in the second half 2015 NB dipped lower than the other indices on the back of lower than expected corporate earnings.

Business financing concerns: Despite the improved revenue figures in 2015, the rising debt profile of the company remains a source of concern for the shareholders of NB. In 2013, the debt balance was about N9 billion, but is now N34.6 billion 278 per cent higher. Also, it is observed that NB has negative working capital of about N86billion, which it needs to finance regularly. With this trend, more of the profits may be used to service loan repayment rather than payment of dividends.

Marketing and distribution Another matter of interest is the increase in operational expenses, especially the marketing and distribution expenses of the new brands that were introduced in 2015. Usually an introduction of new product brands impacts on company COGS and consequently, earnings, but in the 2015 result the increase in cost of sales and operational expenses reached new highs of 15.8 per cent and 91.3 per cent respectively.

However, with the introduction of more innovative brands, it is expected that NB’s revenue would advance in subsequent quarters leveraging on the economies of scale it receives from the parent firm, Heineken.

Already the first quarter 2016 results show a resilient topline growth amidst the adverse business environment. In the quarter usually low in beverage sales gross revenue grew10.9 per cent while PBT and PAT grew by 3.9 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively against corresponding period of 2015.

However, expectedly cost pressure continues with cost of sales and opex surging 11.9 per cent and 9.9 per cent. Similarly net finance (cost)/ income skyrocketed to 54.8 per cent. Investment analysts are hoping that revenue would continue to grow depending the impact of rising costs in the subsequent quarters.

PAGE 24

FALL IN OIL PRICE: Rivers community to revive traditional fishing, trading

VOL. 1: No. 89

LAND OF PROMISE

AKWA IBOM…

PAGE 25

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

•Some of the impounded dredgers

•One of the dredging sites

Akwa Ibom govt moves to check illegal sand miners •impounds ten dredgers

By Tom Moses

N

Anger over abandoned proposed state poly, Bomadi

SIT UBIUM — IN a bid to check the activities of illegal sand miners, the Akwa Ibom State government, weekend, impounded ten pieces of dredging equipment being used in Nsit Ubium and Etinan Local Government Areas of the state.

It also clamped down on six sand mining companies operating in the council areas and ordered the arrest of their proprietors while others involved in the business abandoned their sites on sighting the government team led by the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim InyangEyen.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that about 32 dredging companies were operating in Ikot Ekpan in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and Ekpene

Ukpa in Etinan Local Government Area.

No fewer than ten communities, it was further learned, are currently at risk of being submerged by flood as a result of indiscriminate excavation of land and illegal activities of sand miners.

The worst affected communities include Ikot Ekpan in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and Ekpene Ukpa in Etinan where land excavation and illegal sand mining activities have become favourite occupations of the people.

Speaking with NDV during what was tagged: ‘Operation Stop Illegal Sand Dredging,” the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen described the invasion of the state by sand miners as an evil wind that must be checked.

He said farming activities

close to the sand dredging sites have been destroyed by the heavy duty trucks traversing the communities.

“As it is now, landslide is

Environmental experts had earlier warned that some communities in the state might be submerged by flood among other environmental hazards if the government failed to stop the illegal sand miners

imminent in our communities.

So, we cannot fold our arms and allow this to continue simply because we want people to come in and invest in our state.

This type of investment is hazardous to us as a people and as a state,” Inyang-Eyen lamented.

Environmental hazards Environmental experts had earlier warned that some communities in the state might be submerged by flood among other environmental hazards if the government fails to stop the illegal sand miners.

A Professor of Human Kinetics, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof Rosemary Ebong, who spoke with the Niger Delta Voice noted with dismay the level of despolation

being unleashed on the environment as a result of the unwholesome activities of the illegal sand miners and indiscriminate excavation of land across the state by some persons for pecuniary reasons.

She said: “One of the greatest problems the world is facing is that of environmental degradation, which increases every passing year and is causing grave and irreparable damage to the earth.

This could also pose a serious threat to life and survival of man and other living organisms.”

She warned that with heavy downpour, the over 32 identified illegal dredging sites in the state could trigger massive flooding, which could cause colossal damage to homes and farmlands.

Prof Ebong urged the state government to take drastic measures against illegal sand dredgers in the state who pose a threat to the already fragile environment.

Also, one of the elders in Ekpene Ukpa, Mr. Sunny Jonah, who spoke with the NDV, affirmed that though sand mining is lucrative, which explained the invasion of the communities by the many dredging companies scrambling for space to do business, “mining without conducting the necessary environmental impact assessment could spell doom for the communities.”

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

•Chiefs and Elders of Bille during the sensitization.

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

‘Calabar-Itu Road, a death-trap’

By Tom Moses

I

•Presentation of the book "Who is Who in Bille."

FALL IN OIL PRICE: Rivers community to revive traditional fishing, trading

By Davies Iheamnachor

B

ILLE — THE people of the oil rich Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State have vowed to retrace their steps by embracing their traditional occupation of fishing, which in the past brought them fame and honour.

The esteemed Ijaw kingdom made this statement Saturday during its sensitization on ‘Bille Beyond Oil: Strategies for Present and Future Sustainable Economic Development of the Kingdom’ and presentation of a book, ''Who is Who in Bille', organized by Bille Community Welfare Association, BCWA, Abuja and Bille Kingdom Council of Chiefs, BKCC, in Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the event, Engr.

Dawari Boisa stressed the need for the oil rich community to shift attention from oil to fishing, adding that the area had been negatively affected by oil exploration activities.

Boisa, who asserted that the

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

community’s over dependence on oil had made it abandon its cultural economic activities, added, “oil has done more harm in the area than good.”

He said the adoption of oil as a major means of economic development in the area was the result of the increasing oil pollution, which according to him, “has destroyed lives in the river.”

Boisa, however, warned that the community should return to its traditional economic activities of fishing and trading.

“Oil is damaging the environment and doing harm to the ecosystem. In the past, the main occupation of the Bille people was fishing. The fishing was supported with trading, where the fishes were sold and other necessary items bought from Ikwerre markets.

“The pollution of our creeks has been aggravated by the illegal crude oil refining activities, which resulted from abject poverty of the people of the Niger Delta oil bearing communities due to long neglect by the oil companies and the government.

“A move has to start and pursued vigorously for a cleanup of our heavily polluted rivers, creeks and swamps. Once the traditional occupation comes on stream, abject poverty will give way and people will start to value each other and the cultural values will be respected,” he said.

Also, in his address, the Chairman, Bille Kingdom Community Development Committee, Mr. Asatubo Kemuel stated that before the discovery of crude oil parents were able to sustain their families with the fruitful environment.

Kemuel regretted that today, the economic life of the community has been destroyed by the activities of oil exploration companies.

The CDC chairman said there was need for the community to trace its steps back to fishing and trading, adding that the continuous fall in the oil price and revenues were frightening

TU — INDIGENES of Akwa Ibom State have decried what they described as the continued neglect of the strategic Calabar-Itu Road, linking Akwa-Ibom, Cross River State, the South-South and South-Eastern part of Nigeria by successive Federal administrations.

General Overseer, Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI), Bishop Emmah Isong, who is also the National Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)-South-South in an interview with Niger Delta Voice noted with concern the deplorable state of the CalabarItu Road, describing the route as a death trap.

His words, “Calabar-Itu Road is very crucial to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. It is one of the oldest roads in the South-South that links the sister states of AkwaIbom and Cross River and is also the last road to get to Cameroon.

"I don’t know whether to say

the Federal Government has abandoned the people of AkwaIbom and Cross River by not constructing that road.

Thousands of people have died on the road. We have lost relations and very important citizens on this road. This road has become a death trap.

“There is nothing that has not been done to bring to the attention of government the deplorable state of the road. If Cross River and Akwa Ibom are no longer on the map of Nigeria, the Federal Government should say it clearly so that we will know our stance on Calabar-Itu Road,” the cleric lamented.

Also speaking, the member representing Ibiono Ibom/Itu in the House of Representatives, Dr. Henry Archibong lamented the terrible state of the road.

“Calabar-Itu Road is a federal road and I have actually raised a motion in the House of Representatives on the state of Calabar-Itu Road so also is my brother in the Senate, Senator Bassey Albert," he said.

Essu Nlap Oro new executives vow to foster peaceful co-existence

By Chioma Onuegbu

O

RON — THE new executive of an apex socio-cultural youth organization of Oro nation, Essu Nlap Oro, has been inaugurated with a promise to address the in-fighting, promote peaceful co-existence, attract development and improve the living conditions of people of the area.

Niger Delta Voice learned that the new leadership of the group, which cut across the five local government areas of Oron, Mbo,

•International President of Essu of Nlap Oro, Ulap Joseph Bassey Okon (3rd from right) in a group photograph with members of the executives.

Udung Uko, Okobo and Urue Offong/Oruko emerged as a result of the crisis that led to sharp divisions during last year ’s campaign where some members and former leaders of the group

The newly sworn-in International President, Ulap Okon, assured that Essu Nlap Oro under his watch would adopt strategies to rebuild the public image of Oro youths and end all physical aggression prevalent among brothers that sometimes lead to death

were accused of compromising the political interest of Oro. Speaking shortly after the inauguration ceremony, last Wednesday, at the group international headquarters in Oron, the newly sworn-in international President, Ulap Okon, assured that Essu Nlap Oro under his watch would adopt strategies to rebuild the public image of Oro youths and end all acts of physical aggression prevalent among brothers that sometimes leads to death.

He added that one of the strategies includes organizing street rallies to educate the young people on the danger of cultism, and the need for them to acquire employable skills that will engage them in meaningful ventures and shift their attention away from all anti-social behaviours.

Okon added: “Let me use this opportunity to inform you that Essu Nlap Oro last year started career counselling and guidance for our secondary schools. The programme shall be a continuous one throughout the life of this administration.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 25

C M Y K

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Oil and gas producing Host Communities, HOSTCOM, of Delta State, protesting DESOPADEC budget 2016

•From right, Dr. Peter Egedegbe, Prince Maikpobi Okareme, Mr. Joseph Lamienghan.

• Joseph Lamienghan (2nd left), Vice Chairman, HOSTCOM; Prince Maikpobi Okareme (3rd left), National Coordinator, HOSTCOM, and Dr. Peter Egedegbe (4th left), State Chairman,HOSTCOM during the protest at the state House of Assembly. Photos: Nath Onojake.

•Members of HOSTCOM.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right), joins the National Union of Textile Garments & Tailoring Workers in the march-past at the 2016 May Day rally, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. With him is Comrade Isaiah Okungbowa, Chairman of the Union (middle) and Comrade Bayo Oladipupo, Secretary.

FUNERAL MASS OF AMB. PRESTON EGBE

•Archbishop of Benin Patrick Ekpu and Chief Tessa Ikimi, arriving for the funeral mass of the great grandson of the Olu of Warri Akengbuwa II, Amb. Dr. Preston Egbe, in Warri.

•Children of the deceased.

•Thomas Ikimi & Christopher Ikimi, grand children of the deceased.

•Traditional chiefs representing the Olu of Warri, at the funeral mass.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 27

,

S FORUM

Continuing from fourth quarter, Q4, 2015, Total’s first quarter , Q1, 2016 earnings surprisingly were positive

,

Transcorp: Rising debt burden’ll hamper investors’ return – Invest bankers

By Nkiruka Nnorom

F

OLLOWING the huge debt exposure of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc as indicated in its 2015 audited financial reports and accounts, investment bankers have said that the development is worrisome and might impair returns to investors going forward.

The firm’s total debt burden stood at N77.2 billion in the financial year ended 2015, which was up 61.8 percent from N47.7 billion in 2014.

Transcorp said that it “has over time liquidated or disposed off some of the collateral securities pledged for different borrowings with the bank. This represents a violation of the loan covenant with the bank.”

This could be a troubling sign for investors that cash flow management and liquidity is an issue in Transcorp.

Mustafa Suberu, Associate Research, Ezcellon Capital, said rising finance cost and debt burden of the company does not bode well for investors.

He said: “Finance cost of the business was significantly impacted by its exposure to foreign exchange (FX) which

resulted in a 110.3 per cent loss on financing activities. This should raise particular concern for investors on the back of the current FX crisis in the country which is looking unlikely to abate anytime soon.

“The increasing total debt burden of the firm would imply that the company will need to continue to set aside more of its income to offset its debts. For investors, this would not be

Most worrisome is the liquidation of the collateral securities pledged for different borrowings with banks particularly welcoming as returns (dividends) to shareholders would likely be hampered in the interim.”

Tola Odukoya, Vice President, Dunn Loren Merrifield Asset

Management & Research, said that the debt profile raises concern and indicates the degree of leverage finance. He stated that the company ’s financial charges will continue to pressure its pre-tax profit in the medium term in view of the huge finance needed for the ongoing investment in its Ughelli power plant.

Odukoya, however, posited that the company still remained an attractive investment option despite declining financial fortune and high debt burden.

According to him, “while the company’s FY’15 revenue was in line with our estimates, however, the results were impacted by a number of factors such as headwinds faced by its power business, which include acute

gas shortage hampering its power generation capacity.

“While the current investment shows that the company is building capacity which reflect a growth profile, clearly, this explained the rationale behind its high debt.

Interest and tax Based on its full year 2015 results, net debt to earnings before interest and tax stands at 5.14x, which is above our 4.5x restriction.

“This raises some concerns and indicates the degree of leverage finances. Most worrisome is the liquidation of the collateral securities pledged for different borrowings with banks

which in our view suggests sales of assets to fund working capital particularly as cash flow from operating activities is negative”.

According to Charles Fakrogha, Chief Executive Officer, Foresight Securities & Investment Ltd., “this is very bad for a company like Transcorp, a lot was expected from the company seeing what the other sister companies have posted .

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Afriland Properties Limited and Transcorp Hotel shareholders are smiling to the bank.”

He advised the Board to look at its debt profile critically and make adjustment, describing it as an issue of corporate governance.

Total’s profits set for record high, rating upgraded to a ‘BUY’

By Peter Egwuatu

V

etiva Capital Management has upgraded the share price ratings of Total Nigeria Plc

following its positive earnings in the first quarter 2016.

According to Vetiva report last week “Continuing from fourth quarter, Q4, 2015, Total’s first quarter , Q1, 2016 earnings surprised to the positive with annualized Earning Per Share, EPS, at N33.28, well ahead of Vetiva (N13.73) and consensus (N13.22) estimates.

“Reported Profit After Tax of N2.8 billion is the strongest so far in our records. Earnings were boosted by product mix in favour of the high margin Lubes segment which surprisingly grew by 17 per cent Year On Year, y/y.

Petroleum products “The lower margin fuels business recorded a 3.0 per cent decline much in line with our expectation given the tight supply over the quarter”.

Vetiva emphasized that Total continues to keep a lid on Operating Expenses, OPEX, with Admin expenses dipping 8.0 per cent y/y.

According to the Vetiva reports “OPEX as a percentage of sales came in at 8.7 per cent compared to 9.0 per cent in the comparable period and our 9.1 per cent estimate.

Following a slowdown in importation of petroleum products and attendant reduction in trade finance (zero

balance as at Q1’16 vs. FY’15 figure of N3 billion, interest expense came in lower than we had forecast.”

Continuing, it said: “We expect product importation to resume as the constraints in this regard ease – we highlight the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation's, NNPC’s measures to make Foreign Exchange, FX available to Majors and have remained conservative on the interest expense line.

“After this strong start to 2016, we think it may be difficult for Total to maintain this level of performance for the rest of the year. We expect margins to come off a little as Total gradually improves petrol volumes.

“Nonetheless, we still expect 2016 to be a record year for profit; we find this more interesting when we consider the tough operating conditions.

We have raised our Lube segment revenue growth from -3.0 per cent to 10 per cent, whilst maintaining a 3.0 per cent decline for fuel revenue.

“Our full year, 2016 EPS is thus revised sharply upward to N20.58 (Previous: N13.78).

Our forecast Dividend Per Share, DPS, of N18.99 has a 14 per cent yield.”

Based on these, Vetiva raised target share price to N218.77 with a recommendation of ‘BUY’ (Previous: N145.93, ‘SELL’).

C M Y K

28—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

By Theodore Opara

Auto assemblers condemn Senate's N3.9bn vehicle imports •Say 4000 jobs, 50 suppliers risk extinction

T

HE Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has criticised the procurement of wholly imported SUVs instead of comparable locally assembled brands by the Upper Legislative Chamber as despicable and catastrophic to about 4000 jobs and roughly 50 ancillary industries currently engaged by the home-grown Original Equipment Manufacturers

(OEMs.) NAMA made these reservations at a media conference in Lagos where it berated the Senate for impeding the growth of the local automotive industry.

“The Senate could have saved suffering Nigerians 40% of the eventual outlay and sustained at least 50 medium scale enterprises had it procured vehicles assembled by talented and diligent

Nigerian workforce, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, Chairman of the Association reasoned.

He said: “It was a rude shock to learn of the decision of the Senate to procure imported fully built SUVs when much more affordable locally assembled alternatives were offered.”

The local media had lately been saturated with reports of procurement by the Senate of indefinite

units of Toyota Land Cruiser VXR V8 SUVs valued at a N3.9billion contrary to the consent of the executive arm of government.

Also lamenting that the “Senate has by this decision held down the automotive industry by at least four years,” Mr. Aromolaran wondered if the Senate was aware of an official circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government mandating all government agencies to mandatorily procure made-in-Nigeria vehicles except if a locally made equivalent isn’t available.

He therefore enjoined the Bureau of P u b l i c Procurement to beam its searchlight on the Senate to

restrain her excesses so it doesn’t wander out of control.

The NAMA Chairman emphasised the significance of the automotive industry to the Federal Government’s quest for a viable economic resource alternative to the plummeting oil value, remarking that the automotive industry has ample potential for growth.

He, however, commended the Lower House of Representatives for embracing the OEMs products and driving locally assembled Peugeot vehicles and “putting aside personal aggrandisement at a tough time like this.

“They have by this action identified with the suffering of their brothers and families and essentially added value to our steel products, rubber extracts, glass sheets and plastics from our petrochemical plants,” the NAMA Chairman remarked.

NACCIMA tasks govt on local auto plants

T

HE President of Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem has called on the Federal Government to introduce policies that would reduce the cost of production in the nation’s automobile industry.

The NACCIMA boss who was represented at the opening of the Lagos Motor Fair at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, by his vice, Asiwaju Solomon K. Onafowokan said that in order to reap the long term benefits of the National Automotive Policy, there must be simultaneous development of road infrastructure, urban renewal and road network planning, improved power generation and supply.

He also urged the government to reduce the interest rates on loans for car purchases as this would improve the aggregate demand of products from the industry and benefit the nation as a whole.

The NACCIMA boss identified the benefits of the federal government auto policy to include knowledge transfer, human capital development, growth in employment, increase in export trade, reduce pressure on foreign exchange and growth of other satellite industries.

Automobile industries To this end, he commended the federal government’s decision to protect and patronise the local automobile plants by enacting a law to that effect and urged the government to fully implement the law.

“Worthy of mention is an existing law to protect and patronise the existing automobile industries in the country that was gazetted, (No 28 of 1994) which says 'government at all levels and their agencies, must source all their vehicles from within the country, except where such automobiles are not available locally," he noted.

The president however cautioned that “as laudable as this is, it must be complemented with maximum standard requirement design to ensure the competitiveness of automobiles made in Nigeria."

Commending the decision of the Federal government to have an auto policy for the country, Chief Edem said “with the implementation of the national Automotive Industry Development plan and the establishment of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, the Federal Government signalled its intent to focus on the automobile industry as one of the drivers of economic growth and sustainable development.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 29

By Theodore Opara

Jetvan unveils Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Arena in Lekki M

E R C E D E S - ity, with every vehicle undergoing testing BENZ has continued to make its prior to dispatch.

In his remark, the Managing Director of presence felt across the country by appointing dealers to market and maintain its prod- Weststar Associates, authorised distributors of Mercedes-Benz brand in Nigeria, ucts in all locations across the country.

Jetvan Automobiles is the newest mem- Mr. Mirko Plath explained that against ber of the Mercedes-Benz family, which the backdrop of growing customer base officially opened its doors to customers with and the responsibility to improve their acthe unveiling of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cessibility across the country, Weststar is Arena in Lekki, Lagos, a 3S Centre (spare pleased to announce ‘Jetvan Automobiles’ as an addition to the Mercedes-Benz Ausales and service) Speaking at the opening of the ultra mod- thorized dealership network for ‘Sprinter ern office, which comprises of a showroom, Bus’ sales and services in Nigeria in order service centre and spare parts departments, to adequately serve and support all the managing director, Jetvan, Mr. Tobi Mercedes-Benz customers.

Ajayi, highlighted the qualities of Mercedes-Benz products espeically to Sprinter bus which he said have no rivals in its segN order to make took off last month is, targeted at ment. vehicles ownership easier potential Hyundai customers. It Mr. Ajayi explained that Jetvan offers prospective buyers the opis an authorised dealer of Mer- and stress free, frontline vehicles portunity to make as low as a 10% cedes-Benz Sprinter in Nigeria, distributor and auto solutions pro- down payment for any model of having started operations in 2015 vider, Globe Motors, has un- Hyundai vehicle and take with the responsibility for sales, veiled an Auto Finance campaign possession of the vehicle while and services of Mercedes-Benz in collaboration with Stanbic the balance payment is spread IBTC bank.

Sprinter vans and mini buses.

The three month scheme which over a 60 month period.

With head office in Lagos and field service workshops in Benin, Abuja, Asaba and Port Harcourt, the Jetvan boss said that the Sprinter vehicle range is a must-have for business outfits seeking quick reward on their investments.

Globe, Stanbic make Hyundai vehicle acquisition easier with finance scheme

I

Genuine spare parts Jetvan Automobiles prides itself as a one-stop mall for everything related to Mercedes Benz Sprinter buses as it is equipped with a great measure of genuine spare parts. VIP luxury buses are also available for hire. The VIP Sprinter buses are equipped with high quality interior leather and fits, inter-com, Burl Wood treatments, central security systems, Control and Navigation Systems, GPS tracking, Communication Kits and Furnishing/ Gizmos.

“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a strong, high quality, durable, reliable, comfortable and safe vehicle. This vehicle is made for your business in Nigeria. It is primarily a commercial vehicle,” Mr. Ajayi stated.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus safety advantages. Better braking performance in wet conditions, Co-driver’s airbag for single or double codriver’s seat, Braking systems with ABS, ASR, EBD Brake Assist (BAS), Adaptive brake lights three point seat belts.

Quality endurance testing covering 8 million kilometers ensures perfect functioning and a long service life for all components. Highly qualified staff and precision production facilities enable an exemplary standard of quality while outstanding three-stage corrosion protection guarantees, 12-year warranty against corrosion.

A comprehensive quality management system ensures the high standard of production qualC M Y K

Managing Director of Globe Motors, Mr. Victor Oguamalam who led a team of Globe Motors officials and senior managers of Stanbic IBTC bank to brief the press at the Globe Motors Hyundai showroom on Akin Adesola street, Victoria Island, Lagos, said the finance scheme was put together to offer convenience to customers. According to him, “we believe the collaboration of Globe Motors, providing quality products and services, Hyundai Manufacturing, producing highly acceptable vehicles, and Stanbic IBTC, the leading auto finance provider in Nigeria, will be a success as the customer is the •L-R: Victor Oguamalam, MD, Globe Motors; Mohan Wasnani, GM, Globe ultimate beneficiMotors; and Ifeanyi Ogbor, Head, Vehicle and Asset Finance, Stanbic IBTC ary”.

Bank, at the Globe Motors Hyundai and Stanbic IBTC Bank vehicle financing scheme launch in Lagos.

Peugeot 508, my most fuel efficient car — Afolayan

F

OREMOST actor and film producer, Kunle Afolayan has given a thumbs up to the newly introduced Peugeot 508 after driving the car assembled in Kaduna by Pan Nigeria for about five months.

Afolayan who is the brand Ambassador for Peugeot in Nigeria, commended the car at an interactive session at the on going Lagos Motor Fair, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

“I am here to be part of the auto fair because Peugeot, which is a

brand I am part of, is exhibiting.

Peugeot is the auto brand that is proudly Nigerian, and a household name too. I am very proud and happy to be associated with the brand, being a proud owner of Peugeot 508, which is the top of the range” PContinuing he said, “Peugeot 508 is a very fuel efficient car, in fact, it is the most fuel efficient car I have driven. I do a lot of travels out of town, I have discovered that the engine runs very smoothly, you can hardly hear the

•Kunle Afolayan with his Peugeot 508 .

sound, the interior is very roomy and comfortable, I recommend the car to the average executive in the country”. He added that the 508 is very rugged with a very good suspension and powerful engine too.

“If you compare the features and comfort in the Peugeot 508, then you know that the car is reasonably priced. Already, a lot of my friends have indicated interest in the car, aside the 508, a lot of my other friends have shown interest in other Peugeot models,” he stated. Recalling that he did not just jump into associating with Peugeot brand, he said “before I agreed to be part of the Peugeot family, I requested to test the new cars, and after I did, I resolved to defend and push the auto brand anywhere”.

The film maker also stated: “What you need is a car that gives you comfort and cuts down your cost of running it, especially the fuel consumption."

He added that, “because we recently added Hyundai to the other brands we already market, we decided to launch this campaign to “deserving and willing customers who want to own and drive brand new Hyundai vehicles”.

The Managing Director said the campaign which is for an initial three month period, covers all models of Hyundai vehicles such as Hyundai Passenger, Commercial and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) such as Accent, Elantra, Sonata Santa Fe, etc.

Oguamalam further stated that to access the finance scheme, all a customer needs do is to walk into any Stanbic IBTC bank nationwide or any Globe Motors showroom in any part of the country and effect the necessary documentations.

Financing of corporate entities In his remark, Stanbic IBTS’s Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance (Personal and Business Banking), Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbor, added that his company believes in the credibility of Globe Motors and with its over 10 years experience in Auto financing in Nigeria, it is open to offer financing to corporate entities, small and medium scale businesses as well as individuals.

He added that “this is a great opportunity, coming with reduced interest rate, good prices from Globe Motors, and you can actually conclude the process without you coming to the bank, and Hyundai vehicles are widely used in Nigeria”.

He explained that the scheme is at 20 per cent interest rate which is the lowest rate by any bank in the country.

General Manager of Globe Motors, in charge of Hyundai brand, Mohan Wasnani in his submission, stated that Globe goes further to offer its customers warranty of three years or 100,000 kilometers for all models as well as free three services after purchase of the vehicle for all models (labour and parts).Globe Motors has over 30 years experience in the Nigeria auto market, while Hyundai is currently the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3 , 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3 , 2016 — 31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

LEO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up suddenly. Friends’ll help you succeed.

VIRGO ;It is important you don’t allow friends mislead you no matter how genuine their intention.

Watch what you do with your, career/business lines and health.

LIBRA; Take it easy along your career/business line during the morning period so that costly mistakes will not make things difficult for. Take your social life seriously.

SCORPIO; What may look like a very good advice from younger members within your base of operation may eventually lead to avoidable trouble.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

TALK HAPPINESS —3

Y

ES, happy people make things happen despite the circumstance. Happiness is a choice. Some people can make heaven out of hell

while some can make hell out of heaven.

Truly, there is so much sorrow in the world even without adding your own. Think hap-

TERROR MUDA

piness all the time for the situation could have been worse. If you think there is nothing to be happy about, could you

in “Never say goodbye”

please take a trip to the hospital? No matter the bad situation you are facing now, there is something that have given you joy in the past. Let that insire you to your new victory. Talk happiness.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; Miscalculation is possible that is why you will need to be as practical as possible and refuse to take people for granted throughout.

CAPRICORN; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue seriously but priority attention must be given to money. Watch what you tell others.

AQUARIUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they would mislead you. But taken good advice from your influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates during AM period it is important you’re more practical.

PISCES; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation at work. Take good care of your health, please.

ARIES; Many of you may be tempted and give in to the urge to gamble either with love or other important issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; This is not the right time to take happenings along your career line for granted.

Prepare for important domestic challenge. Keep your family secrets.

GEMINI; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment of people that matter. Watch what you do with money. Try to be more diplomatic.

CANCER; If care is not taken you would mislead others while you are close to minor but costly mistakes. Whatever happens you will be luckier today..

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,

What about my health?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. The truth is your daily horoscope column always work for me and now I just cant do without reading my Star in your papers.

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to analyse my health which is very important to me. I want to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more seriously.

Anonymous, Lagos.

Dear Anonymous, According to your natal horoscope you have gone above danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you will find here-under will be of benefit. Thanks for your commendation Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic selfhood) and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are members of strongest Star signs-health wise.

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes the stomach and importantly headache. Since you were able to survive infancy and middle age you have very good chances of living to a very old age. While the ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself one important organ of your body that must be managed by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you must have heart problem but here is an organ you in particular must take very seriously. Yes fever is common in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic here, but mere warnings.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016—33

Vacate our land, Delta community tells Fulani herdsmen

MAIDEN RIDE: Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State (middle); Managing Director/CEO, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Kuru (left) and Managing Director, Ponet Engineering, Mr. Wolfgang Hans, in one of the coaches during the maiden ride aboard Calabar Monorail, in Calabar.

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

BIARUKU — THE people of Obiaruku community, Ukwani Local Government Area, Delta State, have told Fulani herdsmen to vacate their land following incessant violent attacks on their indigenes by the herdsmen.

Eight residents of the community were held hostage by Fulani herdsmen in a farmland for over seven hours on April 26, 2016, a development that caused panic in the community.

Speaking, yesterday, on the resolution of the community, its Youth Leader, Mr Chika Uwabuofu, said: “After they (Fulani herdsmen) released our people, the next day, the Delta State Committee on Conflict Resolution, Chairman of Ukwani council, our community leaders, vigilante group members and representatives of the Fulani herdsmen met.

“At that meeting, we told them that we want Fulani herdsmen to leave our land and we were told to come up with a resolution and another meeting was fixed for Friday.

On that day, the Fulani people failed to attend the meeting.

“As a community, we resolved that Fulani herdsmen carrying out grazing activities on our land must leave so that our farmers can go back to their farms freely without any harassment. We resolved that no cow must go across River Ethiope to graze.

“Today (yesterday) we sent our vigilante members to the bush to search, but for now, they are no longer there. We are appealing to the state and federal governments to pay compensation to our farmers whose farm produce had been destroyed by the herdsmen. We also thank the state government and our council chairman for all they have done to restore peace to the community.”

EFCC charges: Tompolo begins fasting, prayers for divine intervention

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI — FORMER militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has begun fasting and prayers in his hideout for God's intervention in his present travails.

Tompolo went underground in January following a bench warrant issued for his arrest over fraud charges by a Federal High Court in Lagos, which ordered the confiscation of some of his assets in Warri and other parts of Delta State.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Police subsequently declared him wanted. Since then, the security agencies have been unable to locate his whereabouts.

However, the ex-militant leader, an evangelist and adherent of the Amasiekumor deity of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, has reportedly become more spiritual.

Our source said yesterday: “Yes, he has gone into fasting and prayers because he knows that it is only God and not any human being that can deliver him from his present problems, planned by his enemies to undo him.”

The source did not disclose when exactly he embarked on the fasting and prayer programme and when it would terminate.

Contacted on the development, Media Adviser and Consultant to Tompolo, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, who

Opposition parties in A-Ibom hail Gov Emmanuel for inclusive govt

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO —OPPOSITION parties under the aegis of Akwa Ibom State Political Parties’ Chairmen, AKPPC, have commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for running an allinclusive government in the state.

Rising from their meeting in Uyo, the chairmen resolved to work with the Governor Emmanuel-led administration

with a view to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, saying he is the first governor of the state to carry the opposition along.

Briefing newsmen at the Labour Party, LP, secretariat in Uyo, Chairman of Accord Party, AP, Mr. Joe Itiaba, who read the communiqué on behalf of 17 other chairmen, appreciated Governor Emmanuel for the drive to industrialize the state, but rejected the appointment of

Councillors impeach LG chairman in C-River

C

By Emma Una

ALABAR — EIGHT of the 11 councillors in the Obubra Legislative Council of Cross River State, yesterday, impeached Kyrian Mfam, Chairman of the council for alleged acts of gross incompetence.

Vanguard gathered that the councillors, who have had running battle with the chairman, met over C M Y K

corroborated the story, said: “When one is in travail, which is his case, you will take your case to God and that is what he has done.

“I can confirm to you that Tompolo is presently on fasting and prayers to God so that He will intervene because he knows that He is a God of justice and will fight for him because he is innocent,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ex-militant leader, who recently denied link with Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group in the Niger Delta, said it was regrettable that security agencies associated him with the group in their security report, adding: “If I am behind the Niger Delta Avengers, I would have come out openly to claim the leadership.”

alleged highhandedness, insensitivity to their welfare and prolonged absence from office of the chairman at the council headquarters in Obubra.

The councillors led by the Deputy Leader, Ovaat John, representing Ofodua ward, voted in favour of the motion to sack the chairman, two voted against while a councillor, who

is on suspension, was not allowed to vote.

Reacting to his impeachment, Mfam said the action of the councillors was illegal null and void as they “did not follow due process and have no absolute powers to impeach an elected chairman of a council without the consent of the state House of Assembly."

one of their own, Mr. Lawrence Udoh, of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP, as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-Party Affairs.

After the Supreme Court victory, which re-affirmed his election as the governor, Emmanuel had extended his hands of fellowship to the opposition, pledging to run anall-inclusive government.

A fallout of this was the appointment of Mr Lawrence Udoh, former Chairman of MPPP, as one of the aides incharge of inter-party affairs.

According to the opposition leaders, the choice of Udoh was the sole decision of the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman, without ratification by the forum, adding that the leadership of the group had since stopped doing business with him, unless he was removed.

‘Ihimekpe's comments on Ize-Iyamu shouldn't be taken seriously’

By Onozure Dania

B

ENIN — A political analyst, Mr Mark Nkworji, has said that a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Mr Okharedia Ihimekpe, attacks on Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a governorship aspirant of the party in Edo State, should not be taken seriously.

Nkworji in a statement in Benin, said: “Politics is really an intriguing game. It is comparable to warfare where fair is foul and foul is fair. It is only on this premise that one can begin to imagine how some characters could arrogate the title of party chieftain to themselves and begin to make careless statements to impugn the character of some revered personalities.

“This was the case of one Okharedia Ihimekpe. On April 17, Ihimekpe was introduced in an interview in Vanguard newspaper as a 'PDP chieftain.' In the said interview, Ihimekpe, whose current role as a mole in the PDP is no longer secret, attempted to stoke up hatred against a frontline aspirant of the PDP for September 10 governorship election in Edo State, in the person of IzeIyamu.

“Ihimekpe is that man whom Pastor Ize-Iyamu, as Secretary to Edo State Government between 2003 and 2007, made a Senior Special Assistant to the then governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion in 2004.

“Ihimekpe, as a Senior Special Assistant to the governor, failed to distinguish himself as a media aide to the governor.

There was nothing to his credit in terms of achievement throughout the time his political appointment lasted.

“At the expiration of the Igbinedion administration in 2007, Ihimekpe was out of circulation. The last time people heard of him again was during the build-up to the Edo 2012 election as a publisher of one community tabloid. This is the length and breadth of Ihimekpen’s political profile.

“This explains the anger of PDP faithful when a reporter in an interview referred to him as a 'PDP chieftain.' Many see this as an embarrassment of unimaginable proportion to PDP. To whom is Ihimekpe a chieftain?"

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3 , 2016

NAPPS

Make S/E, S/S states investors' destination, Ohuabunwa advises

disowns school

proprietor in rape scandal

By Prince Okafor

By Chris Ochayi

F

A

OUNDER, SAM Ohuabunwa Foundation for Economic Empowerment, Chairman of African Centre for Business Development Strategy

BUJA—THE N a t i o n a l Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, Karu Chapter, in Nassarawa State has advised parents against enrolling their children and wards in unapproved private schools, describing their activities as illegal.

The body while reacting to the reported allegations of rape against the Proprietor of Victory International School, Aso Pada, in the state, Mr. Elias Onyeke, noted students enrolled in such schools face safety risks.

The accused person currently in Keffi Prisons, the body said, is not associated with NAPPS at the ward, state or national level and had been stopped from operating by the government before the rape scandal.

NAPPS in the statement by the chapter chairman, Pastor Abraham Agada, said the Victory International School is unapproved and failed the mandatory inspection by officials of the Nassarawa Ministry of Education. It also said the school, now closed, was operating in a shop by the road side.

The statement urged parents to consider standard and safety of their wards before enrolling them in any school.

“We advise parents not to consider only the monetary issues in enrolment of their wards in schools, but to consider also the pedigree and environment the school operates,” he said.

and Innovation, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has called on the 11 states in the South-East and South-South to integrate their economic agenda in order to make the zone prime investors' destination.

Mazi told Vanguard in an

interview that the idea of coming together "is necessary because each state in the two regions has its own plan or agenda. Due to the fact they are planning independently, they do not see the benefits of integrating certain aspects of their agenda.

May Day: Enugu workers hail Ugwuanyi

W

ORKERS OF Enugu State have commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his commitment to their wellbeing and other developmental strides in the state which have impacted positively on the lives of the people.

The workers made the commendation during a rally at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, while commemorating this year’s May Day, which was attended by the governor and other top government functionaries in the state.

In their separate addresses, the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, and his Trade Union

Congress counterpart, Comrade Igbokwe Igbokwe applauded the governor for his “dynamic leadership in promoting a government-labour relationship in the state, adding that the gesture has “created a peaceful industrial atmosphere in Enugu State.”

They said that Ugwuanyi’s administration as a labourfriendly government had within one year in office recorded milestone achievements through the payment of 30 per cent equity for the cost of 100 housing units for junior workers, regular payment of workers' salaries on or before every 25th of the month, on-going massive roads

construction across the state, transparent disbursement of the N4.207billion bailout fund for the liquidation of arrears of salaries and pensions of public servants of the state, training and retraining of civil servants, donation of two buses to the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress,TUC, among others.

In his response, Governor Ugwuanyi expressed his administration’s solidarity with the workers and assured them of his commitment to their welfare and execution of people-oriented programmes and policies that would improve their lives.

....Your welfare remains our priority —Umahi

By Peter Okutu

A

B A K A L I K I — GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State, weekend, assured workers in the state that their welfare would remain the priority of the present administration.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, the governor pledged that every promise made to workers by the present government at one point or the other must be fulfilled.

He noted that the diverse concerns raised by the workers would be looked into with a view to resolving them.

Meantime, the workers

expressed their determination for improved welfare packages.

The workers made their feelings known in a joint address of the Nigerian Labour Congress,NLC, and Trade Union Congress,TUC, as read by the state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor in this year’s Workers' Day celebration at Ebonyi State Township Stadium, Abakaliki.

“Your Excellency, you would recall that the overwhelming support of the civil/public servants of Ebonyi, you were promoted from Deputy Governor to Executive Governor in May 2015.

Since then, we have been looking forward to our members’ deserved promotions which became due in

January,2015, but to no avail,” the workers lamented.

The workers, therefore, demanded for the immediate release of the 2015 promotion results while sincere efforts should commence for the 2015 promotion exercise.

They accused the Governor of sacking the workers of the defunct Ebonyi State Environment Protection Agency barely 13 days after a statewide broadcast made repeated assurances of not disengaging any worker in the state employ.

The workers, however, called on the governor to reverse the decision and re-instate the sacked workers into state workforce.

He explained that the benefit of coming together is to work in synergy to make the region a domain for investors.

According to him: “If the man is in Rivers State, all he thinks is to put a rail line from Port-Harcourt to Obigbo, which is on that corridor where the road ends. It may not be viable. Investors may not find it attractive.

“But if a fast rail line is put between Enugu and PortHarcourt, crossing through Abia, it will be fine, and will be economically viable and also will benefit both sides because it will increase economic intercourse between the two or three states that are contiguous.”

Commenting on the challenges of the strategic alliance, he said that “when you see a picture, not everybody sees the picture at the same time. Some are not even capable of seeing the picture. The work of painting the picture and getting everybody to understand it is rough and sometimes people are overwhelmed by the challenges and some are not willing to be challenged. They are just conscious of salary to be paid for the day,” he said.

He posited that South-East, South-South professionals have undertaken to think on their behalf and they have thought about how to fast-track development for the future.

Commenting on the way forward for the country, he said that the development of the country's economy is in the hands of the private sector, the duty of the Federal Government is to interact with them on way forward.

Likewise the solution to smuggling is in the hands of the government,the end to smuggling lies in the hand of Customs.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, is a very deliberate person, he is taking his time, and i think he is afraid of making mistake."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Wor ker s’ Da ork ers’ Dayy celebration

I

am appealing to NLC and other groups to become catalysts in the promotion of peace, love and unity across our beloved country. Be it West, East, North or South, let us live as fellow members of one body. -Miss Temmy Adiefe, Student

T

oo many discussions on minimum wage, there must be some special meaning to it. It can be translated instead of the online shenanigans, which have too many meanings. That is what I have to say. -Miss Brende Okereke, Worker

M

r. President should increase basic salary because of hardship due to “Change”mantra. How do you think Workers’ Day will be celebrated, when 85 per cent of them are crying that they have not received salary for months now? -Mr. Ferdinand Odama, Businessman

I

t is funny when I hear Nigerian workers talk about celebrating Workers’ Day. The big question: What are we celebrating when salaries are being owed? No money, yet there is run-away inflation. -Miss Finori Orim, Banker

A

PC, no budget, no fuel, no power, no security, no road, no hope, but you still want workers to celebrate Workers’ Day. With what will they celebrate it? Let this government make things better for workers. -Mr. Suara Abass, Commenter

I

urge the President to create more job opportunities and reduce the level of unemployment to enable more participation in the next Workers’ Day celebration. Long live African workers, long live Nigerian workers. -Mr. Ihom Emmanuel, Businessman

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 35

Army arrests killer of General Shuwa

Kano APC blasts INEC for cancelling Assembly

Kills 3 insurgents, arrests 9, rescues 400 hostages Says terrorists now hide in fox holes

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—OFFICIALS of Nigerian military intelligence have arrested a suspected killer of Major General Mohammed Shuwa (retd) Mohammed Shuwa was murdered in his residence in Maiduguri, Borno State by suspected Boko Haram sect on November 2, 2012.

The retired military officer was the first General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army’s 1st Division.

He also commanded the Nigerian Army’s 1st Division

during the Nigerian Civil War. The Army spokesperson, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman confirmed that the suspect would be paraded in Kano where he was arrested.

Meanwhile, in the push by the military to clear all villages and towns of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in Operation Lafiya Dole, on Sunday cleared four villages of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area.

In the ensuing confrontation, three of the terrorists were killed, nine captured from their hiding

places while 400 hostages were rescued from the terrorists.

A statement from Army headquarters said, “The terrorists hibernating in Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages, were armed with dangerous weapons and have been terrorizing the communities.

During the operations three Boko Haram terrorists were killed while nine of them who tried hiding in foxholes and dug outs were identified and captured alive.

Items recovered from them include nine Dane guns, three machetes, one bow with arrows, six motor cycles used by the Boko

Fulani chiefs knew of herdsmen's attacks

OBSEQUIES: Governor A m i n u Tambawal of Sokoto (right) exchanging pleasantries with the Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar after funeral prayers for L a t e Ambassador H a m z a t , Walin-Sokoto at Gwadabawa, S o k o t o yesterday.

— MIDDLE BELT GROUPS

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—THE umbrella body of indigenous tribes in the Middle Belt, Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Associations, CONAECDA has claimed that “most of the attacks carried out by Fulani herdsmen are done with the prior knowledge and approval of the Hardo (Fulani chiefs) in the areas as well as with support by Miyetti Allah Cow Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, MACBAN.” In a statement issued in Jos and signed by the group’s Secretary General, Suleiman Sukukum, the body lamented that “despite the large scale massacre of innocent villagers, kidnappings, cattle rustling and armed robberies carried by these criminals who identify themselves as Fulani herdsmen, the government and their organizations have insisted that the solution to the conflicts is the creation of grazing reserves; and labeling our communities as intolerant and unaccommodating.”

The Secretary General noted that it was worrisome that “the attackers tend to focus their attention on river valleys, highlands and mountain ranges, forests and hills with grave implication to the security of native communities and the nation. ''Vast lands belonging to Autochthonous peoples such as the Berom, Tiv in Taraba, Northern Banks of the river Benue are now occupied by Fulani herdsmen after dislodging the native populations.

Such areas are now Fulani territories and natives are not allowed into such areas.''

“Government officers seem to be divided or lack clear understand-

Haram terrorists to ferry slaughtered cow meats to Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts were recovered and burnt.

“Other items recovered include one tricycle, 4 x Tiger Generators and one solar panel. The troops also recovered 300 herds of cattle rustled by the Boko Haram terrorists from Fulani herdsmen and handed over to their rightful owners.

Similarly, 400 persons held hostage by the terrorists were rescued and set free. It is gratifying to state that we have not sustained any casualty to own troops and equipment and troop’s morale remain very high.”

Idoma group faults northern govs for defending herdsmen hem on the people.

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—A panIdoma group, the Opiatoha K’Idoma has faulted the position of the Northern governors on the activities of Fulani herdsmen in parts of the country, saying that the governors tended to exonerate the herdsmen from the recent massacre of hundreds of persons in Agatu local government area of Benue State.

The group cautioned that statements on a sensitive issue like the mindless killing of innocent Nigerians by the herdsmen should be handled with utmost care not to aggravate the already tense situation in parts of the country.

Speaking to Vanguard in Makurdi, the Secretary General of the group, Chief Adoka Adaji maintained that the herdsmen, who masterminded the mass killings were criminals and should be treated as such.

According to him,”anyone or group of persons who engage in the wanton destruction of lives and properties of innocent and de-

fenceless Nigerians like the Fulani herdsmen are at present perpetrating across the country, ought to be treated as criminals.

“You don’t visit the home of another and unleashe may-

“Fulani herdsmen cannot be defended or exonerated in this matter. Anybody exonerating them of the mass killings that we are all witnessing in parts of the country is not helping the situation.''

PDP chides CBN for releasing bail-out fund to Kogi govt

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—KOGI State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has berated the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over the release of bailout fund to Kogi State, accusing the apex bank of partnership in its operations.

The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bode Ogunmola, said Bello lied to the state workers when he alluded to the efforts of the last administration to access the loan as a shoddy job.

Ogunmola referred to the correspondence between the state government and the CBN in the last quarter of 2015 and

insisted that the apex bank had no reason not to have released the money last year.

According to him: “It was public knowledge that at that time Kogi State was a PDP state while the APC ruled the roost in all matters in Abuja, including the CBN. The situation where the bank pressed for additional documentation, before the formal release of the lifeline, even though no other state which applied for the facility, was so asked at that time smirks of partisanship.

The CBN must have been surprised to receive the state government’s response to all the above within 48 hours. Yet the money was not released.''

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—KANO State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday accused Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, of truncating its victory by suspending last week state House of Assembly rerun seat at Minjibir.

The party through the state chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas claimed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama overstepped his powers as enshrined in the constitution.

Kaugama had last Saturday cancelled the rerun following reported cases of snatching of ballot boxes and other election materials by hoodlums.

Kaugama told reporters that the Commission took the decision to avoid further spread of violence in the area.

But Alhaji Abbas said: “The decision to put on hold a peaceful exercise at a point APC was coasting home to victory was a clear case of sabotage by a man we suspected was a PDP card carrying member.”

Buhari, Dangote, Tinubu, govs for maiden Katsina Economic Summit

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

P

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari, business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, state governors, among other prominent Nigerians are expected at the maiden Katsina Economic and Investment Summit, holding from May 9 to May 11, 2016.

However, ahead of the summit, Katsina State Government said it aimed to attract over $2 billion investments in the short term even has it assured investors and participants of a safe and enabling environment in the state.

The summit, with the theme, “Unlocking the investment potential for sustainable development” is aimed at attracting investors for sustainable development through improved trade, export and regulation as part of efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

VISIT: From left— Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland, Eoghan McSwiney; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and ECOWAS, Eric Mayoraz; Policy Officer, Embassy of the Netherlands, Angelique Van Der Made, and Counsellor Head, Political and Economic Section, Jeroen Dubois, during their courtesy visit to the minister, Abuja.

CARING SISTERS INC.: From left— Tobi Oyemade; Onome Omonigho; Laide Ajayi; Vice President, Tewo Jegede; Matron, Funmi Robert; President, Abiola Laseinde; Yinka Adeoye-Davids and Deola Ighalo, all of Caring Sisters Inc., at a breakfast meeting in Lagos.

From left— Regional Business Manager, Lagos South, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kola Oluborode; R'nB crooner, Darey Art Alade; ace comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka; veteran Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze; Brand Manager, Heineken, Nigerian Breweries, Stanley Obi, during a UEFA Champions League match, at Heineken House, Lagos.

BOI/YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR: From left— ED, Corporate Services, Bank of Industry, BoI, Mr. Jonathan Tobin; ED, Financial Inclusion, BoI, Mrs. Tonyin Adeniji; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelemah, and Acting MD/CEO, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, at the inauguration of the screening committee of BoI on Youth Entrepreneurship Support, YES, programme in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akinwunmi Ibrahim.

INDOMIE AWARD: From left— Media Relations Officer, Ayeni Aramide; Group Head, PR & Event Manager, Mr. Ashiwaju Temitope; Brand Manager, Indomie, Amber Yadav, and Social Media, Kenneth Iruonagbe, all of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, at the 2016 Indomie Independence Day Award briefing in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

ADVAN CONFAB: From left— Executive Secretary, Mrs Ediri OseEdiale; President, Mr. David Okeme, and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sampson Oloche, all of Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN, at the briefing on ADVAN Marketers Conference in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS:

VDT HONOURED:

AAND EXHIBITION:

From left— Chief Technology Officer, Victor Omoyeni; MD/ CEO, Biodun Omoniyi, and GM, Sales and Marketing, Bimbo Ikumariegbe, all of VDT Communications, at the BoICT Awards 2016, where the firm won Bandwidth Company of the Year and ICT Personality of the Year awards.

From left— Creative Director, MOE+ Art Architecture, Papa Omotayo; Principal Architect, cmDesign Atelier, Tosin Oshinowo, and Principal Architect, SI.SA Cofounders of the African Alliance for New Design, AAND, Seun Oduwole, at the AAND exhibition, part of Open House Lagos supported by the British Council in Lagos. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

LEKKI RESIDENTS' AGM: From left— Member, Board of Trustees, Central Lekki Phase 1 Residents' Association, Alhaji Muneer Bankole; Mrs Efiom Ekaha; Chairman, Alhaji Rilwan Haruna; Welfare Officer, Mrs Toyin Bakare; Commodore Temi Ejoor (rtd), former Military Administrator of Abia State, and Elder Nath Okoro, former MD/CEO, Nigeria Railway Corporation, during the association's annual general meeting in Lekki, Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

GSK’s MALARIA DAY: From left— Expert Detailing Mgr., GSK., Dr. Olayinka Osho; Marketing Manager, DDW/Dermatology, Mr. Sunday Afonja; Marketing Dir., GSK, Mrs Kerry Alexander; Vice President, Mrs Ige Olamide, and Secretary, Chuks Ezenwile, both of Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association at a GSK-sponsored event to mark the 2016 World Malaria Day in Lagos.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016— 37

FIVE YEARS AFTER: CIA live-tweets Bin Laden’s assassination Egypt arrests journalists in raid on press syndicate

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HE US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been criticised for live-tweeting the killing of Osama Bin Laden as if it were happening today.

It has shared details of the mission that led to America’s most-wanted man being found five years ago in Pakistan.

But reaction has been largely negative, with one Twitter user calling the move “grotesque and embarrassing”.

Others posted memes and gifs of people rolling their eyes and putting their heads in their hands.

The CIA’s usual tweets mostlyconcernhistoricaltrivia and artefacts.

The CIA’s first ‘live

E

•Bin Laden tweet’, hashtagged #UBLRaid, begins: “1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta,&JSOCcommander Admiral McRaven approve

Prince’s family starts dividing his assets National Association as the

T

HE family members of late pop singer Prince have begun the process of dividing up the American singer’s sizeable assets.

Prince Rogers Nelson left no known will and his assets are estimated to be worth about $100 million (£68 million).

The singer died at his Paisley Park compound outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota on 21 April.

His sister, Tyka Nelson, and half-siblings are the apparent heirs to his estate, authorities have said.

Ms Nelson and and Prince’s half-sibling Alfred Jackson attended a hearing on Monday at the Carver County courthouse in Minnesota, where lawyers began surveying the singer’s estate.

If no will is found, the state will determine how the money is divvied up.

During the short hearing, Judge Kevin Eide formally appointed Bremer Trust

special administration to oversee Prince’s probate case.

One attorney said there is an “ongoing search” for a will.

execution of op in Abbottabad.”

At 1:15pm “Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan”. Just under 90 minutes later, “2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury”.

Osama Bin Laden is “found on third floor and killed” at 3:39pm.

Judge blocks access to WhatsApp in Brazil applications after the block

A

JUDGE in Brazil has blocked access to messaging service WhatsApp for 72 hours, the latest suspension to hit the hugely popular application.

The judge, Marcel Montalvao, issued the order because WhatsApp owner Facebook failed to hand over information requested in a criminal investigation.

WhatsApp was temporarily shut down in December for similar reasons.

The service is widely used in Brazil, where mobile phone owners face some of the highest charges in the world.

The order was due to come intoplacefrom1400localtime (17:00 GMT) and applies to Brazil’s five main mobile operators.

A rival service, Telegram, reported a surge of

came into place.

WhatsApp said it was “disappointed” by the move, sayingithadco-operatedfully with the local court.

First US cruise ship in nearly 40 years arrives in Cuba

CIENTISTS have discoveredatrioofEarthlikeplanetsthatarethebestbet sofarforfindinglifeoutsideour solarsystem.

The three orbit an ultracool dwarfstaramere39lightyears away,andarelikelycomparable insizeandtemperaturetoEarth and Venus, they reported in a study,published in Nature.

“This is the first opportunity to find chemical traces of life outside our solar system,” said leadauthorMichaelGillon,an astrophysicist at the University of Liege in Belgium.

All three planets had the “winningcombination”ofbeing similar in size to Earth, “potentiallyhabitable”andclose C M Y K

can be analysed with current technology, he told AFP. The find opens up a whole new “hunting ground” for habitable planets, he added.

Gallon and colleagues calibrated a 60-centimetre telescope in Chile, known as TRAPPIST, to track several dozen dwarf stars neither big norhotenoughtobevisiblewith opticaltelescopes.

They zeroed in on a particularly promising one, now known as TRAPPIST-1, aboutoneeighththesizeofthe Sun,andsignificantlycooler.

Observing it for months, the astronomersnoticedthatitsinfrared signal faded slightly at regular intervals, evidence of

Thousands mourn Papa Wemba at memorial

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HOUSANDS of mourners are attending the first day of officialcommemorationsinthe Democratic Republic of Congo to mark the sudden death of music star Papa

Paul Biya arrives Nigeria today for two-day state visit Presidential Villa, Abuja by

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

BUJA-President Paul A Biya of Cameroon wouldarriveAbujatoday fora two-day state visit.

The visit is at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement by the Special Adviser to President Buhari stated that “President Biya, who will be accompanied by his wife, Chantal and senior Cameroonian government officials, will be received tomorrow afternoon at the

there needs to be an apology,” Khalid al-Balshy, a syndicate board member, told the Reuters news agency.

Mahmoud Kamel, another member of the syndicate board, said more than 40 policemen stormed the building but the interior ministrysaiditsforceconsisted of just eight officers.

PresidentBuhari.”

It added that “Both leaders andtheirofficialswillconferon issues of common interest to Nigeria and Cameroon, including ongoing bilateral and regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and cross-border crimes.”

It is expected that “new agreements to strengthen existing ties, as well as trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Cameroon, will be concluded and signed before the end of President Biya’s visit.”

Wemba.

His body is lying in the parliamentary building in the capital, Kinshasa, and will be taken later to his family home for the public to view.

Papa Wemba will be buried on Wednesday.

Known as the king of Congolese rumba, the 66year-old died after collapsing on stage in Ivory Coast on 24 April.

Fans from all over DR Congo are attending the memorial, the BBC’s Maud JullienreportsfromKinshasa.

These include mourners from the Society of Elegant People, known as the Sapeurs, who saw Papa Wemba as a god of fashion.

Papa Wemba was born Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in June 1949 in Lubefu, in what was then the Belgian Congo.

T

HE first United States cruise ship in nearly 40 years to set sail for Cuba has dockedinHavanaharbourwith more than 700 passengers on board.

The arrival of the Adonia on Monday evening marks the restart of commercial travel betweentheUSandtheislandstateafterfivedecadesofhostile relationsbroughtonbytheCold War. The ship was the first US cruise ship in Havana since president Jimmy Carter eliminated virtually all restrictionsofUStraveltoCuba in the late 1970s.

Scientists discover three new planets similar to earth enough so their atmospheres objectsinorbit.

S

GYPTIAN police have stormed the press syndicate in Cairo and arrestedtwojournalistscritical of the government, a syndicate official and reporters said in what the union called an unprecedented crackdown.

Theinteriorministrydenied officers stormed the press labour union building, a traditional spot in downtown Cairo to stage protests, but confirmed some of its members had arrested the journalists inside the syndicate on Sunday.

Security forces have sought to quell dissent since thousands took to the streets on April 15 to protest against President Abdel Fattah el-

Sisi’s government.

On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in inside the union when officers arrested two of them. Both of the detained work for the opposition website Bawabet Yanayer, and one is its editor, syndicate officials said.

“The incident is true, and at the very least the interior minister has to be fired and

Further analysis confirmed theywereexoplanets—planets revolving around stars outside oursolarsystem.

Theinnermosttwocircletheir dwarfstarevery1.5and2.4days, thoughtheyarehitwithonlyfour and two times the amount of heat-generating radiation that EarthreceivesfromtheSun. The more distant orbit of the third planet takes between four and 73 days, according to the study.

“So far, the existence of such ‘red worlds’ orbiting ultra-cool dwarf stars was purely theoretical,butnowwehavenot justonelonelyplanetbutthree,” saidco-authorEmmanuelJehin, alsofromtheUniversityofLiege.

Journalists protest outside the Egyptian press syndicate in downtown Cairo

W/African health workers want Liberian govt to reinstate members

By Vera SamuelAnyagafu

W

EST African Health Sector Unions’ Network (WAHSUN) has called for the reinstatement of Comrade Joseph Tamba, George Williams and the restoration of Trade Union Rights by the Liberian government.

The call was made at the 127th May Day celebration, a day set aside for commemoratinginternational working class solidarity at the 2ndBiennialConferenceheld recently in Cotonu.

Similarly, National Health Workers’AssociationofLiberia

(NAHWAL), while urging the Liberian government to reward the struggle of health workers who have

contributed to safe-guiding the country’s health sector, called for the reinstatement of ex-labour leaders.

Kenya police arrest collapsed building owner

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HE owner of a building which collapsed in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Friday, killing at least 21 people, has been arrested, police said.

Samuel Karanja Kamau would appear in court on Tuesday, police added.

Earlier, officials said he did not have permission to rent out 119 rooms in the six-storey building. Mr Kamau has not yet commented on the allegation.

More than 90 people are still feared trapped beneath the rubble, reports the BBC’s Abdinoor Aden from the scene.

Rescue operations are continuing, he adds.

About 135 people have been freed so far from the collapsed building, local media reports.

The governor of Nairobi, Evans Kidero, said that officials who approved the construction of the building in the poor neighbourhood of Huruma would be sacked.

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 39

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Architects’ forum to discuss evolving architecture

Stories by Kingsley Adegboye

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LUTTONS, a leading firm of international real estate consultants, has noted that there has been an overall slowdown in activity in Lagos’ commercial real estate market, with rents either stagnating or declining across most segments of the sector. Cluttons’ Spring 2016 Lagos Commercial Property Market Outlook report attributes the weakness to the adverse global and domestic economic environment, which is in turn fuelling challenging trading conditions.

According to Faisal Durrani, Head of Research and Partner at Cluttons, “The decline in crude oil revenue has taken its toll on all business segments, mirroring what we have seen in other parts of the world. Perhaps, most significantly however, has been the devaluation of the Naira, which is supporting the high levels of inflation. In addition, the restrictions around foreign currency exchange in Nigeria has put international businesses under tremendous pressure as they struggle to cope with the inability to make payments.

“Furthermore, the deteriorating global economic conditions have also impacted Lagos’ commercial real estate market, with transaction levels dipping and vacancy rates rising across the board, which is putting rents under downward pressure and driving landlords towards offering a range of lease incentives to entice demand.

Expensive office sub-market Although this is still limited to a few landlords and is yet to become the market norm”. The Chief Executive Officer of Cluttons Nigeria, Erejuwa Gbadebo, said the most expensive office submarket at the end of first quarter was Ikoyi at the rate of 850 USD per square metre, followed by Victoria Island at the rate of 750 USD per square metre.

Gbadebo added that while there has been limited movement in office rents over the past six to nine months, Victoria Island is among the three worst performing markets in the twelve months to the end of March 2016, with rents falling by 13 per cent to 750 USD per square metre, pointing out that “Q1 2016 however, recorded no change in rents in all seven of our submarkets”.

According to him, “Cluttons expects more significant falls this year, reflecting the shrinking level of overall occupier activity. In fact, on an annualised basis, rents in Ikoyi have already declined by 7 per cent in the last 12 months to 850 USD per square metre, while Lagos Island has registered a substantial 25 per cent reduction in asking rates over the same period (113 USD psm).

C M Y K

‘E

A commercial property in Lagos.

Glut in commercial real estate market an opportunity for investors — Experts “This is largely due to the strong pipeline of office supply. In fact, Cluttons expects some 35,000 square metres of space will be added in Ikoyi and VI, lead by the completion of The Wings and Madina Tower”, Gbadebo noted.

Gbadebo continued, “Clearly, there are challenges ahead for the market, but there are clear opportunities for landlords to position themselves favourably.

Our experience in other similar international markets suggests that well maintained and well managed properties will always be in high demand and it is those

landlords that demonstrate an understanding of market conditions by offering flexible payment terms and other lease incentives that will be best placed when demand does pick up again.

“Cluttons’ report explains that rents in the retail sector appear to have held steady, despite the economic conditions and tough operating environment. Many retailers have committed to existing leases with built in escalations, hence no real change in rents will be immediately evident in the city’s key shopping malls.

“Having said that, we are aware of instances where landlords have reduced rates to help retailers stay profitable in the tough trading environment. For lease renewals in existing malls and the new malls coming up, however, it is likely to be quite a different story.

We expect to see some falls in rents this year, reflecting the tough operating conditions for retailers.

“The report identifies a growing trend in the retail sector with the growing provision of smaller formal retail centres with gross leasable areas of 5,000 square metres or less.

4th Mainland Bridge: Lagos may sign MOU with consultants this month

M

EMORANDUM of Understanding (MOU) for the take off of the construction of the 4th Mainland Bridge, Lagos may be signed this month, according to Lagos state commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, an engineer.

Johnson who made the disclosure while rendering the account of his ministry’s stewardship in the last one year to mark the first anniversary of governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration in the state, said the state had already held discussions with a consortium of consultants in furtherance of the project, pointing out that an MOU for the take off of the project is expected to be signed before the end of May 2016. He did not disclose the names of the consultants however.

The commissioner who said that various alignments had been proposed by the consultants for consideration, added that a preferred alignment has also been proposed as most ideal, as less compensations would be paid by the government compared to the first proposed alignment under Fashola administration.

Justifying the need for the project, he stated that

proposals for the construction of the bridge were hinged on the need to solve the perennial traffic gridlock observed on a daily basis by commuters on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, pointing out that the new bridge would serve as an alternative route to solve the incessant traffic congestions within Victoria Island and Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe corridor as well as help redistribute traffic efficiently.

According to him, when the bridge is constructed, it would drastically reduce traffic volume on Eko, Cater and Third Mainland Bridges. “Besides, it would act as outer ring road for conveying of goods from the Free Trade Zone, Fertilizer plant, Deep seaport, Dangote oil refinery and the proposed airport.

“The proposed 4th Mainland Bridge traverses from Ajah to North West direction towards the Lagoon shoreline to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through Ikorodu. The approximate length of the bridge is 37.9 kilometres (km) with a design speed of 140km per hour. With the new alignment designed for the construction of the bridge, 2,200 houses would be saved from demolition”, he said.

VOLVING Architecture” will be the focus of the 2016 edition of the Lagos Architects’ Forum LAF, which kicks off tomorrow in Lagos.

An annual forum organised by the Lagos state branch of the Nigerian Institute of Architects NIA, this year’s t edition is the 7 th in the series of the four-day event with the theme “Lagos 7.0 - Evolving Architecture”.

Speakingatapressconference in Lagos recently to announce LAF 2016 and its theme, the chairman,NIALagos,Mr.Ladipo Lewis, said the four-day annual event is organised to provide opportunities for participants to meet with the various stakeholders in the built environmentsub-sectoraswellas establish relationships with participating firms at the forum that are expected to showcase their products and services.

Explaining the choice of this year’s theme, Lewis said architecture as a profession, is an evolvingone,asnewdesignswill keep emerging to replace old ones,pointingoutthatparticipants at the forum would be exposed to bestpracticesthatwillupdatetheir skills in current trends in design, development and construction, understandthecurrenteconomic climate, discover innovative methods of development within thecurrenteconomicclimateand understand critical issues affecting viable developments.

He added that evolving architecturewouldhelparchitects to be more proactive in their designs towards the development of Lagos as a mega city.

According to him, the 2016 forum would highlight contemporary issues in new business frontiers of architecture including the roles of local and international codes, adoption of design build for architectural business options, analysis of predesign programs, the economics of developments, international bestpracticesandahostofothers.

Notable speakers at the event hesaid,includeaSeniorAdvocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, who will give the keynote address, Mr. Maurice NgwabafromMaryland,United States of America, Mr. Fred Coker, Mr. Ekaete Bassey Fujah of ATO, Mr. Umaru Karayean and Mr. Sola Ige, all of who are architects. “The event will feature conferences and workshops that would dwell on contemporary architecture and project development issues.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 41

Royal Ceramics opens Experience Centre F

Mr. Wisdom Ahamefula Ezekiel and Olorunsheyi Sunday, both executive directors at Pertinence with one of the winners of the promo.

OREMOST tile manufacturing company in Sub-Saharan Africa, West African Ceramics Ltd, has opened an elegant tiles concept showroom at Fadeyi area of Lagos metropolis.

The grand opening ceremony which took place last week, was well attended by notable stakeholders in the built environment sector. Those in attendance include the president of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, Shuaib Tijjani; Professor Patrick Oaikhinan, a professor of Ceramic engineering; executive members of NIOB, the Nigerian Institute of

Firm launches promo to boost housing stock, rewards winners T

Stories by Kingsley Adegboye

O make home ownership in Nigeria much more affordable and realizable to the people, particularly those in low income earning group, Pertinence Limited, a Lagosbased enterprise development firm with interest in real estate transactions, last week launched a promo that will enable people buy plots of land at its various site and service estates across Nigeria for as low as N150,000 per plot.

The promo launch which was witnessed by a large crowd particularly the beneficiaries of the company’s services in the past, was also an opportunity to present awards ranging from plots of land to trips to Dubai and other countries to winners.

Poverty and unemployment In an interview with Vanguard Homes & Property, Mr. Wisdom Ahamefula Ezekiel, Executive Director, Pertinence Limited said the launch was to get across to as much people as possible who are desirous of owning houses no matter the level of their earnings, pointing out that the promo launch was the only opportunity open to such people.

Ezekiel who disclosed that products including plots of land would be given out on the occasion at discounted rates, said “Our goal is to play significant role in solving the poverty and unemployment problem and also be part of the solution to housing deficit challenge in Nigeria by ensuring that everyone, regardless of social economic status, can be a land/house owner. We unravel real and genuine opportunities in the C M Y K

real estate sector to the populace. We have a number of estate development projects within and outside Nigeria”.

Describing the real estate sector of the nation as emerging, he said the governments have not done enough in terms of housing provision, lamenting that the estimated 17 million housing units deficit of the country was quite huge.

According to the executive director, wherever there are challenges, there are rooms to exploit such challenges for good, revealing that the challenges in the country’s housing industry is the driving force at Pertinence.

Also speaking, Mr. Olorunsheyi Sunday, Cofounder and Executive Director, Pertinence Limited, said the company which will be four years old by August this year, has titles (global C of O) in all its estates.

Acknowledging the high rate of patronage his company enjoys, Sunday said the huge patronage is as a result of the firm’s transparency and integrity. Explaining that no subscriber has complained about their services since they commenced business, the cofounder said the company has never reneged on its promises to its customers.

Disclosing that prices of plots

of land at their estates start from as low as N150,000 to N300,000 depending on the location, Sunday said there is installment payment facility for those who cannot afford outright payment, pointing out that the installment payment arrangement is between 15 and 20 months.

According to him, their estates are located in Abeokuta Obada Oko, Agbabiaka Tanke Ilorin, Kuje, Abuja, Abule-Ado, Festac extension, Oko Afonokoran town, Badagry, Agbara inside OPIC Estate, Lekki-Ajah Sangotedo Eko Akete, Ibeju-Lekki Phase 1, Ibeju-Lekki Phase 2 and Iselle Azagba, Asaba.

CPAN boss tasks members on quality service delivery

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O be more relevant in the society, Cleaning Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria CPAN, an umbrella body for providers of cleaning and allied services in Nigeria for a hygienic environment, has urged its members to provide quality service delivery to their customers.

Making the charge at the weekend in Lagos during a reunion meeting of members and opening of a new national secretariat for the Association, the president of the cleaning practitioners, Mr. Olumide Ajibodu, said in this era of stiff competition among professionals, provision of quality services to clients is the only way to make the cleaners more relevant in the society.

Emphasising that without provision of quality services his members could be out of jobs, Ajibodu who noted that the essence of the meeting was to recognise who had not met as an association for some time, and to say thank you to some outstanding members, stated that there was need for members to redefine themselves to be able to cope with challenges of modern day cleaning.

CPAN president who said their services cut across cleaning of oil rigs, factories, restoration of old and dead floors back to new ones using new technology, homes, offices, hotels etc, disclosed the plans of his

association to organise trainings for members to ensure their services are professionalised.

Calling on members to form partnership in order to standardise the profession, Ajibodu who said the association is about 15 years old and boasts of 70 members, hinted that CPAN has plans to organise an exhibition on cleaning services between June and July this year, pointing out that the association currently has offices in Lagos which is the national headquarters, Abuja and PortHarcourt.

Corroborating Ajibodu on the need for members to provide quality services to customers in order to remain relevant in their chosen profession, Mr. Tunde Olagunju, immediate past president of CPAN, said cleaning before now was an all comers’ affair, without standard, adding that lack of control made practitioners then behaved the way they liked. Olagunju who also disclosed that before now the profession was dominated by noneducated people who couldn’t apply professionalism in their service delivery, said but now, everybody in the business is educated, hence the high level of performance by cleaning practitioners today.

He emphasised the need for regular trainings and seminars for members to remain relevant in the business and to the society.

Architects NIA and distributors of Royal brand of tiles The ‘ROYAL Experience Centre’ received commendation from members of NIOB and NIA during the opening ceremony.

In his keynote address, the NIOB president lauded ROYAL brand for the Experience Centre initiative.

He described the Experience Centre as a timely initiative in view of current realities of some of the economic policies of the current administration.

According to Tijjani, “There is no doubt that considering the difficulties in importation generally and the current ‘Change’ drive in line with the Local Content Policy of President Muhammadu Buhari, builders, architects and project owners should patronize the ROYAL brand of tiles because of their high standard and quality that can be compared to those obtainable in the European markets”.

He added that “Recently, I was in the US and I observed the tiles on the walls and floors of the hotel I lodged and I noticed they weren’t better than the tiles that are displayed here.

Resuscitating the economy We should support the Presidents’ Change mantra of resuscitating the economy by patronizing our locally produced goods particularly when the quality and standards are the same if not better than the foreign goods”, Tijjani said.

Mr. Bhaskar Rao, General Manager, West African Ceramics Ltd, while speaking at the event said the ROYAL Experience Centre has been established to redefine buying experience of tiles for building projects for consumers.

“The ROYAL Experience Centre is not the usual showroom for displaying thin flat or curved pieces of baked or glazed clay and synthetic materials that add aesthetic value to the finishing phase of building or construction projects.

The ROYAL Experience Centre is a place to come and ‘Experience S’TILE’.

“The centre is set up in sections of tiles application such as Kitchen Set Up, Bathroom Section, Living Room etc. which displays the right types and designs of tiles for kitchen, bathroom, living room, offices etc. We want to give customers the opportunity to experience how their choice of tiles would look in a set up before they actually make their purchase decision”, Rao explained.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

51m Nigerians tested positive to malaria in 2015 — NIMR

By Gabriel Olawale

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HE Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Lagos, has said that not less than 51 million Nigerians, equivalent to 30 percent of the population, tested positive to the malaria parasite in 2015, even as the latest World Health Organisation, WHO, survey shows that the highest number of cases occurred in the North West and North Central zones of the country.

In view of this development, experts say Nigeria is not on track for malaria elimination.

Speaking in Lagos, the Deputy Director (Research) and Head, Malaria Research Programme, NIMR, Dr. Sam Awolola, said with such high malaria burden, and continued reliance on foreign intervention, the country is far from being on track to end the malaria scourge.

High burden Awolola, who raised the alarm at a forum organised by NIMR in commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day, said the theme: “End Malaria for Good” was not meant for a country like Nigeria which he noted was far from preelimination not to talk of elimination.

His words: “The 2014 and 2015 World Malaria reports testify to this fact. The Nigerian National statistics shows that malaria accounts for 60 percent of hospital outpatient visits, 25 percent infant deaths, 30 percent of all under-five deaths and 11 percent of maternal mortality annually.”

“Unless our government funds research by creating enabling environment, putting the right infrastructure in place and human capacity to do research, we cannot make progress.”

Currently, NIMR is carrying out site characteristics for the testing of a new malaria vaccine in Nigeria, but noted that the Institute should have advanced beyond that.

Awolola said: “Nigeria has a vaccine development laboratory but for many years, no money has been made available to run it. The American government has put close to $20 billion in developing genetically modified mosquitoes in the

New cancer drugs could treat lethal resistant prostate cancers

A

MALARIA TEST: The Paramount Ruler of Igbologun Community, Chief Amisu Alao , undergoing malaria test during an exercise in Snake Island, Apapa, Lagos, recently. last 20 years, and up till now they have not been successful, but with us here, within one or two years we want results.

Research is a long term venture, but result will definitely come at the end,” said.

On her part, the WHO Malaria Containment Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Tolu Arowolo said the recent malaria prevalence conducted across Nigeria, and published in April 2016, shows that the North West and North Central zones have high prevalence of malaria cases.

“North West has 37 percent; North Central, 32 percent; North East, 26 percent; South South, 19 percent; South West,

17 percent, and South East 14 percent. But when you look at

Unless government funds research and create enabling environment, we cannot make progress the 2010 Malaria Indicator Survey result, it was the opposite, because the South West appeared to have the highest malaria burden, but

now it has changed.

“Currently, Nigeria is at 27 percent, by the time we would repeat the survey by 2020, it is expected to be less than 5 percent and this is achievable because our prevalence in 2010 was 42 percent and now we have 27 percent which is about 15 percent reduction.”

She however advocated for robust integrated data management to reach out to population at risk, accurate diagnoses of all person at risk, activities that will encourage use of material that prevent malaria, availabilities of commodities in all healthcare facilities among others.

TEAM at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, one of the world’s most influential cancer research organisations, has found that men with aggressive prostate cancer that has stopped responding to conventional treatment could potentially benefit from a new class of cancer drug designed to overcome drug resistance, a new study suggests.

The researchers found that the drugs, called Hsp90 inhibitors, specifically target and inactivate a mechanism commonly used by prostate cancer cells to evade the effects of standard treatment.

The findings provide vital information about the role of Hsp90 in drug-resistant prostate cancers, and open up potential new routes to cancer treatment based on blocking this or related proteins.

The new research found that on top of their known effects on cancer, Hsp90 inhibition also blocked production of abnormal forms of the androgen receptor, stripping cancer cells of their defences against hormone treatments.

It's an exciting discovery which adds a string to the bow of these cancer drugs, and means they could work against prostate cancers that have otherwise stopped responding to treatment."

Clean environment, key to eradicating malaria

By Esther Onyegbula

N

IGERIANS have been urged to keep their environment clean as part of the effort to enable them eradicate malaria. Making the call last week during a sensitisation exercise in Garuba Musa Muslim Community in Mushin area of Lagos, the Director, Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative, YEDI, Anu Ishola, said the intention was to sustain the environmental sanitation through enlightenment partnership with the community.

Ishola, who led over 100 members of the group to the community for the sanitation exercise, mobilised them in removing refuse, clearing of the drainages, distribution of

treated mosquito nets and sensitising the residents among others.

Speaking, to the residents, a LAWMA official, Nsubia Essien, told the residents to learn how to dispose of their waste, especially domestic waste, that should not be dumped inside the drainage system so as to avoid blockage of the water channels.

Essien explained that the stagnant water enables mosquitoes to breed and increase the risk of malaria.

“So we are urging the community to dispose off their domestic waste properly by calling on their PSP to help dispose their waste properly.

When wastes are properly disposed other diseases will also be prevented,” he said.

In addition to cleaning the environment, the organisers

provided a mini mobile clinic that provided free malaria tests and medical check-ups for the residents who were present.

Chief Imam of the community, Idris Lawal Harun, pledged that they would continually keep the environment clean.

Mamador oil gets NHF endorsement

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FTER undergoing rigorous test to ascertain its heart health benefits, Mamador Cooking Oil from the stable of PZ Wilmar, has been approved by the Nigerian Heart Foundation, NHF. Presenting the certificate of endorsement, Executive Director of NHF, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, said that tests done in Nigeria and abroad confirmed Mamador to be heart friendly and good for consumption.

“It takes courage for a company to approach NHF for approval, so when Mamador

came for test and certification, the Foundation, being a scientific organisation, accepted. We sent it for series of tests which lasted for few years and were carried out within and outside the country. All the results came out the same.”

Expressing excitement, the Managing Director, PZ Wilmar, Mr. Pillai Santosh, said the NHF approval was a promise fulfilled.

“It is a demonstration of the commitment of PZ Wilmar to make products that are relevant and beneficial to the consumers in each local market.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016—43

Govt must enact policies to prevent prolonged labour — ZAKARIYA

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By Chioma Obinna

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HE Federal Government has been called upon to enact new and effective policies against the menace of obstetic fistula, a complication caused by prolonged labour, that contributes to maternal mortality and morbidity in the country.

An obstetric fistula is an abnormal hole between the bladder or rectum and the birth canal, characterised by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine or faeces following childbirth. It occurs mostly as a result of prolonged labour during childbirth.

Making the call in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during a 4- day media training workshop on Fistula, a Clinical Associate, with Fistula Care Plus, Dr Suleiman Zakariya, said every year, 12,000 women in the country are affected by obstetric fistula while over 150,000 women are currently suffering from the condition.

Zakariya, who spoke at the event organised by Engender Health, regretted that only 5,000 women affected by fistula have access to treatment.

He described obstetric fistula as a manifestation of a sub-optimal healthcare system. “The condition is preventable, but the most vulnerable group is the young, poor, illiterate, rural women who are economically disadvantaged.

“There is need for government to provide needed policies to reduce chances of women coming down with fistula,” he argued.

Recommending education for women as part of strategies to reduce the problem, he said “There is need to improve

Spanish scientists make human sperm from skin cells

IN THE LABOUR ROOM- Skilled birth attendants key in reducing complications of labour and childbirth the health seeking behaviour of Nigerian women and access to family planning. There is also the need to upgrade care for obstetric care to prevent obstetric fistula.”

Further, Zakariya called for increase in political will in health issues through upgrading of health infrastructure among others. He spoke extensively on the plight of women living with fistula noting that in sub – Sahara Africa and Asia, there are 50,000 to 100,000 new cases annually.

“Some have lived with it for over 25 years and if not treated will live with it for life. A woman in sub-Saharan Africa

has 1 in 16 chances of dying in pregnancy or child birth compared to 1 in 4,000 risks in developed countries.”

On her part, a Reproductive Health and Family Planning Advisor with Engender Health, Dr. Olajumoke Adekogba, said family planning was a major factor in the fight against fistula.

“Healthy spacing of pregnancies is an important factor in ensuring that mothers and children are healthy. It is also an important tool to check the vulnerability of women to obstetric fistula.”

She said family planning methods are safe and efficient but said approved providers should be consulted.

N what has been described as a medical feat, scientists in Spain have created human sperm from skin cells.

The discovery could eventually lead to a treatment for infertility.

The researchers said they were working to find a solution for the roughly 15 per cent of couples worldwide who are unable to have children and whose only option is to use donated sperm or eggs.

"What to do when someone who wants to have a child lacks gametes (eggs or sperm)?" asked Carlos Simon, the scientific director of the Valencian Infertility Institute, Spain's first medical institution fully dedicated to assisted reproduction.

"This is the problem we want to address: to be able to create gametes in people who do not have them."

The result of their research, which was carried out with Standford University in the United States, was published on Tuesday in Scientific Reports, the online journal of Nature.

They were inspired by the work of Japan's Shinya Yamanaka and Britain's John Gordon who in 2012 shared a Nobel prize for the discovery that adult cells can be transformed back into embryo-like stem cells.

Simon and his team managed to reprogramme mature skin cells by introducing a cocktail of genes needed to create gametes. Within a month the skin cell was transformed to become a germ cell, which can develop into sperm or an egg, but it did not have the ability to fertilise, they found.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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C M Y K

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44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 45

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Iheanacho: I want to help City qualify for final

Ribery tells Guardiola to unleash him against Atletico

•Ribery

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RANCK Ribery is desperate to play when Bayern Munich battle it out with Atletico Madrid for a Champions League final berth.

“I am doing a lot better,” Riber y told Kicker.

“I have been doing some running and will resume squad training on Monday.

“I am ready for the game against Atletico.

I am really looking forward to playing against them. I have to play.”

KELECHI Iheanacho admits Manchester City ’s preparations and confidence took a big hit at Southampton ahead of for their huge Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

City will head to the Bernabeu for Wednesday’s second leg against the Spanish giants on the back of an emphatic 4-2 defeat at St Mary’s.

Striker Iheanacho , the only City player to emerge with credit after scoring twice, said: “This game is not good preparation for us.

“The game didn’t give us enough confidence to go on Wednesday “But we will put it behind us, focus and train and go to the Bernabeu and hope we qualify.

“So many things went wrong in the game. We lost so many balls and we didn’t defend quite well and we lost so we are not happy. We will keep it behind us and come back stronger.”

City ’s Champions League hopes are hanging in the balance after a 0-0 first leg draw at the Etihad.

Iheanacho, 19, said: “It is going to be a big challenge for us but we will keep our heads down and keep working hard to get to the final.”

Pellegrini made eight changes for the trip to Southampton which was sandwiched in between

•Kelechi the two City legs.

But while the rest of the new faces in the City side did nothing to enhance their chances of starting in Spain, Iheanacho pressed his claims with his clinical double.

The exciting Nigerian teenager ’s two goals took his City tally to 13 goals in 32 appearances, just nine of them being starts.

And he insists he won’t be fazed if Pellegrini calls on him at the Bernabeu to score the goals to help fire City into the Champions League final.

Iheanacho said: “It doesn’t matter where you find yourself, you have to focus and concentrate.

“Work for the team, work hard and when the ball falls to you you have to put it in. It would be a dream come true for me to go to the Bernabeu. I am happy if I go there and I hope we do well there and there is a great atmosphere. I haven’t been there before but I am happy to go there to get a win. If I play I need to work hard for the team and help them qualify for the finals if we get the goals.”

Chelsea win EPL for Leicester U

NDERDOGS Leicester City, who escaped relegation by the whiskers last season have won the Premier League title to cap a fairytale season in English football, with Tottenham’s failure to beat defending champions Chelsea meaning they can no longer be caught.

Claudio Ranieri’s men could have been crowned on Sunday when they faced Manchester United at Old Trafford, but saw their celebrations delayed after they drew 1-1 with Louis van Gaal’s men.

However, the Foxes are now Premier League champions after Monday night’s 2-2 scoreline at Stamford Bridge, having started the 2015-16 as

one of the bookmakers’ favourites for relegation with 5,000-1 title odds.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season with a run of seven wins from their remaining nine games, Leicester continued that form into the new season under Claudio Ranieri with just three defeats all season.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, considered the most likely title contenders, all suffered inconsistent form to leave Leicester and Tottenham to fight for the title in recent weeks.

The Foxes have not been positioned lower than second since October and have held on to first place consistently

since January, holding off the challenge of Spurs to clinch a first ever top-flight crown.

Last Monday ’s 1-1 draw for Tottenham against West Brom brought Leicester to within three points of sealing their unlikely title win, but now Spurs’ collapse at Stamford Bridge has settled the season with two matches to play.

Before yesterday ’s crunchy game, Chelsea players have said they will prefer Leicester than Tottenham Hotspur to win the league while their fans carried a banner, “Let’s do it for Ranieri” in solidarity for the Italian who was once at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 — 47

T/tennis: Portugal, Russia for Nigeria Open E

UROPEANS super powers, Portugal, Russia and Hungary as well as African giant, Egypt including 11 others have confirmed their participation in this year’s ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open (Lagos 2016).

With the expiration of registration last week, this year will witness the presence of players from Portugal, Russia, Hungary, Egypt, Finland, Slovakia, Romania, Iran, Mexico, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Morocco, Tunisia, Congo DRC and Cameroun.

Nigerian players dominated the entry with two-time IT TF World Tour champion, Hungary ’s Szandra Pergel squaring up against women’s singles defending champion, Portugal’s Jieni Shao as well as her Nigerian counterparts – Edem Offiong and Olufunke Oshonaike.

In the men’s singles, home-boy, Aruna Quadri will have his hand full when he battles against top players from Europe as well his Egyptian rivals. Thrilled by the turnout of players for this year’s tournament, Tournament Director, Ranti Olajide said this once again confirmed the importance players across the world now attached to the championship.

“As the highest prize money in the Challenge Series of the ITTF World Tour, more players are now willing to be part of the competition in Lagos.

Apart from aiming to share from the prize money, they intend to use the championship to amass points for their world ranking as well as qualify for the end-ofyear ITTF World Tour Finals."

Sponsor Continues from BP in the Nigerian football polity, the company has developed cold feet,” a top source informed only AfricanFootball.com “The NFF on their own do not have the cash to pay for such a coach and the government through the sports minister has made it very clear it will C M Y K

Okpekpe Race unveils Charity partners

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*TAKE IT... Joe Boy (r) unleashes a left hook on Prince Nurudeen on his way to winning the National Lightweight Championship belt Sunday night.

RGANISERS of the IAAF Bronze Label Okpekpe international 10km road race have unveiled three Charity Partners for the fourth edition of the race which holds this Saturday in Okpekpe near Auchi, Edo state.

Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan revealed that the first Charity run will be for breast cancer which will be anchored by Miss Nigeria in conjunction with Sebeccly Cancer

GOtv Boxing Night 7: Joe Boy’s new national lightweight boxing champion dle weight duel. The

O

TO “Joe Boy “ Joseph, on Sunday night, became the national lightweight boxing champion after defeating Nurudeen “Prince” at GOtv Boxing Night 7, which held at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The bout lived up to its explosive billing, with both boxers giving their best. Joe Boy, who once defeated Fatai by a knockout, seemed he was minded to repeat the trick. Fatai, however, stood firm. He had to endure plenty of punishment from his nimbler and clearly better opponent right up till the end of the 12-round contest.

Joe Boy was announced winner by unanimous decision and was adjudged best boxer of the night, winning N1million and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy-for the second time. As before, Fatai walked away with a bloodied face.

In other fights, Idowu “Noble Cabasa “ Okusote defeated Chibuzor “Chibunky “ Vincent by a first round knockout out in their cruiser-

weight bout, while Rilwan “Real One” Babatunde defeated Osamudiamen “ Chisel “ Goodluck in their lightweight duel. Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde defeated

not pay for a foreign coach.

“That could well have informed the NFF recent announcement that the vacant Super Eagles top post will be taken up by the best candidate whether he is local or foreign.”

Sunday Oliseh quit the post in February for Samson Siasia to take temporary charge of the Eagles for the AFCON

2017 qualifiers against Egypt in March.

Former Kano Pillars and Enyimba coach Salisu Yusuf will be in interim charge for two friendlies against Mali on May 27 and Luxembourg on June 1.

The NFF have disclosed a new Eagles coach will be named next month after shortlisted candidates are be interviewed.

Tope “Berinja “ Agboola in a light welterweight challenge duel. Another winner on the night was Chukuwebuka “Wise King” Ezewudo, who defeated Ganiyu “Energy “ Kolawole in a mid-

heavyweight category delivered the only drawn bout at the event, with neither Ebenezer “Anambra Tiger ” Okoli nor Abiodun “ Finito Wonder ’ Afinnih able to swing things to his advantage.

Serena untouchable in WTA rankings T

HERE were no changes in the top 10 of the latest WTA rankings released on Monday, with Serena Williams keeping her big lead at the top.

The American has played only three tournaments all season, and her advantage could be cut by next week after

she withdrew from the Madrid Open because of flu.

Czech Lucie Safarova moved up three places to world number 13 after winning her sixth career title in front of her home crowd in Prague, while Ana Ivanovic and Sara Errani also jump up a couple of spots.

*Serena

18th Nestle Milo Basketball Championship:

Lagos, Oyo in Western Conference final

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T was all fireworks at the Western Conference Semi final games of the 18TH Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship at the indoor sport hall of National Stadium Lagos.

In the Girls Categories, Wesley Girls Senior Sec

Sch Lagos State, outshone Ugborikoko Sec Sch Warri, Delta State 2508 .

In second semi final played, Yejide Girls Grammar school ibadan, Oyo State confirmed their supremacy over Anglican High School Ado, Ekiti State with an emphatic 36-16 points to set a date

with host state in the western conference final.

The final match between Yejide Girls Grammar ibadan,Oyo State versus Wesley Girls Snr Sec Lagos comes up today at indoor sport hall of National Stadium Lagos.

The match is expected to start at 1pm. This will precede the boys final match.

FIFA

3rd – 21st, with the competition’s men’s and women’s finals taking place in the Maracanã stadium.

Seven stadiums in total will host the competitions including 2014 Fifa World Cup host venues: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.

Continues from BP referees will be on duty.

Africa boast of four referees namely Kwimbira Bernadettar (Malawi), Camara Dhibril (Senegal), Samba El Hadji Malick (Senegal) and Ahmed Waleed (Sudan).

The football event will take place from August

Care. ‘’Sebeccly Cancer Care is dedicated to cancer prevention and committed to helping more women survive breast cancer in Nigeria. They want to use the Okpekpe 10km road race to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of breast cancer as well as screen the rural women for breast cancer,” said Esan.

The second Charity will be for the orphanage by We Care Trust which is a pet project of Mrs Lara Oshiomhole, wife of the Executive Governor of Edo state.

“Mrs Oshiomhole is so passionate about children in the orphanages and has partnered with us to let people know their plight as well as raise funds for them while the third Charity run will be for safer roads and fuller lives by the Federal Road Safety Commission,” Esan, who revealed Saturday’s race is not about the prize money, said.

‘The Okpekpe international 10km road race is not all about running for the prize money. All over the world people have seen the power of sport to raise funds and awareness about any project or cause and road running have been a very veritable vehicle for achieving this purpose,”he said.

‘This year we are intro Godin returns for Bayern

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EGO Godin will be joining the Atletico Madrid side that is traveling to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich.

Head coach Diego Simeone is bringing an absolute full squad with them to Munich. While Godin and midfielder Yannick Carrasco were cleared to return to the field from their injuries, Tiago Mendes has not been cleared but is making the trip anyway.

We’ll have to wait and see if Simeone trusts Godin’s healthy enough to start him against Bayern, but he may make an appearance if Atleti’s trying to seal a late victory.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Leceister win the 6 .4 P Premier League!— *Spurs title dream ends after battle of the bridge

Foreign coach:

Sponsor ‘develops cold feet’ T

•Pinnick

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation, NFF, may be forced to settle for a local coach for the Super Eagles next month after a proposed company to foot the bills of an expatriate handler “developed cold feet”.

It was gathered that the recent leadership tussle in Nigerian football may have thrown the oil company off doling out close to $2 million spread over two years for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to hire

a top-rated foreign coach.

“The oil company was ready to give the NFF close to $100,000 a month to take care of a top foreign coach and his assistants, but since the latest round of instability Continues on Page 47

*Danny Rose of Tottenham submits to Chelsea’s firepower as Diego Costa rejoices after the equaliser at Stamforg abaridge last night.

Rio 2016: FIFA snubs Nigeria N

O Nigerian referee will be on duty when the 2016 Olympic football tournament kicks off

August in Rio. The Fifa Referees Committee confirmed the appointment of 88 match officials from over 40

countries to officiate at the Olympics with no Nigerians mentioned.

The men’s competition will see 18 referees and

32 assistant referees officiate and at the women’s tournament, 14 referees and 24 assistant Continues on Page 47

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Quoted (5 7 Mistake (5) 8 Sneer (5) 10 Managed (5) 12 Groove (3) 13 Stone-worker (5) 15 Told (7) 17 Spoil (6) 19 Edge (3) 20 Desired (7) 23 Fashionable (4) 25 Beat (4) 26 Clutched (7) 30 Freeze (3) 31 Disagree (6) 34 Harmony (7) 37 Shabby (5) 38 Sea-bird (3) 39 Sail-boat (5) 40 Performed (5) 41 Weird (5) 42 Learnt (5)

DOWN 1 Vision (5) 2 Beverage (5) 3 Sarcastic (6) 4 Pitcher (4) 5 Abraded (7) 6 Following (5) 9 Abroad (3) 11 Erased (7) 13 Chop (5) 14 Shoot (5) 16 Illuminated (3) 18 Theft (7) 21 Sketch (5) 22 Corundum (5) 24 Ball-game (7) 27 Expert (3) 28 Tremble (6) 29 Teacher (5) 32 Destined (5) 33 Moral (5) 35 Fruit (3) 36 Story (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Steer 7, Stop 8, Awoken 9, Adult 11, Cad 13, Sad 15, Omen 16, Fee 18, Mere 19, Mislead 20, Deed 22, Pair 23, Romance 25, Crave 27, Let 28, Here 30, Tie 31, Did 33, Steep 36, Revere 37, Edge 38, Treat.

DOWN: 1, Steam 2, Spa 3, Emu 4, Rat 5, Cot 6, Detar 10, Lees 11, Conduct 12, Deserve 13, Sedated 14, Decreed 16, Final 17, Elect 18, Map 21, Doe 24, New 26, Aimed 29, Ridge 32, Wet 33, Set 34, Eye 35, Pet Vision.

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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