What Buhari wants from G7

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62422

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MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

COLUMNISTS:

The way of the Senate

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Buhari, beware of the West

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Thieves in the treasury •P.44

NASS LEADERSHIP: Dogara, Saraki 8 threaten APC

What Buhari wants from G7

By Ben Agande

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is presenting a 9-point demand to The Group of Seven (G7), an informal bloc of industrialized countries of the world.

He arrived Munich, Germany, yesterday, to honour the invitation of the G7.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Continues on Page 5

•Seeks help on Security, economy, infrastructure, power, energy, corruption, others •President to meet with Obama, other world leaders Police has least corrupt officers — IGP 5

Presidency: Ijaw lost to conspiracy, betrayal 55 Mr & Mrs

BUHARI IN GERMANY—President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival at Munich, Germany, yesterday, for the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized countries Summit. Photo: State House.

How to rescue the economy, by Soludo >58 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

2015 EXCEL—From left: Pastor Enoch A Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG; his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye; Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President; his wife, Dolapo; Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State and his wife, Bolanle, during the RCCG – Apapa Family 2015 EXCEL celebration held at TBS, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

What Buhari wants from G7 Continues from Page 1

Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement from Germany, said President Buhari was armed with the “ wish list” of Nigeria in line with the demand of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized countries.

It will be recalled that immediately after Buhari’s victory at the presidential elections, the G7 requested the then President-elect to prepare a shopping list and come with it for their consideration in what is seen as an excellent goodwill gesture towards the new leader and the country.

Malam Garba Shehu in the statement said top on the list of the requests President Buhari will tender before the G7 leaders is the problem of

security.

He quoted the president as saying that “ we have a problem which they know.”

He quoted the President as saying that he had used every opportunity at his disposal ahead of this meeting to discuss the country ’s needs with specific reference to terrorism and development needs at person-to-person meetings and phone conversations with some of the G7 leaders.

According to him, apart from terrorism, the president will also need the support of the industrialized nations in the area of economy, infrastructure, power and energy, and corruption. Other areas the president is asking for G7 members'

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE View those who speak disparagingly of you simply as affording you the opportunity to practice patience —Alan Lokos PATIENCE is a virtue but whenever we are open to it, we are happier and in good health because we are constantly in a state of equanimity. If we practice this virtue beautifully, the rewards are priceless. One who is patient glows with an inner radiance, for no one feels and looks attractive when angry. A grumpy or tempestuous person will have few friends. The inner churning caused by impatience and anger is the breeding ground for stress and illness.

No matter the level of provocation be mindful of not striking back at small offences because such retaliation serves to reinforce our aggressive tendencies which then grow and become potent. We start by simply thinking how impatience affects one’s life. You look deeply and that is a good starting point.

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assistance include increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), enhanced transparency in elections, environment and good governance.

President Buhari had announced that the leaders of the industrialized nations have shown a preparedness to work with Nigeria to help the country out of her problems.

Meeting with world leaders President Buhari will hold meetings on the sidelines with the host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel; the French President, Francois Hollande; Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper; the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe and the World Bank President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim. On his arrival in Munich, President Buhari, who was accompanied by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State; former Governor Babatunde Fashola, Gen. A. Dambazau (rtd.) and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Paul B. Lolo.was received by the Vice Minister-President of Bavaria, Mrs. Inge Aigner.

The statement added that “before leaving Munich for home

tomorrow, President Buhari will hold bilateral talks with the Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada on the sidelines of the G-7 Outreach Programme.

“He is also expected to meet President Barack Obama, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, and other G-7 leaders in the course of the Outreach Session and a working lunch at the Elmau Castle.”

Other invited Heads of State and international institutions who will join President Buhari at the working session with G7 leaders tomorrow at Elmau include President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, President Macky Sall of Senegal,

President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia.

Others are Prime Minister Haider AlAbadi of Iraq, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, the SecretaryGeneral of the OECD, Mr. Angel Gurria, the Managing Director of the IMF, Mrs. Christine Largarde; the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim; the Director-General of the International Labour Organistion, Mr. Guy Rider; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mrs. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the DirectorGeneral of the World Trade Organisation are also scheduled to participate in today ’s Outreach Session with G7 leaders.

The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal bloc of industrialized democracies comprising the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The group meets annually to discuss issues such as global economic governance, international security, and energy policy.

It will be recalled that after his victory, a letter of invitation to a meeting

with the Group of seven (G7) countries in Europe and America was handed to him by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zenner.

Zenner, who was at the Defence House in Abuja to felicitate with Buhari on his electoral victory, said that the letter of invitation was officially written and signed by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel to Buhari.

Speaking to Journalists, Zenner said: “I am here to congratulate the President-Elect, Gen. Buhari on his election and handed over to him the letter from the German Chancellor inviting him to Germany.

“We have a very deep and intense relationship with Nigeria and there are lot of areas where we can deepen our relation and develop them further such as in the area of economy, energy among others.

“We have a bi-national commission with Nigeria and we are one of the countries with which Nigeria has this BiNational Commission and it covers the whole range of political, economic and security areas. There are many areas in which we can move further and deepen our very close cooperation”.

Police has least corrupt officers — IGP

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has declared that the Nigerian Police, has the least corrupt officers of all the institutions in the country, even as the Police is determined to follow up any corrupt cases before it in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Speaking at the annual symposium during a Feast of Barracuda organised by the National Association of Seadogs, the Inspector General of

Police, Mr. Solomon Arase noted that the Police had made frantic efforts in tackling corruption even among the officers and had set in motion machinery to fish out corrupt officers in the force.

The IGP, who was represented by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu said that the practical step to deal with corruption was to dismantle road blocks

by Police and the establishment of Monitoring Teams to ensure compliance across the country.

He said: “The IG said he is allergic to corruption and since then he has taken practical steps to deal with the issue of corruption, both the history of corruption and perception of corruption of the Nigeria Police Force.

“One of the first things he did was to set up the IGP’s Monitoring Teams.

First of all the decision by the Police Management Team was to take out roadblocks across all our highways. It was not just to dismantle it, he set up the IGP Monitoring Team to ensure that these directives are enforced."

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Kidnapped PDP chieftain freed in Abia CHARITY : Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State donating N50,000 to six-year-old physically-challenged Smaila, whose education the governor promised to sponsor, in Lafia, yesterday.

NAN PHOTO.

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Chief Israel Mark, has been freed by his abductors four days after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Aba. Vanguard gathered that Mark, popularly known as I. C. Mark, was abducted by gunmen in his house at Ozumba Street, Umungasi, Aba, Monday last week at about 10p.m.

An associate of the family, who declined to have his name in print, told Vanguard that the kidnappers abandoned Mark at Osisioma Ngwa area after they threatened to kill him several times.

The family associate could not confirm if any ransom was paid.

ROBBERY: 6 set free over weak prosecution

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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IX persons have regained freedom after an Ikeja High Court in Lagos dismissed a robbery charge brought against them, following the prosecution’s failure to provide witness.

The six persons include Ismaila Bankole, 34; Akeem Ganiu, 30; Abass Ayanniyi, 31; Lukman Jimoh, 33; Lateef Amodu, 28, and Oluwaseun Soneye, 25.

The six persons, who had pleaded not guilty, were arraigned by Lagos State government on a two-count charge of robbery and possession of firearms without license.

On March 25, presiding judge, Justice K. A. Jose, warned prosecution that failure to produce witness at the next adjournment would result in the charge being struck out.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecutor, Mrs Abiola Ajayi, informed the judge that she could not bring her witness to court.

Subsequently, Justice Jose dismissed the charge brought against the six persons and warned them not to return to commit robbery and be brought back to court.

Lightning kills woman in C-River while sweeping church

By Emma Una

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A L A B A R — T W E N T YTHREE years old Mrs Iyaji Yegwa was, weekend, struck dead by lightning at Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State while sweeping a local branch of RHEMA Church.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased, accompanied by the pastor of the church, whose name was given as Simon, went into the church on Saturday evening to sweep and get the place ready for the next day’s service, when it began to rain.

The pastor was said to have handed his mobile phone to the deceased for safe-keeping, while he went back to his house for his clothes.

The pastor, a source said, was held back in his house by the rain. When he came back to the church, the woman was on the floor dead. He then raised alarm.

“There was a lot of thunder and lightning during the brief rain fall and unfortunately, Mrs Yegwa was struck dead by one of those fierce lightenings that hit the church,” Tony, a source in the area, told Vanguard.

The church, which shares a fence with the edifice of Mr. John Odey, the former Minister of Environment, was pulled down by angry relatives of the woman, which stopped the church from holding services, yesterday.

The source said: “The relatives stormed the church soon after the incident and pulled it down. As I speak to

zRelatives pull down church building you, there is no church service going on there today, Sunday.”

The Police Public Relations

Officer for Cross River State Command, Mr. Hogan Bassey, said he was yet to receive

reports of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer for the area.

PDP women leader, driver die in Jigawa road accident

By Aliyu Dangida

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UTSE—IT was a tragic weekend for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, family in Jigawa State, following the death of Hadejia women leader, Hajia Iyani, and her driver in a fatal auto crash along GuriAbunabo Road in the state.

The accident occurred as the deceased were on their way to

attend the wedding Fatiha of son and daughter of Senator Abdulazeez Usman and former member of the House of Representatives, Adamu Hassan Abunabo, respectively.

Former Speaker of Jigawa State House of Assembly, Ahmed Sarawa, PDP women leader, Hajia Talle, and Jigawa State House of Assembly member representing Kiyawa,

Ado Idris Andaza, also sustained injuries in the crash.

They were taken to Rasheed Shekoni Specialists Hospital, Dutse. Eyewitnesses blamed the accident on reckless driving.

The dead were buried in Hadejia Local Government according to Islamic rites, amidst tears from members of their immediate families and PDP supporters.

IDPs camp discovered in Benin

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—A big camp housing over 900 victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of the country was discovered in Edo State weekend.

The internally displaced persons, IDPs, camp, located on Siluko Road, in the outskirts of Benin, Vanguard learned, was founded by the International Christian Centre for Mission, ICCM, and had been providing food and shelter for the displaced persons since 2013.

The camp covers a large expanse of land and has several blocks of rooms and halls, most of which were made of wood,

serving as classrooms and bedrooms for the displaced persons.

Most of the children in the camp were seen receiving lessons from the makeshift classrooms, while some of them who had chicken pox, were quarantined according to gender.

One of the IDPs, Tani Philemon, said she had been abducted by the insurgent from her home in Gwoza Local Government Area of Bornu State, but escaped miraculously after several days of fasting.

The Overseer of ICCM, Solomon Folorunsho, told journalists that the IDPs were

brought to the facility from Bornu and Adamawa states, through Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He also called for assistance to cater for the needs of the victims, adding that the state government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, had been notified of the camp.

Folorunsho said: “About three months ago, the state government became aware of this camp, because we are registered with the state and Federal governments. We have had promises that the governor was coming.

“I think he has been busy because of the elections. Maybe he has plans for the centre.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 7

Police arrest five ritualists in Ondo ...At shrine where abducted persons are slaughtered

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—FIVE suspected ritualists have been arrested at a shrine where abducted persons are slaughtered and their parts sold to prospective buyers at Ago Oyinbo in Okitipupa area of Ondo State.

Consequently, upon discovery of the kidnappers den, youths in the town stormed the place and demolished it.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects were arrested, following a tip-off by people of the community, who noticed strange movements and stench oozing out of the building.

Men of Igbotako Police division reportedly effected the arrest of the suspects.

Before their arrest, the suspects were alleged to have been occupying the building in the last three years.

Sources informed newsmen that the suspected ritualists, after kidnapping their victims, usually take them to the shrine and slaughtered them for ritual purposes.

The said shrine is located in the village which is a few kilometres away from Benin-OreIjebu Ode expressway.

Fetish materials such as cow

By Agaju Madugba

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.The human slaughter house horns, different types of clothes suspected to belong to those abducted, palm fronds, bottles of gin, calabashes, ‘Ghana must go’ bags, among others, were found at the shrine.

The Baale of Ago Oyinbo, Chief Moyebi Okeowo, who spoke to newsmen, said the shrine must have been erected in 2012 when the suspects came to beg for a space in the village to use as location to shoot films.

He said: “I asked somebody to take them to the owner of the land, unknown to him that they wanted to use the village as a kidnappers den.

“When they came to me to beg for a piece of land to shoot their

...and some of the fetish materials therein.

film, I told them I am not the owner of the land and I took them to the brother of the landlord of the land who took them to the wife of the landlord in Akure.

'I learned they were authorized by the wife of the landlord to use the land and since then, they have been using it.

“When I did not know what they were using the land for, I told their leader to go and report their activities to the police and he later informed me that he had done so.”

Okeowo explained that he was not aware of the activities of the suspects until last Monday when he got information that the suspects were using human beings for sacrifice on the land.

Also, the Principal of Community Grammar School in neighbouring Kajola, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Joseph Edosama, said two of the security guards of the school were among the suspects arrested by the police for conspiring with the suspected kidnappers.

Another community leader, who spoke in confidence, explained that it had been long since the suspects started operating in the village.

But the state police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, feigned ignorance of the development in the community, saying the state command had not been briefed by its Divisional police station at Igbotako.

We cause mild accident to rob victims — SUSPECT

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—OPERATIVES of Lagos State Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, have arrested a notorious car-snatching gang, which specialises in causing mild accident to rob their victims.

One of the suspect, who identified himself as Sunday Uzor, revealed that the gang’s mode of operation was to make their victim have a mild accident.

According to the 39-year-old indigene of Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, “While our victims come down to inspect the extent of damage and who the culprit is, our gang would swoop on them and snatch their vehicles.''

The other members of the gang arrested alongside Uzor are Ifeanyichukwu Chukwu, 33; Matthew Arome, 27; Ebere John, 32; and Ikechukwu Chilaka, 35.

Vanguard gathered that the police recovered a barreta pistol, one locally-made double-barrelled cut-to-size gun loaded with two live cartridges, and six other live cartridges from the suspects operating within Iyana Iba, Igando, Igbo Elerin and other areas along Lagos-Badagry expressway.

The police also recovered eight vehicles, including a Toyota Highlander, a Lexus, and a Toyota C M Y K

Wife kills hubby for allegedly keeping late night in Kaduna

NABBED: From left: Sunday Uzor, Ifeanyichukwu Chukwu, Matthew Arome, Ebere John and Ikechukwu Chilaka.

Corolla, allegedly snatched by the gang in different areas of Lagos.

It was learned that Uzor was apprehended by Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS on Saturday, in Onitsha, Anambra State, while trying to sell one of the stolen vehicles. His arrest led to the arrest of the other gang members.

Uzor told Vanguard that he was married with two children, but denied being the gang leader.

He said: “What happened was that sometime in April, we went to Igando area at about 7.30pm for an operation and we

saw a lady driving a flashy car around the roundabout. So, we hit her from behind and when she came down to inquire what went wrong, our gang leader, Danjuma Sule, pointed a gun at her and she froze.

“Another gang member entered her car and drove off. We also took her away from the scene and dropped her on Obadore Bridge.

The vehicle was taken to Onitsha for sale, but the police have recovered it.

“I was a dismissed soldier. I was a Lance Corporal in Ojo before I was dismissed in 2010 for escorting stolen goods.”

Another suspect, Chukwu, who

hails from Umunze, Anambra State, said he had sold six stolen cars for the gang.

He said: “I am based in Onitsha, and I sell the cars for the gang. When they bring them to me, I sell for about N700,000 and return N500,000 to the gang. ‘’I keep the rest. I have received about six cars from them. I knew they were snatching them, but I was in a financial mess. I did not have any option.''

Vanguard gathered that the suspects would be charged to court during the week.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the report.

ADUNA—THE police in Kaduna have arrested a 40-yearold housewife, Mary Luca, who allegedly clubbed her husband to death at their Gonin Gora area of Kaduna metropolis.

Family sources said the incident occurred last Friday when the deceased returned home in the early hours of the morning and an argument ensued after the wife’s complaint that her husband always returned home late.

“Mary had on several occasions accused her husband of keeping late hours outside the matrimonial home and had advised him to put a stop to such habit,” the source said.

One of the deceased's sons, Kefa, said he heard his father shouting around 3am that day and called on his mother to inquire what was happening to his father.

The sources said: “He said the mother shouted back at him from her room to keep off and remain quiet that armed armed robbers were operating.

“Kefa said the more he tried to get closer to his father, the more the mother was shouting, thieves! thieves! thieves!

“Kefa said when he finally summoned courage to enter his father’s room, he found him vomiting blood and he could no longer talk, while his mother was still pretending that it was armed robbers who attacked him.

“There was a heavy object by his side and it was the forehead that was bleeding profusely. So, at day-break, neighbours came around to help and the police outpost at Gonin Gora arrested the woman and took her to Sabon Tasha Police station.”

The Police Public Relations Officer at the Kaduna State police command, Abubakar Zubairu, confirmed the incident and the detention of the accused.

“Yes, we have detained the woman in connection with the death of her husband,” Zubairu said.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

NASS leadership tussle: Dogara, Saraki threaten APC zAPC appeals for unity zAs PDP mobilises for strategic alliance with Saraki, Dogara

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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AGOS — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, was at the weekend teetering towards a major crisis following serious disagreements over the emergence of the new leadership of the National Assembly.

The party leadership was, however, last night rallying round to quench the dissent with an appeal for unity, saying the party must not enter tomorrow’s leadership contest as a divided party.

That appeal was, however, of little effect in the camp of supporters of Senator Bukola Saraki’s aspiration for Senate President and those for Rep. Yakubu Dogara’s speakership ambition who were insisting on taking the battle to the floor of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Supporters of Dogara, it was learnt, had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari as the party leader to step into the matter.

Meanwhile, despite assertions that it would not be involved in the unfolding script, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was last night also mobilising for a strategic alliance with the Saraki and Dogara tendencies in the APC. A number of PDP governors, it was learnt, are arriving Abuja today ahead of tomorrow ’s leadership contests.

The APC has 209 memberselect while the PDP has 140 with smaller parties producing the remaining.

Mock election

The crisis in the APC was widened at the weekend after some national officers of the party organised a mock election to pick a candidate for Senate President and Speaker.

Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila won the ballot among the memberselect after Dogara pulled out alleging that it was an ambush as he was never informed that the meeting with party elders was to be a mock election.

In his absence, Gbajabiamila, the outgoing Minority Leader of the House, polled 153 votes to the three polled by Dogara.

Dogara yesterday rejected the result, saying that in his absence he could not have been nominated for what he called a mockery of democracy orchestrated by a few national officers.

Alleged inference of C M Y K

outside interests

In a statement yesterday, a leading supporter of Dogara’s group and outgoing chairman of the House Committee on Information, Rep. Zakari Mohammed, queried the alleged inference of outside interests to project a favoured candidate.

“Having initially consented to having the process halted, following our complaint that we were not put on notice that a primary election was in the offing, we wish to ask who the National Chairman of our party, Chief John Oyegun, was referring to when after about one hour of the stand-off, he declared that he was under pressure to conclude the exercise?”

Mohammed asked in a statement issued on behalf of Dogara’s supporters, Consolidated Group.

The assertions were, however, dismissed by Gbajabiamila’s supporters who dismissed Dogara’s supporters as bereft of the change character espoused by the new party.

House must be left alone to choose its Speaker

Briefing journalists in Abuja, one of the arrowheads of Dogara’s Consolidated Group, Rep Abdulmunin Jibrin, APC, Kano, noted that the stability of the House was paramount and that they would not watch the party impose a Speaker with tainted records and also subservient to an individual.

He said: “You are aware of the facade called mock election held by our party on Saturday. The whole exercise was a fraud, it shows that the party made a mockery of itself. We condemn the election and it was not in the spirit of the party, we caution the party to tread the part of honour.

“The House must be left alone to choose its Speaker.

We will not allow an individual to pocket the House by having a Speaker that will have a special bedroom in the House of an individual. We know that we belong to a party, but when the House takes off, it will now become a House for all Nigerians.

“We have been intimidated and threatened and because of this have decided to formally write a petition to the Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu

BRIEFING: From left: Executive Director, Technology & Service Delivery Channels, Mrs Markie Idowu; Group MD/CEO, Mr Timothy Oguntayo and Executive Director, Risk Management, Mr Dotun Adeniyi all of Skye Bank at the bank's pre-AGM briefing in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Buhari, who is the leader of all of us, the leader of the country including the party for him to intervene on the matter and call the party to order.”

Answering questions on why he did a volte face by suddenly campaigning against the candidacy of Gbajabiamila after earlier placing adverts in support of him, Jibrin said the decision was informed by new information at his disposal on Gbajabiamila’s past.

“Yes, we explored the possibility of working with Hon. Femi in the past but when I got information about his record, I backed out,” he said citing a case in court on the alleged past of Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila camp dismisses assertions

The assertions of Dogara’s Consolidated Group were dismissed last night by the Femi Gbajabiamila Speakership secretariat in a briefing.

The camp debunked the claims of the Dogara group that they walked into an ambush at last Saturday straw poll.

A member-elect, Dickson Tarkighir, who spoke on behalf of the Gbajabiamila’s supporters said: “We wish to thank APC members-elect for the overwhelming votes they gave to Femi Gbajabiamila at yesterday ’s (Saturday) mock election conducted for the APC members aspiring to be Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives.

“We are humbled by the show of love and support Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has

received so far across party lines.

“In furtherance to the genuine aspiration of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, it is appropriate for us to be magnanimous in victory and extend our hand of fellowship to the 16 of our colleagues who purportedly left the venue as a result of their claim of unpreparedness for the mock election.

“We are indeed grateful that some of them voluntarily returned to the hall to be part of the successful election.

Just as the party said earlier before the election, no group loyal to any of the aspirants was placed on notice.”

Dismissing the Dogara group as lacking the change credentials or character of the APC, he said: “Definitely, these are not agents of change. The party gave members-elect the platform to elect a popular candidate that would represent the party in the House and we are glad that in the end of that exercise, it was res ipsa loquitur. Had Dogara won the mock election, we would have all queued behind him now but as a mark of discipline and respect for the party, we are all behind Femi Gbajabiamila.

“We have reached out to our friends in other apolitical parties and we are thankful by their popular response."

National Secretary appeals for unity

On the division in the party, the APC national secretary last night appealed for unity, saying everyone would find accommodation in the party.

The party said in a

statement in Abuja by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni said: “However, we must put the interest of our party above personal interests and avoid a situation whereby any other candidates, apart from those picked by the party, will emerge as Senate President and House Speaker on Tuesday.

“Any outstanding issues will be resolved by the party, so we won’t go into Tuesday’s election with more than one candidate each for the two posts, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives," adding that it would be a shame if, despite its majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, the APC is unable to produce a Senate President and a House Speaker of its choice.

APC explained that its role in the entire business of ensuring a common front within the party ahead of Tuesday’s election is that of an honest broker, saying its goal of ensuring that the party does not go into the election with more than one candidate for each post has now been achieved.

The party appealed to all aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign, in the overall interest of not just the party but the entire nation.

Both the Saraki and Dogara camps were, however, rebuffing the entreaties from the party last night as they were pushing to go to the floor to determine the leadership contest.

It was gathered that as part of the strategies to consolidate its grip on the block votes of the PDP in the House that the party could be offered a significant position in the House by the Dogara group.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015—9

JP Morgan threatens to remove Nigeria from key bond index zExtends deadline to eject Nigeria by 6 months

By Peter Egwuatu, Michael Eboh with agency reports

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AGOS — JP Morgan has threatened to remove Nigeria from its Government Bond Index (GBI-EM) by the year-end unless the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, restores liquidity to foreign exchange market to allow foreign investors tracking the benchmark to transact with minimal hurdles.

The bank said, weekend, it had extended the deadline to eject Nigeria by another six months to take into account the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria held closely-fought presidential elections in March, in which opposition leader Buhari defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the country’s first transition of power through the ballot box.

JPMorgan, which runs the most commonly used emerging debt indexes, placed Nigeria on a negative index watch in January and then said it would assess its place on the index over a three to five months period.

“Nigeria’s status in the GBIEM series will be finalized in the coming months but no later than year-end,” JPMorgan said.

Implications

Removal from the index would force funds tracking it to sell Nigerian bonds from their portfolios, potentially resulting in significant capital outflows. This in turn would raise borrowing costs for Africa’s largest economy, already suffering from a sharp drop revenue following a plunged in oil prices.

Nigeria’s forex and bond markets have come under pressure after the price of oil, Nigeria’s main export, plunged. In response, the central bank fixed the exchange rate in February after devaluing the naira last year and tightened trading rules to curb speculation. The naira has lost 8.5 percent this year.

“If we are unable to verify these factors, a review of Nigeria’s status within the benchmark for removal will be triggered,” it said in report, adding that the factors included a liquid currency market. Analysts did not expect JPMorgan to remove Nigeria.

JPMorgan added Nigeria to the widely followed index in 2012, when liquidity was

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improving, making it only the second African country after South Africa to be included. It added Nigeria’s 2014, 2019, 2022 and 2024 bonds.

The bank said Nigeria continues to remain eligible for the GBI-EM index, which has around $210 billion in assets under management

benchmarked to it, with a weight of 1.8 percent.

The central bank last week made a tiny adjustment to its exchange rate peg to the dollar, which one analyst said may indicate that it is beginning to think.

CONFERENCE: From left: The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman; the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, at the National Conference on "Leadership And Followership: Duties And Responsibilities From Islamic Perspective" And The JNI Annual Pre-Ramadan meeting, in Kaduna, yesterday.

Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Nigerians in S-Africa task Buhari on insecurity, unemployment, others

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RETORIA(SOUTH AFRICA)— SOME Nigerians resident in South Africa, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to tackle insecurity, unemployment, epileptic power supply and poverty facing the country.

The Nigerians made the call at the sidelines of the inauguration of the National Secretariat of the Nigerian Union in Pretoria, South Africa.

Prof. Dele Braimoh, a retired professor of Adult and Distance Education, University of South Africa, urged the Federal Government to tackle insecurity in the country.

He said: "Many Nigerians in the Diaspora are afraid of going home because of insecurity. I appeal to the government to win the war against Boko Haram to bring peace to the North Eastern part of the country.”

Braimoh also said many Nigerians in the Diaspora were willing to return to contribute to the development of the country in various fields.

Rev. Harold Anagu, Senior Pastor, Jesus The Breathe of Life International Ministry,

Pretoria, urged the Federal Government to work for the unity of the country.

He said: "We thank God for a successful election and inauguration of a new administration in Nigeria. We also want the government to ensure unity, empowerment and understanding among the people.

"Nigerians in South Africa want a relationship with the Buhari administration to enable us contribute to the development of the country.”

Mr Chikaodili Nwanedo, Chairman of the Nigeria Union, NorthWest Province Chapter, called on the government to tackle epileptic power supply in the country.

He said inadequate power supply had taken its toll on Small and Medium Scale businesses in the country.

"Nigerians also need good health care and efforts should be made to tackle poverty,” he said.

Mr Mathew Okafor, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union, Gauteng Province Chapter, urged the Federal Government to tackle insurgency and improve on intelligence gathering.

Okafor, an IT specialist in Johannesburg, commended

Buhari for relocating the command centre of the armed forces to Maiduguri in order to effectively insurgency.

"To me, this is a step in the right direction. Nigeria has a good army. We need to equip our army to make it fight the new enemy that is using guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla warfare is alien to us and I believe we will defeat the enemy,” he said.

The President of Arewa in South Africa, Mr Nimram Longbap, said Nigeria was blessed with resources to make her the leading economy in Africa.

He said: Buhari has a track record of performance and we believe he can still do it again.

The Federal Government should embark on massive road construction aimed at opening up the country such that each state would be linked to its nearest neighbour.”

Longbap also said that the Federal Government had the potential to win the war against the Boko Haram, noting: "I appeal to other intelligence agencies in the country to sit up and assist the armed forces in intelligence gathering to overcome the insurgents.”

Plan how to rebuild your crumbled house, Lagos APC tells PDP

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AGOS— THE Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to exert its energies on how to rebuild its crumbled house.

The PDP spokesman in Lagos, Taofik Gani, had in a statement yesterday, accused some unidentified APC leaders of meddlesomeness in the selection of House of Assembly leaders in the state.

According to the statement, there were “confirmed moves of lobbying and coercion of members of the House in order to vote in favour of a particular member not likely to represent the interest of the masses, but the interest of his godfathers.”

But reacting to the allegation, APC spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, said the lawmakers will select their leaders without being teleguided by external forces, adding that the PDP was dressing itself in a borrowed robe.

According to Igbokwe: “The PDP lacks the pedigree and the moral latitude to give such advice. The House will choose its own leaders without external interference. The PDP will not tell an APC-dominated Assembly who to pick as Speaker and Principal Officers.

“It is rather unfortunate that a party that has just suffered a devastating electoral defeat is not planning how to rise and rebuild its crumbled empire. The leaders, as loyal party members and like every party faithful, have the right to show interest in who steers the House affairs.

“The PDP won’t pick the leaders because it is not their party. It is like telling the owner of a house not to show interest in what goes on in there. The PDP must stop acting like the busy-body and mind its own business.”

Igbokwe said Lagos has enjoyed executivelegislative harmony since the enthronement of democracy in 1999 and that the new dispensation will not be an exception.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Intrigues as bid for Lagos ministerial slot hots up

By By Emmanuel Aziken,

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Political Editor

AGOS—AN epic struggle for the ministerial position for Lagos State has broken out among leading stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.

It is a first time for associates of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who had until now been limited to sharing the spoils in Lagos and had left the space to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who without political offices in Lagos had periodically struggled for the ministerial slot.

Buhari on Governors nominating Ministers

Though President Muhammadu Buhari had been quoted as saying that governors would not nominate ministers for him, a number of leading party men in Lagos State it was learned, are currently being speculated to be in the race.

The contention is irrespective of the position that the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Fashola may play in the federal administration that is yet to take shape. Mr. Fashola, who has not been formally designated in the new administration, was in the president’s delegation that left Abuja yesterday for the G7 summit in Germany.

Those in contention

Among those said to be in contention for the ministerial slot besides Fashola are

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Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Dr. Leke Pitan, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora among other senior party members.

Party leaders

Party leaders it was learnt at the weekend are expected to meet soon over the issue in order to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

However, besides those known to be in the running, sources disclosed that party

leader, Asiwaju Tinubu may also have his own preference who according to some is not popularly known. The party leader according to sources may come up with a technocrat as his candidate for the position.

ADEBOYE TO OSINBAJO, AMBODE: Use your

offices to change Nigeria's bad image

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Olayinka Latona & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has charged VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to use their new offices to change the bad story about Nigeria.

He spoke just as Osinbajo and Ambode assured Nigerians that God would make peace to reign in the country with the advent of the new administration.

The trio spoke at the Seventh Edition of the Excel Programme of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, organised by Apapa Family of the church at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos, with the theme; “Riding on the Wings of Change."

In his sermon, Pastor Adeboye urged political office holders to use their position to change the story of Nigeria, just

as he assured that Nigeria will continue to march forward with the present crop of leaders.

According to him, “Change has two wings, power and glory and the two will dwell in you if you are connected to Christ.

Colossians 1:27 says Jesus is the King of Glory."

Osinbajo noted that the dearth of faithful, diligent men and women was another challenge confronting the country inspite of the country ’s huge population.

The vice president, who backed up his address with various Bible passages on how diligence and faithfulness can lift a man, said the nation needs faithful men and women who can be trusted to do the right things and can also be honest and diligent.

“There are many people who are bright and intelligent but what we lack are faithful men and women. Men and women who can be trusted to do the right things, who can be honest, diligent and who can do what needs to be done”.

Osinbajo said that when

citizens of the country change their attitude and become faithful, the country would achieve great things.

Earlier, Ambode who also touched on the need to be diligent, reaffirmed his determination and commitment to serve the people diligently irrespective of his or her status, sex, religion or tribe in the course of governing the state.

Osinbajo and Ambode were earlier presented with awards of “Apostle of Change.” While the vice president was awarded in recognition of his outstanding transformational leadership to the nation, Ambode was awarded in recognition of his dedication to public service and continuous service to Lagos State.

Dignitaries present at the event included the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, and clergymen from different religious denominations.

What I went through for believing we could defeat PDP —TINUBU

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—NATIONAL leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has noted how he and other party officials were mocked at and derided when they conceived the idea of forcing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from power two years ago.

Speaking at the African Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria, AYEEN 2015 programme in Lagos, weekend, the party leader thus urged youths not to ever give up on their ideas “even if no one believes in you.”

The APC leader who was represented by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said that the youths should learn from APC’s story, as they strive to achieve their dreams.

The former governor of Lagos State, who stressed that the journey of the party ’s merger started in the minds of a select few said: “If I didn’t believe in the bold initiative, I wouldn’t have lent myself to the unprecedented merger of the political parties that became the APC. We wouldn’t have challenged the incumbent party controlling the central government, People’s Democratic Party, PDP. “There is no incumbent that has ever lost an election in this country.

At the beginning of that journey, we were laughed at, we weren’t given a chance. We were told that we have embarked on an exercise in futility. Yet we believed in the justness of our call. The criticism didn’t deter us but encourage us.

“That exercise has become a history-making exercise. The party that was described as dead on arrival has, however, given birth to a new government, spirit and better democracy.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 11

Sell helicopter to pay salaries, Osun PDP tells Aregbesola zTheir lies can't change their disgrace —Gov O

By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State yesterday urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to sell the state-owned helicopter as a way of offsetting the seven-month salary arrears it claimed is owed to civil servants in the state.

Besides selling off the helicopter that it claimed was being used for frivolous purposes, the opposition party also charged the governor to reduce international travels it claimes are bringing no benefit to the populace.

The suggestions were immediately dismissed by Governor Aregbesola who stated that the shameful lies being peddled by the PDP would not help it in any way in reinventing its supposedly despicable image in the estimation of the people of the state.

The Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, said the suggestion showed how degenerate the PDP has become in the thinking process of its leaders to come up with the selling of a mere helicopter in order to pay salaries.

The PDP in a statement issued

by Prince Diran Odeyemi, the party’s Director of Media and Strategy said: “What this administration told us was that the helicopter was to be used for surveillance, but we have since discovered that the helocopter is only serving the travelling needs of Mr. Aregbesola and his family.

This remains one draining pipe that must be blocked.”

Counsels Gov, aides

It also advised the governor and his aides to forthwith, stop travelling in chartered aircraft around the world stressing that, if President Muhammadu Buhari could be travelling on British Airways, even when aircraft in presidential fleet are available, there is need for Governor Aregbesola to borrow a leaf.

While expressing support for workers for demanding their entitlement through industrial action, it maintained that Osun State found itself in the present state of insolvency because public funds were “expended on irrelevant but huge projects without adequate projection of the funds available to the state.”

The PDP said: “For the state lawmakers, they must have it at the back of their minds that the fragile hope of Osun indigenes now rests on them and we want to advice that they should not be rubber stamp in the hands of the governor.”

Aregbesola reacts

Responding on behalf of the governor, Director of the Bureau of Public Communications, Mr. C M Y K

Semiu Okanlawon said: “It is disheartening how degenerate PDP has become in their thinking process. They screamed ignorantly about two years ago that Osun procured a helicopter with the sum of N8 billion. We had asked them to find out the cost of a Boeing plane let alone a helicopter which was only leased and it was to beef up the Osun Swift Action Squad, SAS, for its aerial surveillance. This was clear to all in the state that the helicopter was procured as part of the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s

comprehensive security measures to drive criminals far away from the state.

'PDP's narrow thinking'

“For the PDP in its narrow and pedestrian thinking to tell us to sell the helicopter is a sign of intellectual laziness.”

It added that allegations that Aregbesola uses the helicopter for his personal use lacked any evidence.

Advising Odeyemi and the PDP to review their strategy, Okanlawon said: “This certainly cannot be the path to go if its

intention is to be an opposition party. An opposition party that will help the people must know what the people want.

Security

“The people of Osun need adequate security which PDP failed to provide throughout Nigeria in its 16 years of misrule.

The people of Osun require good governance which the PDP could not give them. I, therefore, advise that shameful lies such as those Odeyemi cooked up again and threw to the media would not help the pàrty.

They would help sink it deeper.”

VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (middle), leader of Buhari Campaign Organization, Arewa Community in South-west, Alhaji Hassan Isiyaka (second left), former Special Adviser to Governor Aregbesola on Arewa Matters, Imam Bashir Muhammed (left), Alhaji Ahmadu Isah Bature (second right) and Mallam Lawan Muhammed Buhari, during a visit to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo.

....As SDP threatens Osun gov on public declaration of assets

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—THE Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Osun State has charged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to make a public declaration of his assets, or the party would be forced to publish what it knows about his assets.

SDP described Aregbesola’s defence on how he had spent several billions of the state funds as a mere rhetoric, laughable and inconsistent going by the facts in its possession.

The chairman of the party, Mr. Ademola Ishola in a speech during the party’s Performance Assessment meeting in Osogbo, weekend, to deliberate on how SDP performed in the last national election said what his party uncovered about Aregbesola’s wealth would stun Nigerians.

He said: “Our party discovered that one of the areas where fraud was being perpetrated by the

Aregbesola’s government was through consultants handling virtually all his projects.

“It is a shame that even if the governor wanted to buy toothpicks, it has to pass through consultants.

“While the governor has not failed once to take his security votes every month from the consolidated funds, retirees

whose pensions are to be paid from the same account have not received theirs in the last seven months. Records as at May showed that 242 of the retirees lost their lives within this period.

“Simply put, Osun is today paralyzed with all government activities at stand still. The governor has virtually left the state for us to slug it out with poverty and hunger.”

Prince Aladetoyinbo may emerge new Deji of Akure

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K U R E — KINGMAKERS in Akure, the Ondo State capital who last week commenced the screening of the 13 nominees presented to them to fill the vacant stool of the Deji of Akureland may have picked Prince Kole Aladetoyinbo.

The Osupa ruling house had presented the nominees to the kingmakers to fill the twoyear vacant stool of the Deji of Akureland.

None of the kingmakers was ready to confirm that they have picked Aladetoyinbo when contacted after their meeting, but feelers from the meeting confirmed his choice by the kingmakers.

The Osupa ruling house whose turn it is to present nominees forwarded the list to the kingmakers recently.

All the kingmakers met yesterday for hours at the traditional palace of the Asamo of Akureland, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya on the selection of the new Oba. Feelers from the meeting informed newsmen that Aladetoyinbo's name has been unanimously selected by the kingmakers.

Security was tight at the palace of the Asamo as both uniformed and plain cloth policemen converged on the place.

The kingmakers are expected to present the name of their choice nominee to the oracle for approval before forwarding same to the government.

The contestants whose names were presented by the Osupa ruling house include Samuel Adegoro, Kayode Oluwole, Adegbola Adelani, Kayode Adegbite, Femi Adejuyigbe and Adeolu Adepoju.

New Ekiti lawmakers not better than primaries that returned the new councillors —APC members. It was ballot snatching

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DO EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has described last Friday’s prostration by the new set of lawmakers before Governor Ayo Fayose as a democratic sacrilege indicative of the collapse of the legislative arm of government.

The party in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti said the new set of lawmakers had shown their lack of courage and were not better than town councillors.

A statement by its Publicity

Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said the membership profile in the new Assembly had revealed many men and women lacking skills in tedious business of lawmaking were ‘selected’ to be members of the Assembly above eminently qualified Ekiti sons and daughters to enable the governor breathe on them to always have his way. Only few of them are worthy of the exalted position of legislators.

His words: "We all saw the intrigues that characterized the

and violence on a massive scale.

The same for April 11 Assembly poll.

“Fayose’s public declaration of political death for any member who works against his interest points to where Ekiti people are headed in the business of lawmaking in the next four years.

“We saw the first public declaration of loyalty by the Assembly members on the day of the inauguration when they all prostrated for Fayose in the chambers, stating he is their father.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, June 8, 2015

PDP disciplinary committee: Court grants accelerated hearing in Inokoba's suit

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A BAYELSA State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has ordered accelerated hearing in the suit before it by the suspended chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Col Sam Inokoba (rtd), over the activities of the disciplinary committee, which expelled some members for alleged anti-party activities.

The court had last Friday adjourned the case to tomorrow for hearing in the the substantive case.

The suspended state Chairman of the PDP, Inokoba and Mr. Osom Blankson, are challenging the constitution of the disciplinary committee.

The trial judge, Justice Kate Abiri, refused to grant an interim injunction sought by the applicants but directed the counsel to proceed with the originating motion.

Justice Abiri noted that the PDP disciplinary committee had already taken some actions by expelling and suspending some members and so, granting an injunction would have no effect any more.

She adjourned the case to Tuesday for hearing in the substantive.

Justice Abiri had granted an ex-parte order for substituted service on members of the

disciplinary committee of the PDP, who have allegedly been evading court service.

Accordingly, the court processes were pasted on the fence of the PDP Secretariat on Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Road, in Yenagoa.

The first two defendants, Governor Seriake Dickson and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kemasuode Wodu, were personally served but the third to 10th defendants have allegedly been evading

service.

The third to 10th defendants include state Secretary of the party, Mr. Godpower Keku and members of the disciplinary committee headed by Mr. Cleopas Moses.

INVESTITURE: From left: Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State; Chief Bassey Edem and wife, Helen, at Edem's investiture as the 18th National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, by the governor in Calabar.

Ban on ticketing in Edo: Benin chief drags Police Commissioner to court

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—A senior Benin palace chief, Chief John Adun, has instituted a legal action against the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi, before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin for illegally detaining him for 10 hours in his office without any justification.

He is contending in the suit that the action of the Police Commissioner was unlawful, unconstitutional and a serious infringement on his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.

In the suit, Adun, through his counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, is asking the respondent to pay him the sum of N10 million being general and exemplary damages for the infringement on his fundamental rights to personal liberty and right to dignity of human person.

He also wants the court to restrain the respondent, his agents, servants or privies from further interference with the

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constitutionally guaranteed rights of his liberty in respect of the ban on levy collection through tickets on the roads in Edo State and any other matter whatsoever connected with the case.

In a 23 paragraph affidavit in support of his claim, Adun averred that on June 1, 2015, he

received a call from the Police Commissioner at 1p.m., summoning him to his office, at a time he was performing traditional functions at the Palace of the Oba of Benin since he is a first class taditional chief in Benin Kingdom.

He said that he had to leave his traditional functions in the

Palace to honour the summons, adding that on getting to his office, he was surprised when the respondent in the midst of senior police officers asked questions about the ban on tickets by the Edo State Government and he replied to the effect that the matter never concerned him in any manner whatsoever.

PDP records first legislative casualty in Delta

By Onuzure Dania

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ARRI—THE r uling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State has recorded its first legislative casualty with the defection of the deputy leader of Warri South-West Legislative Arm, Mr Emami Thomas, from PDP to All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing a large number of APC members at the Warri country home of former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the APC, Temi Harriman, Emami explained that his decision to defect to the APC along with his supporters was

hinged on the philosophy of positive change and the need to galvanise the people of his constituency to work in line with the agenda of the Buhari/ Osinbajo administration.

Emami, younger brother to the Akulagba of Warri, Chief Ayirimi Emami, who represents Akpakpa Ward 6, Ugborodo, in Warri SouthWest legislature, stressed his good working relationship with his constituents and fellow councillors, adding that after carefully analysing the issues that led to his elder brother, Chief Emami, dumping the PDP he built as a foundation member to the APC, it became imperative to

pitch tent with the APC to liberate the people of his constituency and work towards genuine development of the local government.

Responding, the APC chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Mr. Felix Ighonmieyetan, said that with Emami's membership of the APC, the chances of the party in the council will be brighter in future elections.

Expressing delight with Emami’s membership, Ighonmieyetan said that more heavy weights from other political parties were expected to join the APC in the days and months ahead.

Tribute: Late Justice Samuel Gege Jaho

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HE late Justice Samuel Gege Jaho, was born on June 5, 1939 to late Pa. Andrew Jaho of Odogun family of Owhrode, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State. He had his early education at CMS School, Owhrode and EgboUhurhie, St. Peter ’s Teacher's Training College, Asaba, in 1964 and the University of Lagos, AkokaYaba, Lagos. Notable amongst his class mates at the University of Lagos was His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri. He graduated with an LLB (Hons) and the Nigeria Law School, Lagos, in 1973.

He started his working career as a teacher and head master respectively.

He taught also at the famous Urhobo College, Effurun and had a stint at the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. He joined the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Delta Ports, Warri, as a Legal Officer, where he rose and headed the Legal Department. Among his colleagues at the Delta Ports, Warri, were Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chairman, African Business Round Table and Justice Katsina- Alu, JSC and former Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Jaho joined the Bendel State Judicial Service Commission in 1982, was appointed Chief Magistrate and later Chief Registrar, Delta State Judiciary. He was sworn in as a Judge of Delta State High Court by Col. John David Dungs, then Military Administrator, Delta State. He was appointed by Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, as Chairman, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission. He was a pioneer Registrar and Chancellor of the Ughelli Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

Late Justice Jaho

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015—13

Sacked Delta workers beg Okowa to rescind decision

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—WORRIED by the decision of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to lay them off on grounds of alleged irregularities that trailed their employment, the newly employed civil servants in the state, yesterday appealed to the governor to rescind his decision to save them and their dependants from economic hardship.

The affected workers, in a statement at the end of their congress, said: “We had since assumed work at our various ministries, departments and agencies where we were deployed to.”

Governor Okowa had last week suspended all those employed between January 1, 2014 and May 30, 2015.

The aggrieved workers, in a statement by Mr Regha Obus, and four others, said: “A greater number of us resigned our appointments in our former organisations to take up the civil service job with the joy of serving our state.

“All the employments by Delta State Civil Service Commission went through due process via application stage, invitation to interview stage and having successfully passed the interview, and offered employment by the Delta State Civil Service

Commission between January 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015, and all offers which were subsequently and duly accepted before June 1, 2015, when the suspension was placed on the exercise, are lawful civil servants of Delta State Civil Service.

“In view of the above, the

affected civil servants are bonafide staff of the Delta State Civil Service, thus, our newly swornin employer who took oath of office on May 29, 2015 after the employments had been duly and lawfully executed, cannot validly discharge civil servants of the employment which has statutory flavour.

“We call on the governor to look

into the report of the committee set up by the immediate past Governor, Dr. Emanuel Uduaghan, and make same public for the good of Deltans while culprit of the alleged fraud or corruption allegation against the Civil Service Commission be prosecuted within a reasonable time."

CONVOCATION: From left: Prof. Kayode Makinde, President / Vice Chancellor, Babcock University; Pastor Gilbert Wari, Chancellor/President, West-Central Division of the Seventh Day Adventist Church; immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Pastor Oyeleke Owolabi, Pro-Chancellor, Babcock University and President, North-Western Nigeria Union of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, during the presentation of Faith, Leadership and Excellence award to Akpabio, during the 13th and fourth Undergraduate and Post-graduate convocation of Babacock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State. Photo: Diran Oshe.

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ENAGOA—THE candidates of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were, yesterday, declared winners in Brass constituency 2 and Ogbia constituency 2 seats in the rescheduled House of Assembly election in Bayelsa State held on Saturday amidst sporadic shootings by suspected thugs.

The rescheduled election was marred by allegations of hijack of election materials and voters apathy due to shooting by gunmen suspected to be hired thugs and without reaction from hundreds of deployed security personnel in the areas.

It was learned that the election in Brass constituency 2 witnessed large turn out of voters with the APGA candidate, Alfred Watson, defeating the candidates of the ruling PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, with 849 votes.

According to the result declared at 5a.m. on Sunday, by the Returning Officer and a lecturer in the state university, Niger Delta University, Mr. Perekere Bertola,

out of the 2,805 accredited voters, the APGA candidate scored 849 votes, the PDP

candidate scored 380 and APC scored 476 votes.

Some of the supporters of the APGA candidate claimed that attempt by suspected PDP supporters to allegedly collude

with the security personnel and hijack the voting materials and declare the election inconclusive, was thwarted by youths from the constituency.

At Ogbia constituency 2, it

was gathered that the turn-out of voters was poor and materials were hijacked from the voting venues by some armed men and uniformed policemen.

Emmanuel approves 10-man tech c'ttee on Ibom Deep Seaport

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KWA Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has approved the constitution of a 10-member Technical Committee on the Realization of Ibom Deep Seaport with Mrs. Mfon Usoro, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, as Chairman.

Other members are Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Mr. Chidi Izuwah, Mr. Idongesit Udofa, Engr. Ekong Umo-Otong, Rear Admiral Francis Akpan, Aniekan Ukpanah, Mr. Charles Udonwah, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi and Engr. Etido Inyang.

A statement in Uyo by Ekerete Udoh, Senior Special Assistant, Media/Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the terms of reference for the committee

include to work on different phases of the project and to

ensure that it is delivered on time. The committee will report directly to the governor.

Delta APC blames LG strike, employment saga on corruption

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By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—MR Victor Edoror, the member representing Esan Central constituency of Edo State, is set to emerge the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, as Governor Adams Oshiomhole proclaims the 6th Assembly today.

Other Principal Officers expected to emerge through a consensus include Bright Osayande, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, who is expected to pick the position of Deputy Speaker while Mr Folly Ogedengbe is expected to emerge as the Majority Leader of the House.

Shooting in Bayelsa as APGA, PDP clinch rescheduled state Assembly poll

By Emem Idio

Edoror, Ativie emerge Edo Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speaker

By Egufe Yafugborhi

LL Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State has blamed the current strike by council workers over unpaid salaries in the state as a manifestation of corruption and the level of looting of the state treasury by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, administration in the state.

Delta APC governorship candidate in the 2015 elections, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, made the accusation in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, at a dinner by Urhobo Elders/Leaders Stakeholders Forum to celebrate the inauguration of President Mohamaddu Buhari as President of Nigeria.

Emerhor, represented by Ede Dafinone,

noted: “For 16 years, all monies accrued to our state from the Federation Account and through internally generated revenue went into the pockets of a few persons."

Wike has good agenda for Rivers —Obuah

T

HE Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Mr Felix Obuah, has said that the state governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has good agenda for the state, assuring that the governor will return the state capital, Port Harcourt, to its garden city status.

He said that in the days ahead, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency will make public plans to return Port Harcourt to its former garden city status, abandoned by the out-gone Rotimi Amaechi administration.

Obuah, in a statement, yesterday, regretted that the ex-Governor Amaechi left behind unpaid salaries, huge debts, and a state overtaken by debris, following his refusal to pay service providers of the state waste management agency for four months.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

PDP laments APC Federal Govt's lack of direction

By Henry Umoru

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HE PEOPLES Democratic Party lamented, yesterday, that since the All Progressives Congress took over power at the centre, it has not provided any sign of seriousness and direction, but was engulfed in selfish infighting for positions of power while the nation drifts.

In a statement, yesterday, by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that the situation is unhealthy for democracy and national development, adding, “the concern of well-meaning Nigerians is that this may be a pointer to the fact that the APC lacks clear-cut directions on how to govern a nation as complex as Nigeria.”

The PDP observed that though it is expected among politicians in a democracy to jostle for political offices, Nigerians were not comfortable with the confusion in the APC’s camp and the dimension it has assumed.

According to the PDP: “The negative effect of the glaring political commotion in the APC is compounding President Buhari’s self confessed nervousness and puzzlement, his flip-flops and worrisome reneging on campaign promises for which Nigerians will continue to hold him accountable.

“Instead of fighting for positions, which betrays their lust, APC leaders should be more concerned with how to help President Buhari, who is still struggling with his ministerial list and basic appointments more than a week after his inauguration.

“They should be more concerned with how to end insurgency by the end of July as promised by President Buhari in his April 2, 2015 CNN interview.

“They should be concerned about how to pay N5,000 each to 25 million poor Nigerians beginning from the end of June; how to bring the naira to the same value with the dollar; provide allowances to the discharged, but unemployed Youth Corps members for 12 months; provide free education and meals for school children, among others, as they promised during the campaigns.

“We invite the APC to note the

ANNIVERSARY: From left, Olori Bosun Dosunmu, Olori Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State; Erelu Abiola-Dosunmu, and Olori Olatokunbo Gbadebo,Olori of Alake of Egbeland, during the Quinta Anniversary of Royal Personalities Thanksgiving 2015, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau

I'm not lobbying to stay back as Amnesty chairman —Kuku

By Soni Daniel

A

BUJA—IMMEDIATE past Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, and Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has denied claims that he is lobbying to be retained in that post.

Kuku said in Abuja, weekend, that he had since completed his assignment and moved on and was not in any way trying to stay back after the end of his tenure, as claimed by a group of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta in some newspapers.

Kuku pointed out that there was no way he could have plotted to stay back at the Amnesty office after giving his valedictory address to staff and the media and having clearly stated where he was returning to even before the handing over of baton on May 29, 2015.

He said: "Kuku has not, is not and does not intend to lobby anyone directly or subtly to remain in office beyond what has been provided for under the Nigerian law.

“Having served as a Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, who handed over power to his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, 2015, it is

inconceivable that Kuku would still be lobbying either President Buhari or anyone in his yet-to-be formed cabinet to stay back as the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Office.

“There is no truth, whatsoever, in the claim by the so-called ex-agitators that Kuku is lobbying some unnamed top government officials to stay back as Chairman of the PAP. “Kuku had since made it clear that on completion of his national assignment with President Jonathan, he would be returning to his village in Orogbo Ijaw in Ondo State and accordingly addressed a valedictory press conference in Abuja to say goodbye to those who worked with him and made the PAP a success now being celebrated within and outside Nigeria.

The Niger Delta activist said it was unfortunate for the ex-agitators to make spurious allegations against his person, claiming that none of the allegations was true.

He claimed that having been at the forefront of the struggle for many years to improve the lot of the Niger Delta and his people, it was uncharitable for some persons seeking cheap publicity to describe him as a stranger to the Niger Delta cause.

N/Delta ex-militants congratulate Okowa, hope for greater Delta

By Christopher Njoku

B

concern of Nigerians that the pictures emanating from their camp are not reassuring in this direction.”

PDP also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to apologise to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians for seeking regional cooperation to find solution to the challenge of insurgency in some parts of the country when the former had once chastised the immediate past President for

O M A D I — N I G E R Delta ex-militants have congratulated the executive governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa for successfully taking over the mantle of leadership in the state, expressing the hope that a greater and prosperous Delta State would be built by Okowa-led administration, according to his campaign promises.

The ex-militants, speaking through the Delta State chairman, phase 2 of Amnesty programme, Mr. Kingsley Muturu, told newsmen that the state needed to maintain the prevailing peace, which he called a legacy of the Uduaghan administration, to allow for more infrastructure and social developments to take place They also called on Deltans to give the needed support to the government.

making a similar move to nip the crisis in the bud.

The PDP also condemned what it described as the venom with which the APC attacked wellmeaning Nigerians for daring to offer constructive criticisms to President Buhari, following apparent loss of tempo in the fight against insurgency since he took office, describing such as unacceptable in a democracy, especially in a country like Nigeria, where the citizens had been enjoying freedom of expression in the last 16 years under the PDP. Metuh said: “The APC must understand that the hallmark of democracy is freedom of expression and opinion, particularly on governance issues; inalienable rights of all citizens guaranteed by the constitution and which must not be denied them under any guise, whatsoever.

“Though we had decided to give President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party sometime to settle down, indicators show that the APC is not getting its bearing right and the PDP as a party that has nurtured and sustained democracy in the last 16 years, we cannot fold our hands and watch our nation drift towards dangerous undemocratic paths,” the party said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUN E 8, 2015 —15

Abia House of Assembly averts bloodbath, resolves dispute in Umunneochi

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State House of Assembly has intervened in the communal problem at Amaubiri in Lokpaukwu Umuchieze of Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state over a disagreement on the firm to carry out quarry activities in the area.

The contention was among three quarrying companies, including Pioneer Sino Chino Investment Company, Asphalt Unity Construction and Allied Bond companies, all laying claims to the rightful mandate of the community to operate at Aguokeakpu Amaubiri quarry site.

The contention almost tore the community apart as the 35 land owners in the quarry site were divided on the issues, with each camp supporting each of the companies.

The situation got to the level of threatening the peace of the community which forced the traditional rulers in the area to organize an internal election for the land owners to choose among the firms.

The election did not help matters as the group that lost refused to accept the outcome.

To avoid imminent bloodbath, the immediate past 5th Session of Abia State House of Assembly waded into the crisis and after investigation, directed Pioneer Sino Chino Investment Company to commence the quarrying of granite stone activities at Aguokeakpu Amaubiri site in Umunneochi council area of the state, saying it was the firm that had authentic mandate to operate there.

The House, therefore, directed the other two companies, Asphalt Unity Construction and Allied Bond companies, to stop further work and stay off the disputed quarrying site.

The resolution, which was signed by the clerk/permanent

secretary of the House, Mr. JohnPedro Irokansi, said any activity carried out at the quarry site by the other two companies would be an illegality.

According to the resolution,

Pioneer Sino Chino has the legal right to carry out quarrying of granite stone at the Aguokeakpu Amaubiri.

The resolution warned that “the legal right obtained by the

DEFECTION — Deputy Leader of Warri South-West Legislative Arm, Hon. Emami Thomas (left); APC Chairman, Warri South-West LGA, Felix Ighonmieyetan (2nd right); APC Woman Leader, Warri South-West LGA, Mrs. Jagi Yaluwu (right), and others shortly after the formal registration/defection of Hon. Emami Thomas and his supporters to the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the Warri home of Hon. Temi Harriman, last Thursday.

APGA’ll give new dimension to Nigerian democracy —Obiano

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA— THE national leader and chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT, of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Governor Willie Obiano, of Anambra State has said the party was determined to build a great political movement that would give a new dimension to

Nigerian democracy.

Obiano, who spoke, weekend, during the national convention of the party in Awka, said the last general elections showed that APGA had a national appeal, adding that efforts would be made to sustain the tempo of its growth.

He said: “With this convention, we have a golden chance to lay a great foundation for the emergence of a viable opposition that will enrich democracy in our

Catholic Bishop of Awka asks Akpu, Ajalli to reconcile ...blames Ajalli for crisis

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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N E W I — C AT H O L I C Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, has called on Ajalli and Akpu in Orumba North and Orumba South local government areas to sheathe their swords and embrace peace, saying the acrimony against each other would not benefit them in any way.

Speaking with newsmen in his Awka office, Bishop Ezeokafor specifically told Ajalli people that there was no way anybody could totally remove Akpu from the history and map of Orumba North, neither will Ajalli be removed from the local government because they had

authorized company, which is Pioneer Sino Chino, must be protected at all times and that the two other companies being barred from working there, should stop fanning the embers of confusion.”

lived together, that it would be difficult to differentiate them.

He regretted that instead of the communities to build the bridge of love, friendship and development, they were busy building bridges of hatred and that their acrimony was increasing on daily basis.

He, however, blamed Ajalli for allegedly promoting the hatred by their alleged refusal to allow anything bearing Akpu name in Orumba North Council Area The cleric said: “The way Ajalli is going about the crisis continues to baffle me; they have totally refused to allow the people of Akpu who are their landlords to have anything to be identified with. ‘’If you go into Orumba North

Local Government, Akpu people who were excluded from the LGA are living there, but they cannot be allowed to have anything, including sign-boards, to identify them.

“While other communities in Nigeria and the state are building bridges of love, friendship and development, Ajalli and Akpu hatred and acrimony are increasing on daily basis. ‘’Communities live together, but in their own, it is war-mongering evening and night, how can somebody be accommodating you and one day you turn back to chase him out.

"It is unfair, and instead of telling their children how to reconcile, they are telling them to continue pursuing them.

country. So, this is a rare moment.

And we must seize it, define it and turn it into a milestone in the history of our nascent democracy.

“After years of playing at the margins of our country’s political history, the time has come to take a bold step out of the shadows and mount the centre-stage of Nigeria’s political theatre. ‘’The recent general elections gave us a chance to test our own strength and gauge our overall appeal across the country.

“We came back from the polls with the realization that this great party has not lost its basic appeal; that the alternative model of governance we offer is still the clear preference of the larger spectrum of Nigerians.

“The ebb and tide of our nation’s history has swept aside the old political arrangement and opened a door for a new political order.

“If my reading of Nigeria’s political temperature is right, there is no better time for our party to attain its destiny and fulfil its age-old promise than now. ‘’Our dear country needs the light of inspiring leadership and the rays of a wise opposition. This generation has a responsibility to provide both in equal measure.

“Under my watch, we shall always strive to lay down the right fundamentals and ensure a strict adherence to the rules.

ABIA APGA GOV:

Ufomba appeals Court ruling

By Anayo Okoli

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M UA H I A — OCHIAGHA Ufomba has appealed the decision of Umuahia Federal High Court which struck out his suit, seeking the endorsement of the court to his claims as Abia State governorship candidate of APGA in the April 2015 elections.

Ufomba had gone to court to challenge the party’s candidate in the election, Dr. Alex Otti and the party, but the court struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

But Ufomba was not satisfied with the judgment and has appealed against it at Owerri Court of Appeal on three grounds.

In his suit, FHC/UM/ CS/ 01 /2015, the appellant, among other grounds, argued that “the learned trial judge, Justice Folashade-Adejoke Olubanjo, erred in law when she struck out the suit after holding that affidavit evidence in the case was conflicting and that the suit should have been commenced by Writ of Summons.”

MISSION SCHOOLS:

Archbishop Obinna appeals for grants

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—AN appeal has gone to Imo State government to reintroduce grants for missionary schools and hospitals in the state.

The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, made the appeal, yesterday, when he paid a pastoral visit to St. Mulumba’s Catholic Parish, Owerri.

“At the inception of the present state administration, Governor Rochas Okorocha promised to reintroduce the time tested grants to mission schools and hospitals. ‘’It is, however, sad that he has since reneged on this promise,” Archbishop Obinna said.

According to the cleric, the managements of the Archdiocesan schools and hospitals are determined to give quality service to the citizenry.

Archbishop Obinna reminded Governor Okorocha that students in the mission schools were citizens of the state, who should benefit from government’s social welfare packages.

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUN E

BAN:

Automobile manufacturers, importers disagree with Anambra govt

8, 2015

I won’t tamper with LG funds, says Gov Ugwuanyi G

OVERNOR IFEANYI Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has assured the people of the state that his administration would not tamper with the funds of local government councils in the state.

The governor, however, stated that he would put in place all necessary checks and balances to ensure that all council funds were judiciously utilized for the overall interest of the people.

Ugwuanyi, who made the declaration while briefing stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state at an interactive meeting in Enugu weekend, reaffirmed his

resolve not to take the people for granted and went further to announce his decision to make accountability the watch word of his administration

By Chimaobi He assured the people of the Nwaiwu state that his administration would commence actions the moment the new State House of N E W I — Assembly was inaugurated.

AUTOMOBILE He revealed that his Manufacturers and administration had identified Importers Association in areas that required urgent Nnewi, Anambra State, intervention but was only waiting yesterday, appealed to for the constitution of the new Governor Willie Obiano to State House of Assembly to be reverse the ban on able to present a supplementary motorcycles and tricycles budget that would accommodate because of its negative its action plan for the immediate consequences. development of the affected Pastor Chukwuma, who places. spoke for the manufacturers The governor announced that and importers, said the realities of the he would as well send a request government’s decision to to the incoming House for go ahead with the ban approval of his would-be advisers would lead to thousands of immediately after its inauguration manufacturers of and shortly forward the list of his motorcycles, spare parts, would-be commissioners. tricycles and their spare The governor, who disclosed parts, importers, distribthat the members of the incoming RALLY: From left, Grand Knight, KSM Maryland Sub-council, Bernard Nkwo; Metropolitan Grand utors of the automobiles state legislature had promised to Knight, Lagos Metropolitan Council, Charles Mbelede; Deputy Metropolitan Grand Knight, William and petty traders being Adebisi, and Metropolitan Chancellor, James Famure, all of Knight of St. Mulumba, Lagos give the executive arm of thrown out of business. government the maximum Metropolitan Council, during the Council's Annual Pro-life Rally, in Lagos.

Pastor Chukwuma stated support and cooperation it the ban would also throw required to move the state mechanics, vulcanizers forward, thanked the and food vendors who stakeholders for giving him service the industry out of

By Austin Ogwuda bags inside the bush located within University, Enugu Study Centre.

“He confessed that a friend took their support. jobs, adding that their Nwosu terrace at Ogui road in him out for clubbing at He said he would, as a dependants, including NUGU—MEN of Enugu State Enugu. independence layout Enugu from those in schools, would matter of priority,embark on He said that so far, the suspects police command have recovered the matriculation ground, suffer the resultant effect of had not been found but noted that rapid development of 387rounds of .9mm live the ban. ammunitions and ten live cartridges the command had stepped up regretting that this was contrary to Nsukka town, 9th mile He said: “The negative investigation into the strange find. what his father used to tell him not corner- Ngwo, Abakpain the bush. consequences are On the arrested student, the police to join cultism.

Nike Enugu, Emene, This came as a 20 -year-old numerous. Anambra, spokesman said the suspect (names “He was nabbed by the operatives Awgu, Oji River and other undergraduate of National Open particularly Nnewi, is University was nabbed for allegedly withheld) confessed that he joined yesterday (Sunday) as he was satellite towns in the state. peculiar. The ban can work JVC Confraternity otherwise keeping vigil and directing some belonging to a secret cult. in other states but it cannot The recovered arms, according to known as Junior Bagger cult, and members of the cult group to the work in Anambra where the State police command’s from Amechi Uno in Awkunanaw, venue of cult initiations at you know, for instance, spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, Enugu in 2015 during the day of community secondary school, every family in Nnewi has were concealed in a black polythene his matriculation at National Open Ugwuaji,” the PPRO said.

Recovered from the scene two, three or four private of the incident, according motorcycles used for their to him, are “a Toyota Camry businesses and errands. with registration No. DBR “Most of these 393 AA, believed to have automobiles were gained freedom at last. been snatched from the

By Austin Ogwuda produced in Nnewi which Vanguard’s investigation showed owner at Abakpa, together had earned it the accolade with some phones, three that the young man became a free man of Japan of Africa. So how NUGU—THIRTY-ONE-YEARcartridges, some wraps of a few days before Governor Chime can the age-long built OLD Anthony Okeke, who was weeds suspected to be handed over power to the incumbent reputation in auto industry facing a one-count charge of alleged indian hemp, two would just be destroyed governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. attempt to kidnap former governor of unregistered motorcycles through the ban.

Although the courts were on strike, he Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, has and one face mask. was specially brought to the court on the order from the ‘above’ where he was asked to go home.

It was, however, not ascertained if the charge earlier pressed against him had APETOWN (SOUTH ‘’We appeal to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu been discontinued totally.

AFRICA)— ABIA Union in to keep to his campaign promise of Family sources confirmed that he was South Africa yesterday urged the rebuilding Aba. The measure will free and this was also further confirmed new administration in the state to attract investors, especially by an Enugu-based rights activist, Mr. rebuild Aba, the commercial nerve manufacturers, to partner with the Ayo Omatayo, who had been centre of the state, in order to regain people,” he said.

Nzekwe, who said Aba was blessed championing the cause for his freedom. its old status.

President General of the union, Mr with manufacturers who produce Omatoyo had two weeks before his Vincent Nzekwe, told the News shoes, shirts and building materials, release, wrote to the former governor Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in lamented the decay in infrastructure. on the issue, followed by another letter ‘’The roads are not passable and from Amnesty International.

Capetown, South Africa, that the Anthony was arrested by security condition of Aba was deplorable and some investors are no more attracted to the city to do business. We appeal details for breaking into the convoy of needed serious attention. ‘’Aba is a major commercial nerve to the new administration in the state Enugu State governor with his vehicle centre in South East like Onitsha and to adopt a Marshal plan to rebuild around 11.30pm on February 22, 2015, Nnewi. The condition of the city is the city and make it the Taiwan of and was, thereafter, charged to court indeed very deplorable and needs Africa,” he said. almost immediately for attempted urgent attention. kidnap of the governor.

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Enugu police recover arms in bush

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Attempted kidnapper of former Enugu gov regains freedom

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Abia indigenes in South Africa seek rebuilding of Aba

C

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 OUR legislators have their ways with matters Nigerians consider weighty. Since we are not legislators, rigours that resulted in the passage of 46 bills in 10 minutes, a record unlikely to be contested elsewhere, could be lost on us.

The record is more than what bewildered us. Senator Ita Enang, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, the important committee that decides which bills qualify for the Senate’s attention, said on television that the Senate passed more bills in 10 minutes than the 46 the public know. The bills took a bow, a practice the Senate uses when it does not want to scrutinise candidates who appear before it.

According to Enang, the Senate could adopt any rules for its works.

Why the haste in passing 46 bills in less time than it takes the Senate to introduce the day ’s

Limits Of Legislative Licence business? How did the Senate spend the past four years that it ran out of time for its major role of legislating? What are the implications of the Senate making laws its members did not know the content?

Enang re-stated the great works Senators do. They receive delegations, hold committee meetings, attend caucus engagements that in the middle of the night make decisions that rule the days, and more importantly, they oversee functions of government agencies, departments and parastatals.

If it was possible to hasten oversight functions, we would have seen the legislators prancing all over the place, of course, on television, to impress it on Nigerians that billions of Naira spent on the National Assembly annually, was not as monumental a waste as many are wont to think. Oversight functions, to the legislators, mean overlooking issues that affect how government agencies work. The quantum of complaints about the inefficiency of the agencies, and the little efforts made to improve them, are the best testimonies to

the efficacies of legislative oversight functions.

The action of the Senate, which had concurrence in the House of Representatives, is capable of creating a constitutional crisis, if anyone takes the National Assembly seriously. On the other hand, it could be a futile activity; hence, the minimal investment of 10 minutes in it.

Under our laws, bills the National Assembly passes are sent to the President who should assent within 30 days, if not, the National Assembly vetoes the bills into law by passing them again.With the life of the 7th National Assembly over, is it the 8th National Assembly that would engage the President on the bills? The futility of the exercise is obvious, that the National Assembly could embark on it is the final mark of our legislators’ ceaseless proclivities to embarrass democracy.

OPINION

By Yushau A. Shuaib

H

E hardly grants media chats because of the sensitive nature of his office.

When he speaks, it is with bluntness and sincerity delivered with deliberate measurement. He knows that he can be misquoted out of mischief or ignorance.

Sambo Dasuki, the National Security Adviser in the outgone Jonathan’s administration, had in February 2015 strongly recommended the postponement of the elections for six weeks to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to address the challenges of untrained ad-hoc election staff and scanty distribution of voters’ cards. He also insisted that the military could address the insecurity in the North East by clearing most terrorists’ infested communities within that period.

Within the recommended six-weeks, the voter card distribution rate had increased astronomically from less than 50% to over 75%, while the Nigerian military had recovered more than 20 communities from terrorists in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. The elections afterward have been adjudged as free, fair and peaceful.

Similarly in April 14, 2015, Dasuki accurately predicted what Nigerian military would accomplish before the handover on May 29, 2015. Coincidentally, on the one year anniversary of the abduction of Chibok school girls, Dasuki gave an assurance that the Sambisa Forest would be stormed by the Nigerian troops, while the Federal C M Y K

Chibok: Bring back other girls and boys Government was making every effort to ensure that abducted Nigerians would be rescued from captivity from that enclave before the handing-over day. Speaking to PRNigeria, he insisted that government was concerned about the welfare of every single Nigerian not only the Chibok girls, as other innocent Nigerian girls, boys, men and women were abducted by the terrorists and all efforts were being made by security agencies to rescue them.

Today, the Sambisa Forest, the last fortress of the terrorists had been invaded by the military who have so far rescued over 300 captives and destroyed camps and armaments of the terrorists.

However, there are those insisting that without the recovery of Chibok girls, the military campaign should not be hailed. The Chibok incident was not the first abduction and not the last by Boko Haram terrorists.

Before the advent of Bringbackourgirls

Every life is precious; not only that of Chibok girls but also other girls, boys, women and security personnel that are victims of terrorism

movement for the rescue of Chibok girls, boys were burnt to death and slaughtered in various terrorists’ attacks in boarding schools. Others were abducted for conscription. Young captives who were reluctant to join them in their dastardly acts of terrorism were summarily executed.

It is noteworthy that the BringBackOurGirls campaign has drawn global awareness to murderous exploits of terrorists after abducting school girls in Chibok town of Northern Nigeria. The campaign exploded across social media with a strong sense of outrage, catching the attention of global politicians, celebrities and social media fans.

While we clamour for the return of the Chibok girls, we must bemoan the fact that a lot of innocent lives of others citizens have been lost, including military and security personnel from different parts of the country.

The loss of security personnel in active service is for many families a loss of their fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, and even newly wedded grooms who were, in some instance, mercilessly massacred while protecting our nation and its people. We hardly heard any campaign for "Bring-Backour-boys" or "Bring-Back-the-Corpses" of bread winners for decent reburials.

It is unfortunate that we get to the sorry state because some communities had tolerated the excesses of the terrorists by silently paying ransom after every abduction without reporting to security agencies in the

past. In fact, some local leaders openly campaigned against the deployment of troops to curb the atrocities until the situation got out of hand.

The military are also careful in their combat offensive in view of the fact that some abducted women are used as human shields, girls as suicide bombers and boys as child soldiers for Boko Haram. It is indeed a delicate situation when troops trained in conventional warfare are suddenly confronted with asymmetrical warfare. In such operations, the troops must abide by the excessive rules of engagement policy, including tactical withdrawals to avoid collateral damage to civilians.

The Bring Back Our Girls movement, which is instrumental in mobilising citizens and the media through organised rallies against the abductions of Chibok girls, should go further in highlighting the plight of other abducted citizens, internally displaced persons and the ruined communities that require freedom and rehabilitation. It is gratifying to note the assurance of our new President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military general that “ we cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.”

Every life is precious; not only that of Chibok girls but also other girls, boys, women and security personnel that are victims of terrorism.

•Mr Shuaib, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015—19

H

AVE you witnessed an event and wondered where you have seen exactly the same sequence of activities before? The French call it déjà vu, which translates to “already seen”. That is the phenomenon we are observing our brand new President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, taking us through.

In 1998/99 Nigeria’s ruling principalities and powers who had clamped General Olusegun Obasanjo in jail for coup decided to release him, pardon him, restore his military ranks and sponsor him to be our elected president as their compensation to the Yor ubas for their kinsman, Chief Moshood Abiola, whom they had poisoned to death for winning a presidential election. Once Obasanjo came out of Yola prisons he hit the international circuit.

As president, he kept travelling repeatedly to Western capitals in a wasteful chase after “debt forgiveness”.

This went on for most of his first term in office, when he left the economy in the hands of his Vice President, Abubakar Atiku. The situation was so bad that by October 2000, barely 17 months after Obasanjo was sworn into power, the late social crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, listed at least 45 foreign travels he had undertaken, which averaged more than one per fortnight. OBJ did not get the debt relief until he finally did the right thing by employing Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who used her connections to negotiate the $12 billion deal that exited us from 20 years of slaving for the Paris Club of money lenders.

Definitely, Buhari is a far more disciplined leader than Obasanjo. He is unlikely to try to equal OBJ’s unenviable national record. But it has to be noted that PMB is starting his second coming like Obasanjo, knocking on the doors of foreign countries in his belief that his key to success lies behind those doors. Before he was sworn-in, he told us how his “foreign partners” helped in providing the technology that ensured Professor Attahiru Jega’s “free and fair ” elections in 2015. He said they were moved to provide the assistance when he painted a bloody picture of uncontrollable refugee problems that would envelope Africa if the 2015 elections were rigged.

A week before he took his oath as president, he had jetted out to London to “take a rest” and consult with David Cameron, the British Premier; a trip that caused a stir in the social media when Buhari’s lonely figure outside No. 10 Downing Street, waiting to be welcomed by his host, caused a stampede over the Internet. Cameron did receive him, nonetheless, and later told him to come

Buhari, beware of the West! with his “shopping list” to the next economic forum that will hold in Europe shortly.

Not done yet, Buhari, now in the presidential saddle, travelled to Niger Republic where he received more than a red carpet welcome. The impoverished country’s president, Mamadou Issoufou, gave him a beautiful parting gift of a

The solutions to our problems lie mainly with us here at home; Buhari, beware of the morally degraded West, especially the UK and the USA! If you reject their Greek gifts they will leave you in the lurch; Look further afield for true foreign friends

regally-decked out thoroughbred white charger, possibly a mustang. If you remember that former President Goodluck Jonathan also got given a similar gift when he visited the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, just before the presidential election, it will be obvious that white horse gifts are customary for

presidents and highly placed visitors in that geo-cultural clime.

Let me remind you that Daura, which was founded by Tuaregs some centuries ago, is regarded as the spiritual home of the Hausa people. The Emirate extends from our own Katsina State to Zinder in Niger Republic. Therefore, for Buhari, the trip to Niger Republic was like a ride from one end of one’s hometown to another. And since Niger, Chad and Cameroun are also neck-deep in the war against the Boko Haram terrorists, I am not one of those criticising Buhari for visiting them to exact stronger commitments towards his agenda for ending the bloody nonsense.

I only note, however, that the chicken has come home to roost. Buhari’s wife, Aisha, can now apologise to ex-President Jonathan whom she asked to resign last year when he visited these countries before he commenced the six-week campaign to end the nonsense. Buhari himself should equally apologise to Jonathan because even he has now seen the need to accept the US offer to “assist” to terminate the nonsense. He had, only a month ago, said it was a “shameful” when stories made the round that some South African experts or, if you like, “mercenaries”, were involved in the campaign. Talk can be very cheap, but that is politics for you.

Buhari’s foreign trips have drawn criticisms from several quarters. These included prominent opposition party leaders such as Chief Olu Falae, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and several civil society groups. They called on Buhari to pay more attention to mobilising support at home, rather than starting charity from abroad. This was exactly what people were saying to Obasanjo 16 years ago, but he refused to listen and went to squander billions of Naira on foreign junkets.

Buhari ought to know that with Nigerians fully behind him he can move

mountains. He still has massive goodwill on his side. He should cash in on it and get the Nigerian people, irrespective of how they voted during the elections, behind him. The foreigners will queue up once they notice that. We are quite capable of solving our problems once we are united. What we did to Ebola under Jonathan was the stuff of what a determined, united Nigeria can do. But we do need our neighbours to overcome Boko Haram. If we chase them out of Nigeria into Cameroun, Chad and Niger, we have hardly achieved anything. We have simply given them a wider territory.

Even if the Niger and Chad presidents do not understand English, they certainly will discuss in Hausa or Fulfulde and as Muslims, use it to tell themselves the kind of truth only kinsmen and people of the same faith can share.

But he has to be very wary of the West, especially America and Britain. Let Buhari beware; they are experts at offering Greek gifts. When Britain asks you to bring your “shopping list” and America offers “assistance”, we must know what they want in return. America is not even our crude oil customers anymore. They have become even more irrelevant than ever. They may try to bog down our war on Boko Haram with their harangue of “human rights” blackmail, which Amnesty International has already started brandishing against our serving and former field commanders without concrete proof. Or, worse still, they may re-table their much-coveted demand for the repeal of our collectively-agreed decision to criminalise gay relationships and ban gay marriage in Nigeria.

Former President Jonathan remained their darling until he appended his signature to the anti-gay marriage Bill passed by our patriotic National Assembly.

The West wants to destroy Nigeria, a rising star in Africa with these policies.

They want to use “human rights” to create confusion among us to enable Boko Haram eat into our fabric. Any time we dent the terrorists, either Steven Davis will pop up or Amnesty International will pop in to join pro-Boko Haram Northern interests to accuse our military officers of “human rights” abuses. Meanwhile, they keep mute when Boko Haram seize our towns and plant their evil flags.

The solutions to our problems lie mainly with us here at home. Buhari, beware of the morally degraded West, especially the UK and the USA! If you reject their Greek gifts they will leave you in the lurch. Look further afield for true foreign friends like Russia and China.

OPINION

By Ada Stella Apia-Afi

T

HE wind of Change whose silent whistle emerged on March 28, 2015 finally reached its crescendo, when General Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the fifth democratically elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

So much needs to be said and acknowledged in this particular transition from one government to another. Due commendation and credence must first be given to the good people of Nigeria for their collective efforts in ensuring that our democracy remains. It is to the credit of Nigerians and well-meaning political gladiators that the 2015 elections(widely predicted, even by the international community, to bring about Nigeria’s eventual collapse) went practically uneventfully. Violence was minimal, while the voting process itself was widely acclaimed to be largely free and fair.

We must also commend the two “giant players” in the presidential race – Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, and Ptresident Buhari - both of who in their respective ways, have ensured that national interest has been upheld before, during, and after the elections.

As a new journey in our national life begins, the expectations of all Nigerians are high – it is to be expected!

That relentless patriotic zeal in the psyche of Nigerians informs their high expectations and hope that things can only get better under a totally new dispensation! What defines this belief as well as the pervading electrifying current in and around the country in recent times, is the simple, yet factual, saying,

C M Y K

As the journey of CHANGE begins… “forward ever, backward never!”

I-Nigerian joins all Nigerians to commend our best wishes to the new President, Muhammadu Buhari, and his team.

We must also commend the immediate past administration, led by Dr Jonathan who had steered the ship of governance for the past five years. The good statesmanship exhibited by Jonathan throughout his tenure as president, speaks volumes for him in the history of Nigeria. I-Nigerian wishes him and his family well, and warm wishes on to his next assignment as a global statesman.

The new government, under the headship of President Buhari takes over the reins of power at a time that the clarion call for a boost in the great potential of Nigeria as a country is sounding louder. Suffice it to say that the new government has its work cut out, and must from the onset strive to affirm its appreciation of the huge responsibility entrusted on it by Nigerians, who were swayed by that simple word in its electoral campaign: CHANGE, and came out en masse to vote for CHANGE! It is also a good time to remind ourselves that CHANGE is a word we must ALL – at ALL levels – begin to appropriately and purposefully imbibe in our daily lives, business dealings, and work performance – so that the new dispensation will reflect our much desired renaissance. Indeed, is CHANGE not all about RENAISSANCE – a “rebirth” of our dear nation?!

In doing so, we must, however, not fail to appreciate, and take on board the good in the legacy that has been bequeathed by

the outgoing government. Positive lessons, experiences, and policies from the old are there to consolidate upon, and to serve as a guide as we work towards ensuring the continuity for our common good as a people.

Fellow Nigerians, it’s a new dawn, a new era, a new dispensation, and we must collectively rally our support and cooperation with the new administration in order to actualise our collective vision for Nigeria our country, and for ourselves as a people.

Let us continue to imbibe the spirit of patriotism, unity, nationalism, peace, and tolerance of one another; and eschew those negative thoughts and actions that are inimical to our peace, unity, and continued existence. Let us continue to uphold NATIONAL INTEREST in all its ramifications, and continue to work together for our common good. We ourselves are responsible for the success of our new journey; and we ourselves must rise up and purposefully be the CHANGE that we voted for, and wish to see.

As we consistently say: Who is Nigeria? Nigerians are Nigeria!!!

*Ms Apia-Afi, the National Coordinator, I-Nigerian Initiative, wrote from Abuja

20—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

tle work. First, it is not only members that spent this money, they include the Assembly bureaucracy and office maintenance. Also, such media does not realise that the work of the Senate is quite enormous; first it is not just about making laws, but also carrying out over sight functions,

The way of the Senate T

HE Senate made some of us proud on Wednesday when it pushed Nigeria into the record books; passing 46 bills in ten minutes. That is less than 13 seconds per bill. Even in the 100 metres race, that can fetch a gold medal. The Seventh Senate whose life expired a day later was quite patriotic in working so hard in ten minutes to ensure that the huge money spent on the bills, including time on public hearings do not go to waste. To achieve this, it suspended its rules; assumed that the Distinguished Senators had read the bills and that they had passed the First, Second and Third Readings and were therefore ripe fruits to be plucked as laws of the Federal Republic.

Rather than being pilloried, the Senate deserves praise for executing in ten glorious minutes, a job it was assigned four years to complete. This is nothing short of a miracle. It also shows that the succeeding Eighth Senate can go to sleep for most of its life span, collecting the normal allowances, and

then spend one or two hours doing the work of law making.

To be sure, many of the thirteen-second bills passed are quite important. These include those on Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Diaspora, Witness Protection, Economic Intelligence and Whistle-blower Protection. Prior to that glorious d a y, t h e b u s y S e n a t e h a d passed 77 bills in four years, but with the new ones, the bills came to 123. It shows that in politics, not just 24 hours, but ten minutes can be a long time.

It is also a reminder that politicians should not be taken for granted. You can imagine that if this were an election, with almost all votes counted totaling 77, then just as the collation is coming to an end, 46 votes came in, that would be the clincher.

It was also necessary for the Senate to correct the impression that the hallowed chambers is a grave yard for bills.

Some media, trying to cast aspersions, informed that the National Assembly spent N600 billion in four years doing lit-

Rather than being pilloried, the Senate deserves praise for executing in ten glorious minutes, a job it was assigned four years to complete; this is nothing short of a miracle which we all agree, it does very well. Also, it does the tedious work of screening some officials like ministers. As the last screening of Ministers like Musiliu Obanikoro showed, this can be an hazardous task that needs careful timing and execution. In

Oil subsidy: Will APC allow President Buhari to play ball?

By Godwin Etakibuebu

O

NE of those few Nigerians well grounded in the nefarious and technically slippery Nigerian oil terrain is the Managing Director of Capital Oil, IfeanyiUbah. He is a colossus in the industry, mostly at the downstream sector.

He has invested heavily in the promotion of the trade. He knows all the department of the sector. He has made stupendous wealth from moving the “black gold” product from one place to another. Yes, the gossip in some quarters is that the man, by this trade, is richer than his home state of Anambra in the South East of Nigeria.

If a man of this resume speaks on any subject matter within the industry, l think it will be the principle of economic wisdom for people to listen. If we [Nigerians] fail to give thought to his comment, again strictly on oil matters, we shall be doing so to our own collective peril. IfeanyiUbah was quoted recently as urging President Muhammadu Buhari “to stop subsidising petrol and probe oil marketers whose actions almost led to the shutdown of the country recently”. Two things played out here that need urgent and critical evaluation. First, is the urgent need for the Federal Government to deregulate the industry by total removal of oil subsidy, and the second, according to Ubah, is “probing the oil marketers”.

Let us for now step down the call for probing the oil marketers while we consider for serious adoption the removal of the subsidy. I am not saying that Ubah’s “wise” call for probing the oil marketers should be entirely discarded. No, what l am saying is to step it aside temporarily for reason l C M Y K

shall mention shortly.

IfeanyiUbah even psyched up President Buhari on this topic by saying that “he is not a stranger to the sector, having been a former minister of petroleum. He will be respected if he takes the step because there is no point in paying subsidy when Nigerians are not benefiting from it”.Here really is the “atomic bomb-shell” – Nigerians are not “benefiting from it”.

Could that be true? Yes, but not the total truth. Few “first class” Nigerians are benefiting massively from the subsidy paid to the oil marketers. This tiny group of “super Nigerians” included those once listed for “offenses of oil subsidy scam” – a list once compiled and presented to Nigerians by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. IfeanyiUbah was one of the “few privileged Nigerians” that made that list”honourably”.

If we must eliminate corruption in Nigeria, deregulation leading to removal of oil subsidy becomes inevitable and must be done with speed

any case, it is not the number of bills passed that matters, but the quality.

The impression is given that the House of Representatives is more proactive and hard working. This mistaken view might be due to the fact that the Honourables tend to be younger and more agile. But the older people in the Senate might be more deliberate and reflective. The Senate is a privileged place; home to former and out-going governors, former commissioners, prospective ministers and elder statesmen. So it is not a chamber that can be hurried. Although a number of its members may look old, but the Senate’s action last Wednesday, showed it can rise up to the occasion.

It is necessary to point out that the impression we have about a snoring Senate is not peculiar to Nigeria. The Senate in the United States, the country we take as the ultimate in democracy is certainly in a worse state. In October 2010, the US Senate was sitting on a total of 420 Bills already passed by the House of representatives. On July 20, 2014, Hon Lynn Jenkins, a Republican held a press conference to express her anger against the Senate which she christened the “Do nothing Senate” for sitting on 352 bills one week before it was to wind up. The bills she claimed were so important to the lives of Americans that at the House, 50 percent of them had passed unanimously with no opposition, while 70 percent were passed

Let us return to the issue of removing the subsidy because of its contentiousness.

Evaluation of IfeanyiUbah’s conclusion, while advising the President will be a better guideline on the way forward on this matter. “The President will be doing the right thing if he deregulates the sector so that the product will be sold at cheaper rate in the future. I have always been of the view that we should deregulate so that we can cut out corruption, but unfortunately, Nigerians didn’t take it from former President Goodluck Jonathan”.

There are two secrets revealed in this piece of advice. The first one is that if we must eliminate corruption in Nigeria, deregulation leading to removal of oil subsidy becomes inevitable and must be done with speed. The second is more of a revelation and that is the fact that the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, was bold enough at a time to have attempted total removal of the oil subsidy but “Nigerians did not take it from him”. This is enough food for thought.

Nigerians did not take it from him!

The way and manner we deal with these two secrets revealed above will determine how much success or otherwise Nigeria shall be able to achieve in the battle against oil subsidy. The first step is the boldness to remove the subsidy while the second is the possibility of compromising those “Nigerians” that resisted Jonathan’s attempt [subsidy removal] at a time.

Getting the first is going to be easy with Buhari in the saddle as President because he has vowed to “kill corruption before corruption kills Nigeria”. The second one however, is not going to be easier as Buhari, a democratically elected President, can only achieve what he intends to do by working with Nigerians – the same “Nigerians” that ganged-up against President Jonathan when he embarked on the voyage of “subsidy removal”. This assignment of bringing these “Nigerians”

by two thirds of the House, yet the Senate sent them to the grave yard. But killing bills cannot be the sole prerogative of the Senate; there are also bills passed by it which were pending in the House.

Some of us think that Nigeria already has too many laws, so the Eighth Senate to be inaugurated tomorrow does not need to be as hard working as its predecessor. But for its over sight functions, it could have been suggested that after inauguration, the Senate can go on sabbatical.

This raises an old issue: do we need a bicameral legislature? Can’t one chamber do the legislative work the country needs? I think it can. In any case, the mere concurrence of the Senate to the 46 bills in the belief that the House must have done a thorough job, gives credence to this. If the argument is that like the Americans, we need both, is the number not unwieldy; 109 in Senate and 360 in the House making a total 469 legislators. The prevailing argument in the country is that we need to reduce the cost of governance, and free funds for needs like building and maintaining schools and hospitals.

Should we not start with the National Assembly? Let it not be assumed that I think the National Assembly is not very useful; in fact, were we, to make a choice between having a country without a Senate or one without an Executive, my vote will be for the former.

to support President Buhari may really be tough, but, to my mind, is achievable if we apply the wisdom of identifying these “Nigerians”. Let us search them out.

It was the first day of January 2012, when President Jonathan gave Nigerians “a bad new year gift”, so it was called, by total removal of oil subsidy, that the “Nigerians”IfeanyiUbah said resisted Jonathan was “born”. Being a new-born baby, the “naming ceremony” took place at the popular Gani Fawehimi Freedom Square at Ojota area of Lagos. Invitations for the naming ceremony was sent out by the “The Save Nigeria Group”, a movement put together by the radical Lagos State-based cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, while the Lagos State government, under the political umbrella of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the precursor and “mother” of today’s All Progressives Congress, APC, provided the logistics for the fun and it was appropriately tagged “Occupy Nigeria”.

It was at this “naming ceremony”, loaded with the largest carnival in the annals of Lagos State history that Jonathan's bold attempt to remove the oil subsidy was “shot down” by the “parents of the newly-born baby”. Who are the parents? It is easy identifying them as those pointed out above and they are the people of the same character that later made the formation of the APC possible. They are the “Nigerians” identified by IfeanyiUbah that “did not take it from Goodluck Jonathan”.

The question therefore is: Will the APC, now in control of the Federal Government, agree with President Buhari to remove the cancerous oil subsidy so that Nigeria can be saved from this monumental corruption that is “killing us”? Will they? Only time shall tell.

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

JUNE 8, 2015

N20.9bn agric fund for farmers in Nigeria, 11 other nations

BY OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

N

igerian small-holder farmers and those from 11 other Africa countries are to benefit from the Global Environment Facility, an innovative N20.975 billion ($106.5 million) pilot programme for fostering sustainability and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The twelve African dry-land countries are Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Niger, Kenya, Senegal, Swaziland,

Tanzania, and Uganda.

According to GEF, these dry-land regions face the greatest threat of environmental degradation in smallholder farms, and are therefore well placed to harness good practices for sustainability and resilience such as soil and water conservation, diversification of farmlands, and integrated management of crops and livestock.

GEF financing for the programme will be driven by the priorities of participating countries, primarily in the context of baseline investments

addressing the needs of small-holder farmers. The programme, it was further learnt, will enable creation or strengthening of institutional frameworks to promote integrated

approaches in small holding agriculture; promote scaling-up of interventions for sustainability and resilience; and ensure effective monitoring of ecosystem services and global environmental benefits through application of innovative tools and practices.

Mr. Richard Lerisien Lesiyampe, GEF council member from Kenya in endorsing GEF’s integrated programmatic approach said: “The whole world must develop a framework for food security; this working programme is so significant it will go into the annals of the GEF.” The Global Environment Facility Continues on page 22

Banks shun loan proposals for vessel acquisition

BY GODWIN ORITSE

CEREMONY - From left: Funke Aiyepola, Managing Director, Union Trustees Limited; Binta Max-Gbinije, Secretary General, Association of Corporate Trustees (ACT); Funmilayo Ekundayo, President of ACT, Abdulkadir Abbas, Deputy Director, Securities Offering, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria; and Tokunbo Ajayi, during the Association’s 1st Quarter Training Programme, held at UBA House, Lagos.

T

HE crisis presently rocking the Nigerian Ship-owners Association, (NISA) last week, took a new dimension as banks participating in the ship acquisition scheme have shunned and stopped processing loan applications for vessel acquisition by local ship operators planning to acquire ships to boost their fleet.

The move by banks to stop processing loan applications for Nigerian ship-owners is due to the fact that the banks are confused as to what group in the now factionalised body, are they to deal with in processing loan applications. The banks need a corporate guarantee for each application which the association is supposed to provide for its members. Disclosing this development last week in Lagos, Secretary General of the break away faction of the Association, Mr. Tunji Brown said that the banks are now very skeptical of dealing with any of the groups as the banks claim they do not know which of the factions is the genuine umbrella body of shipContinues on page 22 C M Y K

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Economy FAO Food Price Index falls to its lowest value since September 2009

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

M

VISIT: From left, Mr. Oze K. Oze, Head, Corporate Publications & Conferences, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Bukie Oluyadi, Head, Brand Management, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association (APRA) and Kayode Yeku, APRA Coordinator during a Thank You visit by APRA to First Bank Corporate Headquarters, Marina Lagos.

N20.9bn agric fund for farmers in Nigeria, 11 other nations Continued from page 21 said the innovative $106.5 million pilot programme for fostering sustainability and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa is in response to the growing pressure to transform African agriculture through intensification with high inputs and high yielding varieties that will likely undermine sustainability of the natural capital.

According to the body, “By integrating environmental priorities at scale, the programme, entitled Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa will enable smallholder farmers in the dry-land regions of SubSaharan Africa ensure the sustainability and resilience of production systems”.

Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of GEF said: “Sustainability of the natural capital — land, water, soil, trees, and genetic resources — that underpin food and nutrition security, must be ensured by bridging the gap between traditional and modern farming practices.

Smallholder agriculture, which accounts for more than 70 percent of agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa, can benefit from a holistic approach to management of natural capital.”

It was learnt that the total GEF financing of $106.5 million will be supplemented by $805.36 million cofinanced from the C M Y K

governments, development agencies, foundations, international organizations, and the private sector. IFAD is the lead GEF agency for the programme, and seven

other GEF agencies — CI, FAO, IFAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, and the World Bank — will support the individual country projects.

Banks shun loan proposals for vessel acquisition Continued from page 21 owners in Nigeria.

According to Brown, the need to reconcile the various groups with a view to working together for the common good of the association cannot be emphasized. He blamed the President, Captain Niyi Labinjo for the crisis rocking the association.

Brown refused to disclose full details of the reason why Captain Labijo was being asked to step aside. He said that until the matter was resolved and the authorities cleared Labinjo of any wrong doing, the elected President remains suspended.

Brown who spoke at a purported Annual General Meeting of the association held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos said that effort to get Labinjo to see reason for his suspension was futile as Labinjo is insisting that a private business deal with partners should not be the business of the association.

The NISA scribe said the association would not have intervened in the failed business deal because it was a private business but the fact

that the company petitioned the association, the Federal Ministry of Transport, and the EFCC got them involved.

He also said the botched deal has taken its toll on NISA members as banks were skeptical in doing business with them.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Eddy Idigo of Fidelity Bank told Vanguard that the banks are very much concerned about the crisis in the association.

Idigo said that it will not be proper to give money to a group who cannot provide corporate guarantee for such loan applications, adding that the banks are being careful as to whom to disburse monies to.

The annual Nigerian Maritime Exposition otherwise known as NIMAREX which is an initiatitive of the Labinjo led group, has also been affected as two planning Committees working with separate members have been constituted.

He said: “NISA is divided into two and that is affecting Continues on page 23

ajor food commodity p r i c e s declined again in May, hitting an almost six-year low as cereal prices fell substantially amid a favourable outlook for this year’s harvests.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 166.8 points in May, down 1.4 percent from April and as much as 20.7 percent from a year earlier.

FAO has also upgraded its May 2015 forecast for global production of wheat, coarse grains and rice, anticipating bigger maize harvests in China and Mexico as well as more abundant wheat harvests in Africa and North America.

The Organization’s latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief released on Friday also predicts that global rice output will grow by 1.3 percent from last year mainly thanks to increases across Asia.

However, the forecast is still subject to much uncertainty, as the outcome of the season will very much depend on the unfolding of the season in the next few months.

The Food Price Index is a

trade-weighted index that tracks prices on international markets of five major food commodity groups: cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar. In May, the Index reached its lowest level since September 2009.

The May decline was driven by a 3.8 percent monthly drop in the cereal price index, a 2.9 percent drop in the dairy price index and a one percent drop in the meat price index.

The sugar price index rose 2.0 percent, due to temporary delays in Brazil’s crushing season despite abundant supplies.

The vegetable oil price index rose 2.6 percent, partly driven by concerns that the strengthening of El Niño conditions may affect production in Southeast Asia.

On the latest upgraded forecasts, global cereal production in 2015 will be 2.524 billion tonnes, only one percent below last year ’s record.

While some inventories will be drawn down, the world cereal stockto-use ratio is projected to dip marginally, “reinforcing the view of generally stable cereal markets”, according to FAO.

Kenya’s president nominates IMF adviser as central bank chief

K

enya’s president has picked an IMF adviser, Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, as the next central bank governor, pending approval by parliament, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Njoroge is an adviser to a deputy managing director at the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, has been named to lead the bank at a time when the shilling has come under heavy pressure because of the global strength of the dollar, falling foreign exchange revenues and a widening current account deficit.

Manoah Esipisu, the

president’s spokesman, said Njoroge’s name was being put forward by President Uhuru Kenyatta for “vetting and approval” by parliament.

The president had been given a shortlist of three names after official interviews by the Public Service Commission, in charge of recruiting government staff.

His choice is expected to be approved by parliament, in which Kenyatta’s Jubilee coalition has a majority.

Njoroge, who has a PhD in Economics from Yale University, would replace Njuguna Ndung’u whose term ended in March.

Financial experts call for harmonisation of economic policies

S

ome financial experts have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to initiate friendly policies and laws to boost the nation’s investment climate. They said in Lagos that the market regulators must ensure proper implementation of policies and laws to enhance economic growth and development. Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, a former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that unfriendly policies of government agencies were affecting small businesses and investment in the nation’s bourse. Unegbu said that regulators should understand the peculiarity of the country before initiating any policy, adding that regulators had exhibited impunity in implementation of policies.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 23

CBN needs out-of-the-box thinking to control informal sector, banks

F

ormer military President, General Ibrahim Babangida was once quoted at a meeting with the organized private sector during the Structural Adjustment Programme SAP, as saying that he did not know why the Nigerian economy had not collapsed.

He was reacting to the inability of government to develop policies and strategies to deal with the economy. Over the years, successive administrations have made futile efforts at diversifying the Nigerian economy. What many of Nigerian policy-makers have failed to take into calculation in developing their economic models is the huge potential of the informal sector. Nigeria over the years, has failed to give the sector attention and take its potential into consideration in policy formulation.

The result of this neglect has resulted in policy failures. In other countries, the small and medium enterprises are regarded as the engine of economic growth and appropriate policy measures are taken to grow the sector.

In some of these countries, no entrepreneur can even operate a trade in a kiosk without registration with the appropriate authorities. The Nigerian informal sector is so huge and has long been left alone. Government officials do not know the strength of the sector.

This neglect has caused policy failures and pain in the neck of fiscal and monetary policy-makers. In the informal sector, there is a lot of money circulating in the system that may never get to

the banking system.

N i g e r i a n businessmen in the informal sector have developed a unique African banking system where money is collected on daily basis and given to one participant in the scheme.

Traders in most markets across the country do this on daily, weekly and monthly basis. Apart from market places, rural dwellers have been known to practice this traditional mode of savings for long.

Workers have keyed into this model and

•Emefiele, CBN Governor

have helped to keep substantial part of the money in circulation outside the banking system in the hands of operators in the informal sector to the detriment of CBN's monetary policy. While the CBN targets money in the banking system to curb perceived liquidity, it is not able to do anything about the money outside the banking system. As money is withdrawn from banks, almost an equivalent returns through the back door from the informal sector.

The need to permanently address this structural liquidity in the economy calls for a rethink of the nation’s monetary policy,and improving the efficacy of the apex bank monetary policy ratios. The second issue that the CBN is yet to find a solution to is the sharp practices in banks. At the moment there is the pressing

need to address currency substitution from public sector deposit to private sector deposit by banks which is assuming a dangerous dimension. Nigerian banks as it is with others globally, are fond of cutting corners. They have not focused on core financial

While the CBN targets money in the banking system to curb perceived liquidity, it is unable to do anything about money outside the banking system

intermediation but have been manipulating the cash reserve ratio to their advantage.

Indications are that when the CBN increased the cash reserve ratio requirement of public sector funds to 75 per cent, banks immediately were substituting public sector deposit with private deposit by reclassification of public sector deposit as private deposit.

This behaviour of banks is seen as a product of market and state failures that led to the paradox of substantial government deposits in banks and high government borrowing from the same banks. The banks cashing on public sector deposit with them, lend the same money to federal and state governments that have penchant for borrowing. CBN records showed that as at June 13, 2013, the three tiers of government had N2.384 trillion in the various Nigerian banks out of which about 90 per cent are in zero interestbearing Current Accounts.

For the CBN to mop up the liquidity at 14 per cent interest cost the apex bank N301.33 billion which is more than the annual budgets of most states in the country. Clearly, governments are overborrowing from the banks where bulk of the money is government deposit. This has shown that governments at various levels in the country are not prudent with public funds and are wasteful in the management of public resources.

In addition, this act of banks certainly undermines and corrupts the public sector and makes public resources to generate inefficient outputs and ineffective outcomes.

Improving the market and the state demands the correction of the causes of distortions.

CBN data shows significant changes in the ownership and instrument structure of the deposits of banks in favour of growth in government deposit and a more efficient use of financial instruments by the government when the cash reserve ratio was retained at 50 per cent.

CBN data equally showed that between June and August 2013 for which data are available, the Federal Government's naira deposit with banks rose by almost N1.5 trillion. By corollary, private deposits declined by N1.077 trillion. As a result, total public sector naira deposit rose to N3.73 trillion in August 2013 from N2.384 trillion in June 2013 while private sector naira deposits fell to N8.7 trillion from N9.78 trillion in the same period. In addition, a significant part of the increase in the Federal Government's naira deposit (81%) was held in Time Deposit in August 2013.

But when it was raised to 75 per cent last year, the reverse was noticed as banks were immediately substituting public sector deposit with private sector. This would imply that the banks are always a step ahead of monetary policy and work towards making it ineffective. The CBN has been collaborating with the Bureau of Statistics to undertake surveys and studies of the Nigerian economy.

So far, they have not done any outstanding research on the causes and failure of monetary policies in Nigeria.

Now is the time to do so.

Cover Ethiopia topples Nigeria on foreign investment destination list in Africa

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

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igeria may be in for tougher times as foreign investors are beginning to shift their attention to Ethiopia as a preferred investment decision.

This was indicated by the buzz at the just concluded World Economic Forum on Africa, an annual summit of the continent’s rich and powerful, which was all about Ethiopia, where the economy is flourishing and the

government is embracing select foreign capital.

Executives from General Electric Co., Dow Chemical Co., Standard Bank Group Ltd. and MasterCard Inc. attending the gathering in Cape Town were reported to have all

singled out the East African nation as a market with strong potential.

Ethiopia was Africa’s eighthlargest recipient of foreign direct investment last year, up from 14th position in 2013, a report released by accounting

Banks shun loan proposals for vessels acquisition Continued from page 22 NIMAREX. Banks are calling; sponsors of the event are calling to know what is happening in the association.”

Speaking on the development, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun called on the

warring parties to shield their sword and give peace a chance to move the association forward. A member of the association who was also in attendance at the meeting , Mr. Ayorinde Adedoyin told Vanguard that

some of the banks are members of the association and they have a way of passing information to each other.

Adedoyin also said that there are members who have new contracts but the banks are not willing to fund such contracts

as a result of the current crisis.

In his reaction, President of the NISA, Capt Niyi Labinjo said that the idea that banks are shunning loan applications is the figment of the imagination of the break away group.

firm, Ernst & Young showed.

The number of projects in Ethiopia surged 88 percent, the most of all countries ranked, while those in Nigeria slumped 17 percent.

“It’s got a government that is managing economic development in a very deliberate, cautious manner.

It’s the second-most populous country in Africa. It hasn’t urbanized like other African countries, but it’s going to. It’s a very exciting place,” Ross McLean, Dow’s president for sub-Saharan Africa, told the media in an interview last week.

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Business & Economy

26 ships laden with petrol, diesel, food items, expected in Lagos

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By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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‘NIRP Managers Capacity Building Programme on Investment Project Appraisal’, said that the NIRP, being one of the fruits of the partnership between UNIDO and Nigeria, should be sustained in spite of the change in leadership.

Ezedinma affirmed that UNIDO has been partnering with the Nigerian Government, especially in the area of industrialisation.

“It is not a plan that should be phased out or abandoned in the face of a change in

government because industrial revolution is for economic

wenty-six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other commodities are expected to arrive at Lagos ports from June 3 to June 20. This is contained in a publication, Daily Shipping Position, made available by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.

The document noted that the expected ships contained petrol, kerosene, diesel, containers, general cargo, fish, bulk gypsum and bulk wheat. It said that 11 other ships laden with petrol, diesel, base oil, bulk rice and fresh fish had arrived at the ports, awaiting discharge of their contents.

The publication stated that 26 other ships containing petrol, diesel, bulk gas, aviation fuel, rice, crude palm oil, bulk wheat were discharging at the ports. Other ships in the ports are discharging general cargo, trucks, etc.

he United Nations I n d u s t r i a l Development Organisation (UNIDO) has called on the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to intensify efforts at sustaining the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

Officer-In-Charge of UNIDO in Nigeria, Mr Chima Ezedinma at the opening ceremony of the workshop on

S.Africa’s Liberty looking for acquisitions in Nigeria

CONFERENCE - From right: National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief Bassey Edem; Cross River State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (Rep of President Muhammadu Buhari), Alhaji Baba Umar Farouk and 1st Deputy National President of NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson at the association's 55th Annual Conference held in Calabar, Cross River State.

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iberty Holdings, South Africa’s fourth largest insurer, is looking at acquisitions in Nigeria to establish a strong regional presence in West Africa, its chief executive said.

The Johannesburg-based firm, which is majority owned

by Africa’s biggest lender Standard Bank, has an asset management outfit in Ghana and a regional health insurance business in Nigeria but seeks to expand its footprint, CEO Thabo Dloti said.

“Clearly the big area where we are looking to establish ourselves is Nigeria, both in insurance and asset management,” Dloti told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Africa in Cape Town.

“It’s a journey we’ve travelled for the last year or so, looking for the right opportunity and finding the right partner.” Liberty reported a 3 percent decline in full-year profit in February, reflecting a contraction in earnings from its shareholder investment portfolio.

In all, Liberty has a presence in 16 countries in Africa. It has around 650 billion rand ($53 billion) of assets under management.

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UNIDO calls on new administration to sustain NIRP NIRP was proactively designed to salvage Nigeria’s economy from its monolithic trend

CEOs concerned over fiscal deficits T

here is a call on government to apply a renewed focus to strike a fiscal balance and sustainability in order to reduce the cost of delivery. In the same fold, governments should boost agility of public sector organisations to cope with changes in the future. These were just two findings from the PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) th 18 Annual Global CEO Survey. There were 1322 responses from business leaders in 77 countries worldwide being added to valuable insights from 50 governments’ representatives and state-backed CEOs. Kalani Rampai, leader of local government at PwC Southern Africa, said it has become more important than ever for government to be affordable especially in light of recurrent budget cuts to reduce fiscal deficits in many countries.

“This means doing better for less - meeting rising expectations by doing things differently to deliver services more effectively and efficiently and prioritising the public services that matter most to citizens, as well as to business,” said Rampai. At the top of the CEO’s wish list for governments’ attention was: an internationally competitive and efficient tax system, a skilled and adaptable and workforce and adequate physical infrastructure. A notable 78 per cent of South African CEO’s feel that it’s the government’s responsibility to create a

skilled workforce.

Following this survey, PwC’s public sector released a report titled, ‘Government & the Global CEO: Delivering outcomes, creating value’, which calls for government and public sectors to respond in five key ways.

Firstly, deal with fiscal deficits and make government affordable. Seventy-two per cent of CEO’s surveyed are “somewhat” or “extremely” concerned about this threat.

Secondly, rise to the digital challenges.

With affordable government facilities tackling the new reality, digital technology has the potential to be a key enabler, offering the scope to deliver higher productivity and better outcomes while also reducing costs.

Thirdly, invest in growth.

“This requires public leadership to facilitate a more demand-driven skills system, meeting employer needs, as well as developing a workforce comprising people from different backgrounds who are adaptable and able to think and work in diverse ways,” said Rampai. Fourthly to collaborate with business to deliver societal outcomes and lastly, to tackle the burden of regulation and tax.

“There is an important agenda for public leaders to deliver on all these five areas.

Delivering on business priorities, alongside societal outcomes, requires real leadership and trust between citizens and the state for each to do the right thing.”

good, not political.

He decried high unemployment and low contribution of the manufacturing sector to the growth of the economy saying there is need to take non-oil sector more seriously.

“UNIDO is worried about some pressing issues such as massive unemployment and the low contribution of manufacturing to the growth of the economy.

"Former President Goodluck Jonathan launched NIRP in February as a roadmap to industrial revolution and promotion of local manufacturing."

Ezedinma asserted that the workshop is the first formal training under the UNIDO implemented programme, which objective is to develop the capabilities in the NIRP implementation teams to be able to distinguish between the profitability of an industrial project for the investor and the benefits of the same project can have on the economy.

Furthermore, he averred that the trainees numbering about 60 from different institutions across the nation, would learn the skills to measure and assess both the private and social costs and benefits of investment projects.

“This is an important capability for the NIRP teams to acquire because the process of implementing the NIRP is one in which decisions need to be made about how to select and promote industrial projects.”

In an interview with Vanguard, Engr. Omotanwa Awobokun of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said NIRP was proactively designed to salvage Nigeria’s economy from its monolithic trend.

The NIRP, Awobokun said, is a game changer for Nigeria to further deepen the promotion of diversification through effective exploitation of resources where the country has competitive and comparative advantage.

She added that the NIRP was tagged the most ambitious and c o m p r e h e n s i v e industrialisation programme because it is based on the areas where Nigeria has competitive and comparative advantage such as automotive, garment, among others.

Those sub-sectors, she noted, have been identified as areas where Nigeria can be number one in Africa and top 10 globally.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 25

Interview The advertiser then gets the feedback and alert that the advert has been accepted. So Vanguard’s job is to check that it conforms to its requirement

BY EBELE ORAKPO AND ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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Kayode Shobajo is the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Technopreneur of Adplus Software Company Limited, a subsidiary of HIIT Plc. In this chat with Financial Vanguard, he talks about Adplus360, an online advert placement portal and how advert agents stand to benefit from the portal. Excerpts What is the portal all about?

Adplus Software Company Limited is a subsidiary of HIIT and we have Adplus360 portal to which Vanguard has signed on. We recently trained Vanguard freelance advert agents on how to use the portal and we are happy with Vanguard. The Adplus360 portal enables all advertisers using IT via the internet to advertise in media houses that have signed up on Adplus portal. The adverts are prepaid and that’s crucial for media houses because of credit issue.

As it is, we have trained all other relevant staff of Vanguard.

Right now, Vanguard is running live on Adplus360. We have made several commercial adverts on banks through Adplus360. The freelancers are relevant because they are like agents to Adplus, meaning that in addition to using Adplus to advertise in Vanguard, they can equally advertise in other newspapers without going to their offices. It is not limited to freelancers alone, we have graduates who wish to do same. All they need do is go to www.adplus.ng/adp to register and they will become members after meeting the requirements. Then they can start operating despite the fact that they are not freelancers or agents to any newspaper.

How long have you been in operation?

Vanguard signed on late last year and we started commercially two months ago.

Adplus360 is our own innovation and we own the patent. We have invested a lot of time and resources over the last six months, waiting for the environment to be right. It’s an ICT product and before now, people were not very comfortable with doing things online and payment solutions were not as friendly as they are today. So we had to wait for the buy-in of the society to attain the level it is right now. So, people are getting comfortable with digital ways of doing things.

What challenges relating to advertising are you trying to address?

•Kayode Shobajo

Adplus360 will benefit advert agents more – Shobajo Before Adplus360 came on board, whoever wanted to advertise will have to call the Advert department of any media house, follow through with the people and look for how to pay. The client could possibly visit the office and all the physical movement associated with advertising in a media house. But as it is now, from your computer through Adplus360 portal, you can do all that. In as little as three to five minutes, you are done with your advert, pay the media house and they have accepted your advert as good to go. As soon as the media house accepts that the advert is good to go, the money moves to the media house and that’s why it’s prepayment. Otherwise if they owe me and I am sending advert to Vanguard, even Vanguard will not like it. What will be Vanguard’s gain? So now, without knowing Vanguard’s Advert manager for instance, I can go to

Adplus360 portal and send my advert from there. Let’s say that I am in Abuja or outside the country, and I go to Adplus portal to advertise and follow the process, in maximum of five minutes, I am done and Vanguard has its money. Let me give a simple scenario of the convenience that Adplus360 provides for people. For instance, if I want to do a change of name as a woman, I don’t have to call anybody. I will just go to Adsplus360, follow the process and it is done. I don’t even have to become an Adpluspreneur, which means an agent of Adplus360. So the problem we have solved is the clumsiness that was associated with the physical flow of things in advertising and people that want to put public notices in the papers getting to the media houses.

Adplus360 serves all categories such as self- service users, our own agents whom we call Adpluspreneurs and

advert agencies including media houses. They can use the convenience of Adplus360 to get to media houses that have signed up with Adplus360. But right now, the significant media house that has signed up is Vanguard which is why we are bonding with Vanguard to say ‘Take advantage of this opportunity before others sign up.’

Vanguard has an advantage in Adplus360. All over the country and beyond, anybody that has access to the internet can go to www.adplus.ng and advertise in the paper.

Vanguard by this very act, has offices anywhere there is internet access so the paper can advertise that it has offices all over the world now because internet is global and intensive. You may not be able to imagine the quantum of commercial activities Vanguard is going to have when that information goes public. Vanguard has now taken ownership. However, people are still looking and saying, ‘Adplus360, what will it do? Will it take our jobs? And so on.’ That is why we had to come and encourage the freelancers. We told them that it’s a change which time has come and they must just become part of it intelligently as against sitting on the wall and watching before other media houses sign up. We have limited number of targets, it is not as if it is open ended and everybody can become an agent of Adplus360 at anytime. We have a ceiling because we want it to be rewarding to those who joined first. We want them to know that they cannot wake up from their slumber at anytime and just join saying that after all, there are no closing barriers.

How are adverts censored against libelous materials?

Adplus360 does not take away the duty of Vanguard from Vanguard. Vanguard still accepts all its adverts. The way the technology is

designed is this, when I place my advert, the advert manager or the assistant gets an alert that somebody has placed an advert. They go to the portal themselves, either on their smart phones or their desktop, open and accept it. The advertiser then gets the feedback and alert that the advert has been accepted. So Vanguard’s job is to check that it conforms to its requirement.

If it is an advert that needs certification, the person must equally upload such certificate which the advert manager or whoever is delegated to check and confirm that it is certified.

So it is the job of Vanguard to accept. What the portal does is to process. If Vanguard does not accept, there is option to reject. So when you reject, you have to reject with a comment because if the advert gets back to me and there is no comment, I will think that it is a mistake.

Until Vanguard accepts, the money will not digitally switch to Vanguard because they have not transacted any business. In cases where adverts or public notices could be libelous, Vanguard can allow us to activate her lawyer’s number in an email in a manner that he can open it and clear before advert people accept but that is subject to Vanguard policy.

What they are doing right now is that they download it, consult the lawyer for his opinion before accepting it. We have a functionality to even let the lawyer see it first. If a public notice is of this nature, the first person that clears it will be the lawyer and then the advert manager does the general check.

Won’t Adplus360 take away business from advert agents?

Let’s understand the flow for adverts. There are three channels. Channel one is as a self- service, just like I am paying for my DSTV. I just go to a DSTV website and pull down the bouquet I want and off I go. But DSTV too still has agents and offices where I can go and pay if I choose. Now the freelancers are relevant to our second channel which is the window we opened for agents. Instead of making them lose their jobs, we are expanding their opportunities because they don’t need to be agents or freelancers of Vanguard alone, they can be that of other newspapers when the media houses sign up. The advantage is that they don’t have to be coming to Vanguard office everyday because once you get the job, you log into the portal and process it and you pay the money upfront. And Vanguard gets her money and you get yours. Some of the concerns of advert agents are about instances where advert clients won’t pay upfront.

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Banking & Finance

By YINKA KOLAWOLE

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hen Mr. Godwin Emefiele became the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on June 3, 2014, there was visible pressure on the Naira as well as a decline in the country’s foreign reserves.

Vision n assumption of office, Emefiele unveiled his vision for the Nigerian financial sector. This include: Pursuing gradual reduction in key interest rates, and include unemployment rate in monetary policy decisions; maintain exchange rate stability and aggressively shore up foreign exchange reserves; and building sector-specific expertise in banking supervision to reflect loan concentration of the banking industry. Others are: Abolishing fees associated with limits on deposits and reconsider ongoing practice in which all fees associated with limits on withdrawals accrue to banks alone; introducing a broad spectrum of financial instruments to boost specific enterprise areas in agriculture, manufacturing, health, and oil and gas.

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Achievements n spite of the challenges, chief of which has been the fall in the global price of crude oil, Emefiele and his team at the CBN, within the past 12 months, have recorded notable milestones.

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Financial System Stability: Within the past one year, CBN has regulated operations of Bureaux de Change (BDCs) to check rent-seeking among operators, depletion of the nation’s foreign reserves, unauthorized financial transactions, and dollarizing the economy, among others.

For instance, out of 130 BDCs sampled based on volume of purchase from banks, as at the time of the reforms, the Bank found 121 BDCs, representing 93 percent, to be in breach of the objectives and provisions of its guidelines.

Bank Supervision: owards achieving the mandate of ensuring safety and soundness of the financial system, CBN conducted a Risk-Based examination of all banks with High and Above Average Composite Risk Rating in June 2014 and those with Moderate and Low Composite Risk Rating in

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Emefiele, one year in the CBN saddle September 2014. It also carried out the Foreign Exchange Examination of all banks in September 2014 as well as the routine examination of all discount houses and financial holding companies in October 2014.

In January 2015, it carried out the Risk Asset Examination of 24 banks as at December 31, 2014. Within the period, CBN commenced the implementation of the BASEL II Accord aimed at promoting financial system stability by ensuring that banks are adequately capitalized and have enhanced risk management systems.

Consumer Protection: he bank has within the period facilitated the refund of more than N4.01 billion to bank customers based on complaints resolved and directives communicated to them following the Consumer Compliance Examinations and a spotcheck conducted on the banks. It concluded full deployment of the Consumer Complaint Management System (CCMS) with the migration of all banks to the live platform of the system.

of beneficiaries being women, while N30.31 million has been accessed by 292 People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) Banking and Payments System n conjunction with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), ecollection element of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) took off on March 1, 2015. This ensures real time remittance of government receipts directly into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account (CRF) to enthrone transparency and accountability in management of government receivables, and promotes effective monetary policy and reduces cost of liquidity management borne by the bank. Removal of charges on cash deposits was also introduced to encourage flow of deposits to DMBs.

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Other Financial Institutions: he reform of the BDC segment of the Foreign Exchange Market was concluded on 31st July, 2014, resulting in 2,501 BDCs with caution deposits and capital base of N35 million each. The bank issued a final licence to the National Mortgage and Re-financing Company (NMRC) to commence operation in 2015 under the Housing Fund Programme (NHFP). It carried out further reforms of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), with 32 PMBs fully capitalized as at June 30, 2014 while 10 were in the category given up to December 31, 2014. Licences of 21 PMBs which failed to recapitalize or had remained technically insolvent were revoked. It also partnered with the Federal Government and Development Partners to midwife the Development Bank of Nigeria that is envisaged to address the paucity of low interest and long-term funding for MSMEs in Nigeria.

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

developmental financing initiatives of the bank. New schemes and interventions

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Development Financing n his maiden remarks, the CBN Governor pledged to reposition the

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CBN has within the period facilitated the refund of more than N4.01 billion to bank customers based on complaints resolved

introduced to complement the existing ones include: N300 billion Real Sector Support Fund (RSSF) established to help unlock the potential of the real sector to engender output growth, value added productivity and job creation.

N152 billion has been approved for five projects under RSSF; N213 billion Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF) aimed at settling certain outstanding debts in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

N56.68 billion has been disbursed to five generating and five distribution companies under the scheme.

Under existing schemes and intervention programmes, the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) guidelines were reviewed to enable DMBs assess the fund at 2 percent from CBN and lend at an all-inclusive interest rate of 9 percent with a spread of 7 percent.

Expiration of the scheme has been extended from 2016 to 2025. Also, disbursement of funds under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF was formally flagged-off in 2014. N43.57 billion has so far been disbursed, with 61.6 percent

Reserve Management ollowing the sharp decline in global oil prices and the resultant fall in the country ’s foreign exchange earnings, there was a widening margin between the rates in the interbank and the rDAS window, thus engendering undesirable practices including roundtripping, speculative demand, rent-seeking, spurious demand, and inefficient use of scarce foreign exchange resources by economic agents. CBN closed the rDAS/wDAS foreign exchange window at the bank in order to check further pressure on the country’s foreign exchange, avert the emergence of a multiple exchange rate regime and preserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

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Looking Ahead summary of Emefiele’s performance in the past one year indicates that he and his team have ensured stability in the sector, in spite of global and domestic challenges. Analysts agree that the bank under his watch is on the right track to guaranteeing the soundness and stability of the Nigerian financial system. Going forward, it is hoped that, working closely with the fiscal authorities, CBN under Emefiele will continue to achieve its mandate.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 27

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Corporate Finance

SEC approves par value rule for stock to trade at 1 kobo

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he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC has approved the revision of the minimum price (Price floor) for any given stock traded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Vanguard, gathered that the commission has on 2 June 2015, approved the Par Value Rule submitted to it by the National Council of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on 5 March 2015.

This is sequel to the draft Rule submitted (for stakeholders’ comment) by the Rules and Adjudication Committee of Council of the NSE on 21 October 2014.

The Rule states that “notwithstanding its par value, the price of every share listed on the exchange shall be determined by the market, save that no share shall trade below a price floor of one Kobo per unit (N0.01)”.

Ecobank Rapid Transfer declared ‘Best Remittance Product' in Africa

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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cobank Rapid Transfer has been named the winner of the Best Remittance Product in Africa at The Asian Banker’s 2nd Annual Middle East and Africa Awards held at the Ritz Carlton, DIFC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Asian Banker provides information for the financial services industry in the form of publications, online materials such as enewsletters, research, and conventions, and other industry gatherings. It is regarded as one of the Asian region’s leading consultancies in financial services research, benchmarking and intelligence.

Kingsley Umadia, Executive Director, South South/South East, Ecobank Nigeria, said the award was well deserved, as Ecobank has taken remittance business to higher level on the continent. “As a Bank, We are proud to offer the best in remittance product on the continent. We will continue to strive to remain the best and surpass customers’ expectations at all times.”He explained that the Rapid Transfer, one of Ecobank’s Remittance products has achieved tremendous success.

Unilever set to raise equity stake as offer extends to June 25 the topline as prices have been kept relatively flattish year-on-year (y/y),” Olajumoke Okeowo and Uwadiae Osadiaye, both analysts at Lagos-based FBN Capital Limited, said in their first reaction to Unilever Nigeria Q1’15 numbers.

According to the Analysts “Unabated insecurity challenges in the North and increased competition in the calmer southern markets mean that consumer good companies cannot readily pass on higher costs to consumers for fear of loss of market share. However, we await management’s comments on this.”

Stories by PETER EGWUATU

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nilever Overseas Holdings B.V. has indicated interest in increasing its equity stake in Unilever Nigeria Plc from 50.04 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent and has made a tender offer to individual shareholders of Unilever Nigeria.

Vanguard gathered that the offer initially scheduled to close June 10, 2015 has been extended to June 25, 2015 to enable more shareholders take effective decision that would see the company expands its operations.

Under the terms of the offer, it was gathered that Unilever Overseas is seeking to acquire up to 942,215,930 shares in the company at ¦ 45.50 per share in cash (the “offer price”). “This is not a mandatory takeover bid as shareholders who are willing to sell can voluntarily do so” Unilever noted.

The offer price represents a premium of 33.8 per cent to the company’s closing share price on 23 March 2015, the day prior to Unilever Overseas announcing its intention to make the Offer, and a premium of 33.2 per cent to the 3 month Volume Weighted Average share price as at the same date. The total value of the transaction at the intended Offer Price is approximately ¦ 42.871 billion (€192.6 million at prevailing exchange rates).

Regulatory and Advisers approvals The Directors of Unilever Nigeria, who have been advised by FBN Capital Limited, consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable from a financial point of view, to the other shareholders of Unilever Nigeria Plc. The offer was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange and is subject to the conditions and other terms set out in the announcement and to the full terms and conditions which was set out in the formal Offer document. Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Chapel Hill Advisory Partners Limited are acting as financial advisers to Unilever Overseas. The proposed move will see Unilever Overseas up its equity stake in the Nigeria business from 50.04 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent, with the aim to continue

MD, Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, to maintain the company’s listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as well. If accepted at the maximum level, the value of the deal could reach €200 million (based on prevailing foreign exchange rates).

Bruno Witvoet, Executive Vice President of Unilever Africa said: “This Proposal demonstrates our commitment to the Unilever Nigeria business and confidence in the long-term growth prospects of the company and consumer goods sector in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, ass the closing date of the offer draws nearer, market analysts are of the view that Nigerian shareholders are likely to part with some volume of their shares to benefit from the offer and take advantage of the liquidity opportunity it portends to them. Analysts have also said that the Offer would provide shareholders who wish to sell some or all of their shares in Unilever Nigeria the opportunity to do so.

Unilever is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries. Unilever products are present in 7 out of 10 homes globally and are used by over 2 billion people on a daily basis. Unilever employs 171,000 people around the world and generate annual sales of over €50 billion. Over half of the company’s footprints are in the fast growing developing and emerging markets (56% in 2011). Company’s portfolio includes some of the world’s best known brands such as Knorr, Persil , Dove, Hellmann’s, TRESemmé, Lipton, Sure, Wall’s and Lynx.

Unilever has stated that it will grow its business in Nigeria and continue its long term commitment in African markets. Unilever Overseas has no intention of delisting from the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Financial performance both full year and first quarter Unilever Nigeria reported 21 percent decline in first quarter (Q1) 2015 Profit Before Tax (PBT) to N864.742 million from N1.089 billion in Q1, 2014. Also, Profit After Tax (PAT) declined by 21 percent to N590.448 million from N750.629 million in the corresponding quarter of 2014.

“The sales growth is the first time in five quarters Unilever’s topline has shown any meaningful growth. We believe unit volume growth was the principal driver for

This is not a mandatory takeover bid as shareholders who are willing to sell can voluntarily do so

S h a r e h o l d e r s endorsement of dividend Meanwhile, shareholders of Unilever Nigeria recently unanimously approved the 10 kobo dividend per share proposed by its Board of Directors, even as they lament over high cost of borrowing from the banks. The shareholders at the 90th Annual General Meeting, AGM approved a total payout of N378.3 million dividend for the financial year ended December 31, 2014. Speaking at the AGM, shareholders commended the company for declaring divided, even as they seek for higher dividends in the next financial year.

According to them “We really pity the manufacturing industry for the turbulent business environment they operate upon. Nevertheless, we advise the Board to reduce the high cost of carrying out its business. Expenses like marketing, administrative etc should be reduced. We are not happy that the company is spending so much servicing loans from the banks. Instead of borrowing from banks at high interest rate the company can seek fresh funds from the existing shareholders.” In his remarks at the meeting, Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh said “We really appreciate the contribution of the shareholders and are doing everything possible to reduce cost. It is evident that the business environment will be more daunting in 2015, but we will remain focused on our priorities to satisfy our consumers. We are committed to stay and invest in Nigeria.

Our ambition is to continue to deliver value to all our stakeholders and positively affect our communities by leveraging on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 29

Corporate Finance

Value of govt bonds drops by 60.2%

By PETER EGWUATU

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he value of government’s traded bonds at the secondary market on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE declined by 60.2 per cent, indicating lower patronage when compared to the equity transactions.

Specifically, a total of 14,817 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N17.586 million were traded last week in 5 deals compared with a total of 64,465 units of Federal and State Government Bonds valued at N69.372 million traded in 7 deals penultimate week.

The NSE All-Share Index and market capitalization depreciated by 1.88 per cent and 1.44 per cent to close last Friday at 33,664.91 points and N11.491 trillion respectively.

Similarly, four indices finished lower during the week under review, while NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Lotus II, NSE Industrial Goods Indices closed higher by 0.08 per cent , 0.37 per cent , and 0.16 per cent

respectively. However, the NSE ASeM index closed flat.

A turnover of 1.221 billion shares worth N16.964 billion in 19,847 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the exchange in contrast to a total of 1.799 billion shares valued at N22.105 billion that exchanged hands penultimate week in 17,337 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by

volume) led the activity chart with 935.233 million shares valued at N9.258 billion traded in 11,066 deals; thus contributing 76.58 per cent and 54.58 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Consumer Goods Industry followed with a turnover of 77.298 million shares worth N5.048 billion in 3,144 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with 47.348 million

shares worth N228.761 million in 1,182 deals.

Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Zenith International Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc., (measured by volume) accounted for 357.004 million shares worth N4.033 billion in 3,021 deals, contributing 29.23% and 23.77 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

AGM - From left: Director, Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr. Wole Ogungbola; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi and Company Secretary, Mrs. Tosin Aarinola, during the company’s 6th Annual General Meeting in Lagos

Lafarge Africa wins CAC compliance award

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afarge Africa Plc has been awarded the Best Complying Company of the Year 2014 by the Corporate Affairs Commission.. The award, which has to do with the extensive compliance requirements of the Companies and Allied matters Act and industry regulations by the commission, and is in recognition of the company’s commitment to operating with the highest ethical standards on consistent basis was presented at the Commission’s annual corporate citizens’ award held in Abuja recently.

According to the Chairman, CAC Board of Directors, Mr. Funso Lawal, the rationale for the award is to recognize performance and reward corporate excellence among companies operating in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of improving the country’s rating in the global competitiveness index.To be eligible for consideration, companies must have complied with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act and respective industry statutes and regulations. In addition, the companies must impact on their respective industries positively through credible performance in corporate social responsibility.

Fidelity Bank pledges commitment to efficient trade transactions

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

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anaging Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, has reiterated the bank’s commitment to efficient processing of trade transactions.

He made the pledge during the presentation of the 2014 Straight Through Processing, STP award to the bank by Deutsche Bank, where the bank emerged the second runner up in the STP category.

Commenting on the award, he said: “This is an award for efficient processing of transactions. It is just a testament of the improvement fidelity bank has been making concerning how we process our trade transactions. This is the fifth time that we will be coming up here for this award and we are very pleased that each year we get nominated and we either win or come second. We will continue to do even better to delight our customers. We have won it a few times and next year we believe we will again. What this means

to us is that somebody is recognising the efficiency in our processing of trade transactions in Fidelity bank. “ Also speaking, Executive Director, Shared Services, Fidelity Bank, Ugochukwu Chijioke said: “We are very happy to feature in this edition of the award. It means a great deal to us at Fidelity bank. To work hard and do well is one thing but to be internationally recognised is a different ball game entirely. This is like the Olympics of recognition in STP awards and Fidelity is always on top of it.”

Earlier in a welcome address, Deputy Country Head, Deutsche Bank AG Lagos, Mrs. Adeola Azeez said noted that 2014 was a tough year for most financial institutions and that it is in the midst of such challenges that the Bank is recognising the achievements of the correspondent banking space despite the challenges.

She said: “We celebrate our partners for achieving the STP rates between 97 and 100 per cent. You have all achieved over 99 per cent STP rate.”

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30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Homes & Housing

Two mortgage banks conclude merger deal Lagos HOMS: 42 new homeowners emerge

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ourty-two new h o m e o w n e r s emerged in the May edition of the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS).

Mr. Akinola Kojo-Sagoe, Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Mortgage Board (LMB), organisers of the monthly draw, said since the scheme began in March 2014, more than 400 winners who have completed the necessary documentation, had received the keys to their apartments across the state.

Kojo-Sagoe noted that 80 applications were received for the May draw, 60 people were pre-qualified and 20 applications were declined due to improper documentation; while 12 housing schemes were available for the draw.

The schemes are Alhaja Adetoun Mustapha and Olaitan Mustapha estates in Ojokoro; Sotonwa and Oba Adeboruwa estates in Ikorodu; Sir Michael Otedola Estate in Epe; Chief Anthony Enahoro Estate, SchemesI and II in Ogba; Igando Gardens in Alimosho; Chios Gardens in Lekki-Ajah; Mushin Scheme and Sangotedo Scheme in Ajah.

Police to build 6000 houses for junior officers

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he Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has mandated the Police Works Department of the Force to build 6000 units of modern houses for the rank and file personnel. Arase gave the mandate at a one-day workshop held for officers of the department in Abuja, noting however, that corrupt officers would not benefit from the project.

The IGP said 500 units of the houses should be located in each of the 12 Police Zonal Commands across the nation.

He mandated the department to complete the houses in six months, adding that it was part of efforts to improve the welfare of junior officers He decried shoddy projects carried out in the past for the force by some building developers at high costs, adding that the new initiative should be driven by the relevant professional expertise in the force. “Upon completion, a unit of two bedroom flat will be delivered to officers at a cost not above N4 million as materials will be sourced directly from manufacturers.

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Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report

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n line with ongoing reforms in the mortgage sector which pegged minimum capital requirement for state operations at N2.5 billion, Spring Mortgage Plc and United Mortgage Limited have concluded agreements to merge.

The merger deal was disclosed at a court-ordered meeting with stakeholders held in Lagos recently.

Managing Director/CEO, United Mortgage, Mr. Walter

Akpani, remarked at the meeting that the merger will enable both firms to meet the stipulated capital requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The two firms had on April 24, 2014, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the merger scheme.

The scheme which had been cleared by the Approval-InPrinciple received from the SEC was presented for consideration and approval of shareholders at the CourtOrdered Meeting on May 21, 2015. Shareholders of both companies voted to support to support the merger. The new

entity, after regulatory approvals of the CBN and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) will be renamed United Mortgage Bank Plc and would result in merging of both business into one.

Akpani noted that the merger would also lead to creating a bigger firm that will be able to compete effectively within the mortgage industry, improve operational efficiencies as a result of cost savings and improve capital base among other reasons.

“The merger will provide a strong financial muscle to the post-merger United Mortgage

•High-end housing estate

in executing bigger mandates. It is worth mentioning that United Mortgage currently owns 47.87 per cent in Spring Mortgage Plc. It is against this background that the proposed merger is conceived, with the aim of consolidating the mortgage business of both firms. The Directors of both companies are of the opinion that this merger will improve the business of the postmerger United Mortgage and create additional value for the shareholders of the postmerger bank. The Scheme is set to be achieved by the transfer of the assets, liabilities and undertakings of Spring Mortgage to United Mortgage, in exchange for which ordinary shares of United Mortgage will be issued to the other shareholders of Spring Mortgage in the agreed manner,” he stated It would be recalled that the CBN had in a circular stated that 10 primary mortgage banks (PMBs) had met the N5 billion requirement to operate as national mortgage banks while 26 met the N2.5 billion mark for state mortgage banks. The apex however noted that four out of the 26 PMBs had properties held for sale, which they were yet to fully dispose off or create mortgages for. It further disclosed that about four PMBs were still in different stages of merger arrangements.

Avoiding scams in real estate transactions

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eal estate transactions involve the leasing, renting, buying or selling of property and is viewed as a very profitable venture. Unfortunately, scams and frauds are a common feature within the sector. This is largely due to the fact that most people are not knowledgeable or versatile about real estate transactions and often require the help of a third party. They trust the third party to do justice to their investment and fail to conduct proper and adequate due diligence themselves.

Also, another reason people get conned is when they want to cash in on an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ and are quick to invest in what is probably a hoax which once again pinpoints the fact that due diligence is important.

Although circumstances surrounding every transaction can be different, there are red flags you should watch out for to ensure you

are making the right investment and not being duped. Lamudi Nigeria, a real estate market place that offers online property listings, listed the following as some of the red flags to watch out for in real estate transactions.

Pressure for quick payment Be wary when agents or sellers tell you the property will be out of the market if you don’t pay up immediately.

They make you believe other buyers are interested and put you under unnecessary pressure, cajoling you to pay so as to take possession of the property before other people do. What this does is that it doesn’t give you time to investigate the property properly and ensure it is genuine. Whoever else might be interested in the property, don’t be in a rush.

Insistence on cash payment When an agent or seller insists you pay in cash, there may be trouble. Most fraudulent sellers take this

route to avoid being traced.

Whether the person is a friend, family or acquaintance, insist on doing the transaction through a reputable bank for record purposes. This gives you leverage in case there are problems later and can be used as evidence in court. For no reason should you pay an agent in cash, whether partial instalment or the full amount.

You might end up not seeing your money as well as your property.

Inability to view document If you are unable to view the documents of the property, don’t go ahead. Take a pause and hold off the purchase. It is possible the person selling to you isn’t the owner so insist on seeing all the necessary documents before cash exchange hands. Even when you have been shown the documents, it is in your best interest to verify them and be sure they are genuine before making any

commitment.

No independent scrutiny An agent or seller that refuses to allow you bring in your own experts to survey the property is up to no good. It is in your best interest not to progress with the purchase of such a property until you get your way. Don’t be fooled if the agent tells you he is a surveyor or can give you a proper assessment of the property. There is no way you can verify the authenticity of the person so it’s better to be on a safe side and bring in someone neutral, preferably, someone you know and can verify his or her integrity.

Fenced property Check and double check again when you are being sold a property, especially a landed property, which is already fenced. Don’t be over excited that you don’t have to pay for the cost of fencing and quickly pay up.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 31

Insurance

Value added tax (VAT) in Nigeria (II) directly for resale and good which form the stock-in trade used for direct production of any new product on which the output tax is charged.

PRESENTATION - Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan presenting an FIRS Tax information pack to Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, ICAN President during his visit to FIRS recently in Abuja.

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ll goods and services are ‘VATable’, except those that are exempted under schedule 1 of the Act. These are: Goods Exempted All medical and pharmaceutical products, Basic food items, Books and educational materials, Baby products, Fertilizer, locally produced agricultural and veterinary medicine, farming machinery, and farming transportation equipment All exports Plant and machinery imported for use in the Export Processing Zone Plant, machinery and equipment purchased for utilisation of gas in downstream petroleum operations.

Tractors, ploughs, and agricultural equipment and implements purchased for agricultural purposes Services Exempted Medical services, Services rendered by community banks, People’s Bank and mortgage institutions, Plays and performances conducted by educational institutions as part of learning. All export services. Note also: Exports are zero rated.

VAT is leviable at the time of supply of goods and services. VAT paid on inputs are creditable against output tax.Tax returns are to be submitted on monthly basis.

Administration of VAT The tax shall be administered and managed by the Federal Board of Inland Revenue (in this Act, referred to as “the Board”) Registration A taxable person shall

within six (6) months of commencement of this Act or within six (6) months of commencement of business, whichever is earlier register with the Board for the purpose of this Act Registration by government ministries, etc as agents of the Board Every government ministry statutory body and other agency of government shall register as agent of the Board for purpose of collection of tax under this Act. Every contractor transacting business with a government ministry, statutory body and other agency of federal state or local government shall produce evidence of registration with the Board as a condition for obtaining a contract.

Registration by nonresident companies A non-resident company that carries on business in Nigeria shall register for the tax with the Board using the address of the person with whom it has a subsisting contract as its address for purposes of correspondence relating to the tax.

Records and Accounts A registered person under shall keep such records and books of all transactions, operations imports and other activities relating to taxable goods and services as are sufficient to determine the correct amount of tax due under the Act. Offences by law

Furnishing false documents, Evasion of tax, Failure to make attribution Failure to notify change of address, Failure to issue tax invoice, Resisting authorised officers, Issuing tax invoice by unauthorized person, Failure to register, Failure to keep proper books and accounts Failure to collect tax, Failure to submit returns, Aiding and abetting commission of offence Offences by body corporate.

Explanation of Some Terms in VAT Taxable Goods and Services The Act says the tax shall be charged and payable on the supply of all goods and services (in this Act referred to as “taxable goods and services”) other than those goods and services listed in the First schedule to this Act. Allowable Input Tax The input tax to be allowed as deductions from the output tax shall be limited to the tax on goods purchased or imported

You don't register for VAT or reclaim the VAT on your purchases if you sell only exempt goods or services

This means input tax on: Any overhead, service and general administration cannot be charged as input tax but expended through the profit and loss account On capital item and asset too should be capitalized along with the cost of the item and asset.

Distribution of Revenue: 15% Federal Government.

50% States Government & FCT, Abuja. 35% Local Governments.

Input Tax: Tax charged on purchases made Output Tax: Tax charged on sales made Taxable Person Means a person who independently carries out in any place any economic activity as a producer, wholesale trader, supplier of goods, supplier of services or person exploiting tangible or intangible property for the purpose of obtaining income therefrom by way of trade or business and includes a person and an agency of government acting in that capacity.

Zero rated goods If you sell zero-rated goods or services, they count as taxable supplies, but you don’t add any VAT to your selling price because the VAT rate is 0 per cent. Thus while no VAT is charged on providing goods and services taxable at zero-rate of VAT, you are still able to deduct VAT on costs and expenses you incur in making zero-rated supplies.

Examples are (1) all non-oil exports (2) goods and services purchased by diplomats (3) goods and services purchased for use in humanitarian donor funded projects Exempted Goods/Services If you sell goods or services that are exempt, you don’t charge any VAT and they are not taxable supplies.

This means that you won’t normally be able to reclaim any of the VAT on your expenses. Generally, you don’t register for VAT or reclaim the VAT on your purchases if you sell only exempt goods or services.

In this case you may not be able to reclaim the VAT on all your purchases

Resort designs account to help young employees

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esort Savings and Loans Plc has designed an account for young Nigerians who have just secured employment to help them secure their future housing needs called Resort Early Home Owners account, the organization in a statement by its Head of Business Development Mr. Yemi Popoola said the product will assist in bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria.

To benefit from this new product; customers of the bank should be between the ages of 25 and 40 who have had a banking relationship of six months with the bank and who has a minimum balance of N50,000.

Beneficiaries of the loan under this platform according to the statement are entitled to a mortgage loan amount with the equity contribution of N30 percent depending on the loan being sought for. The loan tenor is put at 10 years.

The statement reads further that the product is specifically designed to help those who are just starting off in a salary job so as to help them with a future plan to have their own accommodation. ”What we have found out is that many young people don’t plan for their housing needs and they end up being thrown out from their residence because of their inability to pay."

Oil prices rise after OPEC keeps low output target

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il prices rose on Friday, breaking a two-day losing streak, after OPEC ministers kept their existing oil production target for another six months at a level below current output.

The12-member group agreed on the deal at OPEC’s biannual ministerial meeting in Vienna. Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali al-Naimi said the 12-member group had agreed to maintain their production target at 30 million barrels per day (bpd).

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had rolled over its target, he said. OPEC has been pumping over 31.2 million bpd in recent weeks.

Brent crude oil for July LCOc1 rose 80 cents to a high of $62.83 before easing back to around $62.40 while U.S. crude futures CLc1 were up 30 cents at $58.30.

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32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Interview

80% of online jobs in Nigeria are frauds – NIYI T

ope Niyi is the Head of Marketing and Products Development of Nigeria’s online job portal, Careers24. In this exclusive interview with JONAH NWOKPOKU, he argues that most of the online jobs in Nigeria are from scammers looking to exploit desperate job seekers. He also spoke on Careers24's growth, market strategies and how job seekers can successfully explore the online job market to boost chances of employment. Excerpts Careers24 has been in Nigeria’s online job market for the past one year, what has your experience been and what is your general assessment of the online job market in Nigeria?

Our experience for the past one year has been a good one. We have seen a growth in our business and for a business that is still very young; the growth has been encouraging to our investors. When we came on board, our job stock was standing at about a thousand jobs, and we were projecting five thousand available vacancies which seemed an impossible task at the time but today we average about 11, 000 vacancies. In terms of visit also, we have noticed that over the past few months the number of people applying for jobs through our platform has increased to about 1,500 a day. That is huge growth for us, seeing that applications have gone up and that people are really applying for jobs. The number of our job stock has gone up which are good indicators of growth for us but these are still early days but we are seeing the kind of growth which we want to see at this stage.

What we have seen is that there are a lot of people looking for jobs. We have also found out that the jobs that are available in the market are jobs that require certain expertise or years of experience. We do not get to see a lot of jobs for entry levels. And if you look at the job pool, there is h i g h number of people leaving school every day, millions of t h e m , w h o cannot seem to find that first job that will enable them to get the required experience and then apply for t h o s e experienced jobs. We

We have found out that the jobs that are available in the market are jobs that require certain expertise or years of experience

have also found that maybe it is also about the young graduates coming out of school, and then have too high expectations about the job market. There are people who just finished school and expect C M Y K

to start earning big money.

They want the best jobs. The oil companies cannot employ everybody. The banking sector is not what it used to be in terms of employment.

So you find these high

•Tope Niyi expectations and the reality is that the people that hire the largest numbers of entry level employees are the small and medium enterprises, SMEs and they cannot afford to pay the huge salaries that big and multinational corporations can afford to pay.

With the goal of beating the main player in the job market in Nigeria, have you made any significant progress in this direction?

To be honest, we are still a long way from getting there in terms of brand recognition.

This year we ran a major campaign on television and radio. This has really helped to boost our image and brand equity in the marketplace. If you remember, Jobberman has over five years’ head start. It is going to take time to catch up with Jobberman. But for us, beyond catching up with competition, one of the most important things for us and the reason why we are doing what we are doing is that we want to give recruiters and job seekers value. That is really important to us. Its always a game of numbers. In

a marketplace, there is always going to be a number one and number two. Our job is going to be to increase the number of people who are using our platform and increase the kind of value satisfaction they get while using the platform.

In what significant ways has your entry into the online job market affected the online job space in Nigeria?

With our entry, people now have more than one option to search for jobs. Secondly it has helped to shine some lights about the opportunities in the space for other interested investors. For instance, Rocket Internet is looking to launch a job portal in Cameroun, which we know will eventually be in Nigeria because of their heavy presence in the country already.

Are there any new innovations you have brought to the table besides posting jobs online as everyone else is doing?

For us as Careers24, the way we look at this business is that we believe, as reflected in our name, in the careers of

individuals who subscribe to our platforms. We believe that we want to be able to hold your hands through your career growth. We believe that an entry level worker would not always be entry level. So we believe that if we are able to assist you grow in your career growth, you would always come to us first. So one of the key things we are saying is, what kind of value can we give you in this timeline that you have, from the beginning to the end of your career? How can Careers24 come in? One of the major things that we are doing now is that we are also providing career advice, at whatever level that you find yourself. So there is advice for graduates, engineers, finance, technology, managers, and entrepreneurs on our website. For usability, we have also divided the site into verticals. Currently we have six verticals. These include: Graduates, Engineering, Finance, Tech, Office, so that when one visits the site, it will take you the page for the advice most

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 33

Interview suitable to one’s needs. These pieces of advice revolve around what you need to do if you have just gotten a job, what to do on the job and how to grow your career on the job.

So, there are lots of resources currently on the site because we believe that career portals shouldn’t just be a place where people apply for jobs only. It should be a place where people get useful career advice as well, no matter the circumstances one finds oneself in a current work life.

The online job space has become an attractive platform for fraudsters, what has been your experience and what have you done to combat the challenge?

At the time that Careers24 launched, it was being handled from South Africa. So what the team in South Africa did was to Google the email addresses of those recruiters who want to recruit through the platform. But when we came on board, we realised that a lot of those recruiters were actually fraudulent recruiters. I can tell you that out of a hundred jobs that are sent to us by recruiters in a day, about 80 per cent of that are fraudulent jobs. So what we did was to build a system where every job that comes on our site goes through a fraud proof registration process.

This gives us access to the details of our potential recruiters so that we can verify that the job is genuine. For example, someone says Shell is recruiting, and says send your CV to Shell@gmail.com.

Immediately you see that, you

Online solution providers should be able to deploy tighter measures to reduce the incidents of fraud

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will realise it is a scam because a company like Shell should probably have emails like HR@shell.com.

Generally we have little tolerance for scam, so even if it looks right, you still have to prove to us that it is right.

Apart from that, we have a way of taking it further. We said because it is Nigeria and there is this problem of scam, we are going to ensure that we call every recruiter that puts a job on the site. This is possible since the job doesn’t go live once it is submitted for posting on our site. So the team at the backend that sees the job before it goes live calls the recruiter to actually verify the submission.

Can you share any instance where you successfully detected and pulled down fraudulent job scam?

There are lot of things that help us to detect scam. First is salary, because as a recruiter, you are meant to put the salary range of how much you are meant to pay.

So as SME, a company that we have never heard before, you would naturally put a salary range that is low, maybe less than N100, 000 a month. But there was this instance when all of a sudden we began to see a salary range of up to N900, 000 and for a business one has never heard before. So we flagged that and then Googled their email to see if they have put their jobs on other websites, and they had done that. So we looked at the salary range which they have put there and they were all different for that same job. On one job portal, it was N1.5m and on another portal, it was N900, 000 and then on another, it was N600, 000. Immediately we saw that, we called the company and they argued that it was genuine and that it was a mistake from the person who inputted the data. But we also noticed that the company does not even have a website for us to see that it is a company that can afford to pay that kind of salary. So at the end of the day, we took off the job completely from our site because they did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the job was not a fraud.

But why do you not go further by reporting these cases to the police?

To be honest with you, we have not started doing that.

We have not gone to the authorities because we do not allow the fraud to be perpetrated. We try to shut them down in the process because we believe that if we can reduce those kinds of people that come to our

platform, we can protect job seekers from falling prey to such schemes. I am sure that getting the police involved is something that we will look into. Also we also have scam alert mechanism on our website. It is a spam flag, that our users are expected to click on when they encounter suspicious job post. This is for cases where fraudulent jobs are able to pull through without it being detected by our team. This helps us to follow up on the company and verify the authenticity of their posts. And then in cases where the company has made a fraudulent post, we blacklist the company.

What can be done about the impact of fraud on the growth of the online job space in Nigeria?

I think the onus is on us the players in this market to educate the job seekers. I believe that a lot of times, these frauds occur because of the desperation on the part of the job seekers. For example, there is this popular scam that happens all the time with the oil companies where applicants are told to pay some money to somebody that will get them into the test room for maybe Shell or Chevron.

But the truth is that applicants must never pay for a job.

They should never pay for either the test or the j o b i n t e r v i e w.

There are a l w a y s processes for h i r i n g especially when it comes to big companies.

And there is no big company that will ask you to pay money to write a test or to come for an i n t e r v i e w.

The other one is that the moment anyone tells you to send y o u r information via SMS, you should know it is a fraud. Any genuine recruiter will ask for your CV. He will not ask you to send your n a m e ,

The moment anyone tells you to send your information via SMS, you should know it is a fraud...genuine recruiter will ask for your CV

height, address and qualifications via SMS. These are the things that job seekers need to know because the truth remains that job scammers will always remain because the people they are scamming are gullible.

For us as a business in a country like Nigeria where there is always fear of insecurity, the truth is that as long as there is unemployment, and people are looking to get rich quick, people will always try to undermine the online sector through fraud. What the online operators needs to do is to continue to educate their target audience. Online solution providers also need to protect their consumers so that even if they can’t protect themselves, they should be able to deploy tighter

measures to reduce the incidents of fraud. Every classified site in this country should take that into consideration so that if as a scammer, I go to this platform and my scam doesn’t go through and I go to another and another without success, I will probably pack my load and go to the social media.

From the regulatory point of view, do you think anything can be done?

If we can make scapegoats of few scammers, that can be a deterrent to many would-be scammers. The truth is that now, there is no one catching them. As an operator, you can stop them from coming to your website, but you can’t stop them from going to Facebook or other avenues they can explore to get to people. I think there should be some kind of legislations stipulating the punishment for this kind of fraud. What we are used to is the ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ kind of fraud but this one is more of a crisis. I think the way the security agencies rose to the challenge of ‘Yahoo’ scam to reduce it to the barest minimum, I think they can apply the same strategies to deal with this new kind of fraud.

Many people have been applying for jobs online without success, what must such job seekers do to become successful?

First, they cannot be lazy and they cannot have high expectations. They need to be prepared to work anywhere that fits into their career, probably at less pay. This might be painful but it will help them grow and exercise their talents. They have to prove that they are valuable and they have to show their achievements. If you have no achievements, it would be difficult to get employees to consider you. This is because employers are looking for achievers. They are looking for top talents. I also think that the mindsets of job seekers about instant success also have to change, especially for the graduate job seekers. They must manage their expectations and look towards developing themselves first.

34 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 35

I

“

t was beautiful and simple; as all truly great swindles are.”

O. Henry, 1862-1910.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 239).

America is sometimes called “Uncle Sam” or “God’s own country”. Perhaps Nigeria’s nickname should be “Fraud’s Own Country ”. Literally hundreds of thousands of scams are perpetrated in this nation 24/7 as to make a reasonable man wonder if we have any other job – fake drugs, fake spare parts, fake drivers’ and vehicles’ licence, fake currency notes, illegal universities 9even medical schools), pirated Nollywood films, free bail for which the police demand money at all Police Stations, free medical while patients pay for blood, etc. Unbelievable as it is, governments are involved in an astonishing percentage of the scams.

Take electricity bills for instance. Every bill carries an entry saying Fixed Charges N750 per month. That charge, annualized, totals N9000 per annum and in twenty years will amount to N180, 000. That is about thirty times the cost of stringing a line to a new building in Ibadan twenty years ago. For more than ten years there had been no power supply to the house involved.

Yet, the monthly bill arrives for N750. If that is not fraud, tell me what is. Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN

Attack on DISCOs – Blaming victims of FG scam (Problem Has Changed Name), handed that scam to the DISCOs, who courtesy of the Regulatory body, NERC, accepted the “stolen” funds.

However, before you shake your head, and start shouting for the Police to arrest the DISCOS, better read the rest of the article. But, let me start at the conclusion. DISCOS are not our problem. In fact, the DISCOS are the most unhappy victims of the swindle which privatization has become on account of abysmally low power supply by the power providers. Let me tell you a true story about the power sector to illustrate the point.

A wealthy friend of mine and his group were interested in acquiring one of the units and they put in a bid – before it came to my knowledge.

Before the bids were opened, I told them to pray that they did not win. They thought I was crazy despite the explanations given to them – the reasons were based on my travels throughout Nigeria. My declarative statement was this.

“I would not accept any of the units if given to me free.” They laughed at me then; they lost the bid and “cried”. Today, they are laughing again – at the winners; who would be too glad

to be rid of the damn distribution companies. Why? All the Distribution Companies had fallen prey to the lies told to them by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the former Minister of Power, Professor Nebo regarding power supply from the time of acquisition.

THE ROAD MAP TO POWER published in 2013 promised them 14,100MW by December 2013. Till today we have not reached 5000MW. Investors in DISCOS were deceived and they are stuck.

Most of us, as consumers, including people highly educated and who read papers every day, still operate with

For more than ten years there had been no power supply to the house ...Yet, the monthly bill arrives for N750

false notions about what DISCOS stand for and what they can do. Yet, unlike the past, prior to privatisation, the same government was responsible for power generation and supply; DISCOS are powerless to increase supply. Since privatisation, the DISCOS can only distribute whatever the generating and transmitting units provide for them. They cannot supply more; and it is not in their interest to supply less than they receive because, apart from fixed charges, they can only make money by supply maximum power to consumers.

Unfortunately the DISCOS are squeezed between the generating and transmitting units, which have consistently provided less than 4500MW and consumers who want up to 10,000MW. DISCOS receive the maledictions of consumers and their staff are the target of physical attacks when indeed they are victims like us – the consumers. A top bank official, whose bank financed the acquisition of one of the DISCOS while revealing to me the predicament of investors in DISCOS and their banks, wondered how many Nigerians are aware of the

situation.

He mentioned the matter while other Club members were up in arms against DISCOS which they want disbanded and for government to take over the distribution once again. To me, reversing the privatisation of PHCN, even if there was inequity as alleged, will be disastrous for Nigeria.

Punishing DISCOS for no wrong doing on their part will amount to blaming another victim because we, the consumers, are suffering the negative impact of poor and unstable generation and supply.

There is no doubt in my mind that if the nation can generate 20,000MW and deliver to the DISCOS, they will pass every single megawatt to us. They are in business to make money, which they are not making at the moment. They will gladly make more of more power is made available to them.

Instead of attacking DISCOS and asking for privatization to be reversed, we should pressurize government to drastically increase power generation and the DISCOS will respond appropriately.

It has been necessary to make this point because among the mountains of advice President Buhari has been receiving; reversing power sector deregulation is one of them. It will constitute several steps backwards if it occurs. At any rate DISCOS cannot give what they don’t have.

Aviation ICAO commences security audit of Nigerian civil aviation

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

T

he International Civil A v i a t i o n Organisation, ICAO, has commenced its ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme of Nigerian civil aviation .

Briefing aviation reporters at a joint news conference with the ICAO Official at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ,NCAA, Capt.

Muhtar Usman said the objective of the USAP – CMA programme is to promote global aviation security through continuous auditing and monitoring of member – states’ aviation security performance.

According to Usman, while in Nigeria, the team of Auditors from ICAO

comprising of Messrs Karen Zadoyan, Steven Neu, Nuno Miguel Silva Ferreira Fortes and Wendy Mueller would observe and assess Nigeria’s adherence to “associated security procedures in addition to the guidance materials and security related practices.”

He added that the move would enhance states’ security compliance and oversight capabilities by determining the extent of compliance of the state in implementing Annex 17 standards and related provisions of Annex 9.

“Furthermore, ICAO will

similarly determine the sustainability and effectiveness of the states’ implementation of a security system through the establishment of legislation, programmes, regulations and a security authority with control and enforcement capacity ” Captain Usman

said.

The NCAA DG also pointed out that at the end of the audit, recommendations and time windows would be provided for the “closure of the open items” and ensure compliance stressing that Nigeria was fully prepared to succeed in the audit as she did in 2008 when the country performed impressively.

FAAN par tner o launc h Wi-Fi at all ir por ts partner tnerss Globacom tto launch irpor ports

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has partnered Nigeria’s multinational telecommunications company, Globacom Ltd, to launch a nationwide Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) facility across all the airports in the country.

The facility will enable passengers waiting at airports and other airport users to connect to the internet through their smart phones, tablets, laptops and other smart devices.

At the launch of the facility at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, said the launch was a realization of the Aviation Ministry’s commitment to improve passenger experience in the country.

He said one of the numerous complaints the authority had encountered was lack of internet connectivity at the airports and urged Globacom to extend the Wi-Fi coverage of to the

new buildings under construction at the airport any time they are ready. In his remarks, Glo’s coordinator, business solutions, Mr. Ike Oraekwuotu, expressed the company’s delight to “bring Nigeria up to speed with one of the best trends in the aviation industry worldwide by introducing ultra high speed Wi-Fi data experience for travellers and other users of our airports, beginning with Nigeria’s flagship airport.”

“Millions of Nigerians who use and international travellers who use the 26 airports operated by FAAN deserve a super fast and reliable internet connectivity to stay in touch with loved ones and transact their businesses even while on transit.

That is the state of the aviation industry in many of the advanced countries today. Travellers waiting at airports for their flights are able to hook up to the internet using airport Wi-Fi facilities in order to maintain contact with their loved ones, colleagues, friends and business associates.

36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Agric

F

ertilizer suppliers who participated in the Federal ministry of Agriculture’s Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) are begging the government to redeem the N52 billion (Fifty Two Billion Naira) being the subsidy portion they are being owed by both the Federal and State Governments.

The Growth Enhancement Support

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GES Scheme: Agro-allied contractors cry out over unpaid N52 billion

By JIMOH BABATUNDE Scheme (GESS) is a federal government initiative to actualise the A g r i c u l t u r a l Transformation Agenda (ATA). It is also aimed at subsidising the costs of

major agricultural inputs, such as fertiliser and seedlings for farmers.

Based on the GESS policy, the Federal and State Governments equally contribute the balance of 50 per cent being the approved subsidy amount for onward payment to

participating inputs (fertilizer) suppliers. All participating states gave a standard Standing Order for their portion (25%) of the Subsidy amount to be deducted directly from their Statutory Monthly Allocation from the Federation Account as due.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD), as the Agency in-charge of the administration of the program has the responsibility of coordinating, managing and effecting the payment of the subsidy to all participating inputs

supplier companies.

GES soon became the flagship of the out-going government as it became the barometer to gauge the policy achievements of the government as the program had within the first two seasons succeeded in deploying a massive fertilizer distribution network which effectively delivered the product to the door steps of Nigerian farmers, irrespective of their location in Nigeria.

But, those who contributed to the programme’ s success, Farm Inputs Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FUISAN ), said this is not the best of time for them as their businesses are completely prostrate due to non payment of their outstanding by the government .

Speaking on behalf of the group, Bar. Moses Itie Itie said there is no redemption in sight as all entreaties to the relevant authorities for the payment of the government’s portion of the subsidy has fallen on deaf ears.

“The Wet season, 2014 GES program ended in August /September & the Dry season, 2014/2015 has ended since January 2015. The amount outstanding to date, being the subsidy portion of Federal and State Governments begging for payment to fertilizer suppliers, is about N52 billion (Fifty Two Billion Naira).

“The past 9 months has witnessed a series of meetings and promises to pay by the appropriate officials of the FMARD, ranging from the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, the Permanent Secretary and up to Directors in the Ministry; all to no avail.

The harrowing experiences of these fertilizer suppliers in the hands of their financier (bankers) are better imagined and coupled with the devaluation of the Naira.”

Itie said that the fertilizer stock inventory for the suppliers is bad as their their lines for importation transactions have been blocked or completely de-listed by their banks.

“Our members do not have hope or resources to replenish their stocks of fertilizer for sale to farmers for the 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 37

Micro-Finance

Experts harp on corporate governance for MfBs operation

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

E xperts have highlighted the cost and consequences associated with bad corporate governance for Microfinance Banks (MfBs) in operations within the country.

The experts, Director, Other Financial Institution Supervision Department (OFISD) Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi, Managing Director/CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holding, Mrs. Sola DavidBorha and Principal Partner, Kenna Partners and Founder/ Fellow, Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Dr. Fabian Ajogwu, gave the highlights at a Microfinance Platform Symposium organised by Lapo Microfinance Bank in partnership with Accion Microfinance Bank Limited and AFOS, with the theme: “The Cost/Consequences of Bad Corporate Governance.”

David Borha, said “The microfinance sector occupies a pivotal role in our nations economy, plays an integral intermediary role in the economy and provides financial services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Corporate governance is important to ensure its sustainability and that of the business it functions.

“Bad corporate governance impacts both the good guys and the bad guys, every corporate governance failure is an opportunity to strengthen corporate governance and governance is not an end itself it’s a means to an end.”

She listed: Disclosure, Integrity, Responsibility and Treatment of Stakeholders / Balance as elements of corporate governance, explaining that full disclosure in line with best practice even when there is bad news is pivotal to achieving corporate governance goals, she added Investor confidence, Capital, Price / Earnings, Sustainability and Longevity are the main benefits of corporate governance.

She said, “The Nigerian Stock Exchange recently launched a Corporate Governance Rating System (“CGRS”) designed to measure corporate governance of listed companies and provide incentive to companies that are committed to good corporate governance. The

'Women empowerment will enhance financial literacy' getting into the financial ecosystem, with that comes the family, household, so focusing on financial literacy for women is important. We have supported that in a number of countries. Am on the advisory board of African Women’s Banking, the pure focus is supporting financial inclusion for women.

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

o enhance financial literacy, it is imperative to assist women get into the financial ecosystem, said General Manager Visa West Africa, Mr. Ade Ashaye, in this interview with FV, stating, “If you are able to facilitate the women in getting into the financial ecosystem, with that comes the family, household, focusing on that is important.”

What is Visa’s commitment to financial literacy and is Nigeria in your scheme?

If we look at the level of financial literacy and development of the financial ecosystem, particularly for consumers,’ we are still at the early stages of the electronic ecosystem, and there has been a good deal of progress, with that progress there is a need for financial literacy as part of that progress. Our commitment is to focus on financial literacy, provide and teach individuals systems that help them to learn how to spend, save and budget properly. If you have the basic understanding everyone will learn from it and that is one of the purposes of the progress. We have been doing our programmes for decades in Visa and we have had programmes localised in about 30 countries, our initial commitment was to take 20 million people through our financial literacy programmes by 2013 and we have achieved that a year early and to date we are approaching 30 million people who have done visa financial literacy programmes.

You launched financial literacy apps over a year ago, what progress have you made so far?

That was a network localisation and one of the different network localisation that we do. Different things happen in different market, example: because South Africa is culturally a story telling culture, we localised our financial literacy activity to work in the form of industrial theatre, with the great adoption of technology in Nigeria we decided to localise our financial literacy activity working with Cocreation hub in Yaba to create a competition that had Nigerians who understand the issues and challenges better than anybody to create apps and games that help drive financial literacy and also help teach people some of the basics around financial literacy and that was last year. Three winners emerged from that competition, the response has been very positive and they will continue to develop the apps because the development of apps is an ongoing development. We plan to have another event in the next couple

Ade Ashaye, GM, Visa West Africa of months to get more publicly on the apps and work with stakeholders to look at the best ways of putting those apps out into the wider market.

How you see the Nigerian market in terms of financial literacy and card usage I have been within the visa system for about 20 years, I have worked in different countries but what makes Nigeria different is the fact that so many stakeholders are pushing in the same direction.

Everybody is pushing to improve transparency, convenience and security, for me, that is why if you look at where we are in Nigeria, say seven years ago and where we are today, compare that to any other market I have worked in my several years in electronic market, I have not seen any market that has made such advancement so quickly and it is so because everybody is pushing in the same direction and I must tell you, there is room to grow further.

Looking at the microfinance sub sector, how does financial literacy come to play?

If you accept that we have moved very quickly, that means that everybody needs to catch up, when we say financial literacy, it means different things to different stakeholders, from a merchant

There is a need to increase financial literacy in all the different sectors of the economy

perspective, I need to understand fully the value of acceptance of electronic payment over cash, that is different from a consumer perspective, where I need to understand the benefit of saving and budgeting appropriately and controlling my finances. There is a need to increase financial literacy in all different sectors of the economy and ensure that the knowledge and capabilities benefit in there are shared.

I look at micro financing entities as financial institutions similar to our client banks that focus on how to service different sub sector customers who have slightly different needs. The trick is how do we help specifically take the message to ensure that their customers are able to benefit from what we are talking about. In the financial literacy space, it is the men who are usually excluded from the formal financial environment where you have the greatest needs.

What product does Visa have for microfinance banks in the country?

If you look at the plans that we have in place around making better use of technology to avail financial services, when you are in a better position to make use of financial technology with that comes the efficiencies, cost, convenience, which means that more people can be included. If your only tool is a tool which has certain characteristics, as you provide more tools perhaps, you suit it to bring in more people into the ecosystem and serve in that direction.

Financial literacy programmes for women, especially the rural woman?

There are a number of research programmes in a number of countries that would tell you, if you are able to facilitate the women

Future plan Number one plan for me is to build an office here, increase the number of Nigerians who are focused within Visa on supporting Nigeria. There are a number of product and services which are in the pipeline and would help provide that choice. Really the story is if you can provide choice, then you are in a position that the consumer and other merchant/ stakeholders can find something that works for them. We will certainly provide education on the differences between prepared, debit and credit cards, the different between the two means you are paying for your goods and services upfront or you are paying from your bank account or you are effectively gaining from a line of credit.

Plans to grow the debit market Debit is fundamental in Nigeria because from payment perspective, what you see is that people are used to the idea of spending the money they have, debit is a fundamental tool that enable people to get the convenience and the security of visa payment system from their debit cards.

Nigeria’s financial literacy landscape In retail space that we have been involved to date, there has been significant progress over the short period of time and there is scope for continued progress. Other stakeholders particularly the CBN are pushing in that direction that landscape is in health free space with regards to opportunity to move forward.

Scorecard for micro financing in Nigeria I think it will be unfair of me to give a scorecard without having to look at the microfinance sub sector. Where you have an industry that is trying to service customers need and customers that have choice, I think the customers would be able to hold cards. So I think if the customers are there and they are making use of the industry, is a scorecard. When you have entities like ours who have the knowledge, capabilities and the tools to support and assist, will score the changes over time.

38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 39

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

People in Business because supermarkets in those days do not owe. You supply them and in 30 days, you get your money. Some even pay you immediately, some after seven or 14 days. There was no stress, once your invoice was with them, you would be sure of your money but that is not the story today. Things have really changed.

Patronage: Awojuyigbe who has a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from Pan-African University, noted that "patronage has been great but in January this year, I reduced production because of the economy. People were owing and unwilling to pay. Big supermarkets were owing , not that they were not selling. There are a lot of things that still need to be put in place in Nigeria. We need a government that will be very strict with small businesses because if you get angry with a supermarket today and go and withdraw your products, by the time you go back there, somebody else would have supplied them that same product, telling them not to mind you. We need a unified voice because most supermarkets in Nigeria are owned by expatriates and they treat us anyhow and nobody is bothered about it, nobody is complaining. Even the way they treat their workers is horrible."

I want to fill the gap in food processing industry — GBONJU AWOJUYIGBE

By EBELE ORAKPO

M

s.

Gbonju Awojuyigbe is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos-based Wandy Foods Limited, a food processing outfit.

The 1992 law graduate from the Nigerian Law School, an alumnus of Fate Foundation and a 2005 Fate Foundation Alumnus Award winner, first worked with First African Trust Bank before going fully into business.

In this chat with Financial Vanguard, the Goldman Sachs scholar tells the story of how she left the banking industry for food processing business and the challenges involved.

Excerpts: Why I went into agribusiness: “I left the bank in 1997 because I felt I was not fulfilled.

I had this desire to fill the gap in the food processing industry.

My grandparents were big time farmers and one thing I noticed was that none of the children or grandchildren took to farming apart from me. My maternal grandfather had 65 children with many wives and concubines. He was a court clerk so all the places they posted him, he acquired a wife. So C M Y K

nobody is tending my grandfather’s cocoa farm as at today. That was what interested me. I began to ask myself why people were running away from farming and production.

Why people run from production: “I have seen first-hand why people are not going into production. It is so frustrating for a manufacturer in Nigeria.

Sometimes I wonder who led me into this business. I sometimes feel it must be the devil because production is so bad in Nigeria; that is the humble truth. You do everything by yourself; you are virtually all alone. That is one thing I pray that the new administration will look into.

Initially, it was so interesting when I started about 17 years ago. It was fun getting grains and at the end of the day, you have flour. Then I would buy wheat and make wheat flour and wheat cookies. I would browse the internet, get some stuff and I would experiment.

We were selling but right now, it is so frustrating."

Going into business: I started in January 1998 in my house with just one reluctant staff because I was still in paid employment. My carpenter came in one day and

*Gbonju Awojuyigbe...It is not trying at all that is failure said his niece should help me. I said help me to do what? He said, ‘just take her’. I said how much will I pay her, he said don’t worry. That was how she resumed on Monday and I went to work. By the time I returned, I noticed that she had done one or two things that impressed me. I had buckets containing milled grains which I kept in a room. I noticed that she had

Most supermarkets in Nigeria are owned by expatriates and they treat us anyhow

sealed all the things in the bucket and I asked who taught her and she said she taught herself. She showed me all the cellophane paper she used to teach herself to seal and that was it! I employed her. She is now late.

"What happened was that I was working in the bank and then I got attracted to production, I told my late grandmother that I wanted to try one or two things and she told me to try plantain flour because not many people knew its health benefits. I started with rice flour, later added plantain flour, bean flour and chili pepper. I am also a bee keeper and I bottle and sell honey. My colleagues were my customers, they were buying everything I produced and that encouraged me to supply supermarkets, starting with Value Mart next to our bank and later started supplying other supermarkets."

Why I chose supermarkets: "I decided that my niche would be supermarkets

Challenges: She named power, funding and marketing as the major challenges. "You are competing with big companies who go to the market and tell marketers not to accept your products. You know, before you can sell in any Lagos market, you must know the Iyaloja and Babaloja. The knowing is not just ordinary knowing, you will hold something like a party for them, spend a lot of money. So it is so expensive marketing your goods and that is why selling in the open market is like a clique."

Coming to TIC: "I had money at a point and instead of just spending the money on myself, I bought a warehouse in Maryland but when NAFDAC came for inspection, they said it was too small, I couldn’t partition it. So with some help, I got this place at the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Lagos under the National Board for Technology Incubation. We do not pay rent but they accommodate us for a given period. Although I need to move out, there is no cash right now. In fact, I have just two staff now as I had to lay off some. I am just doing the little I can, hoping that God will answer my prayers because they say it is not trying at all that is failure.

If you try and fail, posterity will record that you tried."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 41

Economy

Bond market brushes aside economy policy waiting game Stories by EMEKA ANAETO, Economy Editor

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s most operators in the economy continue to wait for government policy pronouncements before making major business and investment moves bond market appears to be an exception in the game. The market, measured by Financial Markets Derivatives Quote (FMDQ) total market index, has returned 7.9 per cent YearTo-Date last week though recent trading momentum remains subdued.

This generally bullish performance continued till the third trading day of the first business week in the life of the new government in Nigeria.

Dealers said the increase can be related to improved optimism in the new government though investors seem to be awaiting the policy direction of the new administration to charge-up their decision making.

On account of the perceived silence in the first week after inauguration, yields on fixed income instruments across all tenors traded sideways in the last three days of the week.

Average yields declined 8 basis points on Friday while Week-on-Week analysis of the sovereign yield curve shows divergence at the lower end signifying increased investor appetite for treasury bills.

According to analysts at Afrinvest Group, political risk, credit risk, re-investment risk,

interest rate risk and exchange rate risk are the main factors that continue to define investors’ actions.

In their report last weekend they stated that the recent considerations by the United States of America to raise interest rates may divert funds from the Nigerian capital market, hence a likely reduction in the rate of foreign participation in the bond market, adding however, that ‘’we expect the bond market this week to ride on any possible economic pronouncement by the new government”.

A week after the inauguration of Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, the financial market

•Emefiele, CBN Governor has sustained a calm momentum on the back of the

Some economy analysts believe the President must set the tone for the market by making a clear pronouncement on critical concerns in the economy

new president’s silence on his blueprint for the economy. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE-ASI) tumbled 1.9 per cent Week-onWeek as uncertainties bordering on key macroeconomic policy direction of the new government drag the index lower.

Additionally, foreign portfolio investors whose participation in the Nigerian market accounted for over 55 per cent from 2011 to 2014 appear to have remained on the side line amid uncertainties on

exchange rate and economic reforms.

In a related development, fuel scarcity continues to bite as long queues are seemingly becoming the new normal across the states.

This appears expected given some marketers’ apparent reluctance to sell at regulated prices amid fears of importing at a loss should subsidy payment be officially removed.

Some observers, however, believe the unsettling scenario in the downstream sector remained largely hinged on the President Buhari’s muted unfavourable disposition towards subsidy payment on imported fuel.

With five days since his ascendency, the only noteworthy action taken by the president relates to insecurity and ending insurgency in the country.

Some economy analysts believe the President must set the tone for the market by making a clear pronouncement on critical concerns in the economy.

Chief among these include the oil and gas sector and subsidy removal, exchange rate and the framework for monetary policy, addressing the power sector crisis and the future of infrastructure in Nigeria.

GE still positioning for Nigeria with USD10b investment

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eneral Electric (GE), a 123-year old American Conglomerate with operations in 130 countries around the world, is gearing up to further exploit the economic potentials inherent in sub-Saharan African markets, especially Nigeria and Ethiopia. At the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, GE said it would increase its capital outlay to US$10 billion over the next five years.

The conglomerate will target power, health and locomotive opportunities in several African countries. Nigeria, its prime target, offers a ready market with the numerous gaps in

infrastructure and a new government looking to drive “change.”

According to a report by Ventures Africa, GE’s Transport Leader incharge of Africa, Mr Thomas Konditi, said “We’re bullish on Nigeria. We met with a couple of the incoming leadership and they’ve put rail right behind power. They don’t have mines as much, so you’re going to look for more general freight” .

According to Konditi, Nigeria transports only 0.1 percent of its freight by rail and could boost the number of locomotives to 500, a 1900 percent increase over the current 25 engines in the country. GE plans

to reinitiate talks with the new Nigerian government on a previous agreement for 200 locomotives.

Over the past decade, GE has invested massively in Nigeria, the most significant being a US$1 billion service and manufacturing facility in the tourist city of Calabar, Cross River State. It has also engaged partnerships with the likes of Dangote to solve the power challenges in the country.

Jeff Immelt, GE’s CEO, has identified Africa as one of the company’s most important growth areas, with plans to invest US$2 billion in the region by 2018 as well as double its workforce on the continent.

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42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

Economy

Our exhibition'll deepen Nigeria-Iran trade relations — KOOZECHI M

r. Saeed Koozechi is the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria. In this interview with BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & JONAH NWOPOKU, he spoke on the bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also spoke on how the two countries can explore the opportunities provided by the upcoming first Iranian Solo Exhibition in Nigeria to boost trade ties. Excerpts:

B

esides oil gas, what are the other economic and trade opportunities in Iran?

As you may know, Iran is one of the biggest countries with the highest crude oil and gas reserves in the world. But in spite of that, the Iranian government is gradually reducing its dependence on oil revenue. In the next couple of years, Iran shall be relying more on other sources of revenue. In this current year, our budget is just 30 percent dependent on oil and gas revenue. As a matter of fact, we are actually concentrating on industry and other industryrelated sectors of oil and gas.

Take the petrochemical industry for example; this is a very huge and valuable sector for the Iranian economy. Iran produces 60 million tons of petrochemicals annually and we deploy them for the local market and the idea is to support many of the SMEs in the country who use them as raw materials. Of all the petrochemicals produced in Iran, only 25 percent are exported to the international market. Last year, Iranian export of petrochemicals stood at about $15 billion.

In the power sector which is one of the most important infrastructures in Iran, we have made good progress and have achieved about 95 percent self sufficiency in this sector including design and manufacture of equipment like turbines, transmission equipment and many others.

Last year, Iran exported $1 billion worth of electricity to neighbouring countries.

In the steel industry, there is about 17 million tons production annually providing the needed support for the Iranian industry. Many of Iranian cities rely on Iranian-made machines.

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In this exhibition, there will be fifteen companies showcasing Iranian made machines and products. I think that since Nigeria is going to establish plants for assemblage of cars, it is possible that Iranian companies in the automotive sector will also be thinking about coming over to Nigeria to establish plants as well.

In agriculture, we produce about 120 to 130 million tons of produce annually.

Iran ranks fourth in the world in fruits production. We rank very high in the production of various kinds of fruits.

Fruits are very important in my country. For example, Iran’s export of the Pistachio fruits is valued at $1 billion annually.

Health is also a very important sector in my country. Many high tech drugs and pharmaceutical products can be produced in Iran. With regards to nuclear treatment, we can produce radiographic drugs for the treatment of health cases like cancer.

As for building materials, there are thousands of Iranian companies that specialise in building materials. For example, Iran ranks fourth in the world below China, Italy and Spain in the manufacture of tiles.

What is the purpose of this exhibition?

This exhibition is expected to open doors of opportunities for both Iranian and Nigerian companies and businesses.

It will help to identify each other’s capacity in order to deepen trade relations between the two countries.

Right now, Iranian companies do not know the opportunities available in Nigeria. And Nigeria is a very big market, especially with its big population and resources. This situation also

applies to Nigerian businesses as they also know little about Iranian companies and the huge potential that the Iranian market offers. I believe that through this exhibition, a stronger connection will be fostered among the Iranian and Nigerian businesses. The exhibition will play a very key role in identifying the opportunities on both sides.

I hope that as soon as possible we can have another exhibition in northern Nigeria.

Why should Nigerians and Nigerian companies come to the exhibition?

They should be coming to find business opportunities.

I think that many Iranian products can compete favorably in terms of price and quality with other products in the Nigerian market. For instance, there

Iranian companies do not know the opportunities available in Nigeria

are some products that when I compare them with the prices in Iran, it will be three times higher. And then I wonder why the Iranian product is absent in the Nigerian market. For example, in the food industry, the quality of Iranian food is far above international standards.

Take dairy products for instance, it is a good area of investment for Iranian companies in Nigeria. The main reason why Nigerian businessmen should come for the exhibition is to find one part of the Iranian capacity for products and other business opportunities.

For Nigerian companies that want to travel to Iran and do business with Iranian companies, what is your advice to them?

This exhibition provides a window of opportunity for realistic assessment of the capacity of each country.

There are many international exhibitions that take place in Iran.

Sometimes in one exhibition, there are more than 1,000 companies participating and most of these exhibitions are specialised. For example:

Medicine, building, furniture and industry etc. If Nigerian businessmen visit my country during or after these exhibitions, within three to five days, they will get Iranian companies that are willing to partner with them.

And the beginning of this serious relationship will even help to create a cultural balance between t h e t w o countries a s their products cross to the different markets.

Y o u know t h a t m a n y tourists, about four to five million, also visit Iran annually and most of them visit as medical tourists.

Many of Iran’s neighbours like Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Iraq visit my country for medical reasons. This is because Iran can boast of high quality and affordable healthcare but unfortunately many Nigerians do not know this. They believe that Europe offers better healthcare. This is also a good area that the two countries can also explore to build their relationships.

Do you have any incentives for Nigerian businesses that want to do business with Iranian companies? Does the government of Iran have any incentives for Nigerian businesses willing to come do business in Iran?

Getting a visa to Iran as a business person is not difficult. Nigerian business men who want to travel to Iran for business purpose can travel to Iran easily. Iran is a big country. One can travel there either for business or for holiday. I hope that through this connection we are trying to establish between Iran and Nigeria through this exhibition, more awareness about the benefits of trade relations can be created. Iran is a very important country in the Middle East whereas Nigeria is in the same position in Africa, so I think we can have a good partnership.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 43

Advertising & Promotions

New govt'll restore confidence in IMC sector – Marketing professionals The indicators that drive the integrated m a r k e t i n g communications industry were completely lagging in quarter one. What will determine the success of business in Q2 is the concern of this report for the 2015 financial year.

Princewill Ekwujuru takes a cursory look into Q2.

The Q1 of the Integrated Marketing Communications, IMC industry was basically slow and uninspiring despite the volume of political advertising materials churned out by political parties in the 2015 electioneering campaign according to industry professionals.

Though the political war has been fought and won, but what becomes of the fate of the IMC industry in Q2.?

Analysts had hitherto blamed the lull in Q1 to less focus on business ads even though the quarter had been promising as well as encouraging some new business decisions for quarter two.

What the quarter two will look like depends on what the recently sworn in government makes of it. The IMC industry, particularly the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON are optimistic the administration would appoint an information minister that understands the IMC industry to drive the industry to a greater height.

From the information deduced from the annual Mediafacts book published by MediaReach OMD, which

F

PARLEY - From Left: Head of Government Affairs, West Africa Area, British American Tobacco (BATN), Odiri Erewa-Maggison; Head of Legal and External Affairs, Freddy Messanvi; Area Head of Corporate Affairs, Oluwaseyi Ashade; and Head of Litigation and Regulation, Sola Dosunmu during a media parley in Lagos

indicated that by this time in 2013, the first quarter of Abovethe-Line, ATL advertising expenditure was N26.6billion (26per cent) of the entire ATL advertising expenditure that year. This figure was drive by private sector initiatives.

Aside political campaign expenditure analysts said the 2015 ATL ad expenditure in Q2 may rise above what the industry experienced two years ago.

There are also indications that radio advertising expenditure trends which was N15.1 billion in 2013 may increase by 26 percent in Q2, because it recorded a steadily growth in 2013, as a result of its wide spread, and preference by advertisers, likewise the TV

which ad expenditure was N47.0 billion in 2013which though declined by 20 percent 28 and 24 percent in the previous quarter of 2013.

For the print, Industry analysts say that print advertising

The outdoor industry will be more creative this year to give clients the edge in terms of digital creativity

Appoint professional Information Minister— AAAN t ells FG Stories by PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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First Bank spends N3bn on CSR in 10 years

he Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN has urged the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the appointment of a skilled and experienced marketing communication professional as the Minister of Information.

The President of the Association, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, in a press statement said the new role of the Ministry of Information is far beyond the traditional role of acting as a catalyst in disseminating information and management of the information machinery of the government.

In view of the strategic importance of the Information Ministry, the ideal Minister, AAAN believes, should have a track record of brand building and executing high impact communication strategies and frameworks in the interest of the nation.

The statement, signed by the Publicity Secretary of the Association, Mr Ikechi

Odigbo, said the Minister of Information of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this stage in the history of the country, should be a thoroughbred professional with relevant experience in integrated marketing communication, information strategy & management and brand building in order to put in place and manage a national communication plan and rebranding process in line with best global practices.

“The country has been confronted with several image and brand positioning challenges of recent and critical in complicating the problems has been the absence of brand communication expertise as a strong consideration in the appointment of the heads of the country’s Information Ministry. But we are happy that the new government rode to power, driven by the campaign slogan of Change. For us, this change should be extended to the appointments of professionals to manage relevant strategic offices,” the AAAN President said in the statement.

expenditure will grow due to new publications and increased brand activities on print media, the spends on print media will increase double in Q2.

The Outdoor advertising expenditure trends in 2013 was N23.2 billion after a huge dip of-37 percent in 2012.

The Outdoor spend following the promise by the President of the Association, Charles Chijide during the press briefing to herald the ninth edition of the Posters Awards seems optimistic.

According to him, “the outdoor industry will be more creative this year to give clients the edge in terms of digital creativity to propel and expose client’s products by deploying a legendary OOH platforms.”

This statement is an indication that basically OOH spend will definitely increase which may push outdoor ad by 26 percent despite the fact they were the most favoured during the political campaign periods, Chijidu Alakwe, an independent media monitor stated.

Mrs. Bunmi Oke, Former President AAAN, said the incoming government has clearly shows that they have understanding of how important communication is towards the selling of its policies. The creative industry wants the government to use marketing communications to bring about better understanding of all government policies. For example, if government is able to explain to Nigerians through marketing communications campaigns the steps which we need to take to build the power sector, whether it is solar power

irst bank said it has spent N3 billion in the last ten years on corporate social responsibility, CSR, initiatives in education, health and empowerment.

Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake AlliMumuney, disclosed this at an interactive section with reporters in Lagos, where she said that on average over the last ten years, “we have spent in excess of about N1billion to N3billion per-annum on our CSR space , it depends on the project although she stated.

According to her we have streamlined our area of invention around education, health and empowerment, and based on that we look at the various opportunities.

On the space of education she stated: “we have endowed about 14 Universities, we have the oldest endowment that exists in this country, we have set up endowment across various institutions.

Speaking further she said the bank partners junior Achievers of Nigeria to drive financial literacy and decided to kind of streamline to make sure that is

GTB, Etisalat launch GTEasySavers to drive financial inclusion

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TBank and Etisalat Nigeria said they are partnering to drive the financial inclusion process with the launch of a savings account: GTEasySavers. According to Managing Director of GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, during the launch of the product in Lagos, said the product was designed to enable the unbanked and under-banked achieve their financial goals while operating a regular bank account via the mobile phones.

The Managing Director also stated that the alliance will enhance the service delivery of both brands and offer customers unparalleled lifestyle and loyalty benefits.

Agbaje further stated that the passion about driving the CBN’s financial inclusion strategy in ensuring the underbanked and unbanked will begin to find the propositions of banking services more attractive and convenient, and “then take the bold step of patronizing our numerous bank products and offerings, a passion which we fully share with Etisalat Nigeria”.

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44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

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ne does not really have to be a medical expert to recognize that the heavy grime and dirt on Nigerian currency notes would also readily serve as vector for the spread of germs and diseases.

However, despite commendable progress in the adoption of E-transactions, cash handling, still remains very popular regardless of the quality of the notes and the attendant health hazard.

Curiously, however, new currency notes have become easier to obtain at social parties and event centres where they are brazenly hawked with up to 20% discount, even when commercial banks, on the other hand, continue to plead non supply from CBN. Nonetheless, the popular suspicion of ‘under table dealings’ in currency supply were probably validated last week by media reports, such as “EFCC nabs six CBN officials and 16 other bankers over N8bn fraud”, on pg 9 in Vanguard edition of 1/ 6/15. According to this report, the EFCC picked up the suspects for “stealing and putting back into circulation about N8bn stock of defaced and mutilated Nigerian currency notes which were meant for destruction”; the Commission’s investigations had apparently also revealed that in September 2014, “a box that was supposed to contain N5bn in N500 note denominations was discovered to be filled instead with old newspapers” as replacement at the Ibadan branch of the CBN. Clearly, the sum of N8bn in the alleged scam may actually be an understatement, since the EFCC also claims that such escapades had enjoyed considerable mileage over several years. Besides, the N134m credit balance in one

report of the Sun Newspaper edition of 16th April 2013 also carried a story titled “EFCC detains ex Mint MD Okoyomon over N750m polymer scandal!” The story was sequel to allegations that an Australian Newspaper had reported that, SECURENCY (a note printing subsidiary of the Reserve bank of Australia) paid N750m in bribes to some officials of CBN between 20062008 to secure the contract to make polymer notes in Nigeria. According to the report, apart from the former CBN Boss, senior officials of the Finance ministry and a former President were named as beneficiaries of the bribes for polymer notes.

While no official of the Central Bank has so far been indicted, the EFCC is presently in court with Ehi Okoyomon, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Mint Company over a request to extradite him to the UK to face prosecution over some findings related to the bribery allegations for the contract for the N20 polymer note.

However, in a curious twist of events, the same CBN which had, earlier zealously promoted the alleged attributes of the polymer notes at great public expense has lately turned around to condemn the adoption of such currency as ill advised because polymer notes were found to rapidly deteriorate in the market place.

Nevertheless, it is also alleged that the polymer contract bribes may have also encouraged Securrency to breach the planned establishment of a polymer based mint in Nigeria as part of the principal objectives of transferring technology to developing nations!

Thieves in the treasury of the bank accounts and the value of other listed properties allegedly acquired by a standard six certificate holder, who is, incidentally a junior member of the syndicate, may already exceed N1bn! The whistle blower who uncovered the heist also alleged that the Treasury assistant, and the Coordinator and Head of Security at the Ibadan branch were alerted, but regrettably took no action. Be that as it may, this development probably explains why grimy, dirty notes still form a good proportion of the currency in circulation, despite their potential as vector for transmission of diseases.

Nevertheless, according to a report on pg 8 in Punch Newspaper edition of 1/6/15, in addition to the related health issues, the Financial Crimes Agency, also recognized that “the currency fraud is partly to blame for the failure of CBN’s monetary policy over the years, as the currency mop up exercises by the Apex bank failed to check the inflationary pressure on the economy’. Properly translated in plain language, EFCC’s above statement seeks to explain that in order to reduce the threat of perceived inflationary threat of perceived too much Naira in the system; the CBN commits the hari-kari of adopting high monetary policy rates which are antagonistic to economic growth and job creation. Worse still, the CBN becomes forced in response to reduce the available surplus money supply by borrowing hundreds of billions of Naira that it intends to simply keep as idle funds, despite the attendant oppressive interest

rates of up to 15% in order to restrain commercial banks from promoting spending by lending to other customers and fueling inflation. This u n f o r t u n a t e counterproductive and anti people strategy to restrain inflation clearly becomes meaningless, if some CBN staff, in collusion with other commercial bank staff continue to re-inject billions of already discarded/ condemned currency notes back into the system, while the CBN is simultaneously kept

Curiously, the modus operandi of the Ibadan currency theft is awkwardly similar to the process CBN also adopts for its liquidity mop up operations busy mopping up perceived systemic excess Naira supply despite the attendant oppressive debt burden for the nation!

Curiously, the modus operandi of the Ibadan currency theft is awkwardly similar to the process CBN also adopts for its liquidity mop up operations. For example, while the Central Bank on one hand pretends to be socially responsible in attempting to stop inflation by reducing Naira surplus and liberal

spending, the same Apex bank also deliberately promotes the liquidity surplus syndrome when it substitutes humongous Naira allocations for the distributable portion of dollar denominated revenue every month!

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hus, in the light of the prevailing culture of impunity in governance, it would be a hard sell to convince Nigerians that the Ibadan currency scam is an isolated case; in this event, it would be presumptions to approve a clean bill to the other 36 stations where such CBN cash operations are carried out nationwide. The exposure in Ibadan would obviously have temporarily trigged cover-up strategies in other CBN cash centres.

Curiously, however, currency scams involving CBN staff are not unusual; for example, in December 2012, the House of Representatives expressed shock to “hear that N2.1bn of newly printed N1000 notes was missing at the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company”, a corporation over which CBN has supervisory role. Media reports suggested then, that in order to facilitate investigations, the Managing Director of the NSPMC, one, Ehi Okoyomon who reportedly enjoyed extravagant lifestyles, and the subsisting Head of security, of the Mint Company were sent on compulsory leave. Sadly, the initial intensity of public attention on this scam has since waned and prosecution may ultimately never be concluded.

In another related development, the cover

Business & Economy

Corporations deprive Africa of $11bn taxes yearly M

ultinational companies deprive African governments of 11 billion US dollars in taxes each year, and G7 world leaders should set up a new global body to regulate corporate taxation, Oxfam International said. By shifting profits overseas to lower tax regimes, companies legally avoid paying taxes to the African countries where they generate revenues, depriving governments of money they desperately need for development, the antipoverty group said in a report C M Y K

on Africa.

When leaders of the G7 major industrialised countries meet in Germany on June 7-8 to discuss how to support economic growth in Africa, a vital component of their talks should be comprehensive reform of the global tax system, Oxfam said.

“It’s absurd that there are international organisations for trade, health and football but not for tax,” Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima said.

An international body similar to the World Trade

Organisation could represent all countries’ interests and mediate disputes among taxation regimes, Oxfam said.

Oxfam based its calculation of the tax revenue Africa loses on a United Nations-backed study released in April that estimated $50 billion in illicit funds flow out of the continent each year, much of it through corporate trade mispricing to avoid taxes or in transfers of money obtained corruptly.

This is almost double the official development aid Africa receives each year.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha Nkiruka Nnorom CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter Capital Market Reporter

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Media/Marketing E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

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46—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

The money quarrel between Anenih and I — Prof Osunbor FORMER Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor in this interview spoke on expectations from the new federal administration, his frosty relationship with Chief Tony Anenih, his governorship ambition among other national issues.

By Emman Ovuakporie

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OU left the PDP to join APC at the very critical time when the party needed people like you most.

Why did you?

Well, the PDP didn’t show they needed people like me whether at the state or at the national level. The PDP never accorded me the respect I deserved or that many people felt I deserved.

So first of all, PDP traded off my position as governor of Edo State.

So, if PDP government gave me an appointment as the chairman of Nigerian Law Reform Commission, was that really a fair compensation for removing me? Because at that time, (Vincent) Ogbulafor, the National Chairman boasted to me that the PDP had 28 states and that the PDP was not bound to win everything. That the PDP was ready to concede some states to the opposition.

He told me if I didn’t succumb to Chief Tony Anenih I ran the risk of losing my seat.

And after I was removed, he told me; ‘you see what I was telling you. Did you see what has happened?’ That if I had listened to him, I wouldn’t have been removed.

And when Adams Oshiomole came in, he gave three commissionership slots to Chief Anenih in appreciation for the help he gave him to become governor. That was before 2012. So when people claimed I supported Adams Oshiomole; who gave Adams Oshiomole more support, the PDP leadership or myself?

But, of course, I supported Adams Oshiomole in 2012 when it dawned on me that the PDP leadership was not ready C M Y K

to win the election. I knew that all the leadership wanted was to trade with PDP in that election and amass billions for themselves. And I was not prepared to be led by people who were out to use the party to enrich themselves.

Then I said to myself that if we have all decided to make things very easy for Oshiomhole, why should I withhold my support for him?

After all, he did more work in four years than the PDP could have ever done in all its years as a ruling party in Edo State.

And as for the issue of begging Chief Anenih, the newspapers have reported the countless number of times that I have gone to beg Chief Anenih.

Personally, I don’t know what I did to him, other than he said, he borrowed N200 million to finance my election. I didn’t see any N200 million that Chief Anenih contributed to finance my election. But I’m aware that he contributed N100 million to the PDP in Edo State and as governor, I ensured that money was paid to him. So he was then saying that we never paid him any money, that he borrowed N200 million.

And if he spent N200 million of his money to install me as governor, how much contribution did he receive from the PDP national headquarters? The State House also sent out money to states for governorship elections in the states. How much was sent, I don’t know because the money was not sent to me. And how much did he get from other individuals and corporate bodies who were contributing money for the election in Edo State? I don’t know how much he was given, and if he

•Osunbor: borrowed N200 million for my election after all the contributions, I never saw any N200 million.

But in the interest of peace, I ensured that the one I knew he

I didn’t see any N200 million that Chief Anenih contributed to finance my election. But I’m aware that he contributed N100 million to the PDP in Edo State and as governor, I ensured that money was paid to him

contributed was paid back to him. So what offence did I really commit against Chief Anenih that he doesn’t want to forgive? Of course it doesn’t surprise me because he had told me before when the relationship was rosy that he doesn’t forgive people. So if I have offended him in one way or another, I know he would not forgive because he told me he never forgives people.

Although, he is not my God, and he cannot influence my destiny or whatever God wants me to become in life. So, if I’m begging him does not mean he can make me anything, or can prevent anything that God wants me to achieve. I only asked for forgiveness in the interest of peace and the development of our people.

Do you agree with some that the PDP lost the last election because of the quality of advisers such as Chief Anenih that the president had?

Let me say that I have been very reluctant in judging former President Jonathan. I

wouldn’t want to judge him or any other man for that matter. I leave posterity to judge him.

But there are a few groups, a few people, one of them you just mentioned now.

So essentially, he allowed some elements to create a fence around him and fence off a lot of people from reaching him.

And this is a complaint that I’ve heard from different people across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

People who did a lot to help him win the 2011 election and yet were unable to reach him one-on-one after the elections are too numerous to count. I’ve heard of people who held him hostage. People who were not necessarily political assets to him. People who were more of a political liability to him than assets. But as to why he allowed himself to be in that position is what I wouldn’t know. I think that’s as much that I want to say about Jonathan.

Except that he did his best

Continues on page 47

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015—47

The money quarrel between Anenih and I Continues from page 46 under the circumstances for five years; but his best was not good enough, there is really nothing that anybody can do about it now. He is a lucky man.

From not even having any political ambition, he became a Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President, then acting President and finally President of a country like Nigeria for a period of five years. I think it’s an achievement that anybody should be contented with for the rest of his life.

And I do hope, listening to former President Jonathan at his thanksgiving that he feels contented and grateful for having the opportunity to lead a country like Nigeria even though, he has his faults. No man is perfect. I also have my own faults. He has served his term and I wish him a happy retirement.

What’s more important now is the present. We now have a President, Vice President who can be trusted to do a good job, though they have a government which is facing lots of challenges. And we do hope that they will be able to meet the very high expectations of Nigerians.

Some say that the government is starting on a very slow pace and given the continuing onslaught of the Boko Haram insurgents, do you think the government is doing well?

Well, two quick comments on that. Nigerians should learn how to be patient. There is so much impatience on the part of Nigerians which is why traffic congestion, gridlock and jams on the road are always a recurrent decimal, due essentially not to the bad nature of the roads but due to the impatience of Nigerians.

There are so many things wrong with Nigeria today due to impatience. The government has been in place for less than one week and already people are being impatient wanting to see magic happen. At least, let them give the government a period of grace to settle down.

The fact that these appointments have not been announced yet doesn’t mean that things are not being done.

Just a few days ago, the appointments of his media aides were announced.

This man was one of the best generals of his time. He had, as a former general confronted a lot of religious fanaticism in C M Y K

the North. He dealt with foreign incursion into Nigerian territory under President Shagari in the past. He knows very well what the terrain is like because he is from that region of the country which is more affected by terrorism.

President Buhari is a wartime Presidential material who knows what strategies to adopt and get the job done.

So when he made the pronouncement of moving the military central command to the North East, I wasn’t surprised.

He has set out to do things differently having realised that directing the pace and mode of operations from Abuja has not really worked. He understands the problem much more than any of us. So let’s give him the benefit of patience and time.

Let’s allow the government to settle down. He has not even appointed his security team. He has not appointed his ministers. What do you think should be the priority areas the new government?

Well, I have been asked this question before by a journalist, and my answer was that a government should be judged by the manifesto of the party which produced it. If political parties and their elected officials work to implement their manifestos, then we will achieve a lot in Nigeria.

Because, no party will ever put out a bad manifesto and hope

People who did a lot to help him win the 2011 election and yet were unable to reach him one-on-one after the elections are too numerous to count

•Osunbor to get voted into positions.

But there are also other key areas such as the economy and job creation and the issue of power supply which are all related to security.

However, I want to say that not enough was done by the past government in this regard.

Because you can’t have some elements bursting the pipelines all the time and the government was helpless and unable to do anything even when we heard that billions of the nation’s scarce resources were being paid to some contractors to safeguard these infrastructures.

A situation which drove the former minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo to tears, saying that despite the enormous efforts being made by government, these criminals kept bursting the pipelines and preventing gas supply to the power plants. But there was a government in place. Is it spirits who go to burst the pipelines?

They are human beings, some of whom are even known, because there had been cases of oil thieves who were caught and set free following interventions from some highly placed people in the country.

So that is for the problem of power. We must not be helpless as a nation to say oh, we don’t have electricity because some people are bursting pipelines which are supposed to supply

gas to the generating plants thereby reducing the amount of power generated to the national grid for distribution. It is pathetic and unacceptable.

And I hope that this government will not feed us with that kind of apologies.

The other issue which is not very tangible is the issue of entrenching democratic institution in Nigeria and allow it to work well. And first, the independence of the Judiciary has to be addressed. Judicial reform and independence need to be a priority in the list of items the APC leaders are talking about. Because Nigerians must be made to have faith in our Judiciary. As of now, very few people will say with confidence that they are satisfied with the performance of the Judiciary. So I do hope and pray that something will be done in that sector. But then you cannot scrub everybody with the same brush. It is not every judge that is corruptible and indulges in the kinds of unprofessional things that go on in the Judiciary.

Which segment of the Judiciary then is the problem?

As you know, there are support staff in the management and adjudication of justice. Courts don’t just sit to pronounce judgements, they must serve summons, take applications and hear cases before reaching judgements.

And in all of these processes,

there are support staff who prepare summons, deliver them and even type verdicts as delivered by Judges. And in most cases, you find that these support staff sit on these processes waiting for people to come and grease their palms before they can do what is necessary. It is that bad. So many cases or judgement are delayed due to practises like that apart from the greed and mischief of lawyers and some judges whose behaviours have brought the system to disrepute.

There are rumours that you left the PDP because you want to contest the next governorship election on the platform of the APC. Is it true?

That I’m now in the APC is no longer a rumour. Why I left the PDP is no longer a rumour.

I have always been an APC supporter in Edo State. I only formally joined on the 7th of April. As for the reasons why I joined, I couldn’t exhaust the reasons, because there are so many of them. I mentioned it before that PDP in Edo State is like a personal property of one man.

If that one man who is the owner of PDP says he doesn’t like you and you have committed an offence that he will never forgive, would you still remain in that party if you were in my shoes?

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54—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

LAGOS ASSEMBLY:

Akure gets new Deji

Women make case for female Speaker

z Deposed monarch in court

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KURE—KING makers in Akure, yesterday, selected Prince Aladetoyinbo Patrick of Osupa ruling house as new Deji of Akure 18 months after the demise of the former Deji, Oba Adebiyi Adesida.

The stool became vacant December 1, when Adesida from Ojijigogun ruling house, died after a three-year reign.

Aladetoyinbo was unanimously selected among 13 people who showed interest in the throne.

The Osupa ruling house had on Friday forwarded a list of nominees to the kingmakers after a meeting at the residence of its head, Dr. Ade Ogunleye.

The meeting was attended by officials of Akure South Local Government who were there to observe and supervise the proceedings.

The nominees included princes Kayode Oluwole, Adegbola Adelabu, Adegbite Kayode, Adejuyigbe Femi, Adeolu Adepoju, Aladetoyinbo Patrick and Agbebi Leye.

Others were Arimoyo Ayodele, Bello Oluyemisi, Daramola Adeyemi, Ade Falodun, Ogunsuyi Oluwole and Samuel Adebayo.

The state government had, Monday, written a letter through Akure South Local Government, directing the ruling house to nominate a candidate for the approval of kingmakers.

However, the deposed traditional ruler of the city, Prince Adesina Adepoju, had gone to court, seeking an injunction restraining the state government, the ruling house and the kingmakers from approving any candidate for the stool pending the determination of his suit.

Adepoju, who is also from Osupa ruling house, claims that he is still entitled to the throne since, according to him, he was wrongly removed from the stool.

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Mr. Victor Ahiuma-Young, Assistant Labour Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; his wife Charity (left) and daughter, Chiamaka, during the thanskgiving service for Mr. AhiumaYoung who was shot by robbers along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, held at St. Joseph Chosen Church of God, Kirikiri, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTOS: Biodun Ogunleye.

From left— Mr. Ahiuma-Young, celebrator; Mr. Joe Ajaero, factional President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Mr. Issa Aremu, Deputy President, at the service.

O M E N organisations in Lagos State have called on members of the state House of Assembly to work towards the emergence of a female Speaker.

The organisations, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC; Women Consortium of Nigeria, WOCON, and Women Law and Development Centre, WLDCN, agreed that there was need for Lagos Assembly to elect a woman to lead the House.

In a statement, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director of WARDC, and Coordinator of Gender Dialogue Platform; and Mrs Olabisi Olagbegi, South-West Coordinator of Women Empowerment Unit of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, and Executive Director of WOCON, said Lagos must consider a female Speaker who was tested and trusted.

They said: “The state should show it is progressive and women-friendly.”

The NGOs supported the candidacy of Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuosho, who they said “had spent 12 years in the House, shown diligence and exceptional leadership qualities.”

SUCCESSFUL STEWARDSHIP: PDP salutes

Mark, Ekweremadu, Tambuwal, others

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—THE national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday hailed the immediate-past Senate President, Senator David Mark and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for how they conducted the affairs of the seventh Senate.

The party said it was particularly satisfied that the outgoing PDP leadership in the National Assembly laid solid foundation on which the nation’s legislature can always leverage for greater productivity in the interest of all.

In a statement yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that it was proud of them, especially in stabilising the upper house,

which contributed immensely in deepening the nation’s democracy.

The party also commended the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, for their efforts in steadying the ship of the last House despite unpredicted daunting challenges.

PDP added that the leadership of the party notes the efforts of the last National Assembly under Senator Mark in ensuring unity among lawmakers and leading the federal legislature to provide the much needed direction for national development.

Showering encomiums on Ihedioha and other PDP leaders in the House of Representatives for their steadfastness to the party and

the nation at large, the party said: “The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and members of our great party nationwide

appreciate the commitment of our leaders and members in the seventh National Assembly for their selfless contributions to the development of our nation.”

First Lady condoles Yola blast victims

Y

OLA— THE First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has consoled victims of Yola bomb blast, who are receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

Represented by Dr Zainab Nyako, the First Lady condemned the incident and wished the victims speedy recovery.

She said: “The First Lady said I should tell you that she was deeply touched by this bomb incident and other related killings in neighbouring states, and will

continue to pray for a speedy and lasting solution.”

Dr Bala Saidu, Chief Medical Director, Yola Specialist Hospital, and Dr Bemi Kala, Head, Clinical Services, Federal Medical Centre, received the First Lady’s representative in their hospitals.

They thanked the First Lady for her concern and solicited for more support from individuals and voluntary organisations.

Last Thursday night’s bomb blast around Jimeta Modern Market claimed over 30 lives, while over 50 people sustain injuries.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 55

PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Ijaw lost to conspiracy, betrayal, says Graham-Douglas

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA— FORMER Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Chief Tonye Graham-Douglas, yesterday, said the Ijaw lost the Presidency to the North due to intrigues, conspiracies, betrayals and manipulations.

He spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State during the fifth memorial lecture in memory of late educationist and former Commissioner for Transport in Bayelsa State, Chief Nicholas FrankOpigo.

Graham-Douglas went down the memory lane on how the South-South geopolitical zone was birthed and the roles he and FrankOpigo played in its actualisation, noting that the development gave the zone the opportunity to produce the president of the country.

He said “This political mustard seed sown eventually grew to be one of the greatest political metamorphosis and eventually gave the minorities of minority of the South-South geo-political zone the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The sojourn, as we observed was a giant stride with glorious acclamation, true emancipation and deliverance of the hitherto insignificant Ijaw nation. No sooner than was imagined, the situation suffered an infestation of political cankerworm, the consequence of which the centre, ethnically and parochially suffered. some caving in.

“The up and coming impeccable ‘Ijawness’ became in-cohesive with suspicion and mistrust, all culminating to the control by the evil spirit of politics defined as

a concentric circle of intrigue, conspiracies, betrayals, manipulations and all kinds of societal rivalries.

“The ultimate resultant tsunami became inevitable. The greatest loser thereof became our great Ijaw nation and the South-South geopolitical region.”

He charged his Ijaw brothers and sisters not to despair.

“Instead, the Ijaw nation should go back to the drawing board to critically re-examine themselves. We have to re-examine where we are coming from, where we are and where we intend to be in the evolving politics of the Ijaw nation and SouthSouth geopolitical zone.''

Also speaking, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, extolled the virtues of Frank-Opigo, saying he was a true purveyor of knowledge and invested his resources accordingly.

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD (RCCG) APAPA FAMILY 2015 EXCEL CELEBRATION HELD AT THE TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE, LAGOS, YESTERDAY. Photos by Bunmi Azeez & Lamidi Bamidele.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo arriving the event.

Stay out of politics, Abubakar tells religious leaders of the Inter Party Advisory

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA—FORMER Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has cautioned religious leaders to stay out of politics to maintain their integrity.

Abubakar gave the advice at weekend in

Abuja at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at (AMJ) Nigeria’s maiden National Peace Symposium, themed: “Religion, Peace and National Unity” and the 4th Northern Region Jalsa Tarbiya.

He was represented by the National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) and chairman

Buhari'll deliver on campaign promises — KUMUYI

By Luka Binniyat

K

ADUNA—THE G e n e r a l Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibanjo will bring about the change they promised Nigerians during their campaigns.

Kumuyi, who spoke with journalists at Kaduna Airport weekend after presiding over a revival crusade, said he hinged his optimism on the two men's past achievements.

He said: “With the past records of the President as well as the Vice President, I believe they meant what they said during the C M Y K

campaigns and I want to say they will really focus on the drive to bring the change they actually spoke about and I believe we will see change. ''The emergence of Buhari as President was ordained

by God and l urge the President to rule with the fear of God.'' According to him, “Anyone in position of government is there by the ordination of God, and so should rule with the fear of God. We should look at whatever mistakes the past government made and see how to sincerely correct those mistakes and not only to dwell on the mistakes but move us forward so that we can have a better country for a new generation of Nigerians.”

Council (IPAC) Dr. Yunusa Tanko, who also received the National Peace Award bestowed on him by the National Amir (President) of the AMJ Nigeria, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola at the event.

“Religious leaders should stay away from politics and politicking as they are known to be revered people in order to maintain their integrity, but can as well challenge any perceived misdemeanor in the polity.

Religious leaders should run away from any message that may lead to disharmony and misunderstanding,” Abubakar said.

He quoted several passages in the Qur’an and Bible that denounce violence but promote peace at all times, adding that if the people continue to preach such messages, there would have been little work to do in uniting the people towards peace and unity of the country.

According to him, “The major concern of the local and international community was the fear of violence before, during and after the elections. This brings us to the important role our faith-based organizations have to play considering the fact that, Nigerians listen to sermons from the Imams and Pastors dish out from the altar.''

From left: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; his wife, Bolanle and Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, former deputy governor of Lagos State.

From left: Pastor (Mrs) Siju Iluyomade; Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, Pastor in-charge of Apapa Family; Pastor E A Adeboye; his wife Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye; Professor Yemi Osinbajo; his wife, Dolapo and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

A crowd of worshippers at the EXCEL celebration

56— VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 8 , 2015

Saudi-led air strikes kill 44 in attack on Yemeni army compound

G7 summit: World leaders urge tough line on Russia L

EADERS from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations backed a tough line toward Moscow at the start of a summit in the Bavarian Alps, with U.S. President Barack Obama urging the gathering to stand up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Host Angela Merkel greeted Obama in the idyllic Alpine village of Kruen under blue skies, surrounded by locals in traditional dress, drinking beer and eating white sausage and pretzels.

The German chancellor was hoping to secure commitments from her G7 guests to tackle global warming ahead of a major United Nations climate summit in Paris in December.

The German agenda also foresees discussions on global health issues, from Ebola to antibiotics and tropical diseases.

But the crises in Ukraine and Greece seemed likely to overshadow the discussions at Schloss Elmau, a luxury Alpine hotel near the Austrian border.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking before the start of the summit, voiced exasperation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has dismissed the latest aid-for-

China ship disaster death toll jumps to 396

T

HE death toll from a Chinese cruise ship which capsized during a storm in the Yangtze River jumped to 396 at the weekend , leaving fewer than 50 still missing, as the boat operator apologized and said it would cooperate with investigations.

Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday night.

Rescuers are searching the cabins of the four-level ship, which was righted and raised on Friday, looking for more bodies.

State television showed pictures of workers clad in protective gear and wearing masks prizing open doors with crowbars and using axes to clear away debris from the ship, which is being held up by cranes and wires attached to barges.

C M Y K

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama make speeches after signing the guest book in Kruen, southern Germany, yesterday reform proposal from international creditors as “absurd”. Athens is running out of cash and will default on its debt, a move that could end up pushing it out of the euro zone, if it fails to reach a deal with its European

partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the coming weeks. Juncker reaffirmed that a so-called “Grexit” was not an option being considered, but said this did not mean he could “pull a rabbit out of a hat”

to prevent it. Obama said leaders would discuss the global economy, trade partnerships and “standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine”, as well as threats from violent extremism and climate change.

Israeli premier criticizes world’s ‘silence’ on Gaza rockets

I

SRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday criticized what he described as the world’s “silence” over recent rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, drawing a quick response from his country’s closest ally, the U.S. Netanyahu, speaking at his weekly Cabinet meeting, said he hadn’t heard anyone condemn three rocket attacks from Gaza over the past two weeks. The rockets caused no damage, nor any injuries.

“It will be interesting to

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu see if this silence continues when we use all our strength in exercising our right to defend ourselves,” Netanyahu said. “It should be clear: the hypocrisy that is sweeping the world will

not chain our hands from defending the citizens of Israel.”

In Germany, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said U.S. officials had spent “a lot of time talking about this” during Israel’s recent war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“This is not the first time that I’ve stood at a podium like this and strongly condemned rocket attacks by extremists in Gaza against innocent Israeli citizens,” Earnest said.

“Clearly, the United States stands with the nation of Israel as they defend their nation and their people from these attacks.”

S

AUDI-led air strikes killed at least 44 people during an air raid on the main headquarters of the Yemeni army in central Sanaa yesterday , the Houthi-run state news agency Saba said.

The agency said that more than 100 people, including civilians, were also wounded in the attack which also destroyed private houses in Tahrir district in central Sanaa.

Residents had earlier said that four explosions shook the compound, where soldiers allied with the Iranian-backed Houthi group that dominates Yemen had gathered since Saturday evening to get their pay checks.

Mexico midterm elections open amid fears of violence

T

HOUSANDS of Mexican soldiers and federal police guarded polling stations yesterday in restive southern states where violence and calls for boycotts threatened to disrupt the country’s midterm elections, a litmus test for President Enrique Pena Nieto’s government.

Such midterm elections, this time for 500 seats in the lower house of Congress, nine of 31 governorships and hundreds of mayors and local officials, usually draw light turnout.

But attention was unusually high this time as a loose coalition of radical teachers’ unions and activists vowed to block the

S-led coalition bombed Islamic State group fighters as

they battled rival Syrian rebels, including Al-Qaeda loyalists, for the first

Syrian pro-government fighters flash the victory sign at a hilltop in the Qalamoun region on the outskirts of Damascus, on June 6, 2015

time, a monitoring group said yesterday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the overnight raids in northern Aleppo as an intervention on the side of the rival rebels, which include forces who have been targeted previously by US-led strikes.

“The coalition carried out at least four strikes overnight targeting IS positions in the town of Suran,” the Britain-based Observatory said.

“It’s the first time that the

vote.

They have attacked the offices of political parties in Chiapas and Guerrero states and burned ballots in Oaxaca ahead of the vote.

Those states, along with Michoacan, were expected to be the focus of unrest yesterday.

The teachers’ demands include huge wage hikes, an end to teacher testing and the safe return of 42 missing students from a radical teachers’ college.

Those students disappeared in September, and prosecutors say they were killed and incinerated by a drug gang. One student’s remains were identified by DNA testing.

Famed Soviet children’s camp in Crimea reopens

I

T was once the summer destination for the brightest and best of Soviet children but it slipped into disuse and decay after the

US-led raids hit IS battling rebels, Al-Qaeda in Syria

U

“More than 44 citizens were martyred and 100 others including women and children, according to preliminary figures,” the agency said.

The agency quoted a source at the Health Ministry as saying that rescue teams where working to find people believed to be still under the rubble of houses destroyed by the raids.

The escalation of the violence came despite progress toward convening United Nations-backed peace talks this month in Geneva. The exiled Yemeni government in Riyadh and the Houthis have agreed to attend the talks which start on June 14.

international coalition has supported non-Kurdish opposition forces fighting the Islamic State,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. He said at least eight IS fighters were killed in the strikes and another 20 were injured.

Syria expert Thomas Pierret said the raids showed Washington was intent on preventing IS from expanding in Aleppo province, which is currently largely divided between regime and rebel control.

Socialist empire crumbled.

Now, however, showpiece holiday camp Artek in Crimea has reopened under Russian control after Moscow grabbed the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine — and it is once again aiming to shape a new generation.

In an idyllic setting of cypress trees, magnolias and seven kilometres (about four miles) of pebble beaches, Artek welcomed only the cream of the Communist youth organisations, the Young Pioneers and the Komsomol, aged from 10 to around 17 .

After the end of the Soviet Union, the camp was taken over by Ukraine’s independent authorities but gradually fell into disrepair.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 8 , 2015 — 57

Int'l flotilla rescues 5,900 from Mediterranean *14 Migrants injured in road accident in Macedonia *Italian leaders vow not to shelter more rescued migrants

A

N international res cue fleet plucked almost 5,900 migrants from rickety boats making the perilous sea crossing for North Africa to Europe on Saturday and Sunday respectively, Italy’s coastguard said.

Similarly, Macedonian police say 14 migrants were injured early yesterday when the van they traveled in went off the road after the driver tried to escape a police checkpoint.

Police tried to stop the van for a routine check shortly after midnight, but the driver speeded up. The van went off the road and crashed into an underpass pillar.

The injured migrants have been taken to hospital in the central Mac-

C M Y K

edonian town of Veles.

Two with more serious injuries hip and leg fractures were transferred to a hospital in the capital Skopje.

The British warship Bulwark assisted in picking up more than 1,000 refugees, including 10 pregnant women, the Ministry of Defense said.

The Italian coastguard, which coordinates rescue efforts from Rome, said British, Swedish, Spanish and Italian ships and a merchant vessel had all been called upon to go to the aid of 15 different boats yesterday, rescuing 2,400 people in all.

On Saturday, 3,500 migrants were rescued about 45 miles from the

Libyan coast.

The tide of migrants and refugees risking the often deadly sea crossing to reach Europe from Africa is on the rise this year and the U.N. refugee agency estimates more than 1,800 have drowned. About 800 perMigrants disembarking ished in a single shipharbor, Italy, yesterday wreck in April.

In response, the EU has bolstered its presence But Prime Minister in the Mediterranean, Matteo Renzi said Marobut it is still debating how ni, a former interior and to handle the refugees labor minister, was and migrants once they partly responsible for are ashore. locking Italy into an Roberto Maroni, the unfair European Union League’s president of the treaty that requires asynorthern Lombardy relum seekers to ask for gion, which includes the refuge in the country financial capital Milan, where they first enter said he would refuse to the bloc. shelter more migrants.

EU interior ministers

from the German Navy ship Hessen at the Palermo

are due to discuss a European Commission plan on June 16 to disperse 40,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece to other member states, and to bolster the enforcement of the treaty that Renzi wants changed.

Italy’s government projects that 200,000 in all will come this year, up from 170,000 in 2014.

Meanwhile, heartened by recent election successes by an anti-immigrant party, Italian politicians based in the north vowed yesterday not to shelter any more migrants saved at sea, even as hundreds more were being rescued in the Mediterranean from smugglers’ boats in distress.

58—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

To rescue economy requires 24 by 7 operation — Soludo ... I am not available for public service now P

ROFESSOR Charles Soludo, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN granted interview to Premium Times last Friday and spoke on some issues affecting the economy.

He seemed unwilling to say much, at least for now. But it was still vintage Soludo, and some of the issues he raised are explosive. He sees hope and opportunities for the new Government, even though he says his current engagements will not allow him to join the government on a full time basis, contrary to wide speculations. He says he can however freely offer advice to the government if needed. Soludo says: Nigeria needs a Job Manifesto, and that solid minerals and agriculture can’t be relied upon for job creation; Argues that a sustainable change will not occur without a new constitution; says the clamour for zoning and sharing of public offices is an elite power game which has little to do with the masses and therefore misplaced; believes the argument for local government autonomy is anti-federalism; is waiting for the action plan from the new government before joining the debate on the agenda; says his public spat with Okonjo-Iweala was unfortunate; raises questions about the proposal by CBN governor on selling government equity stakes in oil for immediate revenue as well as the new NBS data on unemployment; etc.

Excerpts: You promised not to keep quiet again and to ask more questions about the running of the economy after elections but you seem to have been very quiet since the elections. Can you now raise the questions?

Two quick points: The elections have come and gone but that was the easier part. The hard part now begins. Like most Nigerians, I am happy that Nigeria made history with the election. On your question, No; there was no need to raise further questions for the outgone administration. President Jonathan raised the bar and set a new tone in his statesmanly acceptance of defeat. That was noble. Last month, the government admitted that they were borrowing since January to pay salaries. What more do you want me to say? The two articles I wrote in January and February (which Vanguard newspaper still posts on its website as ‘The Soludo Debate’) remain living documents and raised some of the salient questions, some of which may be bold markers for the new government. Our focus should be on the future and the new government.

How is your relationship with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala now?

C M Y K

•Professor Charles Soludo, Why do you ask? Of course, she is and will always be my dear elder sister and Madam; someone I deeply respect. We may not always agree, especially on public policy. The public spat was unfortunate. She felt she had an obligation to defend her government but she did so in a manner that I also felt an obligation to respond in equal measure. But all that is now history. There is nothing personal. Now without the encumbrances of government and its pressures, I look forward to our returning to the good old days in our personal relationship.

The economy is really bad; falling oil price, dwindling revenue, debt, inflation, unemployment, collapsed Naira, etc. Where does President Buhari start from?

I don’t envy President Buhari and his team. His government will preside over the transition to a post-oil economy, and it won’t be a tea party. If Buhari works 8 hours a day, he last less than 7,500 hours left to bring about change in his first term in office or less than 9,700 if he works 12 hours a day, with three substantive annual budgets to go before the next elections. The clock is ticking already. But the Rescue, Stabilize, and Transform (RST) Plan requires a 24 by 7 operation.

There must be something in the President’s natal chart that keeps bringing him to govern us just when things are in shambles. But I see hope; I see opportunities.

The president and his team have a historic opportunity to create a new Nigeria without oil; a Nigeria powered by competition and compassion. Fortuitously Nigeria’s centenary was last year, 2014. This year marks the beginning of the next 100 years. President Buhari and the new crop of elected officers at all levels must lay the foundation for the next Nigeria; a re-engineered Nigeria with the structures and incentives to move from cake-sharing or consumption to cake-baking or production. Old thinking and

ways of doing things won’t work.

But an attempt to drive change from Abuja will fail. It will be akin to trying to clap with one hand. A coordinated national (not federal) response is required.

On your specific question as to where President Buhari should begin, let me say that I don’t want to join the new industry in town which is ‘agenda setting’. Everyone is grabbing the microphone to ‘set agenda’. That’s ok. I am aware that the transition committee is working hard on an agenda, and I believe that the committee is made up of eminent Nigerians. For me, let us wait for them to unveil their action plan and we would have something to comment upon or contribute to. I am aware that the African Heritage Institution (Afriheritage) is planning a session focused on the agenda after it is announced. So, I won’t join this fashion parade of the day. Not yet.

Let me be more specific. With

The clock is ticking already.

But the Rescue, Stabilize, and Transform (RST) Plan requires a 24 by 7 operation. There must be something in the President’s natal chart that keeps bringing him to govern us just when things are in shambles

the terrible condition of the economy, and the high expectations of Nigerians on the new government, what practical steps should Buhari take to create jobs speedily?

I told you I do not want to discuss specifics now. For sure, job creation should be the focus of the new post-oil economy. Nigeria certainly needs a Job Manifesto, with a target of 8 - 12 million jobs over the next four years. This is easier said than done. We are diversifying the economy by-passing the manufacturing/industrial sector to the tertiary sector (services). Creating value-adding jobs in such an economy with one of the highest rates of urbanization in the world will task our creativity to the limit. The agenda will require a kind of coordination between the federal and state governments in a manner never seen before. Luckily the APC states are in majority and I hope their party will rein them in. I have read some newspaper reports that solid minerals sector and agriculture will be the new kids on the block to mint the jobs.

That won’t happen! At least not in the manner it is being romanticised about. They would have very limited impacts on job creation over the next four years, and over the long-run agricultural transformation will actually reduce jobs. The prospects of the solid mineral sector will depend on the policy framework and even legislation, the dynamics of commodity prices especially given the apparent end of the commodity super cycle, and the nature of forward and backward integration with the rest of the industrial structure. Anyway, let us wait for government’s agenda before we can comment, please.

In your previous answer you alluded to changing the structures of Nigeria. What should President Buhari do with the report of the recent national conference?

It is up to him to decide what to do with the report. A fundamental point however is that you can’t create the new Nigeria, a postoil competitive economy without fundamentally altering the existing constitution. The current constitution and the political-governance structures created by it are designed to share and consume the oil rent. A system designed for consumption cannot become efficient for production. Ours is a dysfunctional unitary-federalism, with a queer fiscal federalism and it won’t go too far. The federating units were created by the central government; it also created the local governments. Every month, both the governors and their local government chairmen are supposed to beseech Abuja to collect their allocations, each supposed-

ly with powers to do whatever they like with the allocations. As oil stumbles, the fiscal viability of these creations is coming into question. Suddenly, states and LGAs designed to collect and spend oil money will be required to produce and create wealth to survive. We will see how the old order will give rise to the new without some creative destruction. The problem with the structure is that those who benefit most from it are required to dismantle it— the incentives are incompatible. We need to study the UAE (United Arab Emirates) model of competitive federalism—that created the incentives for Dubai and other prosperous non-oil regions to emerge. I have written a lot on this subject, and we can talk about this the whole day. The point is that APC cannot deliver sustainable change to Nigeria if it does not go to the roots, and effect systemic change. Tinkering at the margins will amount to papering over a cracked wall.

That reminds me of the ongoing debate about local government autonomy and joint account with the states. Shouldn’t the local governments be autonomous?

Autonomy from who? I know that it makes for our emotional satisfaction to “deal with the state governors” and let the LGAs have ‘autonomy’— but only in the sense of getting their “allocation” directly and unhindered by state governments but with no incentive-sanctions regime that ties such grants to certain productivity and fiscal viability criteria. The mistaken belief is that such autonomy will ensure that resources get to the ‘grassroots’. It is a funny argument which proceeds from the old model of ‘sharing the cake’. We must decide whether we want a federal or a unitary system; not both at the same time.

Are the states the federating units or both states and local governments? Funny enough the same constitution gives the state assemblies the power to create local governments and maintain oversight over them. At the same time, the constitution lists the LGAs created by the military as the ones to collect “allocations” from the Federation Account. I want to see examples of federal systems in the world where the local governments directly receive statutory allocations from the federal government and with statutory powers to spend as they wish without performance-based criteria attached to such receipts.

The mind-set is rooted in the past, but the problems are unfolding in the future. When it comes to incentives and sanctions regime for creating prosperity and accountability, our current constitution is a funny document. It is even worse for effective macroeconomic management.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 59

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OGAGA—I, formerly known and addressed as Ogaga Orugba Louis, now wish to be known and addressed as Overare Orugba Louis. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OAIKHENA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sarah Oaikhena, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aikoshoria Sarah. All former documents remain valid. Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja (Itakpe Campus) and general public please take note.

AIBANGBEE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aibangbee Glory, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Irabor Glory Odion Sylva. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

WAZEEU—I, formerly known and addressed as Biyi Wazeeu, now wish to be known and addressed as Adebiyi Wasiu Ayinde. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

U20 World Cup: All African teams make history

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ISTORY was made Sunday when all four African teams at the FIFA U20 World Cup Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Mali – made it to the knockout stage of the competition for the first time ever.

Interestingly, it will be an all-African clash on Wednesday, when Ghana face Mali in Wellington.

Ghana, the first and only team from Africa to win this competition in 2009, lost 1-0 to Mali in the group stage of the African Youth Championship in Senegal in March, before they avenged this defeat by beating their

West African rivals to finish third in the same tournament.

This fixture means that at least an African team are guaranteed a place in the last eight of this tournament.

African champions Nigeria will take on the champions of Europe Germany on Thursday in Christchurch after the Flying Eagles finished second in Group E behind Brazil. Senegal, hosts and runners-up at the 2015 AYC, also made it to the knockout rounds after they finished as one of the “third best losers” and they will now tackle Ukraine in Auckland on Wednesday.

Warri Wolves hungry for league title after continental ouster

BY BEN EFE

A

NOTHER opportui t y for a silverware eluded Warri Wolves after they failed to beat AC Leopards of Congo in the second leg tie of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminaries. But club chief executive officer, Davidson Owumi stated that the team will now gear all its efforts towards winning the Nigeria Premier League.

“We haven’t done badly in the competition. But now that we are out; all our efforts will be geared towards winning the league,”Owumi said.

He added that Warri Wolves struggled with off field issues such as fin

nances and it would have been better if the club was well funded just like other African countries vying for continental club honours.

Gbolahan Salami in the opening minutes of the second half, opened a flood gate of activities.

The Congolese fought back and were lucky to get their away goal after captain Azubuike Egwekwe deflected a shot from a pull out.

Salami extended the lead, as the Wolves pressured the Congolese to no ends, but a couple of missed chances gave AC Leopards the strength to carry on. Oghenekaro Etebo added the third but the fourth goal that would have transported the Warri Wolves to group stages remained elusive.

Wawrinka Continues from BP Djokovic hoped to join Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the only players in the modern era to win all four Majors, but must come back again next year to give it another try.

The Swiss, at 30, becomes an unlikely twice Grand Slam winner late in his career after his superb heavy groundstroking overwhelmed Djokovic, who was a little ragged by his own stratospheric standards.

Wawrinka managed to carve out only a second win in his last eighteen meetings with the Serb, recapturing the form that brought him the Australian Open title eighteen

months ago, where he beat Djokovic in the quarter final.

He might acknowledge the role Andy Murray played in taking the Serb to five sets and a second day yesterday in a match that spanned four hours and nine minutes. As luck had it, he had also needed to contend with a massive quarter final over Rafael Nadal, and it all must surely have taken its toll.

The Swiss is well equipped to disrupt Djokovic just by the sheer force of his groundstrokes, which even the greatest mover in the game struggles to reach. He has seriously improved his forehand in the last two years, to go with that beautifully elegant and powerful backhand.

60 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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ESTERDAY morning Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief when the Flying Eagles overcame a nervy start to beat Hungary by two Awoniyi goals( one in each half) to progress in the Group behind Brazil.

AS second in the group, the implication is that they are most likely to face a tougher Group winner and fingers are already being pointed at free scoring European giants Germany. It may be argued that Germany qualified from an easy group that had Fiji, Honduras and Uzbekistan, but what cannot be taken away is that they are the current European champions with a certain Davie Selcke as danger man. That is the story for another day.

The lessons we have to draw from this competition is that in which veteran sports journalist Isaac Ibhafidon drew my attention to, when the media was agog with news of the Nigerian being crowned champions even without kicking a ball.

The Nigerian football expert took me back to 1987 where we had the best assemblage of Nigerian youth ever, coached by Christopher Udemezue, that team had the multi talented Etim Esin alias Maradona, Jonathan Akpoborie, Thompson Oliha, Ladi Babalola, Victor Igbinoba, Nduka Ugbade, Peter Nieketien, Adeolu Adekola, Lawrence Ukaegbu, Okon Ene, Ikponwosa Omoregie….while the goalkeepers were Willy Okpara and Lucky Agbonsebafe……what a star studded squad.

We were so sure they were going to win the world cup, only for them to be drubbed by Brazil 4-0 in the first match.

They managed to draw 2-2 with lowly rated Canada and lost 0-2 to Italy for an early flight back home.

The current squad has escaped . A battle has been won but the war is still on. More of penetrating passes from the boys, a more articulated midfield and the conversion of numerous scoring chances that they create and we are guaranteed further progress in the World Cup. I want to believe that yesterday’s victory would have been a tonic potent enough to buoy the Falcons for their World cup opener this evening against Sweden in Winnipeg.

Good luck Nigeria

Warri Wolves as metaphor

While football clubs in Nigeria perpetually groan under the weight of financial inadequacy, their counterparts in Africa are gearing up to make mega bucks at continental level as the money making league stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Champions League kicks off later in the month.

As Nigeria prides herself as being one of the best soccer playing nations in the world(?) Algeria as an example will have THREE clubs in the CAF champions league alone while we have none in any of the league no thanks to Warri Wolves ouster last Saturday in the Confederation Cup final qualifier

Lessons of Flying Eagles qualification the same stage Bayelsa United got knocked out in 2014.

For a couple of years now our representation in Africa has been a shame as we get knocked out at the drop of a pin, sometimes in very bizarre and unprofessional circumstances.

How can we forget the drama that led to the ouster of Dolphins of Port Harcourt as an example?

The current situation calls to question continued

A battle has been won but the war is still on government involvement in the whole sale running of football clubs and indeed all other sports clubs in this country. Before now the argument was that since government has financial muscle it was best placed to run football clubs. A situation where a club has to wait till the last minute to get funds to either travel or prepare for any competition does not augur well for the well being of the clubs.

When recently, the League Management Company called for a break in the league “……to enable the clubs acquaint themselves with incoming administrations in their states” many took it as a joke.

Our prayer for the election of sports loving governors was also in the same direction. You can imagine the case of a Governor who feels he has “tried” by releasing six million naira for the prosecution of an international engagement, money which is easily swallowed by referees tickets ( especially if they are appointed from far away North Africa) their board and lodging and entitlements, ticket and entitlement of the Match Commissioner, etc What about the camping of the local team, their allowances, security and logistics of organizing the match? Before now, clubs were saddled with the accommodation and feeding of the visiting team.

Some of the incoming governors already believe that good roads, provision of electricity, employment and security are of greater importance and cannot afford

to spend over N500,000.000 (N500 million ) a year to run clubs that “bring no dividends” to the state.

Employment arguments to the contrary have been debunked by the fact that most of these clubs employ non indigenes in a bid to win matches at all cost.

In Akwa Ibom as a known example , Government runs four professional clubs ( Akwa United, Akwa Starlets, Ibom Angels and Ibom Youths) and runs it pathetically with incessant complaints of lack of funds to pay salaries and event host home games not to talk of travelling to honour away matches.

About two years ago in Rivers State, Governor Amaechi said the Government was disposed to selling Dolphins as it could not successfully sustain two clubs ( Plus Sharks) in the Premier League.

I have had readers arguing that the quality of our league and the crowning of undeserved champions contribute to the poor show in Africa. I beg to disagree. I may not be an expert in African football, but I can categorically say that our league is one of the best run and most competitive in Africa, yet those achievements are rubbished when they fail to switch to the realities of playing continental football whose demands are taken to another level.

A few examples will suffice.

The moments clubs qualify for Africa and get their opponents, they are expected to book their flight tickets and travel at least four days before the match, given some tricky African flight connections and the playing of matches at the locality of the clubs that require further movements ( Dolisie, Warri…..)

Before the teams live base, advance team(s) should leave a week before to make hotel reservations, provide information on the weather ( quality of jersey to be used) altitude, playing surface ( grass or synthetic) quality of that surface, food, crowd behavior and strength of supporters etc.

What about the country from where the referees are appointed? As insignificant as this is it is always advisable to know that while referees from North Africa will be disposed to free flowing tap tap football, their counterparts from Cameroun and Cote divoire will not mind some robust tacklings and the players should be educated accordingly.

What about psychological talks on behaviours during the match, lectures by referees consultants on laws of the game as constantly updated, importants factors to look out for and the psychology of referees?

What about a dossier on the opposition? Their strengths and weaknesses, star players, information on their technical crew, club history and possible acquisition of tapes of their current league matches that can be provided by the help of our embassies and High commissions?

Tell me how many Nigerians clubs do as much as half of this? If they don’t how are they expected to win and go the distance? Impossible.

God help us.

See you next week.

Falcons Vs Sweden

Okon: We've done our homework

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Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo leading team members at the 10km Fidelity Bank Fit2Bond exercise in Lagos at the weekend.

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UPER Falcons coach, Edwin Okon stated that his team will make a bright start to their FIFA Women World campaign as they open their account with Sweden today.

Okon submitted that all the necessary preparations have been done, and it remains for the players to prove their

worth.

“We have done everything right to put the players in a perfect frame of mind for our group’s opening match against Sweden.

“We have trained hard, perfected our acts and the players have been well psyched up 100% and right now we are fervently hoping that

kick off 9.00 pm everything will turn out well to give us victory.

“The first match is quite important as good result in the encounter will go a long way to boost our confidence going into the next group matches against Australia and USA. “Already the players have queued into the match with a heartwarming operational slogan, Sweden must fall,”Okon said enthusiastically.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 61

‘Morocco won the 2010 World Cup vote’ not S/Africa I T was in fact Morocco that won the right to

host the 2010 World Cup rather than South Africa,

Russia and Qatar Continues from B/P bidding process, the independent chairman of Fifa’s audit and compliance committee told a Swiss newspaper.

The FBI’s investigation of bribery and corruption at Fifa includes scrutiny of how world football’s governing body awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar.

Domenico Scala told SonntagsZeitung that the two countries could lose the hosting rights should evidence emerge of bribery in the bidding process.

“If evidence should emerge that the awards to Qatar and Russia only came about thanks to bought votes, then the awards could be invalidated,” Scala said in an interview. “This evidence has not yet been

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brought forth.”

Russia and Qatar have previously denied wrongdoing in the conduct of their bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, which were not the subject of charges announced by US prosecutors last week against Fifa officials.

Scala had made similar comments in 2013 but events over the past two weeks, which included a dawn police raid in Zurich and the arrests of several Fifa officials on US charges, have added urgency to his remarks.

Sepp Blatter unexpectedly announced on Tuesday he was resigning, only four days after securing a fifth term as Fifa president and shortly before it emerged that he too was under investigation by US law enforcement.

according to the latest sensational corruption allegations made against FIFA. Former FIFA executive committee member Ismail Bhamjee was allegedly recorded by an under cover reporter as part of an investigation by the Sunday Times newspaper saying that the north African

country had won by two votes.

Allegations have also been made that officials were bribed by the two bidding nations, though that has been denied.

The newspaper claims that the secretly recorded video tapes, made five years ago, were handed to FIFA officials at the time for them to investigate.

I’m ‘godfather’ to women’s football – Blatter

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EPP Blatter has described himself as a “godfather ” to women’s football at Fifa while acknowledging that its appeal still trails behind the men’s game.

However, with the Women’s World Cup which kicked off on Saturday in Canada, the Fifa president believes the tournament can be a “market opener” and he challenged the teams in the expanded 24nation tournament to help achieve that breakthrough by putting on a high-quality show.

Speaking to the BBC World Service, he said: “Women’s football must market itself. It’s a product and the product must have quality. Now it’s up to the ladies in this World Cup to show that it’s a great event because the television coverage will be done exactly like the Fifa World Cup.” Blatter recalled that Fifa started focusing on women’s football in 1988, when he was the association’s top administrator. The first Women’s World Cup was played in 1991.

Eagles donate to orphans in Abuja

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HILDREN of Divine Wounds Orphanage in Kubwa, Abuja had wonderful experience from players of the Super Eagles on Saturday.

The National Team players showered gifts and food items on the less-privileged kids while also pledging cash donations to help with their education at a Corporate Social Responsibility event held at the National Stadium in Abuja.

F/Eagles Continues from B/P champions beat Hungary 2-0 on Sunday to qualify behind Brazil from Group E. Coach Manu Garba said his team are now looking forward for a match-up between the African kings and their European counterparts at Christchurch.

“If you want to be champions, you have to be ready for any team. So, we are prepared for Germany or any other team because we want to win this World Cup,” he said.

“The most important thing right now is that after losing to Brazil, we have come back to qualify for the next round of the tournament.”

Manu said his team

stopped Hungary from playing their usual game and he would have been happier with more goals on Sunday.

“Overall, it was a good game for us. We knew Hungary will try to use the wings and pull out their balls from there, but we stopped them from playing,” said the coach.

“I would probably have been happier had we scored more goals.”

Goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo who has redeemed himself after his two blunders cost Nigeria their opening match against Brazil said they relish the challenge Germany will pose.

“Let them come. We are ready for them,” he simply said.

62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

French Open: Wawrinka stuns Djokovic

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OVAK Djokovic’s dreams of authenticating his greatness were brutally thrown back in his face

We're ready for Germany — F/Eagles F

Russia, Qatar may lose World Cups if ...

Continues on Page 61

•Wawrinka

FIFA Women's World Cup Falcons ready for Sweden Kick-off: 9 p.m. — P60

Continues on Page 61

USSIA and Qatar may be stripped of their World Cup hosting rights if evidence emerges of bribery in the

Continues on Page 59

U20 World Cup: All African teams make history — P.59

LYING Eagles have said they are prepared to meet European champions Germany on Thursday for a place in the lasteight of the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The African

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on Sunday as Stan Wawrinka shocked him to win the French Open.

Like his coach Boris Becker and many other outstanding players, the world number one is still without the clay court Grand Slam to his name as he was beaten 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 by the hulking Swiss in three hours and 12 minutes.

ROUND OF 16 MATCHES WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE

THANK YOU LORD . . . Flying Eagles goal getter, Taiwo Awoniyi(l) celebrates after beating Hungary 2-0 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in N/Zealand

‘Morocco won the 2010 World Cup vote’ not S/Africa — P.61

Ghana Serbia USA Ukraine Austria Germany Portugal Brazil

Vs Vs Vs Vs

Mali (Wellington) Hungary (Dunedin) Colombia (Wellington) Senegal (Auckland)

THURSDAY, 11 JUNE Vs Uzbekistan (Whangarei) Vs Nigeria (Christchurch) Vs New Zealand (Hamilton) Vs Uruguay (New Plymouth)

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Current (6) 5 Deadened (4) 8 Premium (5) 9 Tank (3) 10 Feline (4) 11 Intend (4) 12 Wrath (5) 13 Talented (6) 16 Record (4) 18 So be it (4) 20 Girl’s (3) 22 Fixed (3) 23 Loiter (3) 24 Conceal (4) 25 Nobleman (4) 28 Disfigure (6) 30 Swoon (5) 32 Tarry (4) 33 Tevern (3) 34 Secure (4) 35 Bar (5) 36 Generated (4) 37 Flask (6)

DOWN 1 Brutal (6) 2 Confirmed (8) 3 Combined (6) 4 Joined (9) 5 Number (7) 6 Employer (4) 7 Curve (4) 8 Snake (3) 14 Administered (9) 15 Fix (3) 17 Observe (3) 19 Coping (8) 20 Strike (3) 21 Told (7) 26 Rescind (6) 27 Streamer (6) 29 Mop (4) 30 Rasp (4) 31 Sailor (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Unfit 9, Entire 10, Donate 11, Newer 12, Iron 15, Core 17, Delayed 20, Red 21, Dream 22, Item 25, Silo 26, Deign 28, Wet 30, Sighted 33, Edit 35, Tore 36, Reign 38, Gardner 39, Locale 40, Pored.

DOWN: 1, Fetid 2, Stool 3, Urn 4, Needed 5, Idea 6, Tor 7, Major 8, Sewed 13, Resided 14, Naked 16, Remover 18, Dregs 19, Has 22, Might 24, Met 27, Niegle 28, Wedge 29, Tiara 31, Total 32, Deter 34, Zero 36, Rep 37, Nodi.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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