My Ministers, a must this month

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62488

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Buhari withdraws Power: Senate probes Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, others diplomatic, official passports from former over funds management >>9

public office holders

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My ministers, a must this month — BUHARI

•Says he has declared his assets four times •Slams civil service, says, corruption, inefficiency reign supreme

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, dismissed insinuations of his plans to defer the formation of a cabinet, as he insisted that his ministerial nominees would be unveiled this month.

Speaking in Aburi, Continues on Page 5

DONU KOGBARA: Day 9

Mr & Mrs ENDORSEMENT—Immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (in white); Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (2nd L); PDP BoT member, Senator Stella Omu (L), and a former Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Boyelayefa Debekeme (R), acknowledging cheers from the crowd, shortly after the former President officially endorsed Governor Dickson for a second term, at Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

COLUMNISTS:

Youths impose parallel leadership on Edo, See Inside Delta towns C M Y K

Woman, God, Supreme Court and gay marriage •P.49

Fiscal irresponsibility as bailout •P.17

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—President Muhammadu Buhari inspecting guard of honour mounted by Ghana Air Force during his friendship visit to Ghana, yesterday.

My ministers, a must this month — BUHARI Continues from page 1 Ghana, the President also reassured Nigerians and the international community that the Boko Haram insurgency was being brought to its knees with the confinement of the insurgents to Sambisa Forest.

The President spoke at a joint press conference with his host, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, who also disclosed that both countries had worked out strategies to jointly stem corruption.

Responding to a

question on his delayed formation of a federal cabinet, Buhari said: “After I was sworn in, I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after September 30 if I do not do so."

The delay in the appointment of ministers had raised dust across Nigeria. Buhari’s 100 days after inauguration is the longest period since the advent of the Fourth Republic that a President has operated without a cabinet.

In the interim, the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO ACK of belief has aborted more destinies than all the hospitals in the world combined. You will never rise beyond the level of your belief. It takes guts to succeed and to believe you can is to conspire with the universe to work in your favour.

It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

We rise by lifting others — Robert Ingersoll

T

HE moment one chooses to be pure and unclouded in all things, he becomes nurtured in Divine Love, and always to a gentle awakening and a fuller realization of his spirituality and connection with life. Such a person becomes fully present; this state of being is the awareness of recognizing the beauty and goodness in yourself and others. In many ways, this is what being Godlike is about.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

N

obody can imprison the power of our imagination. We alone, have the power to control what we think, feel and want.

President has been receiving briefings on the state of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. Answering a question on the security situation in the country, the President said that the Nigerian military, in close collaboration with the Multi-National Joint Task Force, has recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram since he assumed office.

“The first thing I did after I came into office was to reorganize the military and clear orders were given to them in terms of retraining, reequipping and redeployment of troops.

“In the North-East, the military is gaining ground and Boko Haram has been limited to the Sambisa forest.

“Internally Displaced Persons are gradually moving back home and they are being reintegrated into their respective communities,” President Buhari said.

The President also told newsmen that the declaration of assets as he did was a constitutional requirement for all public office holders in Nigeria. According to him, he has declared his assets four times since his first time as a military governor in 1975.

“I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Muhammed became the

Head of State, we were lined up — governors, ministers, and members of the Supreme Military Council. Officials of the Ministry of Justice were

brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

“All Heads of State, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.

“I have declared my assets four times. When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared.

When I was Head of State and now as a President, I have also declared."

Earlier, President Mahama said both leaders had fruitful

discussions on how to enhance bilateral relations and improve regional security.

He also said that Nigeria and Ghana will soon begin the process of reviving their joint commission for cooperation.

The Ghanaian President added that both leaders also agreed to encourage closer cooperation between the intelligence and antigraft agencies of both countries.

He thanked President Buhari for his visit and assured him of Ghana’s support and cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

....Says poverty of ideas, corruption, inefficiency killing Civil Service

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria's civil service has lost its steam to poverty of ideas and corruption, which have resulted in inefficiency and poor output.

He regretted that the civil service, which had international reckoning, had drastically declined.

The President made the observation at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday, while launching the Capacity Building Programmes for Public Servants— Structured Mandatory Assessment-based Training Programme (SMAT-P) and L e a d e r s h i p Enhancement And D e v e l o p m e n t Programme (LEAD-P).

The President, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said: “Many who mourn the decline of the civil service today from its days as ‘primus inter pares’ in the Commonwealth to one which has earned a reputation for inefficiency, low

productivity, corruption and insensitivity to the needs of the public fall into the error of thinking that the problem is a poverty of ideas and capacity on the part of the civil service; whereas, it is the inability to clearly articulate a vision, ensure that the service develops the required capacity to articulate and implement the various components of the vision.

“Here, we’re launching capacity building initiatives designed to strengthen the leadership at all levels in the service and build a new performance management system. But the fundamental questions are: what is the ethos, the ethical and ideological world view that the service is to deliver? To what purpose do we deploy leadership skills and for what ends?

How can we measure performance when the objective itself is unclear?

“Without clear answers to these questions, the service will grope in the dark and take the government and people along with it on a blindleading-the-blind voyage. So, what sort of

country do we envision?”

President Buhari, however, told the civil servants that his administration was envisioning a country where rule of law must be respected.

“We want to build a nation with the citizen as its reason for being and thus its sole focus and responsibility.

The citizen, regardless of station in life, must be respected by the governing authorities and treated with dignity.

Flowing from these is the imperative that our society must be governed by the rule of law administered by a trustworthy, fearless, impartial and efficient judiciary”, he said.

According to him, a new Nigeria is possible “if we desire it badly enough to fight for it”.

While emphasizing the need to build a virile country with contributions from the civil servants, President Buhari said that “an army cannot afford indiscipline, inefficiency or lack of focus especially because the hopes and aspirations of a whole society rest on your shoulders”.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Man kills friend over 3 mobile phones

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—A 23-yearold man, Okon Aniedi Okon, from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has allegedly killed his friend, Daniel Obot, with a broken bottle for allegedly stealing his three mobile phones.

The incident happened at Ekpri Obutong village in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, weekend.

According to Okon, the deceased came into his one room apartment, collected the three phones in his absence and sold them.

He said when he demanded for the money, Daniel threatened to kill him with a machete.

“He brought out a machete with which he wanted to kill me and I got hold of a bottle, broke it and stabbed him in the chest,” Okon said.

Okon said he and Obot had been friends for a long time as they both dropped out of school and took to fishing some years back, but have recently been having frequent altercations.

He, however, lamented that he did not know that the injury would kill him.

Cultists kill one in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—A supremacy battle between two suspected cult groups during Ogun festival in Ondo town, Ondo State, has resulted in the death of one man, identified as Kamoru.

Vanguard gathered that the killing of Kamoru is coming a few days after the Assistant Inspector General, Zone 11, Oshogbo Zonal Command, Mrs Kafitila Adeyemi, visited the town and read the riot act to cultists in the town.

A source said that Kamoru’s corpse was discovered by some people who informed the Enuowa Divisional Police Station.

Detectives then took his corpse to the mortuary.

Divisional Police Officer in charge of the station, Mr. Kunle Omisakin, said a suspect had been arrested and, according to the state police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, was helping investigation.

Maid docked for allegedly stealing from employer

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A 21-year-old maid, Patience Agi, has been docked over alleged theft of $1,000, £1,300 and other valuables from her employer.

The defendant, who resides at Milverton Road, Ikoyi, is facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against her by the police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Philip Osijale, told the court that the defendant, and others still at large, committed the alleged offences on August 27.

He said the incident took place at the Milverton Road, Ikoyi residence at about12 noon.

Osijale said that the defendant also stole N20,000, 10 pieces of necklaces, five pieces of earrings and five

bracelets, all valued at N85,000.

The prosecutor further informed the court that all the stolen properties belong to one Mrs Eno Edet.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are punishable under Sections 409 and 285 (1) of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the

charges against her.

Magistrate Martins Owumi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

He said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation, show evidence of tax payment and ordered that their addresses must be verified.

The matter was adjourned till September 15 for mention.

ARREST: Director of Investigation and Enforcement, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, addressing journalists at the building where a man was arrested with The suspect, Mr. Eli Osita Paul. The house (top). fake drugs in Asaba, Delta State, yesterday. PHOTOS: Nath Onojake.

30 women jailed for prostitution

By Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—A magistrate’s court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, sentenced 30 women to six weeks imprisonment for prostitution.

The convicts include Funmi Olayemi, Damilola Ibrahim, Blessing Emmanuel, Grace Nwaokoro, Anu Titus, Princess Osu, Cynthia Ozumba and Chindinma Eke. Others are Blessing Winwah, Rebecca James, Gift James, Bukola Taiwo, Patience Amos, Oyinda Adesewa, Funmilayo Ajayi, Modinat Bello, Damilola Abiodun, Saki Godwin.

Also sentenced were Glory Edet, Blessing Okafor, Tope Obatula, Shade Afolabi, Foluke Kolawole, Tosin Ajayi, Bisi Onanuga, Princess Isaac, Esther Akpan, Cythia Osas, Joy Osas and Patrician, whose surname is unknown.

They were tried for prostitution and breach of peace and sentenced to six weeks each with option of N10,000 fine by the magistrate, Mrs O. Odusanya.

The accused had, during their arraignment yesterday, said they committed the offence, attributing it to the handwork of the devil.

The accused were arrested at Obalende area of Lagos around 2a.m.

The prosecutor, Inspector Femi Alabi, informed the court that the accused committed the

offence on September 5.

He said the accused paraded themselves on the streets as public nuisance.

“The accused were caught soliciting clients, which is

against the law of the state,” the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, the offence is contrary to Section 142 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Murdered Catholic priest buried

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IT was an endless flow of tears from Catholic faithful as late Rev. Fr. Dr. Dennis Osuagwu, who was assassinated on August 15, was laid to rest, weekend.

The remains of the Obowoborn Claretian priest was removed from the Holy Rosary Hospital morgue, Emekuku, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State, and moved in a motorcade to the Claretian Institute of Philosophy, Maryland, Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area, for a Pontifical requiem mass that preceded the interment.

Scores of Catholic priests from within and outside the state, including the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna,

Rev. Fr. Osuagwu. fully participated in the solemn event.

Archbishop Obinna urged the family of the late priest to take solace in God, as their beloved son died doing God’s work.

Although the Catholic cleric described the act of the assassins as “devilish, ungodly, reprehensible, despicable and condemnable in every sense,” he, however,

prayed God to forgive the assassins and bring them to repentance.

Some of the priests who spoke to Vanguard were of the view that the security agencies should do everything possible to apprehend the assassins walking the streets free.

They said the killers were assassins, especially as the yet-to-be identified hoodlums dragged the priest out of his car and killed him, leaving the entire content of his vehicle intact.

The assassinated Catholic cleric hailed from Obowo Local Government Area of the state and was a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration at Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji.

Fr. Osuagwu was also the Director, Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, SIWES, in the institution before his death.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—7

My wife denies me of sex, 75-yr-old man tells court

By Rotimi Olaleye

A

DO-EKITI—AN Ado-Ekiti customary court, yesterday, dissolved the 26-year marriage between a bricklayer, James Kayode Oguntuase and his wife, Felicia, over sexual starvation and sundry acts.

Oguntuase, 75, had sued Felicia, 53, a trader, to court, accusing her of denying him sex, adultery, stealing and stubbornness, allegations which the respondent denied.

The petitioner told the court that he had caught his wife with three different men, adding that she had aborted three pregnancies for her lovers.

Oguntuase also alleged that

his estranged wife stole N35,000 belonging to him, being money meant for the purchase of carpentry materials, revealing that he had dragged his wife to court in 2013 on account of alleged sexual escapades.

He prayed the court for the custody of the children, promising to be responsible for their upkeep The union was blessed with six children, including Caroline, 25; Peter, 23; Akin, 18; Ife, 15; Rachel, 12; and Tolulope, 6.

‘Why I refused him sex’

However, the wife, in her response, said she denied the petitioner sex on grounds of illhealth, and also denied the

allegations of adultery and stealing.

She urged the court not to dissolve the union.

Court president, Joseph Ogunsemi, dissolved the union, saying the marriage had broken down irretrievably as the two parties failed to avail themselves of the opportunity given to settle the dispute amicably.

The court also awarded custody of the children below the age of 18 to the petitioner, while Peter and Akin, who are above 18 are free to decide where to live.

The petitioner was also ordered by the court to arrange for an alternative

accommodation for the respondent, the cost of which should not be more than N60,000 and not less than N48,000 per annum.

The court ordered that the petitioner should pay for two years rent for the new accommodation for the respondent and he is also expected to bear the cost of transporting her luggage to the new place.

The court ordered the respondent to always assist the petitioner in the upkeep of the under-aged children, while she should be allowed access to them between 7a.m. and 6p.m. on the day she chooses to visit.

The four-bedroom duplex, where a 16-year-old boy was killed, aflame at Iba, Lagos, yesterday.

Anglican bishop kidnapped; abducted bank manager rescued

By Emma Amaize

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SABA—A gang of kidnappers has abducted the Bishop of Gwagwalada Diocese, Abuja, Bishop Moses Tabwaye, at Onicha-UgboEwohimi Road, Edo State, while he was travelling to Onitsha from Abuja.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the kidnap of the clergyman, said in a statement yesterday that police were on the trail of the kidnappers.

She, however, disclosed that the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad tracking team stormed a kidnappers’ camp at Obetim forest, near Kwale, in Delta State, and rescued a manager with First Bank, Mr. Lawrence Ekwuabu, who was abducted on September 3 along Kwale Road,

unhurt.

The police spokesperson said the kidnappers of Bishop Tabwaye left behind his ash-

coloured Toyota Highlander SUV with number plates GWA 842 SJ. Kalu said the Safer Highway

patrol team recovered the bishop’s vehicle on the said Onitsha-Ugbo-Ewohimi Road, while on duty tour.

16-yr-old dies in Lagos fire As 10-yr-old falls inside well

By Bose Adelaja & Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—BARELY 48 hours after an octogenarian was burnt to death at Iba, Lagos, another teenager was killed in a fire that engulfed a duplex at Lekki area yesterday.

However, the teenager’s father and two other siblings were rescued alive.

This occurred on a day a 10-year-old girl fell inside a well at Atanda area of Mafoluku, Lagos.

The fire was said to have been caused by power surge at about 2a.m., while members of the family were asleep.

The fire was said to have been put out by men of Lagos State Fire Service, which the Director, Rasaq Fadipe, confirmed.

He said: “We were informed at about 2a.m. and our men from Lekki responded promptly.

“When they got to the bungalow located on 35C, Ajiran Road, Lekki, they succeeded in rescuing three from the four bedroom duplex: a man and his two sons.

“But another son, identified as Timilehin, did not survive. We met him in the bathroom, roasted by the fire. The fire was put out with 10,000 litres of water.”

Meanwhile, a 10-yearold girl fell inside a well, yesterday, at 11, Atanda Street, Mafoluku, Lagos.

The deceased, identified as Eniola Shodipo, was reportedly playing with other children when tragedy struck.

Report said late Shodipo came to spend the summer holiday with a family and was preparing to leave this weekend.

Boko Haram: DSS releases cleric after 14 months in detention

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—AN Islamic cleric, Abdul-Ganiyu Jimoh Ibrahim, who was arrested by men of the Department of State Services, DSS, in July 2014 at his IjokoOta residence in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state for allegedly being a member of Boko Haram sect, has been released.

The cleric was arrested on July 5, 2014, alongside his pregnant wife, Muinat Abdul-Ganiyu Ibrahim, and had been in DSS custody since, until his release

yesterday at 11a.m.

His release was effected three months after Justice Folake Ogunbanjo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, declared his continued incarceration illegal and unconstitutional.

It was carnival-like yesterday as family members, followers and well wishers thronged the premises of the Federal High Court to receive their relative and teacher, who was released to his lawyer, Ahmed AdetolaKaseem and wife.

Shortly after the cleric and his wife were arrested in 2014, their

whereabouts was unknown until after 64 days, when the wife was released from the Abeokuta office of DSS, as her Expected Delivery Date, EDD, approached.

DSS had earlier denied having any knowledge of the whereabouts of the cleric, until his wife was released to family members.

Court order

Justice Ogunbanjo had on June 18 declared the continued detention as an infringement on Fundamental Rights to Dignity of Person, Personal Liberty and

Freedom of Movement as guaranteed by Section 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

Quoting Section 35 (6) of the constitution, Ogunbanjo also granted N1 million damages and public apology to the cleric.

The cleric, who looked frail yesterday, betrayed emotions as he wept profusely.

Efforts by journalists to speak with the victim was unsuccessful as he continued to say “let us just thank Allah who has allowed me to see this day.

I will just thank Allah and appreciate all those who assisted me.”

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

FirstBank appoints Adeduntan as MD designate Eke takes over as MD FBN Holdings

By Omoh Gabriel

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AGOS — FBN Holdings Plc, yesterday, announced major changes in its leadership team effective January 1, 2016.

A statement signed by Folake Ani-Mumuney, Global Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, said that Mr. Bello Maccido, pioneer Group CEO, FBN Holdings, is leaving his position to become pioneer Chairman of the newly-licenced FBN Merchant Bank Ltd, while Mr. UK Eke, currently Executive Director, South, FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd replaces him as Group Managing Directordesignate, FBN Holdings Plc. According to Mumuney, “other changes at FirstBank will see the current Chairman, Prince Ajibola Afonja, retire as Mrs. Ibukun Awosika becomes Chairman, FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd. “Following a rigorous selection process driven by the board and supported by Heidrick & Struggle, the internationally renowned executive search firm, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the current Executive Director/ CFO emerged Managing D i r e c t o r- d e s i g n a t e , FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd, while Mr. Gbenga Shobo, the current Executive Director, Lagos & West, emerged Deputy Managing Director-designate.

"This comes on the heels of the group’s earlier notice of Mr. Bisi Onasanya’s retirement as GMD/CEO of the Bank. These decisions have been ratified by the Board of Directors, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals and all take effect from January 1, 2016.

“As pioneer Group CEO of the FBN Holdings Group in very critical times, Bello birthed the process to establish the multi-faceted group to comply with diverse regulatory requirements, navigating through uncharted territory. He will undoubtedly bring his wealth of experience, spanning over 30 years post call to Bar experience as an accomplished Retail, Corporate and Investment banker, to bear in his new role chairing the Board of the emergent FBN Merchant Bank Ltd."

Treasury Single Accounts: Buhari sets Sept 15 deadline for MDAs Comply to avoid sanctions, he says

By Favour Nnabugwu & Levinus Nwabughiogu

enabling consolidation and optimal utilization of government cash resources. It is

a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government transacts all its

receipts and payments and gets a consolidated view of its cash position at any given time.

A

BUJA — IN his bid to maintain accountability and stamp out corruption within the public service system, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set September 15 as deadline for Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to comply with his directive on Treasury Single Accounts, TSA. He directed them to pay into TSA or designated accounts maintained and operated in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), except otherwise expressly approved.

A circular issued to all MDAs of the Federal Government by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, urged the MDAs to ensure strict compliance with the deadline to avoid sanctions.

The circular dated September 4, 2015, entitled “Re: Introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) (e-Collection of Government Receipts)” stated: “Further to the Circular Ref. No. HCSF/428/S.1/120 of August 7, 2015 on the above subject matter, it has been observed that a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government are yet to comply with the directive therein.

“In this regard, Mr. President has directed that all MDAs are to comply with the instructions on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) unfailingly by Tuesday, September 15, 2015.

“Heads of MDAs and other arms of government are enjoined to give this circular the widest circulation and ensure strict compliance to avoid sanctions.”

The Head of Service reminded the MDAs that President Buhari approved the establishment and operation of Treasury Single Account for e-Collection of Government Receipts for all federal MDAs with effect from the date of the previous circular dated August 7, 2015 yet MDAs compliance level was nothing to write home about.

To aid transparency and facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Kidasis re-directed that all receipts due to the Federal Government or any of her agencies shall be paid into the TSA as follows: Account Name: Accountant General (Federal Sub-Treasury), Account No. 3000002095 maintained in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), except otherwise expressly approved.

A TSA is a unified structure of government bank accounts

VISIT: Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief/GM, Vanguard Newspapers (left) and Chief Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of People's Democratic Party, PDP, during a courtesy visit to Vanguard Newspapers, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

FG okays importation of 402.3m litres of petrol for Sept PPPRA, NNPC defend importation

By Clara Nwachukwu with agency report

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AGOS— THE Federal Government has issued additional import allocations for at least 300,000 tonnes of premium motor spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol for the remainder of the third quarter, oil traders said on Monday.

Nigeria’s daily estimated national demand is put at 40 million litres, where one metric tonne, MT, equals 1,341 litres. As such, about 402.3 million litres i.e. 300,000 x 1,341 will be imported against estimated demand of 1.2 billion litres per month.

The development came as a surprise to Nigerians, who were expecting a reduction in the volume of fuel importation especially as the refineries are being brought back on stream.

The re-streaming of the refineries should, in fact, reduce the level of importation by at least 40 per cent, where the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC 2, according to Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, data was already producing about 39 million litres as at July end.

That is, 38,906m3 or 38,906 x 1000 = 38.906 million litres.

The allocations, which enable the companies that

hold them to import fuel (petrol and kerosene) under the country’s subsidy regime, are in addition to the 1.5 million tonnes or 2.011 billion litres issued for the third quarter earlier this year to at least 37 importers.

Reuters reported that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, issued the new allocations late last week, but traders said the amounts were only given to companies that had already fulfilled their previous allocations.

Some of the companies that received the initial allocations have struggled to import, traders said, due to delays to subsidy payments from the government.

“Funding is still an issue, but some of these companies have strong balance sheets,” one trader said.

PPPRA, NNPC defend importation Although there is no official comment from the PPPRA regarding the addition volume importation, a top manager in the agency told Vanguard on the telephone that the move became necessary because of supply shortfall from the refineries.

The source who spoke in confidence said: “There is still a shortfall in supply; we’ve not yet attained sufficiency from the refineries.”

He admitted that daily consumption is not actually in the rage of the estimated 40 million litres, but hovers between 28 and 30 million litres a day, adding: “But we also need to put some volumes into strategic reserves for 60 days sufficiency. It is compulsory we do this because it is a security reserve, which is releases during a crisis situation.”

When noted that the reserves had not come to the rescue during nationwide scarcity, he said: “You don’t release it just because there is scarcity situation that is not the kind of crisis we are talking about. The reserves are meant for situations more serious than just scarcity.”

Spokesman for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, owners of the refineries, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, who expressed surprise over the additional allocation, however, agreed on the supply shortfall.

According to him, “even if all the four refineries are working at optimum capacity, the much they can produce is about 19 million litres. So we will still need to import the balance to meet daily national demand.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—9

Senate begins probe of Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, others over power funds mismanagement

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—THE Senate will today begin an inquest into alleged mismanagement of funds appropriated to the power sector from the Olusegun Obasanjo civilian administration to date.

In a statement, yesterday, by the Clerk of Senate ad hoc Committee on Power, Cletus Ojabo, the power sector probe will be in the form of investigative hearing/ interactive session, just as there was an indication that former ministers of power will also be in attendance.

According to Ojabo, the investigation would centre on funds appropriated for the power sector since 1999 and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, adding: “ It is expected that all those who played key roles in the power sector since 1999, including ministers and heads of government departments and parastatals, will appear before the panel.”

It will be recalled that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had last month announced a 13man ad hoc committee to carry out a holistic investigation into the management of funds appropriated to the power sector from the Olusegun Obasanjo civilian administration to date.

Senator Saraki had urged members of the committee to consider their reputation and integrity and come up with a report that would be acceptable to Nigerians. He lamented that a lot of money had been spent on the sector with no results, while Nigeria is still faced with the challenge of power supply.

The committee, which has Senator Abubakar Kyari, (APC Borno North) as chairman, was also saddled with the responsibility of looking into irregularities in the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN and to also probe how the Obasanjo, Umaru Yar‘Adua and Jonathan administrations managed funds allocated to the sector.

The committee was charged with the task of looking into the entire power value chain including generation, transmission and distribution with a view to identifying what the problems in the sector are.

Saraki, who noted at the inauguration of the committee three weeks ago, that the task before the panel is huge, had however, frowned at the continued absence of regular supply of electricity despite the country’s huge investments in the sector.

Kyari, in his remarks during the inauguration, detailed the nature of the investigation his committee is saddled with,saying, “ To have a close look at the entire power value chain (generation, transmission and distribution) calls for a

review of our policies in order to obtain optimum performances across the board.

According to him, “the abysmal performance of the generation segment is no longer news in view of the current deteriorating power

supply which hovers around 4,600MW for a population of over 170 million people, despite the huge resources committed into it.”

NIGERIA PHARMA MANUFACTURERS EXPO 2015: From left: Dr. Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC; Dr. Oguntimehin Olukayode, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board and Mr. Okey Akpa, Chairman, PMGMAN and MD/CEO, SKG Pharma, during the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo 2015, in Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola.

Efforts on to secure Donu's release —WIKE  As Nigerian Guild of Editors, Annkio Briggs, demand her immediate release

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, said that his government was working with security agencies to secure the release of kidnapped Vanguard columnist, Donu Kogbara.

Wike, who fielded questions from journalists in Port Harcourt, on the kidnap incident, said residents should work with the government and security agencies to put an end to the ugly incidents of abductions.

Similarly, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, through its President, Mr Garba Muhammad, has appealed to Kogbara's kidnappers to release her, saying: “Those holding Donu should remember that they have mothers, sisters, wives and daughters whom they cherish and protect. Donu is also a mother, a wife and a sister to other people who care deeply about her. They must not hurt her and should please release her to return to her family immediately.

“As a columnist, Donu has always stood for the truth, the poor and the downtrodden in

her approach to national and local issues. It is, therefore, a big disservice to her that she should be subjected to the traumatic experience of being a victim of kidnapping. We implore her abductors to be humane and to release her unconditionally to continue with her crusade for a better country for all Nigerians.

“On their part the police and other security agencies must take every step necessary to ensure Don's safe release and to put in place measures that will guarantee the safety and security of all Nigerians, especially those exposed to higher risks such as journalists.”

Wike on his part said: “We are working with security agencies.

Everything will be done to secure her release. It is not because she is a journalist, generally we should not allow this to happen.

This thing happened the night they changed the former Commissioner of Police. For the new Commissioner of Police to reorganise himself, you can imagine it. These things set us back. Security men are working.

The former Commissioner of Police had his security strategy on ground. This new one will begin all over again.

“Those holding Donu should

remember that they have mothers, sisters, wives and daughters, who they cherish and protect. Donu is also a mother, a wife and a sister to other people who care deeply about her. Her abductors must not hurt her and should please release her to return to her family immediately.”

He also expressed worries with the frequent change of Commissioners of Police in the state, noting that it was affecting effective security plans and strategies.

The governor recalled that Donu was kidnapped on the night the former Commissioner of Police was transferred, saying that the development was a security set back to the state as it will begin plans all over with the new Commissioner of Police.

A foremost female Niger Delta activist, Ms Annkio Briggs, also condemned the abduction, appealing to the kidnappers to release her unconditionally.

Chairman of the Rivers State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Ayo Tamuno, also condemned the abduction and called for her release.

No sacred cows in anti-graft war —SAGAY

By Godfrey Bivbere

C

HAIRMAN of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, set up by the Federal Government, Prof. Itse Sagay, has said that there will be no sacred cows in the anti-graft war.

Sagay, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard, weekend, at the annual meeting of Government College, Ughelli, Old Boys Association, Lagos branch, said that the present government not only has the political will to prosecute the war but that it is also “blind” regarding those who will be prosecuted.

Asked if the committee will also go after members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, ACP, Sagay said: “The whole struggle is a blind one. It does not look to the left or right, but goes straight to the subject matter regardless of who is involved.”

He said: “No time frame has been fixed so far, we will just carry on until we are told to stop. There is no time frame.

The present government has the political will. You can see that the President is very determined, so there is no danger in that regard.

“I would not state the details or terms of reference but I can summarise it and simply say that what it involves is to provide support of the anticorruption agencies and also intensively intervene in the whole process of the anticorruption war. It is also to ensure that the administration of justice is effective and that all cases of corruption are prosecuted efficiently and as successfully as possible. In other words, we are to ensure that the anti-corruption war is successfully executed at all levels.

Speaking further he noted that, “no society can be corruption-free but we can reduce it to a minimum level so that the country can progress regardless of whatever is left.

The guest speaker, Prof.

Benedict Itsueli, who gave the keynote address, earlier explained that the country needs to return to the values that were used to train students of the school in the past.

Itsueli listed some of the values as strict discipline, effective and comprehensive supervision of students, graduated system of punishment, punctuality and moral training, among others.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Remi Tinubu to hold town hall meeting

BRIEFING: From left; Mrs J. Otubu; Elder (Dr) Harold Demuren; Deputy Baba Aladura, Elder Bob Manuel; Deputy Baba Aladura; Baba Aladura (Dr) Lazarus Anuba Onyeleon during the press briefing for 90th anniversary of The Eternal Orderof the Cherubim and seraphim in Lagos .

Photo by Diran Oshe.

T

HE lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has scheduled to hold a town hall meeting aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.

The townhall meeting, which is the 15th edition of her quarterly Town hall meeting will tommorrow, hold at the Muson Centre with the theme: “New chapter, hope renewed”.

In a statement by Senator Tinubu, the forum will be “highlighting and discussing her programmes, current events in the 8th Senate, taking questions about issues important to the constituents of the senatorial district, and asking for opinions and input on legislation currently before the Senate.”

According to the statement, the forum has been a feedback mechanism to the people of the constituents since her election into the Senate in 2011.

Lagos highway sweepers protest non-payment of salaries

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

L

AGOS—SCORES of highway sweepers yesterday stormed Lagos State House of Assembly over nonpayment of their five months salaries by the state government.

Vanguard learned that there are seven zones coordinating street sweepers in the state with each zone owing various salary arrears. While a sweeper ’s monthly salary is N12,000 their supervisors receive N20,000.

They lamented that they only got promises from the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment to whom they complained.

A member of the highway sweepers, Yemisi Oresanwo lamented that since their transfer from Ministry of the Environment to Lagos State Waste

Management Authority, LAWMA, life had been difficult for them.

According to her, LAWMA has been paying their original workers but has neglected them.

Also speaking, Abidemi Najeem said they had been enduring the non payment but the situation has worsened since their children are expected to resume school later this month.

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Bisi Yusuff who addressed the protesters on behalf of the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa

appealed to them to remain calm and not take laws into their hands.

According to him, the Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode is not in the habit of owing salaries, saying the matter will soon be addressed.

… midwives too

Also yesterday, scores of midwives under Lagos State employ marched to the office of the state governor in Ikeja protesting the refusal of the government to pay them their

Stop attacking Tinubu, Lagos APC warns

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—THE All Progressives Congress,

APC, Lagos chapter, has condemned what it called ‘calculated attempt’ by some un-

Zone 2 AIG lists traffic robbery, others as priority

By Evelyn Usman

L

AGOS—THE new Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in-charge of zone 2, Onikan, Lagos comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Mr Bala

Hassan, resumed yesterday, with a mandate to actualise what he termed ‘Quick Response to Crime’ to residents of both states, in order to ensure visibility in policing.

This is just as he promised to

reactivate the Zonal Intelligence Bureau, with a view to enhancing information gathering that would checkmate influx of criminal elements such as kidnappers and terrorists into both states.

LOOTED FUNDS: SERAP wants World Bank’s role probed

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

L

AGOS—THE SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the role and involvement of the World Bank in the repatriation, management and spending of repatriated Abacha stolen funds and other similar funds by the previous administrations.

At the public presentation of the organisation’s new publication, “Deterring Kleptocracy: Finding Nigeria’s Re-Stolen Billions and Repatriating Looted Assets” held in Ikeja, Lagos, the group disclosed that over $2 billion were stolen by late military Head of State, General Sanni Abacha and repatriated back to the country

during the General Abdulsalam Abubakar and former President Olusegun Obasanjo administrations.

Its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni stated such investigation into the repatriated fund was necessary to ensure full transparency and accountability in these transactions.

The report also requested the World Bank to publicly disclose the level of involvement of the bank in the repatriation of Abacha stolen funds and other similar funds to Nigeria, and its role on the management and spending of such funds, as well as the projects on which the funds were dispensed.

Consequently, he has directed Commissioners of Police in both states as well all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to make their telephone numbers available to members of the public, particularly those under their jurisdictions, with a view to contacting them in times of distress.

The AIG said the telephone numbers of the concerned officers would be ostentatiously displayed, advising anyone who is not treated well at the station to dial the numbers.

He highlighted traffic robbery, kidnapping, vandalism and the waterways as major areas of focus in the two states.

Lafarge wins best HSE practitioner award

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AGOS—FOR its high standard and commitment to health, safety of workers and the environment, Lafarge Africa Plc. has been awarded the Best Health, Safety and Environment, HSE, practice in the manufacturing sector at the Nigeria Safety Award for Excellence Hall of Fame 2015.

Also known as 9Ja Safe Awards, the prestigious event which held

20 months Midwives Service Scheme, MSS salary arrears.

The protesters who defied the scorching sun stormed the office of the state governor chanting several anti-government songs to express their dissatisfaction over the unpaid arrears.

The midwives were armed with placards with different inscriptions.

In their letter, “Appeal for the payment of the MSS salary arrears for the year 2013 and January 2015 till date, signed by one Mrs. Beatrice Ajayi, the midwives appealed to the Lagos state governor to pay them the arrears.

in Lagos was a convergence of HSE professionals in the country, as well as top players from the Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Property and Construction, Telecommunications, Power, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Maritime and Aviation industry among others.

Lafarge Africa Plc. won the award in the category which had

other manufacturing giants in Nigeria as nominees.

Lafarge Africa Plc., is an advanced building materials and construction solutions company.

Mr. Loren Zanin, Managing Director, Concrete & Aggregates Readymix (an arm of Lafarge) received the award on behalf of Mr. Peter Hoddinott, the Group MD/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc.

named sponsors to bring its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ‘down to their miserable level through dubious allegations.’

APC Lagos chapter Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe made the remarks yesterday, while reacting to a publication where the writer urged President Buhari to; “Beware of Tinubu because he is a moral burden and a dent on his image”.

According to the party; “Lagos APC condemns in strongest terms this calculated attempt to bring Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu down to their miserable level and to judge the consummate leader of men by their horrible and dubious standards.

“Before the 2015 Presidential elections our well-respected national leader Tinubu and President Buhari were subjected to vicious attacks and debilitating assaults just to bring them down but they failed woefully. President Buhari and Asiwaju BAT ran away with resounding and unprecedented victory on March 28 2015 “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a well-respected political figure in Nigeria, Africa and the world today and woe betide anybody who thinks in his wildest imagination that a strong and powerful image built for nearly 50 years can be destroyed by the antics of a foolish constituency and men without honour”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 11

Obasanjo wants probe of Nigerians’ death in Libya

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—FORMER President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed worry over how desperate youths risk their lives to travel to Europe and the maltreatment they receive from their hosts on the African continent.

Obasanjo in a statement he personally signed, yesterday, however, called for probe of the death of Nigerians and other migrants in Libya, saying ''The incident is the direct action of Western powers which is responsible for the current anarchy in the country.''

The former President added “It is thus a matter of considerable sadness for me when I witness the current wave of desperate youths risking their lives to travel to Europe and the futile efforts of European countries to deal with those who have already set sailing or have even reached shores of the European continent.

“The current inflow of African refugees into Europe from Libya is a direct consequence. The government in Libya which in 2000 acted humanely and responsibly to stem the outflow of illegal migrants to Europe has been replaced by unconscionable bandits and terrorists who have forcibly seized the instruments of state to facilitate human trafficking and illegal migration for their own material benefit.

“It is time for the international community and particularly African leaders to take a good look at the factors responsible for the death and destruction in the Mediterranean by illegal migration of youths from Africa

and address the causes in an honest, responsible, humane and holistic manner rather than the current futile attempt to halfheartedly deal with the symptoms rather than the cause. “ The sure way of prevention is the elimination of conflict and abject poverty and creation of

A

D O - E K I T I — GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday declared that traditional stools are not meant for regents and efforts must be made to fill vacant stools as soon as possible.

He therefore vowed that during his tenure, any vacant stool will be filled within six to 12 months that a monarch departs and sought the cooperation of king makers and interested parties in affected towns to make the promise possible.

The governor spoke in Iluomoba and Ilasa Ekiti, while presenting the Staff of Office to the Ajagun of Iluomoba Ekiti, Oba Jimoh Oluwagbenga Adetiba and the new Alasa of IlasaEkiti, Oba Ajayi Oluwasesan Omolagba Oloruntola 1.

Ghaddafi brought to my attention the presence in Libya of thousands of Nigerian illegal immigrants attempting to make their way to Europe.

“These illegal immigrants almost entirely consisting of young men and women, who were prevented from using the facilities of Libya to sail to Europe had constituted themselves into a menace.’’

VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (middle); the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (right) and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, during a condolence visit to the governor on the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, at Govt House, Osogbo, yesterday.

TRIBUNAL: Ogun APC closes case without witness

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State yesterday closed its case at the State Governorship Petition Tribunal,

Traditional stools not meant for regents — FAYOSE

By Rotimi Olaleye

employment in the countries where migrants originate. In the meantime, let African union, AU form a bulwark to stem the spate of migrants from Africa across the Mediterranean to Europe.

It can be done.”

Obasanjo, who recalling how he managed the issue when he was in government, said “Sometime in September 2000, Libyan leader, Col. Muammar

The stool of Ajagun became vacant on July 30, 2009, while that of Ilasa was in October 1, 2012 respectively.

Meantime, the Agriculture and Allied Employees’ Union of Nigeria, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to extend hazard allowance to professionals in agriculture sector.

The Union also called on governors in all the 36 States of the federation to join the struggle in the actualization of the demand, to make life better for all and encourage young graduates to go into farming, but would make the quest for diversification into agriculture possible and ensure food security for all.

It said the measure would encourage experts in the sector to perform optimally to revamp the sector and make

sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta without calling any witness.

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Prince Gboyega Isiaka to challenge the victory of Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the April 11 governorship election in nine local councils.

Specifically, the petitioners wanted the elections in the contentious local councils to be nullified and declare Isiaka, the winner of the election.

The first respondent, Governor Ibikunle Amosun had on Friday closed his case calling four out of 29 witnesses listed.

Counsel to the second Respondent, Mr. George Oyeniyi at the resumption of the defence said, “We have critically looked at the petition on hand and considered all the evidences put forward by the first respondent. We are comfortable with the account of the witnesses and hereby close our case”.

Speaking to newsmen, Oyeniyi said; “The onus of proving the case lies with the petitioners, we need not to call witnesses again when there are enough documents already admitted by the court to decide the case.”

Reacting to the failure of the second respondents to present

the eleven witnesses earlier presented to the court, the lead counsel to the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, described the tactic as a costly gamble.

Ooni can never die – ALAAFIN

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN–OYO town, the domain of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi yesterday broke silence on the death of Ooni of Ife, late Oba Okunade Sijuwade saying Ooni, as an institution, will live forever.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of Oranyan Planning Committee for Alaafin of Oyo, retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu in Oyo town as part of activities marking the commencement of the festival.

The cleric said, “let me tell you that Ooni never dies.

Ooni is not dead. What happened is going home of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11. The Ooni lives for ever.

When asked to advise IleIfe kingmakers who are in the process of selecting a new king, he said,” We are not entitled to speak on this issue. The only competent authority is Alaafin and when it is appropriate, he will make comments.”

Before the death of Oba Sijuwade, there had been a strained relationship between him and Alaafin.

Speaking on the celebration of Oranyan, he underscored the importance of the progenitor, Odede Oranyan, noting that explained the presence of its shrine in Ile-ife, Oyo town, Pobe and Ibadan.

Lagos tasks drug manufacturers on vaccine production

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has urged local drug manufacturers to intensify research efforts on vaccines and drugs capable of curing ailments that are prevalent in the country.

He made the call yesterday at the opening of the Nigerian Pharma Expo 2015 organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, PMGMAN in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Ambode also challenged the drug manufacturers to adhere strictly to quality standards in their production processes in order to be globally competitive.

Describing the ongoing restructuring of the Federal machinery as a key process, he said it would result in a more effective approach by relevant

agencies to address fake and substandard drugs in the country.

Pledging a business-friendly environment for manufacturers in the state, the Governor said: “As we continue to work hard to sustain these efforts I urge you on your part to intensify efforts in research especially on the use of local materials as input in the production process. ''All of these efforts and strict adherence to best quality standards will no doubt enhance international competiveness of the industry.”

Continuing, Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Kayode Oguntimilehin, called on the Federal Government to accord the manufacturing sector special considerations and concession to enjoy a comparative advantage against imported products especially at this time the country cannot guarantee the quality of what is being imported.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Ijaw communities vow legal action against Okowa DESOPADEC BOARD:

U

By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—OIL producing Ijaw communities in Delta State under the aegis of Flow Station/Well Head Host Ijaw Communities, yesterday, said it would drag the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to court if he fails to revisit the composition of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. Spokesperson of the communities, Sheriff Mulade in a statement, said that the composition of the board was lopsided as the Ijaws were not given a fair share, not minding the fact that they produce the largest crude oil quantum to the state overall output.

He said: “Ijaw areas produce the highest production quantum and were given only two slots in the new board, whereas other areas which produce less, were given more.

“This act is deliberate, wicked, a clear case of injustice and is

the board should have been done based on production quantum and not to patronize unacceptable to the Ijaw people. political jobbers and please We reiterate that appointments to ethnic groups.”

BAYELSA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio (left) and Director of Organization, All Progressives Congress, APC , Alhaji Abubakar Kari, during Amb. Otiotio's submission of his nomination form for the governorship election in Bayelsa State at APC's Secretariat in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Delta Justice Ministry denies bribery allegation

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Ministry of Justice, yesterday, described as untrue, malicious, misleading and embarrassing, allegation of bribery levelled against its Director of Public Prosecution, DPP by Sapele youths over a case of alleged killings and kidnappings by White Ladders cult group in the area.

Sapele youths had last week Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Asaba, over alleged shielding and plans to release the suspects from prison custody, which they argued would expose them to grave danger.

The ministry in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Ivovi Aruoriwo, said; “The case file in the alleged subject matter has not even been forwarded to the DPP for legal opinion by the Police, whose duty it is to investigate criminal matters, therefore, the allegations of bribe inducement does not even arise.”

Akporuno appointed PPEB chair

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S A B A —GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has approved the appointment of Sir Patrick Akporuno as the Executive Chairman of Delta State Post-Primary Education Board.

Also approved for appointment as first, second and third members are Mrs Ifeoma Agboma, Mrs Esere Atumu and Mrs Christiana Etaluku, respectively.

Aruoriwo explained that when the protesters besieged the ministry with various placards, the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary including the DPP and other Directors and some Legal Officers were all at Abuja

attending the 54th Annual General conference of the NBA. He said; “To set the records straight, the Ministry of Justice wishes to emphatically state, that we are irrevocably committed to the promotion of the rule of law, justice

and fairness at all times. As well trained and highly motivated professionals, we are guided by the code of conduct and ethics of the legal profession as well as that of the Public Service.

AFBA cautions Senate over EFCC boss

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AFRICAN Bar Association, AFBA, has cautioned the Nigerian Senate over its moves to probe the allegation of corruption levelled against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, insisting that it has no constitutional power to try organs of the state in the media.

A statement by the Media Director of AFBA, Mr. Samuel Abasilim in Benin, Edo State, stated that the Nigerian Senate has a constitutional right to use its over sight functions to ensure

that the various organs of the Nigerian state performed constitutionally and in the best interest of the Nigerian citizenry.

“The position of AFBA is that it if any allegation of crime is made against the EFCC or any of its officials, such crime should be reported to the Nigerian Police which has the constitutional role of investigating such criminal acts,” he said.

AFBA noted that the oversight function of the Nigerian National Assembly as envisaged by the Nigerian constitution was to ensure that organs of the state were alive to their responsibilities and conduct their affairs in line

with their legal mandate.

Mr. Abasilim insisted that the EFCC was set up by an Act of the Nigerian Parliament, adding that the Act clearly defines how the EFCC should be run and the process of meeting out disciplinary measures to any of its erring officials.

He stated it would be counterproductive for any other arm of government to be seen, seeking to rubbish an institution saddled with very sensitive duties, saying that such action can only weaken the institution and bringing the nation to disrepute including the Senate itself.

Oshiomhole must apologise to Nigerians, say CSOs million only had been spent as 2ND NIGER BRIDGE:

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ENIN—THE Coalition of Civil Societies for the Emancipation of Edo State, CCSE, has called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to take the path of honour and apologise to Nigerians for misleading and misinforming them over his alleged statement that N140 billion had been expended on consultancy services for the 2nd Niger Bridge project and that $700 million was surreptitiously moved from the

Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, for the same bridge.

This is coming on the heels of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA's, declaration, that it had only spent about N14 billion on the project and that the money include N10 billion as part of the N18.3 billion so far released by the Federal Government for the project, which had been disbursed for early construction work on the bridge.

NSIA also said that about $2.2

consultancy on the project, including feasibility studies, legal due diligence, environmental impact assessment, traffic studies, and engineering design.

Lampooning Oshiomhole over his antics and unverified statements, Coordinator CCSE, Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen, said Oshiomhole must tender apology to Nigerians, and put a stop to his inflammatory statements.

Dickson deserves 2nd term —GROUP

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By Emem Idio

ENAGOA—THE Voice of South-South, a group of indigenous politicians and professionals in Bayelsa State, has said that its members have watched with keen interest the activities of the present administration in the state, noting that Governor Seriake Dickson has done creditably well to deserve a second term.

Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, yesterday, Chairman of the group, Engr. Mike Ogiasa, who described Bayelsa as a predominantly Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state, said nothing whatsoever will ever shake the resolve of the Bayelsa people to maintain the status quo, adding that those who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC,wereinconsequentialtothe resolve of the people to vote PDP. Ogiasawhowasaccompanied bythestateco-coordinatorsofthe group,AlexDumbo,ChiefDomo Spiffandaformerstatelawmaker, Chief Franklin Otele, urged Bayelsans not to be intimidated by the APC controlled Federal Government.

Ex-PDP chair hails Delta as land of peace

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SABA—A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State chapter, Dr. Pius Sinebe, has described the state as a land of peace and promise where unity and strength have been the driving force of the people.

Sinebe who briefed newsmen, where he called for unity in Delta State, said that the rich human and natural resources of the state needed oneness of purpose to be harnessed for the benefit of the present and future generations of Deltans.

He said: “Politically, there is an unwritten agreement on power rotation between the three senatorial districts of the state which produced Chief James Ibori from Delta Central as governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan from Delta South and currently, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa from Delta North.”

The former state PDP chairman, noted that the understandingonpowerrotation hadbeenkickedagainstbysome persons from Delta Central, who had resorted to litigation each time a governor emerged on the platform of the PDP, even when their own son was the governor.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—13

BAYELSA POLL: Jonathan endorses Dickson

for 2nd term Y

By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson for a second term, citing his excellent track record of regular payment of workers’ salaries, reduction of the state’s huge debt profile and infrastructural development.

The former President who received Governor Dickson at his country home, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, said his endorsement was based on the developmental strides of the governor in the last three and half years in the state.

He said: “If Bayelsa is compared to other states in the country in terms of level of physical infrastructure coupled with the degree of indebtedness in terms of bank loans and capital market, Dickson deserved to be praised.

“I am not expecting the governor to score 100 per cent.

There are three key parameters I will like to score Dickson, which are payment of salaries, physical infrastructure and low indebtedness of the state in terms of bank loans and in the capital market.

“If you compare what has

happened in other parts of the country, you will praise Dickson.

People should think more of about the way the state is being run and prepare for our future generation.

“Bayelsa is not a cursed state.

On the notion that governors in Bayelsa cannot do eight years, it slows down development and except there is continuation in

government, development will be truncated. Performance is not about satisfying individual needs and so we need to encourage Governor Dickson to go for second term.”

He described Dickson as his political first son, adding that if he was given the opportunity of a second term, he would strive to consolidate on the achievements

already recorded.

Earlier in his remarks, Dickson solicited the support and encouragement of Dr. Jonathan to run for a second term, saying that he and his entourage needed to seek his support, as he was the leader of PDP both at the state and national levels.

AUGUST MEETING: From left: Mr. Alfred Ononugbo, representing the Governor of Imo State, Lady Blessing Mbonu, President, Women Wing, Imo State Towns Development Association, Lagos, ISTDAL, Mr. Stanley Iweh, Vice President, ISTDAL, Mr. Tony Ohakwe, and Chief Goodness Ugoji, during the second August meeting of the association at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

....APC, APGA, strange parties to Ijaw people —ALAMIEYESEIGHA

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By Emem Idio

ENAGOA—FORMER governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has said that the All Progressives Party, APC and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, were strange parties to the

Ijaw people, noting that the “APC has no agenda for the Ijaw people.”

Alamieyeseigha, during the formal inauguration of the Governor Dickson Campaign secretariat and campaign team, described the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, as the only party that has identified with the dreams and aspirations of Bayelsans and the Ijaw people.

The former governor, who noted that the PDP has always identified with the aspirations of the Ijaw people as manifested with the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the president of the

A-Ibom lawmakers threaten DSS over raid They said: “It is important to on Gov's Lodgesymbols of our confederacy and point out that immunity from

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BUJA—MEMBERS of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, have challenged the Department of State Services, DSS, to publish what they found in the state Governor's Lodge in Uyo within seven days or be ready for court action.

The lawmakers also warned the DSS to publicly apologise to the people of the state for their invasion of the Government House in brazen violation of the rights of the governor, or face prosecution.

The 26 members of the House in a statement by the Speaker, Mr. Aniekan Uko, condemned in strong terms the action of the DSS agents, who acted in breach of all known laws of the land.

The lawmakers alleged that during the raid, the DSS agents drawn from Abuja and Uyo, broke into rooms and guest houses within the Government House, which is one of the strongest

in the process damaged valuables belonging to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State.

They wondered what DSS officials wanted to achieve by invading the Governor’s Lodge, who has immunity under Section 308 (1, 2, 3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

prosecution and persecution is a well-founded, well-reasoned concept, which has sundry benefits when applied honestly and carefully for the greater good of society. It thus means that a sitting state Governor or President of Nigeria, during the subsistence of term of office, must have a free hand to act boldly and courageously for public good."

country, charged the campaign team to unite and be courageous to succeed in the task ahead.

Charging the campaign organisation headed by a member of the House of Representatives, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency, Chief Fred Agbedi, Governor Seriake Dickson described the campaign team as political juggernauts and tacticians, who were carefully selected, and urged them not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the PDP comes out victorious at the December 5, governorship election.

“If you fail, then we have all failed. This election is not about me as a person, but about the future of our state, therefore, we must work hard and ensure that the PDP wins. This election is a must win for the PDP,” Dickson said.

Tribunal grants Okowa bid to tender documents Ogboru had at the resumed primary to the Independent

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Asaba, yesterday, granted Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s bid to tender documents that would help his case after over-ruling Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party, LP on the matter.

hearing in the case opposed Okowa’s bid to tender documents.

Counsel to Governor Okowa, Mr. Ken Mozie, SAN, had during cross-examination of LP state chairman, Chief Toni Ezeagwu, who is also one of the star witness to Ogboru, sought to tender a document containing notice of Labour Party governorship

National Electoral Commission, INEC to the tribunal.

But counsel to Ogboru, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, objected, arguing that the documents sought to be tendered were neither pleaded, listed nor frontloaded and said the move violates the Electoral Act of 2012.

Kidnappers to get death penalty in Cross River

C

ALABAR—CROSS River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, yesterday, signed into law a bill that prescribes death penalty for convicted kidnappers in the state.

The anti-kidnapping bill was one of 10 bills the governor signed into law at the state Executive Chambers witnessed by the Speaker and members of the state House of Assembly, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Ntufam John Okon and the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Tina Agbor and Permanent Secretaries.

The law also empowers the state to seize assets as well as freeze accounts belonging to convicted kidnappers and those who aid and abet kidnapping in the state.

Speaking on another bill he had just signed into law, the Social Housing Law, which makes housing for the vulnerable a right, he described the law as holding emotional significance to him.

Sen Paulker submits gov nomination form

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—SENATOR Emmanuel Paulker of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bayelsa State, said yesterday, that if President Muhammadu Buhari wants to achieve his desire of transforming the lives of Nigerians, he should speedily reintroduce the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB to the eighth National Assembly.

Answering questions from Journalists at the National Secretariat of PDP shortly after he submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the Bayelsa State governorship election on the platform of PDP, Senator Paulker lamented that the seventh senate could not pass the PIB bill after it went through the second reading.

According to him, the bill can be reintroduced as a private member bill, adding that the sensitive nature of the bill has made it imperative that it should come from the president as an executive bill.

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Kogi teachers confer award of excellence on Wada L

AWARD: Senator Ayo Arise (left) presenting the Most Innovative Smartphone of the Year Award to Demola Olukotun, Country Manager, Archos S.A at the Technology Africa's Titans of Tech awards in Lagos.

OKOJA—THE Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Kogi State chapter, has conferred an award of excellence on the state governor, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada.

The chairman of the association, Comrade Dominic Ondeku, who performed the ceremony at a workshop for head teachers in the state, said the award is anchored on the monumental

achievements of the governor, especially in the area of prompt payment of salaries and construction of new class rooms across several local government areas of the state.

The chairman, who said the governor has made remarkable efforts on the state public schools, equally drew the attention of the governor to proliferation of private nursery and primary schools in the state.

He added that the trend

if not check will negatively impact on basic education in the state.

“Most of these private nursery/primary schools are situated in unconducive environments that doesn’t promote proper teachinglearning processes”, he added.

It would be recalled that the delay in the payment of backlog of salaries of teachers inherited by Governor Wada has generated a lot of concern among teachers in primary schools as well as parents.

Foundation wants quality education for Nigerian girl-child

A

BUJA—THE F o u n d e r / President of the MonuOlarewaju Foundation, Hon. Chinwe MonuOlarewaju, has said that girl-children in the six geo-political zones of the must be given the right to enjoy quality education to enable them compete favorably with their mates in other parts of the world.

He stated this at the grande finale of the essay writing competition organized by the Foundation in Abuja.

According to MonuOlarewaju, the importance of girl-child education cannot be overemphasized, especially given the UNICEF statistics that about 65 million (approximately 53.8%) of the girl-child was out of school and over 80 per cent of that population resided in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria.

Hon. Monu-Olarewaju, who was a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly and former ALGON Chairperson in the state, noted that Primary school completion rates in Africa have been among the lowest in the world.

Highlight of the grand finale of the Essay Competition was the presentation of awards and cash prizes to the winners and participants Of the Essay Competition, as well, as laptops, android phones, and other school materials, to deserving students from Edo, Adamawa, Zamfara, Lagos, Jigawa and FCT Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—15

Anambra judiciary workers embark on strike

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA—JUDICIARY workers in Anambra state yesterday began an indefinite strike over non payment of consolidated judiciary salary structure by the state government.

Speaking ewith Vanguard, the chairman of the workers union, JUSUN, Mr Mark Ifezue said the strike was a directive from the national secretariat of their union. “ The reason for the strike is the refusal of the state government to review an agreement it entered with the judiciary service in Anambra state in 2011 over the Consolidated Judiciary Salary S t r u c t u r e , C O N J U S . We negotiated with government but the attitude of the state's Head of Service did not allow anything meaningful to come out of the negotiation.”

Ifezue said the development led to the collapse of the negotiation and the union had no option than to resume the strike.

He further said the union had written a letter to the state government through the head of service in 2014 requesting for a meeting where the agreement would be reviewed but all to no avail, adding that sometime in June this year, another letter was written to government through

the same head of service and yet another one through the state Attorney General.

According to him, it was the last letter through the Attorney General that propelled government to open up the failed negotiation. He said that when

the negotiation collapsed, the union told the HoS that the government position was not acceptable to the workers.

He said the worrisome aspect of the matter was that some states in the south east like Abia, Imo and Ebonyi had started

paying the CONJUS to their judiciary workers. “ We have embarked on an indefinite strike and we will continue to stay at home until the state government addresses the issue positively.”

LECTURE: The former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (middle), with late Prof. Dora Akunyili's husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili (3rd left), and children of Prof. Akunyili, after the one-year memorial lecture in her honour, delivered by Obi, at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, weekend.

Buhari withdraws diplomatic, official passports from former public office holders

P

R E S I D E N T MUHAMMADU Buhari has ordered former public office holders to immediately surrender official and diplomatic passports which were issued while they were in office.

The categories of officials affected by the directive are former governors, former ministers, former senators, former members of the House of Representatives, and former members of state Houses of Assembly.

Others are former commissioners, former special advisers/special assistants, former chairmen/deputy chairmen of local government areas, all retired heads of parastatals and retired public servants.

A statement by the ComptrollerGeneral of the Immigration Service, Martin Abeshi, on the directive of the president, yesterday, said, “these categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja, with immediate effect.

“Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an offence under the Immigration Act 2015.

Such unauthorized possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.”

The Federal Government had on August 24 directed the Immigration Service to retrieve all

valid diplomatic and official passports from all persons not entitled to hold such documents.

A statement by Yusuf Isiaka, the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Interior, said at the time that

“the attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to the fact that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these documents.”

Police nab suspected robbers in Owerri

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—BARELY two days after taking over the mantle of leadership of Imo

State Police Command, the Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Taiwo Fredrick Lekanu, led his men to crush two armed robbery gangs that were terrorizing residents of Owerri

....warn Enugu communities over masquerade robberies

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—WORRIED by the increasing trend of robbery,rape,maiming of hapless residents in Enugu State occasioned by masquerades in some communities, the Police,weekend,issued a stern warning to 472 communities in the state, to stick to the tenets of their cultural practices.

This came as a victim of masquerade robbery attack, Ezewaji, a trader, had last week, told the police that he was on his way from Nsukka to Obollo-Afor when the masquerades in Ovoko

stopped him, gave him the beating of his life, after which “they searched me and collected N57, 000 from my pockets.”

Police arrested two masquerades, who identified themselves as Kenechukwu Eze, a carpenter and Ejiofor Eze, a brick-layer, who alleged that they were not part of the masquerade team that robbed the victim. They gave the name of the robber as Chima Mamah adding that they only collected N20, N100 and N500 from other people while revealing that they didn’t participate in collecting the N57,000.

municipality.

Giving details of the incident, the CP said he decided to lead operatives of the Command’s Anti-Robbery Squad, as soon as the police received a distress call from some residents of Aladinma Housing Estate in Owerri.

Mr. Lekanu, who disclosed that the rampaging armed robbers were nabbed after robbing one Mrs. Shirley Ugoeze, also gave the names of the suspects as Monday Uwem, a native of Udim local council area of Akwa Ibom State, and Chinonso Chukwuma from Nkanu local government area of Enugu State.

Continuing, the CP said that the police recovered locally made pistols and some live cartridges from the suspects.

Answering a question, Mr. Lekanu advised criminals operating or passing through the state, to either turn a new leaf or risk facing the full weight of the law.

Ugwuanyi tasks prison inmates

By Francis Igata

E

N U G U — GO V E R N O R Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has advised prison inmates in the state to be mindful of their reformation training in the prisons with a view to being better members of the society at the end of their incarceration.

The governor reminded them that they should not regard their places of confinement as their permanent places but a momentary place where they could be reformed for better tomorrow, Ugwuanyi in a speech through his deputy, Cecilia Ezeilo, when he visited the Maximum Prison, Oji River to mark his 100 days in office, noted that his administration would continue to give concrete support to the inmates of different centres as it is the duty of government not only to secure life and property but to make life more meaningful for all.

Okorocha charges magistrates to support IGR efforts

I

MO STATE Governor, Rochas Okorocha has assured the state Judiciary that government will motivate it to discharge its functions effectively.

Addressing the magistrates in the state during a meeting at the Government House, Owerri, Okorocha regretted that they have been performing their duties under deplorable conditions and dilapidated court structures and expressed government’s appreciation of their services.

The governor said, “I want to say thank you and appreciate you, and I am sure you are aware of the situation we are going through in our nation, the dwindling oil prices and the dwindling subvention to government.”

He charged the magistrates to assist the state government in increasing its internally generated revenue,IGR, to complement the dwindling federal allocation to the state to enable it carry out its statutory functions and fulfil its promise of building industries and creating job opportunities for the unemployed youth.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Faajihub. com hosts event vendors

From left: Funke Kumapayi (Tonies event); Evelyn Osa Bigha (K. Dina Event); Mr. Olaotan Oladiran (Faajihub comm); Funke Bucknor (Obrutur event planners); and Aisha James (Ample Foods), during 'ThemeUp. The Essence' From left, Mr. LNC, artiste\producer; Mr. Alurewa Odunjo;Tosin Ayotunde, for Vendors by Vendors' event, organized by Faajihub. com for event vendors, event planner; Mr. Olaotan Oladiran (Faajihub Comm), and Mr. Akin Eso at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend. Photos: Shola Oyelese (Wed Expo).

Kano gov orders commissioners to declare assets

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

A N O — GOVERNOR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has directed all his political appointees to declare their asset before the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Briefing reporters in Kano yesterday, the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Mohammed Garba, said the order affected all serving commissioners and special advisers.

Comrade Garba stated that the development was sequel to the successful declaration before the Code of Conduct by both the governor and his deputy.

Garba, who failed to declare the personal worth of his boss and his deputy, however, directed interested persons to crosscheck with the Bureau.

He said: “My boss and principal, alongside his deputy, has declared their assets as stipulated by law, and the facts are there for interested person to check out at the Code of Conduct Bureau. ‘’I’m glad to inform you that all political appointees under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje have commenced the process of declarations of their asset before the Code of Conduct Bureau, in line with the directives of the governor.”

He explained that the measure was to enthrone the era of accountability and transparency in public service, adding that it would also afford the citizens the opportunity to keep tabs on their leaders.

ICPC probes alleged financial misconduct in FMC Owerri

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has finally waded into the alleged “gross financial misconduct”, leveled against

the embattled Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, Dr. Angela Uwakwem.

The current development was made manifest via the Commission’s letter, ICPC/ INV/GBP/381, dated August 27, 2015 and addressed to the

Medical Director, FMC Owerri, and signed by Yahaya Ali for the Head of Department, HOD (Investigations).

According to the letter captioned “Investigation Activities: Invitation/Request for Information/Documents”, five

top management staff of the hospital, including Dr. Uwakwem, the Head of Finance/Accounts, the Internal Auditor, the Head of Budget and Planning and the Head of Administration, have been summoned by the anti-graft body, to appear before it for questioning.

Smile closes $365m financing to expand 4G LTE network

By Emeka Aginam

M

OBILE BROADBAND operator, Smile Telecoms Holdings limited, yesterday disclosed that it has raised $365 million debt and equity financing to accelerate its 4G LTE network expansion in Africa.

The funding, the company said would be used to expand its existing 4G LTE mobile broadband networks and services, such that by the end of 2015, Smile will offer clear voice services and have national coverage comparable to the largest 3G network in each of its current countries of operation.

Similarly, the broadband operator also disclosed that it would launch its broadband network in Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) early in 2016.

The funding, according to the mobile broadband operator is comprised of $50 million of equity, raised from the Public Investment Corporation on behalf of Government Employees Pension Fund (“PIC”), and a USD315 million multi-tranche, multi-jurisdictional debt facility led by African Export-Import Bank with participation from the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Diamond Bank PLC, Ecobank Nigeria, the PIC, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited and Standard Chartered Bank.

Under the terms, the funding,

the company said would be used to accelerate national network roll-out, including equipment and services provided by Alcatel Lucent and Ericsson, a full MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) network, a London Point of Presence and expanded international backhaul services, and to fund operational expenditure and working capital.

Accordingly, the funding is one of the largest capital raises ever for a telecommunications operator in Africa and brings the total funding committed to Smile since its founding in 2007 to approximately USD600 million.

Meanwhile, according to the Broadband Strategies Handbook

by The World Bank, “a 10 per cent increase in the penetration rate of broadband in developing countries is associated with a 1.4 percent increase in GDP per capita.”

Speaking on the new development, Irene Charnley, Chief Executive Officer of Smile, said, “Now that we are fully funded to deliver national coverage of unrivalled super-fast internet access and clear voice services, our priority is to ensure that our customers experience and benefit from the power of high speed mobile broadband compared to the narrowband services available to date, including how to effectively manage the superior experience in terms of data consumption.”

Also speaking, Sheikh Mohammed Sharbatly, Deputy Chairman of Smile, said, “I have recently had the joy of using the Smile network in Nigeria, and the quality is better than what we experience in the United Kingdom and in Saudi Arabia. By licensing 800MHz spectrum for commercial use at an early stage relative to many other countries, including high-income ones, the governments of Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and the DRC have each demonstrated commitment to be at the forefront of the broadband revolution and to accelerate development and GDP growth, and we commend them”” For Dr. Ernest Azudialu, Chairman of Smile Nigeria, the availability of a reliable highspeed, broadband internet service in the country would further help businesses and individuals become more productive and efficient, and this in itself is an economic enabler.

“I am pleased to be part of a company that has the potential to

improve the lives of the people in Nigeria, and the other African countries that we operate in, as well as create employment opportunities.

“Founded in 2007 and incorporated in Mauritius, Smile is a pan-African telecommunications group withoperations in Nigeria (Smile Communications Nigeria), Tanzania (Smile Communications Tanzania), Uganda (Smile Communications Uganda) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Smile Communications DRC) and has an associate company in South Africa. Smile has a single transformative objective of using the best and most innovative technologies to provide its customers with fast, reliable, high quality, easy to use and affordable communication services” Before now, Smile owns and operates mobile wireless 4G LTE broadband networks in the 800MHz band in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 17 acquire new debts on rents and the interests on the loan he has taken which would immediately reduce his income to N90,000 while he still pays a rent of N250,000 monthly in addition to outstanding principal. His condition has been worsened by the unreasonable "bailout".

This is exactly what the Federal Government is doing

Fiscal irresponsibility as ‘Bailout’

A

“

S good a gesture as the bailout is, it may lead to moral hazard as the states continue with financial recklessness leading to financial insolvency.

"Why are we borrowing to pay salaries in stark violation of Section 41 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act?" -Mr Remi Babalola, Former Minister of State for Finance.

"They say they are restructuring N18.8b of our commercial loans and with the 9% interest, by the time the money is repaid in 20years we would have paid an extra N36b as interest. That means the N18b would have become N56b" -Gov Ayodele Fayose If "Boko" had not truly become "Haram" in Nigeria,our public intellectuals would have by now been able to break down the bondage recently packaged by the Federal Government for about 26 states of the Unitary Republic of Nigeria in the name of bailout.

The APC megaphones would have been too ashamed of this wrongheaded decision instead of having the audacity of counting it as an achievement .

Fiscal responsibility Section 41(1)(a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act states "Government at all tiers shall only borrow for CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (emphasis mine), provided that such borrowing shall be on concessional terms with low interest rate and with a reasonably long amortization period subject to the approval of the appropriate legislative body where necessary."

Clause 3 of this section makes non-compliance with the provisions an offense which exactly is what the so-called bailout is all about. For rather than borrowing money for capital expenditure and human development, the N388b recently approved for the states to pay arrears of salaries was a fiscal act to encourage financial recklessness and abuse of public trust as it is widely known that most of the states could not pay their workers due to either waste or theft of the funds meant for that purpose. Without asking the governors to give accounts of how they misapplied their allocations,they have been C M Y K

buoyed to further mortgage the future of their states while we are supposed to be fighting corruption.

There was no legislative approval for these loans which were packaged under the table in the most brazen violation of fiscal responsibility. Shorn of all pretenses,the states drawing these loans are technically under RECEIVERSHIP! What the Federal Government has done is akin to what someone who has a wayward relation living beyond his means would do to dig him further into the trench while deceiving himself that he is helping out. Imagine the scenario where a fellow who is earning N100,000 a month decides to go and rent a flat in Ikoyi where he pays a rent of N250,000 monthly. Within six months he has gathered "gbese"

of N1.5m on rents and he runs to his brother to bail him out of the "quagmire "(I borrow that from one of the chronic debtorgovernors).

If the man he runs to has a better gumption than his debtor-brother the first thing he must do is to get him out of Ikoyi to Abule-Egba where his income can comfortably pay for a house and still be able to meet other obligations and then find ways to clear the debt he is owing in Ikoyi to remove the shame he has invited upon himself.

But if irresponsibility runs in their DNA, he could choose to serve as guarantor to his brother to go take loans from a bank to pay the six months arrears to be repaid over 20 years at 9% interest.The implication of this is that he would pay the arrears of his irresponsible lifestyle of six months and begins to

Restructuring debt to plunge into greater indebtedness over a longer period can only be a cause for celebration as is currently the case only in Nigeria

to the states all in a desperate bid to keep the Abuja "command and control centre" when it has become all too obvious that the panacea is to restructure the country and create new corridors of prosperity that would give a new lease of life to the federating units. Restructuring debt to plunge into greater indebtedness over a longer period can only be a cause for celebration as is currently the case only in Nigeria.It is clear except to the naive that none of those states would be able to do any capital project in the foreseeable future .Little wonder the APC folks can make promises to a people like these and renounce them in 100 days and yet they are not asking what they should now expect in the remaining 1350 remaining days. Anyone still in doubt that these "maga" will continue to pay and the conmen will continue to shout "hallelujah "?

We wait at the observatory to see where the yoyo will end. A man is sick and the native doctor says the cure is in him just saying "to" but he squeezes his face and starts to grumble "why should I be saying to to to about because I want healing ?"

The authentic Prophet the heavens sent to Nigeria, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti summed it up a long time ago when he sang "he just dey perambulate and still dey same same place." Now he has moved to a worse place.

Second base jare!

••Justice Oloyede and Osun Skelewu Orchestra (2)

By Ifeoluwa Y Laroosin

P

ERHAPS more paediatric is the recent attack in her private space. Her morality is being questioned because she, a divorced woman, has a relationship with a married man! She has been called all forms of names the most ardent being husband snatcher.

A petition, purportedly written by the wife of the gentleman she is said to have this relationship with has been written to the National Judicial Commission (NJC), requesting them to stop Justice Folahanmi from continuing this relationship as it threatens her marriage!

Very interesting!!

What is the role of the NJC in holding judges to a moral obligation that has in no way compromised their professional judgement and go further to sanction a divorced female judge for having a relationship with a consenting male adult? How many judges male or female can pass the scrutiny of the standard Justice Folahnami is being held against? He who has no sin should indeed cast the first stone from the bench! Can we please address the real issues?

As the Yoruba’s would say, it appears that the treatment of leprosy (ete) is being ignored while we focus our effort on the treatment of the lesser issue of eczema (lapa lapa)!

The personal relationship that

Justice Folahnmi has does not in any way detract from the issues she has raised. We are informed that she is divorced!

In any case that is not an issue for public discourse, they are both consenting adults. In fact, that this level of pedestrian discussions are ongoing might indeed assert that she has identified that 'the king has no clothes on, and is naked', and touched perceived sacred cows. Rather than find clothes for the King, some are expending energy in showing that she (Justice Folahanmi) indeed is clothed in value and integrity that they wish to smear at all costs.

All of a sudden being divorced and/or having an extra marital affair matters in Nigerian politics and to good

If Justice Folahnmi was a man, would the marital or relationship status become an issue in the public space? Would his morals be called to question?

governance. This is the red herring for those who seek to protect corruption and ineptitude in governance and the public space. Who seek to erode the moral weight of public accountability, and the responsibility to respond to everyone irrespective of gender. Being divorced is neither a crime nor is it unconstitutional.

Relationship status If Justice Folahnmi was a man, would the marital or relationship status become an issue in the public space?

Would his morals be called to question? In any case, what relationship does this have to the matter and very important public accountability issues she has raised?

Shall we call for every male, including the governor, who has or has had an extra-marital affair, and/or children outside marriage, to be stripped of all rights to public office and leadership? I am sure that not many will be left in the Secretariat of Osun State!

Fundamental to this campaign of calumny is a denial of the rights of Justice Folahanmi as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria as in all covenants of human rights to which Nigeria is signatory at global and regional levels. The reaction to Justice Folahanmi seems to

align more with the position of the Ugandan dictator and former President, Field Marshall Idi Amin, who guaranteed freedom of speech but could not guarantee freedom after the speech. Can those who the public must hold accountable address the issues Justice Folahanmi has raised and not be distracted by this arrant nonsense?

Corruption and lack of accountability are bed mates.

Justice Folahanmi has acted honourably, seeking first audience with the Governor, and its denial, taking her concerns forward to the State assembly.

This very courageous woman deserves our commendation and support. Her courage is even more salutatory, knowing that in a male dominated and religiously pervert society, she had moral courage of her convictions, to speak up and stand tall, knowing that her personal space might be put to public scrutiny, and beyond that, that she will potentially be the target of institutionalized intimidation and unconstitutional protection of a public officer whom we all must hold to account.

It is glad to now hear that the National Judicial Council has thrown into the trash can the sexist,crude and childish petition against Justice Oloyede .Can we now address the issues she raised ?

Concluded.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 THE first one hundred days have just passed since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office to run the affairs of the country for the next four years. Even though Presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC) sources have played down the first hundred days as a period to take a measure of their new administration, we believe that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step in the right direction to reach the destination on schedule.

We are gratified to note that the personality and charisma of President Buhari has brought new impetus and esteem to the Presidency both at home and abroad.

His image as a man of integrity, as well as his credibility to fight corruption has made many government officials to sit up. Government appears to be working better than before, and we hope

Buhari’s first 100 days this will become a permanent feature of governance in Nigeria.

The decision of the president and his vice president to unveil their assets to the public is well received, and we hope all who are going to work with them will be made to follow suit. This will give the anti-graft war the muscle of legitimacy when the public is convinced that the government is leading it by example.

We also applaud gains being made in the war to eradicate the Boko Haram terrorism. We are solidly behind this effort, and hope the mission will be accom-

plished ahead of the December deadline to enable the displaced citizens to return home and the rebuilding to start.

We, however, note that the delay in constituting the cabinet, whatever excuses the Presidency is making for it, has sown the seeds of uncertainty in the system and kept the nation in great suspense. We hope the president speeds up the process and also unfolds his vision and the direction the country will go under his watch.

We are also disturbed by the pattern of appointments so far made.

We particularly note that Section 14 of the Constitution has not been respected to ensure that even the “kitchen cabinet” or inner sanctum of the Presidency reflects the federal character to give all sections of the country a sense of belonging. We condemn the lopsided nature of the appointments and the total exclusion of the South South and South East zone while a section of the country predominates. Steps should quickly be taken to correct the imbalance.

We believe that it is only when all Nigerians have a sense of belonging that they will fully cooperate and support the government to achieve its electoral mandate.

Buhari must bring all Nigerians on board.

We are very optimistic that Buhari has what it takes to succeed and wish him the best of luck.

OPINION Making a scape goat (2) Continued from yesterrday's pg 20

By Eric Teniola

H

E also set-up the recovery of public special Military tribunals amended decree 8 of 1984 which he signed into law on April 5 1984.

In setting up the decree 8, he created in addition, tribunals in five zones of the country. The Enugu zone made up of Anambra, Imo, Cross Rivers and Rivers states was headed by Air Commodore M. Muhammed. Other members include Lt. Col. V.L. Malu, Navy Captain T.U. Odibo, Wing- Commander R.B. Suara and Mr. Justice A. Idoko.

For the Jos zone which comprised Plateau, Bauchi, Gongola, Benue and Borno states.

Brigadier Peter Ademokhai was named as the Chairman. Other members of the tribunal include Lt. Col. I.O. Adebunmi, Navy Captain Jubrin O. Ayinla, WingCommander S.O. Cole and Mr. Justice J.D. Ogundere.

For the Kaduna zone made up of Kaduna, Kano,Niger, Sokoto states and the Federal Capital Territory. Navy Captain M.A. Elegbede was named as the chairman. Other members were Lt-Col. I.D. Gumel, Lt.-Colonel M. Maina, Wing Commander J.P. Obakpolor and Mr. Justice P.K. Nwokedi.

For the Ibadan zone made up of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Bendel and Kwara states, Brigadier C.B. Ndiomu was named as the Chairman.

Other members are Commodore I.J. Ogohi,

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Lt.-Colonel Yohanna Madaki, WingCommanders C.C. Ohadumere and Mr. Justice S.U. Minjibir.

As for the Lagos zone made up of Lagos state, Brigadier P.U. Omu was named chairman.

Other members are Brigadier M.M. Nassarawa, Navy Captain J.N. Kanu, Lt.Colonel Yinka Martins and Mr. Justice T.A. Oyeyipo.

Major General Buhari at that time was young, vibrant and patriotically adventurous. On August 7 1985, he was toppled at 6.00 a.m. via an announcement by the then Commander of the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Joshua Dongoyaro.

On that day Major General Ibrahim Babangida took over as the head of state.

Major General Buhari was detained for three years thereafter.

He was first detained in a government house at Alagbaka in Akure, where he became my neighbour before he was eventually transferred to Benin City.

On November 24, 1993, General Babangida signed the forfeiture of assets (release of forfeited assets decree 24) and

At 72, having passed through many ordeals, he is now more scrupulous and punctilious

returned some of the forfeited properties to former governors under General Gowon including Faruk and his wife, Brigadiers Samuel Ogbemudia, David Bamigboye, Alfred Diete-spiff and Chief Edwin Clarke who served as Gowon’s Minister of information.

The Decree rubbished the anti-corruption crusade of General Murtala Muhammed.

In taking over on May 29, 1999 from General Abdusalam Abubakar, President Olusegun Obasanjo set up three panels to probe the administration of General Abdusalam. The three panels were headed

by Dr. Christopher Kolade, Brigadier (rtd.)

Oluwole Rotimi and Alhaji Igudu Inua. No one has so far been prosecuted. But it was understood that the Kolade’s panel recovered some money to the coffers of the Central Government.

Now President Muhammadu Buhari is back in power. Fully experienced and fully cautious. At 72, having passed through many ordeals, he is now more scrupulous and punctilious. In the last few weeks the country has been treated with stories of massive looting by the Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

It appears it is the misfortune of President Muhammadu Buhari to head a corrective regime instead of a regime of continuity.

Things have to be so bad that he has to step in to remedy a worse situation. That is the cross he has to carry. To his credit, and in the words of President Barak Obama, “he is a man of integrity”- a befitting testimonial that is very rare among leaders of today’s world.

No more decrees to govern this time. No

more Supreme Military Council to guide him. He has to rely on his conscience and his God. The constitution has bestowed on him the sole authority to shape our lives about 180million of us-all blacks. In the immediate he has to reconstruct his government and recover the loot from the officials of the previous government.

If he recovers the lot without prosecution, he is bound to lose a lot of goodwill. If he prosecutes few, he will be judged selective.

Even if he prosecutes at all, he should be prepared to face the consequences for corruption has a way of fighting back.

President Buhari has a big burden on his shoulder to carry.

With eminent and close friends like Major General Mohammed Magoro(rtd.), Major General General Paul Tarfa (rtd), Alhaji Mamman Daura, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Lt.General(rtd.) Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Alhaji Gidado Idris ,the only SGF who served two Heads of States,Alhaji Hayatudeen, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Prince Tony Momoh, Alhaji Sule Lamido Sanusi,the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ismaila Issa Funtua, his inlaw, General T.Y. Danjuma(rtd.), former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie-his classmate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe,former SGF, Dr. (Mrs) Mallia Zayyad, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others around him, I am sure President Muhammadu Buhari will never walk alone.

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

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015— —19

Battle for the soul of Nigeria

By Sunny Ikhioya

I

T is no more news that Nigeria as a nation state is an accidental creation, given the manner the British did it. It was not a consensus creation as the different ethnic groups that make up the nation were not carried along and this laid the foundation for discord which has affected the nation up till date. There is nothing wrong in bringing people from diverse ethnic groups to form a nation but this can only work when the people agree to the arrangement; we have many examples where forced marriages of this kind have failed, like the old Yugoslavia and the present crisis in Ukraine to mention but a few.

Since independence in 1960, successive governments have tried to establish a semblance of unity but the underlining current ethnic discord has become a recurring decimal, no matter how hard they have tried. And, when you look at the economic development of Nigeria, the country has made better progress under autonomous regional governments than under the

centrist unitary governments.

The Yakubu Gowon military regime made a lot of efforts at uniting, reconciling and rehabilitating all ethnic groups but that was not reflected in the distribution and allocation of resources, things just got worse under successive military governments.

Our preference for ethnic and regional bias under a centrist federal government escalated the level of corruption in the country. Corruption is the norm in all societies but when it is instituted at the policy making level of a country or nation, it is a cause for concern; a behemoth, destroyer, cancer that defies all cure until the unusual or impossible happens. That is the situation Nigeria as a nation has found itself. The survival of Nigeria as a nation is seriously threatened by the twin forces of ethnic/ regional sentiments and corruption.

President Muhammadu Buhari has aptly stated during his electioneering campaign that if Nigerians do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. It is a battle for Nigeria’s soul, of good over evil, of the survival or demise of

Nigeria as a nation. It is a formidable battle and only a leader prepared by a combination of natural attributes, circumstances and grace can see it through.

In the history of Nigeria, only three presidents have been well placed to see this through; Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and presently Muhammadu Buhari. Gowon enjoyed the overwhelming support of Nigerians after the civil war in 1970 and what was left was to arrange a credible and orderly transition to a democratic government with well instituted structures, he hesitated and had to be forced out in 1975. Olusegun Obasanjo came in 1999 from

President Buhari must allow space for all to be tried in a proper manner, that way the Nigerian nation state will be rescued from imminent collapse

Ayade's strides in 100 days

By Emmanuel Ulayi & Solomon Asha

W

HEN on May 29, 2015, Senator Professor Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade was sworn-in as the 3rd Governor of Cross River from 1999, and the instrument of power and authority passed over to him at the prestigious Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), venue of the inauguration ceremony, Ayade the ambitious young man from Obudu and first Governor from the northern senatorial district in his inaugural speech left no one in doubt that he was coming to government with the sole purpose of providing service and qualitative existence for the generality of the people of Cross River and other Nigerians living in the state.

His vision as encapsulated in the inaugural speech is clear as to the direction/path he intend to chart. In that speech Ayade was passionate that as a people we have come to a point in history of possibilities/prosperity because he has come with the right ingredients to drive the state away from backwardness to greatness and the people from poverty to being economically viable. To achieve the desired goal therefore, it require that the people must collectively “rise to…full height to envision and carve out a better future” for themselves and the coming generations.

Governor Ayade subsequent utterances and actions from the day of his inauguration to his 100 Days in Office lucidly indicate that he is on course,to move Cross River out of doldrums of social, economic and political irrelevance.

Ayade had maintained in his inaugural speech that,“in the new Cross River of our DREAM, there is a place and hope for everyone. There will be jobs for the youth and prosperity for the working class. The resurgent middle class shall find anchor for their roots and everyone shall find independence and pride in their work. The wages of honest labour shall liberate C M Y K

families from the jaws of hardship and no child shall go to bed with an empty stomach.

Neither shall any mother be depressed by lack of access to Medicare for her children and loved ones. Brothers and sisters, this is our DREAM!” In 100 days, Ayade has made good his promise to provide jobs. With the conclusion of recruitment interview to employ 1000 persons for the Green Police and the Garment factory (500 each for a start), lifted the embargo on employment, started and sustained prompt payment of workers' salary , concluded arrangement with a Dublin based Irish company, Affordable Buildings Concept International Limited for the building of 5000 houses for the low, middle and upper income earners , and the appointment by executive fiat to Mr. Ashie Osor a linage reporter with the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation since 2009, indeed better days beckon for Cross Riverians.

As part of efforts to creating employment opportunities within his 100 days in office, Ayade has also ensure that work on the garment factory is ongoing, inspite of the heavy rains, he concluded arrangement with

Ayade has sponsored a bill for the establishment of Cross River State Sustainable Development Agenda Agency, a bill for Social Housing Infrastructure Development to ensure every Cross Riverian, is entitled to a decent house

prison to a warm reception from the Nigerian people. His experience, background and training suited the required task but Obasanjo squandered the goodwill of the Nigerian people in eight years and instituted a corrupt regime under the People Democratic Party, PDP, banner that is still reverberating till date. By the time Buhari assumed power in May 2015, the people were already fed up with the PDP and the chant of change was overwhelming, now change has come.

Buhari rode to power because of his perceived position on corruption. He had previously demonstrated his capacity to tackle hard issues in his previous coming as a military dictator. All hope is now on him to put this case of corruption permanently to rest. By Buhari’s experience, disposition and overwhelming support of the people, he must not fail because if he does, the state of Nigeria will face a possible collapse, it will take a long time to recover unless a miracle happens.

President Buhari must tackle corruption head on and kill it as he has promised and sort out the canker worm of ethnic sentiments in policy decisions.

That way, he will save the

Irish Dairy firm for the establishment of an ice cream making factory. A Spanish company, Cavenco is to establish a Dairy Farm to revitalise the Obudu Ranch Resort Farms. It is based on this reality that in his inaugural speech he specifies what this period expects from the entire people of Cross River.”This is what this moment requires. The capacity to dream!"

To bring to fruition his promise supported by the cooperation of the people to take on new ideas as well as technology to bring about total empowerment to Cross Riverians, Senator Ayade has equally within his 100 days concluded a pact for the establishment of a tractor assembly plant in the state. China Harbor Engineering, a globally renowned company is already carrying out preliminary work at the proposed Calabar Deep Seaport that will help to evacuate the corridors that have prevented bigger vessels from entering the Calabar seaport, as they had to stop at Lome and then use smaller vessels to transfer goods by installment to Calabar. The project will also help service land locked countries like Chad and Niger to move their goods easily from the Calabar port.

Ayade has already attracted 500 Million Euros from the Broad Spectrum Industrial Services, based on purely Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the government required to provide 25 percent Bank guarantee; just as a reputable Nigerian bank has already given its approval to the novel arrangement. When completed, the seaport is expected to generate an average N30 Million monthly. In 100 days, surveying, plotting and excavation work is ongoing on the over 260 kilometres Super High Way from the seaport to the northern part of the state. Advanced plans for the actualisation of the proposed state owned refinery is on as well as efforts to send talented Cross Riverians to be trained as pilots and other associated aviation courses and professions in Dublin in preparation for the construction of an airport to be located between Ogoja and Yala Local Government Areas of the state.

Nigerian nation state from disintegration.

For now nothing has changed. The people are behind him now and he must not fail them; fish out the criminals and hypocrites among those around him and stay focused. Nigerians want to see true change not political abracadabra. There must be no sacred cows, most of those chanting change now were neck deep in corruption either at the states, local governments and federal levels.

During the French revolution of 1789-1799, many of the frontline crusaders for change ended up facing the guillotine, like their French royals and nobles. So shall it be for all those false ‘change chanters’.

We are beginning to see cases of the hunters being hunted; Fashola, Amaechi, Aregbeshola, Lamorde et al, the more the merrier, bring them on.

President Buhari must allow space for all to be tried in a proper manner, that way the Nigerian nation state will be rescued from imminent collapse. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

In the area of security, a Five-man Security Committee headed by Brig. Gen Mannix Nyiam (Retd) and code-named “Operation Skolombo” was inaurguated. The security committee has been provided with operational vehicles, attended and inspected the carry out o Propelled by the unquenchable desire to bring about an attitudinal change favouring the employment of machineries/technology to enhance our production capacity, boost our economy and open a new vista of hope and opportunity directed at increasing our value chain the governor sponsored and signed into law the Cross River State Infrastructure Development Law for the development of the state. Thus, the state has become the first in Nigeria to do so. In 100 days, Ayade has sponsored a bill for the establishment of Cross River State Sustainable Development Agenda Agency, a bill for Social Housing Infrastructure Development to ensure every Cross Riverian, no matter his/her social, economic and political status, is entitled to a decent house.

He has equally sent a bill for a law to protect our water frontiers; a bill to preserve our forests resources in accordance with the sustainable development agenda of the global community; a tax exemption bill to exclude the poor and the low income earners from taxation to ameliorate the conditions of the ordinary man in the state. Out of a total of 15 bills before the current CRSHA, 10 were sponsored by Senator Ayade in 100 days .

In 100 days, Governor Ayade has equally concluded an arrangement to build a brand new city to be called “Calas Vergas” in Calabar and 16 other modern estates in the 16 Local Government Areas where the dual super high way will pass as part of deliberate effort to lift the state infrastructure wise, draw oil magnates and other investors to Calabar and the state in general and then boost the overall economy of Cross River and lives of the people.

•Messr. Ulayi & Asha, are media aides to Gov. Ayade of Cross River State.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

INVESTOR EDUCATION: From left, Assistant Director, Head Research and Technical, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Arinze Nwobu; President, Confidence Consult, University of Nigeria, Enugu,Mr. Ibrahim Afeeze Asipita; Marketing and Media Liaison Officer, CIS, Mr. Olumide Coker and member, Confidence Consult University of Nigeria, Enugu, Mr. Michael Opara, during Investors Education programme of CIS in Enugu.

FG backs PPP summit on critical infrastructure

By Prince Okafor

T

he Vice President of Nigeria, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has given his support to the forthcoming 2015 Nigeria Infrastructure Public Private Partnership Summit billed for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the last quarter of this year.

The Vice President made this known when the Summit Planning Team paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.

The team was led by A.B Mahmoud (SAN),

Managing Partner Dikko & Mahmoud, a full service law firm. Also in attendance was Gori Olusina Daniel from Adams & Moore, a U.Kbased global professional advisory firm and Ibrahim Adamu Abdullahi from Dikko & Mahmoud.

The Vice President, while acknowledging the key role the organised private sector must play in addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, welcomed the initiative and

We also have a huge infrastructure deficit for which we require foreign capital and expertise

pledged his support and participation. The Summit Planning Team was subsequently tasked with creating sector-specific reviews and roadmaps in the four key areas of focus – Power, Transport, Health and Education in collaboration with key eco-system players leading up to the summit It will be recalled that in his opening address at the just concluded

Incentivise operators to develop oil and gas fields —Former NDDC boss

By Ediri Ejoh & Prince Okafor

U

$3,080.00

84.00

$10.51 0.08 B & E DATA:

-

$46.88

41.00 CURRENCY DOLLAR

BUYING

196 POUNDS 307.0732 EURO 216.4232 FRANC 201.2114 YEN 1.5761 CFA 0.3113 WAUA 273.6312 RENMINBI 30.6433 RIYAL 52.2402 SDR 274.0472 KRONA 28.9902

-0.28

0.20

CENTRAL 196.5 197 307.8566 308.6399 216.9753 217.5274 201.7247 202.238 1.5801 1.5841 0.3213 0.3313 274.3293 275.0273 30.7219 30.8005 52.3735 52.5067 274.7463 275.4454 29.0642 29.1381

CBN Exchange Rate as at 20/ 08 /15

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NTIL the Federal Govern ment grant incentives to operators to develop existing crude oil and gas fields, the hope to escape the bitter pinch of the oil glut, remains a mirage, experts stated.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard on the way forward on the falling crude price, Former Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Engr. Godwin Omene, stated that the oil and gas sector needs more incentive to drive it operations amidst the falling crude oil price that has gone down below the country’s budget benchmark.

He said “The way forward for the oil and gas industry is for the government to seek for more incentives to generate more funds for exploration and production

activities, reduce cost of oil and gas development by working more efficiently.

“Also, there is need to carry out gas utilisation activities instead of flaring, allow indigenous companies, communities, International Oil Companies, IOCs to take gas and convert same to profitable ventures.

Omene calls for the development of marginal fields that are of close proximity to existing flow stations and connect with long flow lines after signing crude handling agreement with the owners of such flow stations. “Such crude can also be sold at the manifolds to the flowstation owners” he added. He however, lauded the president for the ongoing reform at the NNPC, saying that the recent development at the corporation, is not the restructuring it clamoured for rather it is just changing of personnel.

Nigerian Bar Association 55th Annual General Conference in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari decried the huge infrastructural deficit the country is grappling with and highlighted the need for strategic “public private partnerships” in the “quest for enhanced capital and expertise”.

His words, “We also have a huge infrastructure deficit for which we require foreign capital and expertise to supplement whatever resources we can marshal at home. In essence, increased engagement with the outside world is called for as we seek public private partnerships in our quest for enhanced capital and expertise. This is the way of the new world for all countries in the 21st Century.”

In a recent report, the Institute of Appraisers and Cost Engineers, (IA&CE) disclosed that the draft National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan would require an estimated amount of over $2.9 trillion in investments over the next 30 years to address Nigeria’s infra-

— 21

structure deficit. This corresponds to an annual average of $25billion over the next four years – about four times the federal government’s total allocation to capital projects in the 2014 budget.

Speaking on the objectives of the Summit, Gori Olusina Daniel, partner and Africa Regional Director at Adams & Moore, said that following participation by key members of the Summit Planning team at the APC Policy Forum held in July 2015 that the Summit closely aligns with the Federal Government’s stated priority areas of Power, Health, Transport and Education, and is timed to leverage significant interest from the organised private sector in driving forward progress in each of these critical areas.

“This summit is about charting the way forward in four critical sectors and establishing a private sector led community of practice, working in collaboration with government across all levels that will ensure the successful implementation of these roadmaps,” he said.

China’s foreign exchange reserves fall in August on Yuan support

C

hina’s foreignexchange reserves fell by a record last month as the central bank sold dollars to support the yuan after the biggest devaluation in two decades spurred bets on continued weakness Bloomberg reported yesterday.

According to the report the external reserves declined by $93.9 billion to $3.56 trillion at the end of August, from $3.65 trillion a month earlier. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a median $3.58 trillion. The yuan weakened in offshore trading and 10-year Treasury futures contracts fell after the data. The reserves’ decline illustrates the cost to China as it props up its currency and seeks to stem an outflow of capital that threatens

to deepen the nation’s economic slowdown.

The shrinkage in reserves means less money flowing into the financial system, creating what Deutsche Bank AG strategists have termed “quantitative tightening.”

“If the central bank continues its intervention, China’s foreign-exchange reserves will continue to shrink — the heavier the intervention, the deeper the fall,” said Li Miaoxian, a Beijingbased analyst at Bocom International Holdings.

While the People’s Bank of China is trying to talk up the yuan exchange rate, it’s “inevitable” the nation will see continuous capital outflows and yuan depreciation pressure in the coming months.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

What we want to do is to raise the profile of Nigerian industry in particular and hopefully we can bring in those countries in to focus on the Nigerian market

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

he shares of Ikeja Hotels Plc, Transnationwide Express Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) enjoyed much of the investors’ patronage last week to make it to the top performing stocks’ list.

Others that featured on the list include: Diamond Bank Plc, Vono Products Plc, Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) Plc, P.Z Industries Plc and Cutix Plc. Ikeja Hotels Plc, which was meshed in a boardroom crisis that nearly resulted in ouster of the chairman, Mr. Goddy Ibru, last year, topped others with 26.57 per cent or N0.72 gains to close at N3.43 from N2.71 at the beginning of the week. Goddy Ibru was accused of misappropriating N10billion of shareholders’ fund, which resulted in his forced removal in a controversial Extra-ordinary General Meeting in Lagos. Ibru, however, stuck to his gun as the chairman of the company and is presently challenging his removal in a law court.

T h e company has been struggling w i t h declining financial position, and its first quarter financial statement indicates that it is far from coming out from the doldrums. The unaudited first quarter result for the period ended March 31, 2014 showed a 53.7 per cent decline in profit after tax to N107.981 million as against N233.283 million posted in the corresponding period in 2013. The profit before tax also fell by 26.7 per cent, dropping to N251.443 million from N343.063 million in the previous quarter. The revenue declined marginally by four per cent to N1.523 billion compared to N1.598 billion recorded in quarter one in 2013. However, the company achieved some improvement in its cost of sales as the figure fell from N641.376 million in 2013 to N611.955 million in the review period.

Transnationwide Express followed with 24.42 per cent or N0.21 to close at N1.07 from N0.86 per share. Last year, the company appointed Mrs. Aderonke Fatade as an Independent Director of the company. Her appointment took effect from Thursday, 12 June 2014. Fatade obtained her B.Sc.

in Agricultural Economics (1976 – 1979) with emphasis in Business and Management from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA before obtaining an MBA Degree from the Golden Gate University, Graduate School of Business Administration, San Francisco, California, USA (1979 – 1981).

The company posted N183.860 million in revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015, down from N718.016 million posted in the equivalent period in 2014, representing 74.4 per cent decrease. Its profit before tax fell by 65.9 per cent from N49.476 million in 2014 to N16.828 million in Q1 2014, while the profit after tax slumped to N12.828 million from N66.771 million in the previous quarter.

Transnationwide provides courier services, freight services, logistics, mail room management, haulage and ecommerce from its Headquarters in Lagos and 38 branches.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings placed third with 24 per cent or N4.49 appreciation, closing at N23.20 from N18.71 per share. Stanbic IBTC has been involved in some novel initiatives that are meant to impact the small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

For instance, last year, the bank developed an SME business support initiative that offers support to small businesses. The support ranges from business term loans, vehicle and asset finance, to distributor finance, import and export finance, trader loans and agriculture finance.

The bank’s six months unaudited results for the period ended 30 June 2015, showed gross earnings of N68.3 billion, an increase of 11 per cent over the N61.7 billion recorded in the comparable period of last year.

Its profit before tax, during the period stood at N9.5 billion, while profit after tax was N9.6 billion. Total assets went up by nine per cent to N1.03 trillion from N944.5 billion in December 2014. The bank had earlier in the year declared its intension to raise N24 billion from a rights issue once shareholders approve the transaction.

Okomu Oil closed as the fourth most active stock, rising by 21.17 per cent or N4.15 to N23.75 from N19.60; UBA followed with 20.57 per cent or N0.65 increase to close at N3.81 from N3.16; Diamond Bank advanced by

INVESTOR' , How exhibition raises Nigeria’s profile as investment destination —Pearson

By Jonah Nwokpoku

R

egional Director, West Africa, Afrocet Montgomery, George Pearson has said that trade exhibitions held in Nigeria provide a veritable platform

to raise Nigeria’s profile as an investment destination.

He stated this during a press conference at the opening of a three day Propak West Africa International Exhibition held in Lagos.

He said: “The exhibition provides huge foreign

investment opportunities for Nigeria. Propak West Africa is the biggest international exhibition of its kind within the processing and packaging industry. We are bringing interests from thirty different countries bringing over 70

From left: Registrar/CEO, Meristem Registration Ltd., Mubo Olasoko; Deputy Group Managing Director, Meristem Securities Ltd., Mr Sulaimon Adedokun; MD, Meristem Trustees Ltd., Yinka Adegbola; and M D, Corporate Finance of Meristem Securities, Jumoke Awolumate, at the Media Parley held with Meristem Executives in Lagos.

MARKET NEWS

Chamscity’s fate, a huge loss to Nigeria — Williams Stories by Nkiruka Nnorom

C

hams Plc has described the recent decision of the company to shut down the operation of its Chamscities as a huge loss to the country’s technological development.

The company had last week announced the closure of the Ikeja ChamsCity digital Mall due to lack of use of its digital citizen registration and mass enrolments infrastructure, resulting in loss of N9.2 billion.

The company said the National ID Card Project would have benefited immensely from the facilities available at ChamsCity digital malls if everything had gone according to the implementation plan.

Mr. Olufemi Williams, Managing Director designate, Chams Plc, said: “Yes, we built ChamsCity to

facilitate the National ID Project and lost a whopping N9.2 billion of shareholders’ funds in the process as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) decided to call off

We built ChamsCity to facilitate the National ID project and lost a whooping N9.2 billion of shareholders’ fund in the process

the concession agreement signed in 2010, five years into the deal. Consequently, we took the business decision to close down ChamsCity, but we are currently in arbitration over the disputes on the issue.

We had to make provisions for this huge loss over the past few years between 2009, 2010, and 2011 with the company returning to profitability from 2012 to date.

“We declared huge losses in 2009 and 2010 as a result of the protracted delays on the project but the bad days are gone and company has returned to profitability since 2012. The difficult situation experienced helped us to restrategise and we were able to declare profit in 2012 and 2013 and also paid dividend to shareholders in 2014.

We are certainly back on our feet,” Williams declared.

He further explained that

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 23

different exhibitors. What we want to do is to raise the profile of Nigerian industry in particular and hopefully we can bring in those countries in to focus on the Nigerian market.”

According to Pearson, “This printing and packaging exhibition is even more important now that we are looking at where the oil prices are and the Federal Government and the states in Nigeria have to look at non-oil products. Even more so, if you look at Nigeria as an agricultural country, the whole agricultural, food processing and manufacturing industry elements in Nigeria are becoming crucial in terms of economy and in terms of growth and the population in terms of moving forward.”

Also speaking, Managing Director of Angus Montgomery, Damion Angus,

Exhibition allows foreign companies to come in and it is a very cost effective way of getting a taste of what the market entails

moving on from the National ID project, ChamsCity will now focus more on its ancillary services of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) such as contact centre services, computerbased testing, pre-qualification employee tests and staff training at its new location in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on the company’s financial position, Williams stressed that “For a company to be able to withstand a loss

a partner on the exhibition, said: “Exhibition allows foreign companies to come in and it is a very cost effective way of getting a taste of what the market entails. And so in one place within one to three days, you can see over 2,500 people, whereas if they came on their own or on a mission, they would not be able to have that same intensity and walk away with a very good idea of what the industry entails and what opportunities exist. And we have international companies which come here and they find distributors, partners and this provides them a very good springboard to set up a business.

So exhibitions globally are fantastic methods of putting together buyers and sellers and informing people of what is going on. And we very much hope that Propak will be the platform (for foreign investors to come in).”

The international exhibition which focused on the packaging, processing and printing industry drew participants from 15 countries including participants from Nigeria and China, India, Taiwan, France, United Kingdom, Germany etc, and over 70 industries as exhibitors.

Propak is a brand of shows. It was launched in South Africa, many years ago and has expanded between East and West Africa.

Pearson said Propak is leveraging Nigeria as a commercial hub of West Africa and the most important commercial capital of West Africa to promote trade shows in other parts of West Africa with Lagos as a base.

of N9.2 billion is not an easy feat and certainly not commonplace. It is a pointer to the company’s financial strength and the proof of this is evident in our financial results.

“In spite of the burden of the loss, the group has since 2012 returned to profitability, and this growth pattern had been sustained. We continue to record improved performances and post impressive financial results as shown in our last audited results."

Guinness records N118.5bn revenue, proposes N4.8bn dividend

G

uinness Nigeria Plc has reported nine per cent increase in net sales for the full period ending 30th June 2015.

Specifically, the company posted N118.5 billion in revenue for the period as against N109.8 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2013. The Board of Directors also recommended N4.82 billion dividends, which translates to 320kobo per every 50 kobo ordinary share. The dividend recommended, if approved at the next Annual General Meeting in November, will be paid to shareholders on 27th November 2015.

The company said in a statement that the results reflect strong volume growth

on the back of year-on-year impressive performance of its innovation and value brands.

Commenting on the results, the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, said: “We delivered a nine per cent increase in net sales during the year in a tough trading environment largely driven by the growth in our RTD category and value beer segment. Our gross profit also grew by nine per cent.

During the year, we continued to invest significantly behind our brands and our route to consumer expansion and these, together with the high interest environment, have driven a profit before tax decline of eight per cent.”

,

'S FORUM

Those who are participating in the market are either investment managers, companies who have been rolling things over and making gain

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Investors should exercise patience on market rebound – Shareholders Following over N1.03 trillion loss of investment in the Nigeria Stock Market in recent time occasioned by slow pace of governance, policy direction, high political risk, non ministerial appointment, among others, shareholders in this interview urge investors to exercise patience as market rebound is imminent.

•Shopeju

•Gbadebo

By Providence Obuh

will not be there and they will not be making their own commission, that is LHAJI Gbadebo why they are shouting. I am a long term Olatokunbo, Shareholders investor and I cannot approach the Activist: You cannot build a two market now that I want to sell my shares story building on a ramshackle house, because I know that whatever is hapif you don’t have any other land which pening now is something that will come you can build a two story or beautiful and go. building, what you do is to demolish Those who are participating in the that house and start from the scratch. market are either investment managNigeria’s issue require starting from ers, companies that have been rolling the scratch, there is no cause for us things over and making gains and now hurrying. that they see the repercussion of their What ever is happening to the capital work they are shouting. market now, is because the market is But I am appealing to them to wait, a long term thing. By the time we start the market will bounce back by the time getting it right, everything will sky- we start putting things in order in rocket.

Nigeria.

Nigeria was Nigeria’s issue not recognised does not require The market will bounce before, but now rushing, those that we elected back by the time we rushing Nigeria Buhari, everyare deceiving us, start putting things in body wants to they want the reckon with order in Nigeria market to conhim, not for politinue as usual, but tics and you it will never be know the whites don’t joke like we Ni- the same again, I don’t believe Nigergerians. ia’s case should be business as usual, I They have been looking at Nigeria believe we should start on a good clean that this country that is supposed to slate. show the light to other Africa nations, The market will bounce back soon unfortunately have been having so they should exercise patience mediocre as leaders. In this country, if there is someone from your area or Chief Shotunde Shopeju, my area at the helms of affairs, even if Chairman Beacon Shareholders I decided to attack him, my own peo- Association of Nigeria: At the ple will come to me and say that man moment the atmosphere is not conis our man just leave him alone. ducive to bring out large chunk of I am a Yoruba man, Buhari is not. I money to buy shares in that sharewant the best for this country. In the holders are waiting to see what next 10 to 30 years some people will policies the government have in die but Nigeria will not die, there will stock. be people around.

So it is not an appropriate time So whatever that is happening to the when such an amount would be market for now, the market will regain brought for consideration. Investors its lost ground, it is only speculators should wait until the House of Senate that are worried because when the and Representative come into acmarket is dull, the incentive to trade tion.

A

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Nigeria earns N3.8trn from crude export in six months

By Michael Eboh

N

IGERIA earned N3.797 trillion from the export of crude oil in six months, between January and June 2015, data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has revealed.

The amount earned from crude oil export is 84.57 per cent of the country’s 2015 budget of N4.49 trillion passed by the National Assembly. But it is also 146 per cent higher than the N2.61 trillion voted for recurrent expenditure in the budget and about six times the country’s capital expenditure of N556.9 billion.

Specifically, the NBS in its Foreign Trade Statistics for the Second Quarter, Q2 of 2015, stated that in Q1 2015, the country exported crude oil valued at N1.675 trillion, while in Q2, the amount rose by 26.63 per cent to N2.121 trillion.

Crude oil exports accounted for 68.5 per cent of the country’s total export of N5.544 trillion for the first six months of the year.

In particular, Nigeria’s total imports for the six-month period stood at N3.22 trillion, total exports stood at N5.544 trillion, leaving a balance of N2.323 trillion. In addition to

crude oil exports, non-crude oil exports stood at N1.748 trillion while non-oil exports stood at N719.74 billion.

To this end, the country’s total trade for HY1 stood at N8.765 trillion, 62.98 per cent

INSPECTION: From left: Executive Director (Operations),

Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd, Afam Ugochukwu; Group Executive Director, Refining and Technology, Dennis Namdi Ajulu;Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Managing Director, PHRC, Dr. Bafred Audu Enjugu and Executive Director Services, Mr. Ralph Ugwu during a facility tour of the ongoing phased rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd.

less than total trade of N23.68 trillion recorded in 2014.

A breakdown of Nigeria’s export destination for HY1 2015, shows as follows: Africa: N1.05 trillion ECOWAS countries - N423.83 billion.

The Americas: N596.83 billion - United States, Canada and Brazil, accounting for N158.33 billion, N46.82 billion and N307.95 billion respectively.

Europe: N2.055 trillion Germany - N146.25 billion; United Kingdom - N157.47 billion; Netherlands - N600.43 billion; Italy - N130.99 billion; France - N231.86 billion; and Spain - N531.97 billion.

Asia: N1.602 trillion - Japan and China accounting for N209.5 billion and N114.24 billion respectively, while Oceania received N230.7 billion.

In general, the NBS said, “The total value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade during the second quarter of 2015, was recorded at ¦ 4.372 trillion.

This was 0.5 per cent less than the value of ¦ 4.392 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter.

“In comparison with the corresponding quarter of 2014, the value of the total merchandise trade decreased by ¦ 2.287 trillion or 34.3 per cent.

“Relative to the preceding quarter, a rise of ¦ 214.1 billion or 8.0 per cent, in the value of exports combined with a decline of ¦ 234.4 billion or 13.6 per cent, in the value of imports improved the country’s trade balance, which increased by 47.9 per cent or ¦ 448.6 billion during the quarter.

“Year on year, the country’s trade balance declined by 48.8 per cent as imports declined by 24.5 per cent whilst exports declined even further by 38.5 per cent.”

The NBS, in the same report, had stated that the country spent N453.45 billion on the importation of fuel in six months, between January and June 2015.

‘100 days after, still no impact on petroleum sector’

By Sebastine & Ediri Ejoh

P

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari’s government needs to do a lot more to make its impact felt in the oil and gas sector, the mainstay of the nation’s economy, as stakeholders insist that nothing significant has been done in the first 100 days in office.

An industry expert, Mr. Sergius Ogun, believes that the President is shying away from the promises made during the campaign days.

He said: “The President is running away from any promises made in his first 100 days in office, and I never believed any major milestone will be achieved.

“Granted, he came into office at a very difficult time in the industry with the price of oil slipping, I cannot call what is happening in NNPC a reform. I think it is more of a new sheriff in town that is ready to kick back ends, People were retired, not dismissed and charged for any offence.”

Ogun said he had expected the new Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to ensure he C M Y K

worked with the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, within six months.

“I would have thought that the first assignment of the new GMD would be to ensure he works with the National Assembly to pass the PIB under six months. We already have two versions of the bill, the one submitted to the 6th Assembly and the one submitted to the 7th Assembly.

He is not drafting a new bill from the scratch.

“Those of us in the industry pretty much know what government wants to achieve with the bill. There was enough consultation on this bill with the stakeholders in the industry in the past. Little work needs to be done on this third one to the 8th Assembly.

I will score the government very low on this, as there has been no new investment by the traditional old oil companies that stayed back because of their huge investments here while the new ones sold off and left.

Where is the much needed gas for the NIPP projects going to coming from? What of employment for our youths?

Having said all that, I really do wish the President well, as I do not cease to pray for him for the sake of all of us

(Nigerians),” he added.

Similarly, a former Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum Resources, Senator Lee Maeba, said the President had wasted 100 days in office.

According to him, “Anybody who wants to work will work.

President Buhari has wasted about 100 days plus 90 days since March, when he won the election. We should have seen things on ground by now. I expected that he should have hit the ground running from day one.”

Also, the President, National Union of Petroleum and Natural

There is no impact yet. What we are seeing now is the impact of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

There is nothing yet to show for the change

Gas Workers, NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, believes that whatever impact being felt now was from a foundation laid by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “There is no impact yet. What we are seeing now is the impact of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

There is nothing yet to show for the change. Some oil companies are still leaving the country. We are still losing workers. We hope that change will come fast to the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Oil and politics The Managing Director, Gacmork Nigeria Limited, an oil services company Mr. Alex Neyi, urged that “The petroleum industry should be kept off politics. Moreover, the government must consult relevant stakeholders and also create a team and enlighten them on the challenges of the industry, encourage them to put their heads together and proffer solutions.

“Consultants could come from the universities, consulting firms, or any credible source. Even if it is from the major companies, they should take the people that are relevant and it’s easy to pick them because the oil market is very small and we

all know ourselves and capabilities,” he said.

Erstwhile Former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Chairman, Gladson Petrogas Limited, Mr. Godwin Omene, wants the government to focus on gas utilisation, which he said is key to unlocking the country ’s potential and incentivise operators into developing marginal fields.

“The government as a matter of urgency needs to incentivise oil operators to be able to develop the country’s idle oil blocks and marginal fields, gradually phase out gas flaring by proper discussions with the operators with budgetary provisions.

“Also, the government should complete the Train 7 of NLNG as a matter of urgency, encourage the states and homes to utilise gas as it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

Also, the PIB should be passed in phases. The National Assembly should be utilised to address the phases in committees to be supervised by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“On gas development, the government should grant gas development incentives. This involves granting of tax and royalty holidays and later reduction,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 —25

No new jobs created in oil sector in 3 months — NBS

By Michael Eboh

T

HE declining price of crude oil in the international market has continued to take its toll on the Nigerian oil and gas sector, as no employment has been created in three months, between April and June 2015, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said.

Oil and gas companies globally are threatening to reduce their workforce significantly, as low oil price has started to take its toll on the companies.

Royal Dutch Shell, had a few days ago, said it will axe 6,500 jobs this year, and step up spending cuts to deal with an extended period of lower oil prices.

In addition, Total E & P Nigeria has allegedly begun the process of winding down some of its operations in Nigeria, with plans to relocate some of the staff to other departments, while it plans to disengage majority of the staff.

In addition, Total has sold its Abuja Office, and relocated all staff to its new office complex in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Also, Mr. Emeka Ene,

Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, had confirmed that indigenous companies have begun to lay off workers and cut salaries as a way of coping with the challenges of the crude price crash at the international market.

He further said that those who could cope with the downturn in the industry have had to close shop, pending when the fortunes improved.

The NBS, in its Job Creation

Survey for the Second Quarter, Q2 2015, stated that a total of 141,368 jobs were created in the economy, dropping by 69.9 per cent compared with 469,070 jobs created in the economy in Q1 2015.

The Quarrying and other Minerals sector created 318 new jobs, with Coal Mining, Metal Ores and Quarrying sub-sectors creating 52 jobs, two jobs and 264 jobs respectively, while the Crude Pe-

LUNCHING: From left, Mrs Mohammed (Mother of the Author), Mr. Tunde Mac. Alabi, Mohammed Zainab, author of People Fear for Disabled (PFFD) and Managing Director, Nessco Group Nigeria, Alhaji Usman Mohammed at the Book lunch in Eko Hotel.

troleum and Natural Gas subsector did not create a single job.

In the Manufacturing sector, the NBS data disclosed that no single job was created in the Oil Refining sub-sector, while Basic Metal, Iron and Steel sub-sector created 489 jobs; and the Electrical and Electronics sub-sector created 114 jobs.

Formal sector In the formal sector, the NBS stated that 51,070 new jobs were generated, representing 36.1 per cent of the total jobs generated in Q2 2015. This, according to the NBS, is a decline of 61.6 per cent or 79,871 jobs when compared to the Q1 2015, and a 35.2 per cent decline when compared to the same period in 2014.

The NBS further stated that in the public sector of the economy, there was a 11.7 per cent increase in the number of jobs created making 6,395 new jobs generated in the public sector in Q2 2015. It added that the jobs generated in the public sector represents 4.5 per cent of the total jobs generated during the reference period.

“Under informal jobs, which typically consists of jobs generated by individuals or busi-

nesses employing less than 10 or those businesses operating with little or no structures, among others, are those in Agriculture and Wholesale and Retail Trade.

“In the second quarter of 2015, an estimated 83,903 new jobs were created in this sector, compared to 332,403 new jobs in the first quarter of 2015; this signifies a 74.8 per cent decrease between the two periods,” the NBS stated.

The NBS disclosed that the objective of the quarterly survey is to track the number of jobs being created in the economy within a given period of time, provide multi-sectoral and policy relevant data on the employment-generating sectors, seasonality in employment and the labour market.

“The Quarterly Job Creation survey is a nationwide survey, covering all 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A sample of 5000 establishments was taken across the country covering all sectors of the economy.

“This round of the survey, for which estimates are being reported, achieved a response rate of 92.3 per cent from the establishments selected in the sample, which is highly commendable,” the NBS noted.

Concerted efforts needed against pipeline vandalism, crude theft

By Grace Udofia

E

FFORTS geared towards blocking leakages in the petroleum industry seem not to be yielding the desired results, as pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft had over the years served as a major setback in the sector, disrupting businesses, discouraging investments and increasing expenses.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in its Annual Statistic Bulletin 2015, disclosed that a total of N242.778 billion was lost to pipeline vandalism in different parts of the country.

Also, the NNPC said that pipeline oil losses for all crude types from 2012 to 2014, stood at N119.650 billion. In 2012, Bonny Light recorded a total loss of N15.660 billion from a total of N65.812 billion; in 2013, N14.598 billion losses out of N38.992billion; and in 2014, N264million out of N14.846 billion for the year.

For the Escravos Light, NNPC reported that N35.468 billion was lost in 2012, while N14.598 billion was lost in 2013; and N8.635 billion 2014. In the case of URALS there was no record of pipeline vandalism in 2012 and

2014, but lost N433 million in 2013.

The report said the Ughelli Blend recorded N14.683 billion losses to vandals in 2012, down to N210 million in 2013, and rose again in 2014 to N5.026 billion. But Seplat lost about N919 million in 2014 only.

Socio-economic impacts NNPC spokesman, Mr. OhiAlegbe, noted that incessant vandalism had also undermined the ability to pump petroleum products from the various depots, sometimes inducing scarcity, which impacts negatively on socio-economic activities.

He said: “Every litre of oil that is stolen or spilled represents a portion of our collective wealth that is stolen or wasted.

It is quite a pity that the activities of vandals persist in spite of the efforts being made by the government and security agents to address the problem.”

Speaking on the development, Mr. Peter Amah, of the Department of Finance, University of Lagos, noted that oil theft reduces the potential revenue of the country, which has a significant impact on the economy, and called on the Federal Government to tackle the issue headlong.

He said, “Pipeline vandalism affects us on two fronts, inter-

nally; pipeline vandalism disrupts the flow of gas to our power plants, this is one of the reasons we keep talking about power generation capacity. On the other hand, the gargantuan theft reduces the potential and revenue earning for government.”

“On the issue of giving some organisation the contract to monitor pipelines, the government will need to reassess that strategy whether that is actually working according to the government’s expectation.”

Continuing, he added, “Even the Navy, Police and the cooperation of the locals and traditional institutions will all have to come together

The NNPC said that pipeline oil losses for all crude types from 2012 to 2014, stood at N119.650 billion

to fight this menace. The government also will have to put in place all the mechanisms involving this collaboration.

Securing of platforms “You cannot entirely depend on some amour force militant organisation to secure your platforms, that is not sustainable. At times, some of these organisations may be working for selfish purposes, but if the communities through which this pipelines passe are working with the Police and the Navy, I think we may have better results.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Folster Group, Mr. Belema Cookey, called for a socio-cultural solution and the creation of awareness in the host communities where these pipelines are laid.

According to him, the communities should be made to see the oil assets as theirs, and be given some equity, and by so doing, they would not want to vandalise the pipelines. Rather, they will want to protect them if they have that kind of involvement in the security of these pipelines. “On the engineering part, there is what we call the surveillance which is ongoing now; there are technologies in the advanced countries where they

use wireless data for surveillance.

There is a technology called SCADA used for pipeline monitoring and surveillance,” he noted.

“Whenever there is vandalism you will see the areas but that has to do with the implementation of these wireless technologies. Some of these companies have these data transfer from their offshore areas even though it ought to be national. I don’t think we have that for the pipelines, if we do, it will be a transparent monitoring system,” he added.

He continued: “It is just for the government to call professionals in the field to design a model for them, it will save a lot of cost. Also, there are speculations that some Navy officials are involved in oil theft and even the oil operators at the terminal. If we have this wireless computerised system, anywhere we have vandalism there will be immediate check.”

“If we have these devices in those terminals, the monitoring will help us to know the volume and very easy to quantify. We also need to have a quantification of our crude oil to be able to check this menace. Another way to check this is through the vessels that come to carry the crude; they have dimensions, when the vessels come from their dimensions we know how much volume they can take in, which helps to check the actual crude export that goes out of the terminals.”

26— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

DISCOs, GENCOs not ready for TEM — TCN visit:

Executive Secretary, PTDF, Mr Femi Ajayi, and some management staff members during a monitoring visit to scholars at Imperial college, London.

By Sebastine Obasi

S

EVEN months after the take of the transitional electricity market, TEM, generation and distribution companies, GENCOs and DISCOs are yet to meet the contractual terms for the implementation, the Transition Company of Nigeria, TCN, has said.

The Executive Director, the Nigerian Electricity Market, an arm of the TCN in charge of systems operations, Mrs. Ngozi Osuhor, said that the DISCOs are not prepared for the take-off of TEM, as they continue to circumvent its contractual demands.

The federal government had opened up the power sector to competition through the declaration of TEM, as participants commenced full trading by contracts, just as the institutional and normative structures of a competitive and efficient electricity market was put in place.

Sequel to this, government had early this year told inves-

tors that it would not accept any excuse for not being able to provide Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply as a soon as TEM was declared. However, Osuhor said that DISCOs are yet to comply.

According to her, “I was a DISCO CEO up until that time (when TEM was declared) before I became a market operator, and I noticed that it was not actually the right time to declare TEM. At the time the DISCOs were sold, most of the buyers did not have the oppor-

tunity to see what they were buying. The labour unions prevented the buyers from seeing the facilities because the government, at that time, had not resolved the labour issues.

“But now, TEM has been declared and this means we are now in a commercial market; so, if I give you any quantum of energy, you should pay me for it. But the irony is that we are not able to do that. So, for some commentators, which in-

cluded me, we were not ready for TEM at the time it was declared. But it has been declared. And you see government policies, once you get there, you are there, and you cannot go back. Everyone thought the declaration would arouse competition and harass everybody and make them bring the money. But this has not happened.”

The successor power generation and distribu-

tion firms of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, were officially handed over to their various private owners at an elaborate event held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on November 1, 2013.

The private investors of the unbundled power firms were allowed to run their respective businesses and understand the market for over a year before TEM was declared in February 2015.

Despite the 14 months period given to the firms before TEM was declared, the investors, particularly the Discos, are still not living up to the expectation of TEM. For instance, they have reportedly failed to uphold the contractual agreement of making remittances to the government as well as meter all electricity consumers.

Osuhor said: “In the scheme of things, energy sold should be paid for and that is when it will become a commercial market.

Price slump: Seven Energy records N11bn losses

By Michael Eboh

T

HE low price of crude oil has taken a toll on the finances of Seven Energy International Limited, as the company posted a loss after tax of $53 million, about N10.6 billion in six months, between January and June 2015.

The company, in its financial statement for the half year, HY1 2015, released to its investors and other stakeholders, disclosed that the loss, compared to a profit of $27 million, about N5.4 billion recorded in the same period of 2014, was primarily due to the fall in oil price.

In addition, the company also blamed the loss on increased depletion charges and financing costs, saying the increase in its gas revenues helped in no small measure in partially offsetting some of the losses.

The loss was fuelled by a decline in its top line figures, as the company’s revenue dropped by 12.44 per cent to $144.8 million in HY1 2015, from $165.36 million recorded in HY1 2014.

Despite the drop in its revenue, its cost of sales recorded significant increases as production expenses rose by 21.22 per cent to $109.022 million from $89.937 million recorded in HY1 2014.

Commenting on the result, the Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy, Mr. Phillip Ihenacho, said, “Rapid ramp-up in sales from our gas assets continues, with first half volumes averaging 57million cubic feet per day

(MMcfpd). As a result, gas sales accounted for 27 per cent of the Group’s total revenue, a significant rise from 10 per cent in the same period last year. This partially mitigated the reduction in oil revenues, which were largely a result of the lower oil price environment.

“I am pleased with the progress we have made on our funding plan, including the securing of $52 million of new debt and the successful refinancing of our “Accugas” debt facilities. Our current focus remains to further increase our gas sales and targeted investment to provide the Group with the platform for the next stage of growth.”

The company further said that and Private Bond issued in “This funding plan progress has it refinanced the Accugas October 2014. further improved the average Project Finance and debt maturity of the Group to 4.2 Acquisition Finance facilities years, from 2.0 years at the same with the closure of a senior time last year, better aligning debt facility of up to $445 The loss was our repayment profile with our million of which $385 fuelled by a build up in gas sales,” the million is drawn. company said.

It also said it closed two decline in its top The company recorded capital separate debt facilities, for a line figures, as investment, including additions combined $52 million with up the company’s and acquisitions, for HY1 2015 to a six year tenor. of $136 million, compared to These facilities, according to revenue dropped $571 million in HY1 2014, of the company, will which $333 million was in rank paripassu for security by 12.44 per cent relation to the East Horizon Gas with, and have substantially to $144.8 million Pipeline and OPL 905 the same covenants as, the in HY1 2015 acquisitions.

Senior Secured Loan Notes

JICA unveils plan on power development

By Chris Ochayi

T

HE Japanese International Co-operation Agency, JICA, has unveiled a comprehensive master plan on national power development, as part of its intervention activities aimed at boosting power sector growth in the Nigeria.

The scope of the report will include all its collaborative activities in the power sector, to cover the entire country within the next 25 years.

The study will also include power development planning, power demand forecast generation planning (thermal, hydro), primary energy analysis, transmission sub-station, environmental and social consideration and a host of others.

Speaking at the study presentation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali, commended JICA for the initiative, stressing that this will assist the nation in determining how energy resources can be leveraged and be deplored to end users optimally.

He expressed the hope that in the long term the JICA Report will assist Nigeria to harmonise all the numerous energy related studies, with the view to bringing them together, to enhance energy efficiency.

He promised that Nigeria will not disappoint the Japanese, as a huge sum would be deplored into use for the benefit of Nigerians, and called on other stakeholders to make valuable inputs to filling the gaps that

may exist in the proposed document.

According to him, he said there are observable gaps in the area of identifying new hydro sites along the Rivers Benue and Niger. Also, there are no mention of solar development, gas, hydro and wind. He called for more attention on the transmission value chain as well as in distribution and generation.

He said the study will be more useful if JICA collaborates with other donor agencies like World Bank, UNIDO, USAID, GIZ, and indeed relevant government agencies.

On the human resource component of the initiative, Igali told the Japanese to

do more than the proposed seminar in which some Nigerians will be sponsored to Japan for sustainable training modules that will empower them.

The Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria office, Mr. Nakamura Hirotaka, identified epileptic power supply as a major impediment to socioeconomic growth of Nigeria, which formed the impetus for the study.

JICA, he said, will work assiduously with relevant government agencies and development partners to come up with workable document that will remove bottle-neck in the nation’s quest for availability of power to Nigerians.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—27

Stories by Kingsley Adegboye

T

O ensure a sustainable built environment and enhance national development, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), has canvassed a ‘marriage’ between research works by quantity surveyors (QS) in academia and those of their counterparts in practice.

The cost experts who gathered at their second research conference tagged NIQS ReCon2 which held at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Ondo state last week, said seeking confluence of research between academia and practice had become imperative because of great premium the institute places on the issue of research, and the fact that it recognises the great potentials researches contribute to existing knowledge and resolving man’s enormous challenges in an everchanging world.

According to the organisers,the three-day event with the theme “Confluence of Research, Theory and Practice in Quantity Surveying Profession for a Sustainable Built Environment” which featured presentation of various papers by cost managers both in practice and academia, is one of the end-products of the research policy of their professional body adopted to create a forum for colleagues in academia to promote sharing of cross-border research experiences necessary to enhance career progression and better results as well as foster closer interaction and collaboration between academics and practitioners in research activities in order to boost their practices and enhance national development.

In his keynote address, Mr.

On going construction site. Inset: NIQS President, Mallam Murtala Aliyu

BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Cost experts seek convergence of ideas from academics, practitioners Lance Momodu, a fellow of NIQS and Principal Partner of Abujabased ARQUENG Consultants, noted that the essence of the Research Conference “is to add value to the existing knowledge of our practice, the profession and the industry at large, especially now that the standard of education has declined sharply in our higher institutions”.

Momodu who is the chairman, Association of Consulting Quantity Surveyors of Nigeria (ACQS), pointed out however, that research carried out without application to practical use, has no value, hence the need to remind members of NIQS that the result of research carried out by members should be made

available not only to schools, but also to their practising colleagues.

According to him, “In a country

Without comparative knowledge and competitive skills, we are faced with a frightening situation where more than 75 per cent of Nigerian graduates cannot compete in the 21st century workplace

with already abysmally low standard of education, one remains less than fully equipped to face today’s world. Without comparative knowledge and competitive skills, we are faced with a frightening situation where more than 75 per cent of Nigerian graduates cannot compete in the 21st century workplace".

Speaking earlier during the opening ceremony, the president of NIQS, Mallam Murtala Aliyu disclosed that the Conference was yet another step by his institute to deepen research efforts by entrenching practice-based research and encouraging practice-oriented academic researches.

Aliyu, a former minister of state

Lagos govt demolishes illegal structure in Mende, Maryland

I

N its efforts to rid the state of illegal structures, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), at the weekend carried out the demolition of controversial building at Mende in Maryland area of Lagos metropolis under the supervision of LASBCA’s General Manager, Mr. Sola Adeigbe.

The exercise according to Adeigbe, was ordered by the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who has expressed his desire to remove all illegal structures that adorn some parts of the state, adding that the owner of the property built on a road setback.

According to the GM, apart from the fact that the building was erected on a road setback, it was also an illegal construction, as no permit was obtained from the C M Y K

agency before commencement of work on the site.

Adeigbe disclosed that the location of the construction was not qualified to be called a land because it is the end of a road, stressing that if it is allowed, by the time the developer finishes construction and erects a fence, it would block the other occupant of the adjoining building from accessing his own property. “And to worsen the matter, the owner of the illegal structure did not obtain any permit from the agency before commencing development”, he noted.

Adeigbe said that the owner of the building was served a notice about two months ago but did not deem it fit to come to the agency to regularise her documents before embarking on construction,

maintaining that that if the woman had come to the agency, no approval would have been given to her to commence work at the site building because it is at the end of a road.

He frowned at a situation where some people just begin construction without obtaining permit from the agency which is statutorily empowered to monitor and grant approval before the commencement of any building project in the state.

According to him, the directive to pull down the building came from the governor, adding that if the owner of the structure was found, she would have been prosecuted going by the directive from the governor.

The GM pointed out that there was no need to talk about

compensation for the owner of the building because ‘’in the first place, it was not supposed to be there “.

However, reacting to the demolition, the owner of the building who spoke under anonymity, said that she bought the land from the ‘’Omonile’’, adding that since she started construction on the site, nobody had challenged or disputed the ownership of the land with her.

According to her, she was already processing her papers with the Kosofe Local Government under whose purview the area is situated. She added that she was not aware that she should have gone to the agency to regularize her papers before commencing development.

for Power and Steel said the bulk of researches in the country seem to be domiciled in the academic institutions with little application in practice to solve human problems probably because governments and practitioners are not aware of or are lukewarm to research results. He pointed out that the consequence of this, is that many researches turn out to appear like mere academic rituals.

Academic rituals Describing this development as rather unfortunate, the NIQS boss revealed that many research findings needed to resolve societal problems are confined to academic shelves, maintaining that generally, the society demands from professionals the use of their intellect and expertise to bail her out of the present predicaments of poor development and unresolved socio-economic challenges.

According to him, “The professionals owe a duty of care to the society. They need to prove their worth and even pay back to the society which trained and fed them. This can be achieved through commitment to, and concerted research efforts.

Furthermore, technological enhancements, globalisation and international benchmarking create the need for modernisation of knowledge, continuous improvement and up-grading of information and knowledge base necessary to cut across barriers and boundaries. “These

Continues on page 28

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Developer urges Buhari to probe misuse of land allocations in FCT

BY Chris Ochayi

R

EAL estate developer and Chairman of the Novone Enterprise Estates Initiative Nya-Etok Ezekiel, an architect, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe all land allocations made in respect of mass housing in Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by the past administrations in the last ten years.

Ezekiel who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Abuja,

regretted that most of the lands allocated to estate developers for the purpose of constructing mass housing units for lower income earners have been diverted to different use.

Ezekiel who is also the Chairman, Sub-Committee on Low Income Housing, alleged that estate developers who are beneficiaries of such hectares of land either balkanised them into plots and sold to the rich people at very exorbitant rates or have been developed into

edifices that are out of reach of the common people.

Describing the ugly trend as a crime against a section of the citizenry, Ezekiel said it is imperative for the present administration to set up a panel of investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the diversion of hectares of land allocated for mass housing in FCT. The businessman, while lamenting the current housing deficit confronting

the country, however, called on the president to use his good offices to avail his group access to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and other sources, as well as leverage cooperation of MDAs, State and Local Governments in order to address the issue of housing deficit in the country.

According to him, “Consequent upon the above, I implore the Federal Government to give direct guarantees to investors that are willing to

undertake mass housing delivery in Nigeria, which in this case could be pegged at estates that have not less than 1000 – 10,000 housing units.

“Any company that is willing and able to raise funds to invest in that number of units to get his money back on meeting the set standards for such estates cannot be a briefcase contractor or land speculator. Also, with the scale of the projects, such developers will find the need to set up their factories in the country knowing that there will be enough construction to

justify their investment”, he said.

He noted that “A building that costs N10,000,000 with a mortgage facility for 20 years has a face value of N500,000 per annum. This cost is far less than the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in any of the major cities in Nigeria. In the heart of the city of Abuja, Lagos, or Port Harcourt, that is about the cost of a Boy’s Quarters with the toilet outside and no kitchen.

“There are thousands of people in the outskirts like Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Ojodu, Ogba, Itam, etc. who pay more than N500,000 annually as rent for a two bedroom apartment.

When stakeholders draw journalists’ attention to climate change

By Oboh Agbonkhese

B

USINESSDAY Media Training Workshop on Effective Reporting on Climate Change sponsored by British America Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATF) was supposed to be a training. But as each speaker took turns to mount the podium, the session became more of a motivational talk aimed at getting the over 20 participating journalists to tell Nigerians that the earth was being abused.

The first speaker, Desmond Majekodunmi, who is becoming a totem of earth-friendly living, spoke on the ways green house gasses (water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide) are released into the atmosphere via refrigeration gasses, smoke from cars’ exhaust pipes and industries, cutting down trees for cooking among other things and gas flaring.

Infrared radiation According to Majekodunmi, “These gasses absorb infrared radiation, trap and hold heat in the atmosphere, with the resultant global warming, melting of Arctic ice and the permafrost. This is how ocean surge and tsunami happen”.

He said journalists can draw attention to the Climate Change Bill, demand accountability on all ecological funds, campaign against deforestation, which leads C M Y K

to derived savannah and “fight” beach sand mining and sea shell removal.

For Professor Chidi Ibe, a geologist, geochemist and oceanographer, cooperation between journalists and smallholder (rural) farmers he described as first responders, will do much.

He said smallholder farmers, who provide about 90 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural produce, possess an indigenous knowledge of climate change and adaptation methods, which journalists can bring to the notice of policy makers.

Professor Ibe said there was need for solutionbased reportage by a vibrant, proactive and inquisitive media to replace a lethargic, bureaucratic and tourismminded “extension stories”, pointing out that the fight for a better climate, could be won and lost in the media.

Dr. Titi Anibaba, General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK’s speech was more of a motherly appeal. She said Surulere, Lagos, once had 15 recreational parks, adding that with the oil boom era, trees made way for houses, and today only one of such parks had been salvaged.

Anibaba said each person produces about three tonnes of carbon monoxide annually, which needs 96 to 500 matured trees to sequestrate— take in and utilise to give off oxygen that is man’s breath.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 29

Arepo road

Arepo road: Journalists call for Amosun's intervention

By Kingsley Adegboye

A

GAINST the backdrop of the worsening deplorable condition of Arepo road that leads to Journalists’ Estate Phase 1 and 2 and its

neighboring communities in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area, Ogun state, members of Journalists Estate Residents Development Association (JERDA) have called on Governor Ibikunle

Amosun to come to their rescue.

The group, in a statement issued at the end of its monthly meeting lamented the deplorable condition of the only access road linking Arepo to the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

Cost experts seek convergence of ideas from academics, practitioners Continues from page 27 challenges necessitate researches and further researches in order to strengthen existing theories and propound new ones.

Knowledge sharing and information dissemination are likely additional results.

Consequence upon this, there is the dire need to re-focus research.

It needs to go beyond academic gains to solve enormous problems of the society. The quest for the blend of theory and practice through research is most desirable. Researches therefore need to be encouraged by governments and practitioners alike through funding, commissioning research projects and utilisation of research findings”, Aliyu noted.

Research findings While commending NIQS members for the Conference and its theme, Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko who was represented by the Permanent Secretary for Adult and Technical Education in the state, Gray Eshofone, an architect, said as a minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, he had interacted with the various professional bodies in the built environment including NIQS. Mimiko who assured that his administration will not do anything to undermine the built environment, pointed out that to demonstrate his interest in the

built sector, he has no less than 10 professionals across the built environment professions in his administration. In his remark, the Vice Chancellor, FUTA, Prof.

Adebiyi Daramola who described the theme of the Conference as contemporary, added that this is because the sustainability of the environment is key to national

development. He however, charged the Conference to address the issue of corruption associated with cost management in procurement and construction projects in the the country, as some quantity surveyors had been fingered in corrupt practices relating to projects handled by them.

almost two years after the contract had been awarded.

Observing that the state government had mounted a billboard for the reconstruction of the road since two years without commensurate actions, the Meeting however urged the governor to go beyond mere mounting of bill boards to commence physical development of the area.

In the JERDA’s statement signed by its chairman, Mr. John Ajayi and Secretary, Mr. Jude Nwauzor lamented that “the only access road leading Arepo Community to the expressway, is not only dilapidated, but beyond palliative measures as such requires urgent government’s attention.”

The group said the state government should as a matter of urgency order contractor awarded the job to commence construction of the feeder road as promised by Amosun during his electioneering campaigns in the area.

The meeting which reviewed the growing insecurity in the area therefore called for immediate action from all tiers of government to guarantee peace and harmony in the community.

Maintaining that security should be beefed-up in the locality to stave-off possible security breaches in order to ward-off activities of miscreants in the area, the group added that this measure will also protect lives and properties of the residents of the community adjudged as second largest registration figure in the area during the last registration exercise in the state.

While urging the Federal Government to move quickly to protect NNPC pipelines

within the community, the Meeting also enjoined state and local governments to address the rising waves of criminality in the area, noting that Arepo community is one of the fastest developing communities in the whole of the state, so much so, that it harbours Journalists’ Estate, which is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa. Stressing that “this is in addition to over 18 other residential estates existing in the community with enlightened members of the elites class, the Meeting however lauded the recent posting of the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Isa Lawal to the area and efforts of his officers who now regularly patrol the long bridge between Berger and Arepo to ward-off criminals operating day and night on the bridge.

The group further urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to continue its work on the long bridge by clearing bushes on the median of the expressway while tasking FERMA to extend the clearing to the left and right sides of the bridge, which harbour hoodlums that molest and rob unsuspecting motorists.

JERDA however noted with displeasure that, the state government cannot continue to pretend as if the community does not matter with its small population, which it once described as having insignificant electoral values, reiterating that the over 18 estates in the community are populated by elites of different professions, who pay their taxes as at when due, stressing that these crop of Nigerians deserve the best social amenities from state and federal governments.

3Invest boss seeks more transparency in real estate sector

By Ikenna Asomba

R

EAL estate experts have decried the dearth of data to make informed decision in the sector, even as they urged government and other stakeholders to focus more on the sector, considering the worrisome crash in oil price at the global market.

They expressed this worry at a press conference in Lagos last week to announce the activities of the 2015 Lagos edition of Real Estate Unite organised by 3Invest.

Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, 3Invest, Ruth Obih, who lamented that stakeholders in the industry usually foot-drag to divulge data of cost of real estate investments, therefore called for a more transparent and robust real estate industry.

While announcing activities heralding Africa’s property market summit, Obih said the

Real Estate Unite which is billed to take place between September 29 and 30, at the Eko Hotel & Suites Convention Centre, Lagos, is the 4th edition in the series of the annual event, adding that it will afford a platform for global real estate leaders to discuss most pertinent opportunities and issues in Africa’s real estate sector.

Pointing out that this year’s edition is tagged,

Drivers are harnessed to create opportunities, resulting in transformation that must be hinged on the principles of sustainability for it to be effective

‘#ConnectTheDOTS, Obih noted thus: “This year, we are reverting to the two-day format, which will feature sessions such as Leaders Meeting, a closed-door meeting between industry stakeholders, government officials, investors and 3Invest with an emphasis on interacting and building relationships as well as the African Women in Real Estate Meeting (AWIRE), a networking platform that fosters growth and economic prosperity for women in real estate. “ Also, we would have The DOTS Conversations, an engaging conversations by experts on Drivers, O p p o r t u n i t i e s , Transformation, and Sustainability (DOTS), which we believe are the four building blocks that contribute to the long-term viability of the sector. Drivers are harnessed to create opportunities,

resulting in transformation that must be hinged on the principles of sustainability for it to be effective”, she explained.

She added that there will be exhibition that will run on both days of the event as well as Awards Dinner on the evening of Day 2.

On his part, an Advisory Board member of the 3invest, Kunle Omotola, said: “The need for this programme is imperative as the price of oil in the global market continues to crash. There is no doubt that the real estate industry opens a new opportunity for government at all levels to tap into towards sustaining the nation’s economy and that of their individual states.

“So, it is our firm belief that with this awareness programme, government and other key stakeholders will begin to look beyond oil”, Omotola said.

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30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 31

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32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

THIS WEEK September 8, 2015 World Physical Therapy Day is an opportunity for physical therapists from all over the world to raise awareness about their crucial role in keeping people well, mobile and independent.

September 10, 2015 World Suicide Prevention Day. ‘Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives’ is the theme for this year., orgaised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention

Aug 28-Oct 30, 2015 The Draft zero of the "Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health is now open to public consultation from individuals and institutions. Draft 1, will be discussed in Geneva on 29-30 October 2015.

Science World Why hormonal contraceptives increase HIV risk

I

N recent years, evidence has been building that injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera or DMPA) is associated with an increased risk of HIV infection.

Now a study published in the mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, provides a biological explanation for the phenomenon.

The findings will help women make more informed choices about birth control.

Before the study, there were all these controversial reports, some showing that DMPA increases the risk of HIV infection and others showing it doesn't, and there was no biologic explanation for the differences between studies.

Researchers analysed cervical swabs and data from 823 women, between the ages of 18 and 35, who were HIV negative and enrolled in family planning clinics in Uganda and Zimbabwe.

They found that women who had herpes and took DMPA, as well as women who had herpes or disturbed vaginal microbiota and at the same time took levonorgestrel-containing oral contraceptives, were more likely to have increased levels of proteins that attract HIV host cells.

This kind of inflammatory response is implicated in increasing the risk of HIV infection, transmission, or progression.

C M Y K

MALNOURISHED - From left: Blessing Essien with her baby, Miracle; Affiong Umoh with her twins.

MALNUTRITION: The unseen enemy in every home

By Chioma Obinna

T

HE 21 –year- old mother of a malnourished child sat by her baby’s bed at the paediatric ward of the General Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State.

Along with several other mothers and their infants inside the expansive ward, the stark reality of the silent crisis of malnutrition is apparent to her.

Left, right and centre, hepless children aged below 5 are crying persistently. Malnourished and stunted, they barely hang on to life.

A walk around the wards revealed the reality of a crisis unchecked. In one corner, an octogenarian is breastfeeding a sickly 9 month-old baby that could be mistaken for a sickly three month-old.

The emaciated child, whose mother died at his birth had never been breastfed until few days after he was admitted into the hospital and was being breastfed by his aged grandmother.

One of the nurses told Good Health Weekly that the grandmother was made to put the child to the breast as part of efforts to regain some nutrients he had lost.

He is not alone.

Miracle Essien, 16 months, once the joy of her parents is now a burden since she fell ill few months ago. Her confused mother, Blessing, 21, could only mutter incoherently “Why my baby?”

“It started three months ago when she clocked one. She was born on 13th February, 2014 in the house. There were no complications. I gave her breastmilk for two months before I mixed it

with NAN infant formula. I also mixed it with custard.

“I was here Tuesday (last week). I bought a card and since then I have bought some of the drugs and they are expensive. I bought one for N150.00. I cannot afford this. This is my first child. When I was pregnant there was no pain or sickness to cause this problem. This is why I am confused. Since the treatment, she is changing gradually.

“It started like fever, she could not stand or eat well. That was why I went to the health centre and the nurse discovered there was a problem.”

Blessing‘s case is not isolated.

Mbie–Paul Okon and her three month- old daughter have had their fair share of malnutrition.

Mbie who could not communicate very well in English said her daughter’s case was peculiar as she has refused the breast since birth. Her inability to produce enough milk complicated her case.

Adequate nutrition during the 1000 day period can avert malnutrition. When nutrition is not optimised during this window period, the effects are often irreversible

“It is painful that a baby of three months looks like a few weeks old baby.”

Blessing, Mbie and Umoh are not alone in this ordeal. For Affiang Umoh, her 18-month-old twins are malnourished. She said they are from her 5th pregnancy and confessed that catering for one malnourished child is a challenge, not to talk of twins.

These helpless children are part of the one million under 5 affected by Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM, each year.

Burden of Nutrition

No social class in Nigeria is spared from the burden of malnutrition as reports show that 18 percent of malnourished children are from homes of the rich.

In recent times, there are increasing reports of growing rate of malnutrition nationwide.

While the rate continued to soar higher on daily basis, experts are worried that with over 1,200 children dying from malnutrition everyday in Nigeria, the future of the nation is at risk.

A paediatrician attached to the hospital ward of the General Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Dr. Friday Odey said in August alone, over 20 cases were admitted while, every week, about seven cases are seen.

Odey blamed the development on ignorance and poverty.

“Many people are too poor to afford the necessary foods. Some who have the money don’t know how to combine the right foods.

Ignorance, poverty and infections, are the issues.”

Odey, however, lamented that

some of the cases of malnutrition they treated relapsed due to the inability of the mothers to continue with the right foods at home.

“We teach them what to do, how to feed the children but to be able to remain in a good state of health, poverty must be addressed. Government should begin to think of how to alleviate poverty. When parents are empowered they will be able to take care of their children.”

Further, he explained that although the basic treatment is standard, they also experience resistance particularly in cases of infections.

UNICEF reports that the first 1000 day period – from the start of a woman’s pregnancy until her child’s 2nd birthday represents a critical window of opportunity.

Adequate nutrition during this period can avert malnutrition, ensuring that children have the best possible opportunity to grow, learn and rise out of poverty.

When nutrition is not optimised during the 1,000 day window, the effects are often irreversible.

But, many parents seem not to be aware of this fact as they lack appropriate knowledge about what to eat, how to prepare it and the quantity to be taken.

The 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS, documents that 55 percent of children below five in the North West are stunted; 42 percent in the North East;;29 percent in the North Central, 22 percent in South West; 18 percent in South South and 16 percent in

Continued on Page 31

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—33

MALNUTRITION: Enemy in every home Continued from Page 30 South East.

Each year about one million Nigerian children die before their 5th birthday and malnutrition contributes a half of these deaths.

The main indicator of malnutrition can range from stunting which is when children are too short for their age. Stunted children have poor physical growth and brain development, preventing them from thriving and living up to their full potential. With over 11 million children stunted in the country, experts say Nigeria is facing a crisis of malnutrition.

A recent UNICEF report revealed that there are approximately 1.7 million severely acutely malnourished children under five in Nigeria – accounting for a 10th of the global total.

Current situation

The Head, Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, quoting the latest NDHS Report, said over 2,300 under five children die daily in Nigeria, half of the number due to malnutrition.

“Malnutrition in Nigeria is not exactly as a result of lack of food but what we eat. Even the rich are affected because they do not know the right food to give their children. Many do not know that exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months will prevent illnesses", he said.

One intervention is to give micronutrient supplements and deworm the children periodically as well as encourage behavioural changes such as cleanliness, immunisations and complementary feeding.

UNICEF Child Nutrition Specialist, Arjan De Wagt, said malnutrition is as-

sociated with 55 per cent of child mortality in Nigeria. And this is the reason why childhood killer diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, measles and others thrive more in the country despite medical interventions.He said two out of every three children are not fed properly and the situation has contributed to high infant and child mortality.

Wagt said the Federal government re-

cently started a community based management of Acute Malnutrition, CMAM, for severely malnourished children in 11 northern states of Nigeria. Arjan expressed worry that two out of every three children in the 11 states currently receiving CMAM still have not received the treatment as a result of low funding.

"Most states need CMAM so there is a

need for government and donor agents to scale up their support".

Mothers must put their babies to the breast in the first half – an hour after birth and breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. After six months, babies should be given variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, along with continuous breastfeeding up to two years.

Mothers and children should ensured access to vitamins and minerals and nutrients.

Ambode hails PPP in health care As Clinix Diagnostic Centre opens in Festac

By Sola Ogundipe

L

AGOS State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, has hailed the success of the Public Private Partnership in the State towards advancing the standard of healthcare delivery to the populace.

Ambode, who spoke during the opening of Clinix, an ultra-modern diagnostic centre in Festac area of Lagos, observed that the state had set up a suitable plat-

form to encourage more private sector participation for effective and affordable healthcare delivery.

Ambode who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, said medical diagnostic, is the bedrock of effective treatment.

“With more facilities like this, we can achieve accurate and quick diagnosis of ailments and proffer immediate treatment."

COMMISSIONING: From left: Chairman, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, and Clinix MD, Ebere Nwosu during the unveiling of the Clinix Healthcare centre, Lagos, last week.

Clinix Healthcare, is a medical diagnostic institution is designed to provide high quality but affordable medical health services to Nigerians.

Plans have also been unveiled to establish at least one ultra modern diagnostic centre in each state of the Federation.

Chairman, Clinix Healthcare, Lagos, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, disclosed that the new health facility would host a mother and child centre for delivery of high quality and affordable infant and maternal health services.

He said the ultimate essence is to contribute to the total elimination of medical tourism abroad by offering to Nigerians what they go in search of abroad.

He said it is a purpose-built centre equipped with latest technology of international standard in Radiology, Cardiology, Pathology, Endoscopy, as well as vital services in dentistry and optometry."

"The centre is also fitted with standard operation theatre for incision and biopsies., endoscopy, daycare surgeries as well as Intensive Care Unit in case of emergencies and critically-ill referrals."

Although the centre would operate as a fee-paying enterprise, Ighodalo has assured that the needs of the indigent would be taken care of.

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Buhari has committed impeachable offences — Senator Okon One time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and member of the Akwa-Ibom State Elders Forum, Senator Anietie Okon in this interview, scores Governor Udom Emmanuel high in terms of performance within his first 100 days.

His assessment is anchored on the governor’s aggressive pursuit of industrialization, employment generation and wealth creation.

But the Senator is displeased with President Muhammadu Buhari alleging certain constitutional breaches which should provoke his impeachment. He is worried that the cardinal points that sustain Nigeria as one cohesive nation are being threatened by the President’s approach to governance. Excerpts: •Okon: We have seen democracy put to test and it is surviving

By Tom Moses

W

HAT is your assessment of the government of Udom Emmanuel led administration in the state as he marks his first 100 days in office?

Governor Udom Emmanuel is really living up to the stalk of the main thrust of his promise which is primarily focused on wealth creation, employment generation and industrialization and we are well ahead of any other person and any other state that today, in the first 100 days of this administration, we have had cause to be ecstatic about what the future holds for us.

Ground breaking ceremonies The ground-breaking ceremonies of two very vital industrial investments; the truck assembly with all its ancillary services and the new laid factory which will enhance the production of assorted household appliances and utilities, you are also aware that that same factory will benefit from the exploitation of clay deposits around that local government just as we are looking at upgrading a number of moribund industries; one of which is the review and perhaps, involvement in the resuscitation of the two major

plants in this country; the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing CompanyNNMC and the Aluminium Smelter Company of NigeriaALSCON for aluminium smelting.

Given the uncertain economic situation in the country, do you think the programmes of Governor Udom Emmanuel would not be truncated?

That is rather a simplistic question. We are talking about resource management here and deployment of resources to the best advantage of our dreams and you do know that necessity becomes the mother of invention and not just invention but also the mother of initiatives.

What is your view on the alleged skewed appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari?

Well, you know that is directly in breach of the constitution. The President maybe, heard what I said recently in an interview that he has been operating as a sole administrator and there is no provision in the Constitution of this country for the business of governance to be conducted in that manner.

Again; even in the attempt to people his administration, what we have had is a clear breach of the Constitution.

The very foundations of this country are very clear. The

foundations demand a recognition of the differences that have ensured the emergence of a country and it is unacceptable where you fail to recognize the federal character of our make up as a country. This is not only condemnable but poses real danger for the future of this country.

So, what would you say generally of his first 100 days in office?

I have pointed out where there are fundamental breaches and failure in his

approach to governance of this country. The cardinal points that ensure that this country remains one cohesive group, one cohesive nation are being threatened by the lopsidedness and cavalier approach to the appointments he is making into the federal system.

Given your position as a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project; what will be your advice to the President at this point in time?

I am waiting for him to fail but for the sake of the country; I hope not. I am waiting for him to continue to make mistakes so that we can find a window to begin to breathe the air properly and to rise up and create a viable alternative to the APC’s change mantra government.

Change So, in a nutshell, mantra President Buhari is We have to be honest about operating in breach that. When a man stands up of the constitution, and says that we should not he is in breach of expect; after becoming president that the various the Nigerian sections of the country should Constitution by the not expect equal treatment, I way and manner he put this question to you; what do you make of a statement is approaching like that? governance and that Don’t you think he may have said that in terms of the is an impeachable capacity of every state to provide the caliber of offense persons needed in the

various positions in his administration?

No, that is not correct; he was very specific that those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him cannot expect equal treatments. That is an impeachable offense.

Do we conclude that there is no hope for a better tomorrow as far as this administration is concerned?

There is a lot of hope, we have seen democracy put to test and it is surviving. In a reverse manner, from a clearly reversed position, I appreciate the victory of the APC.

Breach of the constitution If you look at it, it is a replication of the experience the citizens of Ghana were exposed to and they are better off for it because they were able to compare and come to the decisions of which given the circumstance, by the time they went for election, they had a better option and they chose the opposition that produced the Late Professor John as president.

So, in a nutshell, President Buhari is operating in breach of the constitution, he is in breach of the Nigerian Constitution by the way and manner he is approaching governance and that is an impeachable offense.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—35

PDP governors in show of force •As Dickson sells his great achievements

BAYELSA DECIDES

By Samuel Oyadongha

APC 'll win to enact Buhari’s change — SYLVA

A

LL is set for today’s formal declaration of Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for second term in office.

Activities at the headquarters of the “Restoration Campaign Organisation,” the governor’s campaign body, at the Opolo suburb of the state capital were also in top gear as officials said they were ready for the campaign launch.

An official at the campaign office, Samuel Beke, said all arrangements have been concluded to begin a state-wide campaign and expressed confidence that Dickson will be re-elected.

According to him, the thrust of the campaign would be the “great achievements” of the governor and the need for continuity.

Also, the Samson Siasia complex, venue of the governor’s formal declaration was a beehive of activities yesterday as workmen were putting finishing touches to the stands while security operatives were seen combing the arena ostensibly due to the anticipated influx of dignitaries.

A giant bill board of Governor Seriake Dickson was on display at the colourful arena just as several other billboards from support groups were mounted along the road leading to the stadium.

Political heavyweights The former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Dame Patience Jonathan, former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Ijaw elders and other political heavyweights from the SouthSouth geo-political zone are among dignitaries that will attend the event.

It would be first public appearance of the former First Family in the state since they left office in May. Others expected at the event include, the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PDP governors and National Assembly members.

“From the look of things, the PDP governors are set to storm Yenagoa in full force. You know Bayelsa State holds a lot of significance for the PDP as a political party.

“It is not just a state to be retained but you will also realize that it is the home state of former President Goodluck Jonathan. So there is so much

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

F

•Dickson at stake and they are determined to make the governor’s declaration a show of its own.

“I think the PDP governors want to send out a strong signal of their readiness to keep Bayelsa firmly in the grip of the PDP and as such their presence will be felt on Tuesday in Yenagoa,” a source said.

He said both the former First Lady and her husband were fully behind the re-election of the governor.

Meanwhile, the first elected Governor of Bayelsa State Chief

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a pillar of support for Dickson has described him as a good product, that will be easy to market for a second tenure in office as Governor of the state.

Dickson, he said, has performed well and deserves a second tenure to consolidate on the gains of the restoration agenda.

“It is only a man like Dickson, who has performed creditably well that can bring victory for the PDP in the December 5 governorship polls,” he said.

ORMER Bayelsa State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state Chief Timipre Sylva has boasted that the party will take over the reins of government in Bayelsa to replicate the change going on at the federal level in the state.

Sylva, who made the declaration during a condolence visit to the family of late Col. Sam Inokoba, the immediate past state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state said the PDP led administration in the state is in its twilight, ready to bow out.

The former PDP chairman had last month defected to the APC and indicated interest in obtaining the party ’s governorship ticket.

Speaking during a condolence visit to the Inokoba family, Sylva represented by the state party chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, who led other members of the state

Why Patience turned to Dickson

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

G

OVERNOR Serikae Dickson is today unfolding himself as he launches his bid for a second term as governor of Bayelsa State. Today’s outing is expected to be graced by the low and mighty in Bayelsa State including the immediate past president of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

The presence of the former president and his wife will no doubt give a lie to insinuations that the couple is opposed to his re-election. There is no doubt that there were issues especially between the camp of Mrs. Patience Jonathan and that of the governor, a development that forced Mrs. Jonathan to resign her job as a permanent secretary in the state’s civil service. She was known to have erected a political structure that commanded wide following in the state and was believed to

•Sylva executives to the residence of the late party chieftain described the late Inokoba as a man who left behind a glowing political legacy.

He said the late Inokoba was not satisfied with the development in the PDP, hence his defection to the APC. His words, “He left a comfort zone as the chairman of a ruling party in the state, to join APC because he didn’t like what was going on in the PDP, and that goes to show the character of such a person, he wasn’t satisfied with their activities, that was why he joined us and had to even bought form to contest the governorship seat because he wanted the desire change for the state.”

Resolve of the party

•Dame Jonathan have been prompting one of her core loyalists to contend with Dickson for the governorship.

However, out of office and with reality dawning on her it is believed that Mrs. Jonathan has seen reason that it would be foolish for her to further aggravate the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which could lead weaken it ahead of the election and lead to the emergence of a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC

as governor of the state.

Given the fact that she has no more succour in Abuja with the APC in control of the Federal Government and with the PDP controlling her husband’s home, Dame Patience it was believed thought it wise that it was better to go with what she has now than the angel that she does not know.

He expressed the resolve of the party to participate in the burial formalities and assured the members of his family that APC will continue to stand by them.

In his remarks elder Robbins Inokoba, described the late Inokoba as an achiever, stressing that he consulted and received the blessings of the family before joining APC when he became uncomfortable with the PDP. He said the last conversation between him and his brother was for him to be prepared to work for Change advocated by the APC as he was on his way to procure his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest the governorship primaries of the party in the state.

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—37

Wike accuses opposition of bad politics

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has described as bad politics, the attitude of opposition elements in the state who try to downplay the successes of his administration in the first 100 days in office.

The governor in a state wide broadcast, yesterday, said that they were only shutting their eyes to the problems the former government created allegedly through misguided programmes and profligacy.

Wike on the success of his administration in the area of road reconstruction, renovation of the abandoned faculty of law building at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, and others, said he was conscious of the fact that the first 100 days in the life of a government of four years was just the beginning.

He said his government paid salaries of civil servants, footballers, pensions owed by the former government without any bailout fund from the Federal Government.

The governor who said that his administration will

welcome constructive criticism noted that he inherited a broken economy which he had started fixing.

On security, he said the government was set to take delivery of Bell 412 partly armoured helicopters that would be deployed for security operations.

He later inspected ongoing projects in the state, which

include Iwofe, Creek Industry, Nkpogu roads and Nkogu Bridge. Others are Peter OdiliWoji Road/bridge, East WestEleme Onne Expressway, Elioparanwo Road, Whimpey, Evo Road, Eagle IslandIloabuchi Road and bridge and Silverbird Cinema-Abali park road.

He also visited the faculty of law building that was

completed by his administration after it was abandoned years back by previous governments.

The governor explained to media men that he had to ensure that work continued on the projects when he assumed office because of their value to people of the state.

COURSE: From left: Director, Administration and Finance, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM, Mr. Euraclyn Williams, Director-General, WAIFEM, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, Director, Macroeconomic Management Department, Mr. Christian Kedze, and Debt Advisor, WAIFEM, Mr. Sam Omoruyi, at the opening of a regional course on Modeling and Forecasting for Policy Analysis, for Senior Economists and other professionals, organised by WAIFEM, in Lagos.

OVIA S-WEST LG CRISIS: Legislative arm asks

chairman, secretary to refund N13.7m B

By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—THE crisis in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State over the alleged diversion of the sum of N13.7million by the chairman of the council Mr. Morrison Ogunrobo-Ovia and the council Secretary, Mr. Oyo Idahosa, has taken a new twist with the legislative arm of the council ordering the duo to refund the money to the council’s treasury with immediate effect.

The legislative arm reached the resolution after its investigation into the petition written to it and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Dan Owegie (Jnr.), who had alleged that the duo were diverting internally generated revenue meant for the council into their private use.

The councillors also recommended an immediate suspension of both council officers from office for two months to enable Governor Adams Oshiomhole launch an inquiry into the matter.

Leader of the House, Mr. Cletus Atigbi, who read the resolution by the councilors, directed the elected Vice-Chairman of the council to immediately fill the vacuum created by the suspension of the chairman in tandem with Section 18(7) of the

Edo State Local Government Law 2000 as amended.

The legislative arm, which had earlier set up a six man committee headed by Chief

Wuluku Godwin to look into the petition, said that it had established the fact the chairman and secretary to the council allegedly defrauded the council to the tune of

N17.7million.

It gave the funds diverted to include Jojo Rock Pit – N8,500.000, Ugbogui Plantain market- N2,040,000 and Ugbogui market- N3,040,000.

....As Edo Assembly mediates crisis

B

By Somon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—THE Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, waded into the crisis rocking the Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state, following the purported suspension of the chairman, Mr Morrison Ogunorebo-Ovia and the secretary, Mr Oyomire Idahosa by the council councillors.

The chairman and secretary were suspended for two months

for alleged financial impropriety last Friday.

But the council boss described his suspension as illegal, while five other councillors loyal to him declared that it did not follow due process.

However, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Victor Edoror in a letter by the Deputy Clerk of the House, James Omoataman, said the provisions of section 19 of the Local Government Law 2000 as amended, must be

adhered to until the House of Assembly investigates the issues and comes up with a decision.

Section 19 (9) states that the “holder of the office (of chairman) under investigation shall not be suspended within the period of the investigation,” adding that he was still in charge as the elected chief executive officer of the council.

Tribunal dismisses Amori's objection, admits INEC headquarters, Abuja, to Omo-Agege's witness testify before the tribunal and

A

By Festus Ahon

S A B A — N AT I O N A L Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has dismissed the applications brought before it by Senator Ighoyota Amori, which objected to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC subpoenaed witness to testify and present a Certified True Copy of card readers unit

by unit accreditation record.

Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for Delta Central senatorial district, in the 2015 general election, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, is challenging the declaration of Amori of the People Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the poll at the tribunal.

Amori had objected to OmoAgege’s subpoenaed witness, Mrs. Nnenna Essien, Assistant Chief System, ICT department,

tender CTC of unit by unit accreditation of voters.

Counsel to Amori, Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN, hinged his objection on the grounds that the witness statement on oath was not filed along with the petition. He also argued that the witness statement was an amendment to the petition and that the 21 days allowed by law to entertain any amendment had elapsed.

2016:

Ogbemudia tasks Edo North leaders on credible gov candidate

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY— AHEAD the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, a former governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia has urged political leaders in Edo North senatorial district of the state to look beyond party interest and assist other senatorial districts in the search for a credible successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

He spoke when he led leaders of Edo Mass Movement, EMM, to Edo North senatorial district.

The elder statesman met with Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Alhaji Usman Shagadi, Chief Bruno Oshekpekai, Johnson Abulagba and many others.

Ogbemudia who stressed the need for the developmental projects of Governor Oshiomhole to be consolidated, warned of the dangers of supporting a candidate, who the people of the state do not know his track records, adding that Oshiomhole’s successor must be one that has been "tested and trusted.”

....As group moves for credible primaries

B

ENIN—CITIZENS Efforts for Growth, CEG, yesterday in Benin City, Edo State, said it has set machinery in place through an online opinion poll platform to ensure internal democracy in political party primaries was adhered to by political parties in deciding who emerges their candidates for the 2016 governorship election in Edo State.

Scott Osegbowa, CEG chief facilitator, who briefed newsmen, said: “Our major objective through the NAFULON website online survey is solely to open up a platform to get the views of Edo voters on who would be their preferred candidate come 2016.

“This noble effort will not only compliment our democracy but also act as a guide to political parties on who becomes their flag bearer in line withthewishesoftheelectorate,” he said.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

173 sickle cell persons die in 3yrs in Anambra

Dead persons voted at Anambra senatorial poll—Witness

O

By Innocent Anaba

NITSHA—ABOUT 173 persons living with sickle cell disorder have died in the last three years in Anambra State.

President and coordinator of people living with sickle cell disorder in the South East, Aisha Edward stated this, yesterday, while briefing journalists in Awka on the scourge.

She further hinted that three sickle cell patients namely, Master Mc Victor Ezeokoye and Miss Ifunanya Ezeagolum died last week and appealed to the Anambra State government to quickly implement the law on sickle cell patients that had already been signed by the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Edward accused not only state governors, but the churches, NGOs, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies of complacency and responsible for the crisis facing sickle cell persons in the society.

She particularly appealed to government at all levels to give employment to sickle cell patients, most of whom, she said, were indulged in drug addiction and other forms of social vices because of their status which they see as a hopeless one.

“You cannot cure sickle cell, you can only manage it. The hospitals are not helping matters by administering narcotics, a hard drug on the patients.

This drug should be administered on a patient in crisis for a very long while.”

T

HE ANAMBRA State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, resumed hearing on August 19, 2015 in the petition by Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, former Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, boss and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, senatorial candidate in the March 28 senatorial election in Anambra South senatorial zone.

Earlier in the proceedings, the petitioners' witnesses had testified and tendered duplicate original copies of result sheets in customised form, which they retrieved

from election officials from the field immediately after the election, and which copies were also given to the security agencies, showing that Engr.

Ndukwe had majority of the lawful votes cast at the election.

The witnesses, who were polling agents in the elections, denied knowledge of the use of any “non-customized” result sheets (written in long hand instead of printed) or “Voting Point, VP” result sheets produced by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials as the results for the same election.

One of the petitioners’ witnesses, Chief Orajiaka, former Special Adviser to the

state governor and community leader in Uli, during cross examination, said that no election was conducted in Uli ward 1, and threw the whole court into laughter when asked about the voters' register purportedly used for the election in Uli ward 1 and Lilu ward.

He said: “It will be a disaster for democracy to declare that election took place in the two wards,” adding that even the voters' register uploaded by INEC contains the names of dead people, who allegedly voted in the elections conducted by INEC in Uli and Lilu.”

Engr. Ndukwe, had under cross examination, stated that he was

How Dora Akunyili challenged Obasanjo —Obi

T

HE FORMER Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has challenged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of Prof. Dora Akunyili. He said this while delivering Dora’s one-year memorial lecture at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.

Speaking to the press after the lecture, Obi said that Nigerians from all walks of life had lessons to learn from Dora’s life of service and commitment to the ideals of honesty and integrity.

Using the hidden part of Dora’s life to illustrate her greatness, Obi narrated how, when she was the Supervisory Councillor on Agriculture at Anaocha Local Government, she shared truck load of fertilizers for the local government straight from trucks to the buses each community came with, without so much ceremony that often led to the fertilizers growing wings.

“At the end of the sharing, the

communities happy at getting the fertilizers as it should be for the first time, opted to give her one bag each, but she refused,” Obi revealed.

Speaking further, Obi also narrated her experience with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the man that appointed her the NAFDAC boss, thus: “Dora was not afraid to speak once she is convinced on the rightness of her deeds. Her driving passion was best captured in small events about her that were even unreported. As President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo once gave her a name of somebody for employment in NAFDAC. "She politely informed Obasanjo that his candidate would be sent to the Examination Board like others. Obasanjo enjoined her to follow all due process. The end of the story was that she informed the President that his candidate did not pass and was not taken.

"Till today, Obasanjo uses it as

an example on how to follow due process.”

Concluding, Obi said that her family was often not spared of her thoroughness and insistence on due process. Again, he said: “Once, I was discussing with her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili and he told me his own experience, being Dora’s husband. Being a very good cook, when Chief Daniel Ogbuefi lost his father, Ogbuefi, the husband appealed to Dora to help him prepare special pepper soup for his important guests.

"When she finished, her husband asked to be given some, but all Dora did was to pack everything into the car with food flask to Ogbuefi’s house. After handing over the delicacies to the wife, she asked her to put some for her, which she brought home for her husband. For Dora, trust should not be betrayed in any way.”

in the tribunal to have a recalculation of the scores of the election from legitimate result sheets.

He stated that “in the recalculation, every result on voting point result sheet has to be excluded and every result on non-customised result sheet is a no go area.”

He questioned how INEC could write the results of an entire ward on “Voting Point” result sheets when original customised result sheets were provided for all polling units.

He bemoaned the conduct of some INEC staff in election generally and wondered whether as an organization, there were no internal mechanisms in INEC for checking the activities and excesses of errant staff.

Ndukwe, is challenging the declaration of Senator Andy Ubah as winner of the election

by INEC, and had stated in his deposition that Senator Ubah was not qualified to contest the election, having serially submitted to INEC suspected forged certificates.

Ndukwe, specifically said, under cross examination by Senator Ubah’s counsel, that he was surprised that it was Ubah’s lawyers that presented in open court, the controversial Senior Secondary School Certificate submitted by Ubah to INEC. Ndukwe stated that the certificate could not have been authentic because as at the date in 1974 when the certificate was purported to have been issued, “there was no senior school certificate in Nigeria. If there was no such educational policy in 1974, then the certificate is obviously not genuine.”

Ndukwe, who called 13 witnesses, had closed his case and the respondents were expected to open their defence at the resumption of the case.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is your view on Buhari, Osinbajo assets declaration?

I

see that some people are too sentimental, nothing like one Nigeria. Why didn’t President Buhari declare his assets immediately he won the election?

However, it is better late than never. God bless Nigeria. -Mr. Kessy Ndimele, Self Employed C M Y K

P

eople have decided that Buhari’s assets be made public; he had done that, and they are still not satisfied. The code of conduct has made a background investigation and come up with this fact. -Mr. Callistus Obiora, Graduate

A

t last, those yelling for declaration of assets by the President and his Vice can now shut their running mouth and also declare theirs. Anybody who is not convinced should go to the law court. -Mr. Hafiz Orogho, Businessman

T

he declaration is a complete shame. I expected them to specify their landed property and worth and the monetary value of their shares in those mentioned companies. It is after then that we can hail or condemn them.

-Mr. Onyekachi Alison, Worker

B

ut President Buhari as a millionaire has no investment to his name as company or enterprise. So as an individual, in all his life, it means he has no employees that he empowered. So how can he do it as a government leader? Mr. Ojiya Krydz, Worker

W

ho is fooling who?

Since May 29, President Buhari is just declaring his assets. During the campaign Mr. President said he has just only a million naira cash at bank, now it is N30 million. Is he going to declare it after he leaves office? -Mr. Uchenna Azuka, Self Employed

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 39

Navy deploys fleet to Niger Delta to combat oil theft

By Evelyn Usman

D

ETERMINED to checkmate illegalities in the country’s territorial waters, particularly in the Niger Delta, the Nigeria Navy has concluded plans to send some newly-acquired Offshore Patrol Vessels, OPV, and other patrol boats to the region.

As a first step, a training team from China last weekend concluded a fourmonth maintenance and training exercise on one of the acquired fleet, NNS Sagbama.

Speaking at a sent forth party for the 19-man training team, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango, explained that NNS Sagbama was given to the NN by the Chinese government after the former acquired two OPVs, NNS Centenary and NNS property from the latter.

Ango disclosed that the vessel was a very fast patrol boat that could intercept any vessel which commits crime within a very short time, adding that it was well armed and had the capacity to deploy boat from its stand. “ It can quickly deploy a boat with four SBS men on board. Within the short possible time, she will be leaving here to go and operate within the Niger Delta area in the central naval command,” he said.

ORTON VS TARZOOR: Benue gov election tribunal adjourns for final judgement

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—BENUE State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has adjourned indefinitely and reserved judgement to a date yet to be announced in the case between Governor Samuel Ortom of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

candidate in the last election, Terhemen Tarzoor.

At the resumption of sitting yesterday, counsels to the parties were each allowed 30 minutes to adopt their written addresses and also file and move preliminary objections.

In his address, counsel to Governor Samuel Ortom, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that it was not

I

LORIN—THE new Commissioner of Police in Kwara State , Mr Esosa Amadasun, has warned criminals terrorising the state to repent or relocate, saying he was determined to make the state uncomfortable for them.

Amadasu, who reiterated his zero tolerance for cultism, thuggery and armed robbery, among other crimes and criminality, noted that efforts were in top gear to battle perpetrators of evils and other criminal activities in the state.

The new CP, who stated this during his courtesy visit to members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Ilorin yesterday, said: “As for armed robbers, rapists and cultist, I don’t have rooms for them in Kwara State. ‘’This is because personally, I C M Y K

Constitution, urged the tribunal to invoke the principles of ‘res judicata’ to dismiss the petition on the premise that a similar matter by the Peoples Democratic Party had been dismissed by a competent court, while Prof. Tony Ijohor, SAN, urged the Tribunal to dismiss the suit for incompetence and failure of the petitioner to prove his case.

In his response, counsel to the petitioner, Terhemen Tarzoor, Mr. Adebayo Adenikpekun, SAN, urged the tribunal to uphold the petition and declare all votes cast for Ortom in the last election as invalid since the party fielded no candidate in the election.

20-year-old Nigerian bags 1st Class in computer science in US varsity From left; Husband to late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Dr. Chike Akunyili; wife of former Vice-President of Nigeria, Dame Beatrice Ekwueme; Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and HRH Ezediobi Ezeani III of Agulu, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor; after the memorial thanksgiving mass for the late Dora Akunyili at the Madona Catholic Church Agulu, Anambra State. Photo by Akinwunmi Ibrahim.

Kogi NUJ moves against fake journalists

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—KOGI State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, will today inaugurate its task force against fake journalists.

The union in a statement in Lokoja yesterday, signed by the Acting Chairman and Secretary, Mr Sunday Aro and Alhaji Adeiza Momoh Jimoh respectively, said the task force

would draw members from the Police, the State Security Service, SSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and members of the union.

The statement read: “The task force is aimed at checking the influx of quacks into the profession and curtailing the movement of unauthorised people into sensitive areas in the name of being Journalists.

“Authentic journalists from

New Kwara police chief warns criminals

By Demola Akinyemi

properly filed and that “there was no grantable relief being sought as provided by Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.”

He contended that the petition lacked merit, frivolous in nature and long abandoned by the petitioner.

On his part, the All Progressives Congress, APC counsel, Sebastian Hon, SAN, who relied on the provisions of section 221 of the 199

don’t have a place for them in my mind. They are, hereby, advised to repent, relocate or get arrested and face the full wrath of the law.”

The police boss also commended the efforts of the Federal Government at making

life more comfortable and conducive for police officers in the country.

He, however, condemned extortion of money by police personnel from members of the public and advised them to make satisfaction their priority.

outside the state on official duties to Kogi State are expected to register their presence with the State Council of the union before going to the field for any assignment.”

The statement added that the union did not recognise any press corps in any of the three senatorial districts of the state and, therefore, warned those parading themselves as press corps from senatorial districts of the state to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

The union also advised government officials and news makers to be wary of fake Journalists, urging them to thoroughly investigate those who approached them as journalists so as not to fall prey to fake journalists and quacks who had infiltrated the ranks and files of the profession.

Pray against violence, cleric tells Kogi people

By Kingsley Fanwo

L

OKOJA—THE General Overseer of the Seed of Life Golden Church, Prophet S.M.O. Mustapha, has urged the people of the state to pray against violence during and after November’s election in the state.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in Lokoja last weekend, the cleric expressed worry over

plans by politicians to foment trouble during the election, adding that God was prepared to rescue the state from blood-thirsty politicians.

“I am from Kogi State and I am concerned about the welfare of my people. The spiritual signal I am getting is worrying. We need to seek the face of God to avert bloodbath before, during and after the election,” he said.

He called on Christians in the state to seek the face of the Lord to avert the impending violence, warning politicians to show exemplary leadership.

“From now, the headquarters of our church in Ibadan will continue to pray toward the election. But the people of Kogi must also join us in praying to God for peace during the election,” the Isanlu-born prophet said.

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—A Nigerian student studying in the University of Michigan, Flint, United States of America, Tobi Adebisi, has graduated with a first class degree in Computer Science.

Adebisi, a 20-year-old graduate who got 4.0 GPA, came tops in his department, joining others from other departments as best graduating student in 2015 in the US-based institution.

He said dedication, work ethics and professional approach to issues led to his outstanding academic performance and urged Nigerian youths, irrespective of where they found themselves to trust God and work hard to distinguish themselves in their chosen career.

Tobi Abebisi, who hails from Aiyetoro Abede in Kogi State, is the son of Dr. Joseph Adebisi, the Director-General, Nigerian College of Accountancy, Kwall, Bassa in Plateau State.

Speaking with journalists in Jos, the US-based Computer guru said: “My favourite quote is ‘The harder you practice the luckier you get.’ ‘’Once I found what I loved doing, I worked as hard as I could at it. It is not enough to be mediocre. The goal is to try and be the best if you truly love what you’re doing, you want people to see why you love it.”

Adebisi got a GPA of 4.0 and also excelled in character as his mentor in the university, Mr. Tang, said: “He is honest, sincere, respectful, welcoming and very importantly, has a commendable attitude.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

ICAN NIGHT: From left— Former Presidents, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN: Emmanuel Ijewere, Idris Sulaimon, Johnson Omidiora; wife of ICAN President, ICAN President, Samuel Deru, and past ICAN President, Michael Oni, during the gala night/dinner of the 45th ICAN annual conference on ICAN: Building on a Legacy of Service, in Abuja.

PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

UCH TOUR: From left— General Manager, Mr. Yuskushigbe Sanada; Lobal Government Director, Mr. Nipel Tailboys; Chairman/ reperesentative of Directors, Terumo International from Begium, Mr. Koji Nakao, and Professor Temitope Alonge, CMD, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, and others on a facility tour led by Professor Alonge. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

UI/EXXONMOBIL: From left— Faculty Officer, Francisca Ayodele; Goesciences Co-Ordinator, Exxon Mobil, Gilbert Odior; President, Nigeria Minning and Geoscience, Professor Abiodun Onilude; Senior Technical Adviser, Stratigraphy, Dr. George Unoma; and Professor Gbenga Okunola, at the launch of ExxonMobil University Lecture Series at the University of Ibadan.

PENSIONERS: A cross section of pensioners during the verification of retired para-military officers in the North-West Zone by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate at the Police Officers' Mess, Sokoto.

PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

THANKSGIVING: From left—Bishop of Ogori Mangogo, Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Festus Davies; Bishop of Asaba Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Emeka Mogekwu; Bishopo of Egba West Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Samuel Ogundeji; Bishop of Akoko-Edo Diocese, Rt. Rev Gabriel Akinbiyi; Bishop of Ikwo Diocese, Rt. Rev Kenneth Ifemene, and Bishop of Zonkwa Diocese, Rt. Rev Jacob Kwashi, at the 80th year anniversary thanksgiving service of St. Christopher's Anglican Church, Kaduna. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

BRIEFING: From left—Council member/Chairman, Programmes and Events Committee, Mr. Sola Kolawole; President and Chairman of Council, NIMN, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye, and Council member/Chairman, Human Resources and Capacity Building, NIMN, Mr. Chuka Eborah, during the announcement of annual marketing conference and annual general meeting of the institute, yesterday.

DANCE W I T H PETER: The

Elite Blazers dance group at the Benin audition of the Glosponsored Dance with Peter reality TV show at Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin, Edo State.

FS CLUB: From left—Chairman, Business Committee, Fs Club, Omosa Folorunso; President, Gbolagade Adebisi; PMD/CEO, FBN Microfinance Limited, Paulin Nsah; MD, Lagos Microfinance Institution, Gbolahan Bakare, and Vice President, Fs Club, Kunle Adeniyi, during the club’s business lunch in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 43

C M Y K

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

•Camp for Internally-Displaced Persons in Lagos

Finally, Lagos gets rid of Togolese immigrants

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

L

AGOS State government has finally succeeded in the repatriation of the Togolese Immigrants who came to seek asylum in the state three months ago.

The repatriation was achieved last Saturday, two weeks after the state government lamented the pressure their continued stay was putting on its relief facilities.

The first batch of the immigrants arrived the country passing through bush paths to avoid been arrested by the officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, and went straight to the South-West Zonal office of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and InternallyDisplaced Persons, NCFRMI in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Post election violence On arrival at the commission, Vanguard learnt they were moved to the Igbogbo Camp, Ikorodu, a centre managed by the Federal Government.

The news of Nigeria’s magnanimity reached other immigrants in Benin Republic where they had camped for 10 years seeking asylum after fleeing their home following the post-election violence which erupted after the April 27th, 2005 presidential election in the country.

Vanguard learned that others left the French speaking country C M Y K

to join their brothers in Nigeria.

But as the number of the immigrants increased, the onestorey building secured by the commission as shelter for immigrants and displaced persons could not accommodate them.

One of the immigrants, Mrs. Davovo Domtchui, in an interview with Vanguard said that the one-storey building was already filled up by Internally Displaced Persons, IDP before their arrival.

She explained, ‘’Upon arrival, the commission, NCFRMI, provided two rooms for 24 persons. But as more persons (immigrants) arrived, the facility could no longer accommodate us.”

The inability of the commission to accommodate more immigrants, sources said, forced the new batch of Togolese who had stormed the commission’s office in Ikoyi, seeking for asylum to sleep on the ever busy road.

Their continued stay on the walkway and the security threat pose by their action, caught the attention of the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who directed the State Emergency management Agency, LASEMA to transfer the 114 immigrants outside the commission to the two relief Camps in the state.

Reading the action of the governor, Mrs Domtchui, told Vanguard that it prompted more immigrants to embark on the journey to Nigeria, increasing the number from 114

to 199 Barely weeks after providing shelter, Lagos state government urged the Federal Government to repatriate the immigrants, saying it could can no longer continue to accommodate them due to the enormous pressure put on the facilities at the Emergency Relief Camps in Igando and Agbowa.

The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Tunji Bello said that the measure to provide accommodation for the Togolese immigrants became necessary considering their pathetic condition.

Bello disclosed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Immigration

260 were deported last night by NIS. They were handed over to the immigration officials in Benin Republic, who were expected to take them to Togolese border

Services, NIS were notified, in compliance with the governor’s directive.

Following the realization that those agencies have not taken any step to address the situation, the SSG lamented that the state government could no longer accommodate the Togolese immigrants due to the enormous pressure put on the state facilities.

He added that the two emergency facilities were seriously pressurized and could no longer accommodate anybody.

Bello also stated that the state’s hospitality to other Nigerians and other lawful neighbours in distress should not be abused or over-stretched as their relief Camps were built to accommodate residents and Nigerians during emergencies and period of disaster and not immigrants.

The state government’s prayer was finally answered last Saturday, when the Federal Government directed the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS to ensure the repatriation of the 260 Togolese immigrants.

The repatriation ending their three months stay in Nigeria.

Vanguard gathered that the plan to repatriate the immigrants was concluded the previous Tuesday, after the Lagos State assured the central government of its readiness to provide the logistics to ensure the prompt repatriation of the immigrants.

An official of the Lagos State Government and Mrs. Megan

Chapman, Co-founder of Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, JEI, a Non Governmental Organisation assisting the immigrants in their application for asylum, confirmed the repatriation to Vanguard yesterday.

When Vanguard visited the Lagos State Relief Camp at Igando, Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, LCDA, one of the three designated Camps, the Togolese immigrants were not sighted at the camp. Other camps in Igbogbo and Agbowa, Ikorodu managed by the Federal and Lagos State government also witnessed similar development.

Bus transits Sources said that the immigrants were conveyed in three Bus Rapid Transits, BRT buses from the camps simultaneously at about 10:00 am by NIS officials in collaboration with the Lagos state government.

Mrs. Megan Chapman, Cofounder/ Co-Director of Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, JEI, a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO handling their case, said; “260 were deported last night by NIS. They were handed over to the immigration officials in Benin Republic, who were expected to take them to Togolese border.”

She however lamented that her main concern was that after a negative refugee status determination, asylum seekers have a right to appeal within 30 days and the right to remain in country during this time. This is clearly stated in the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, NCFRMI Act.

VI

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 45

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

I

N a bid to give Lagos roads the required face-lift particularly during this rainy season, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has insisted that the rehabilitation of one of such roads, the Ikotun- Egbe road must be completed by the end of this month.

When Vanguard visited the site at the weekend to assess level of work, heavy construction equipment were seen working on the drainage and road reconstruction despite intermittent rainfall.

Men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, led by the General Manager, Mr Ayotunde Shodeinde, an engineer, were at the site as workers scarify and lay asphalt on the road.

Shodehinde speaks Shodeinde, LSPWC General Manager, told Vanguard that the government is really committed to the roads total rehabilitation of and commended the cooperation by motorists and residents as the reconstruction work progresses.

Giving insight into the position of the project, Shodeinde said: “The specification and bill we were given was for Ikotun to Egbe and a side of the road. But looking at it we designed how to manage the resources. ‘’Instead of the 2.6 kilometres that we were given to do, we decided to embark on the whole distressed road which is some 6.67 kilometres. This means we

are starting from Ikotun roundabout to Oke Afa. ‘’The level of the work given to us is 90 per cent completed but we have extended the work up to Oke Afa, which means we have covered 75 percent of the total job.

“I must say, that residents had been cooperative and considerate while few have been callous. Before now, the road used to be traffic-locked but we have been able to reduce traffic gridlock because we have morning, afternoon and night shifts in our operations.

“Not that we want to scarify the whole road and lay new ones but where we have major damages we will repair. We have been milling, scarifying, and replacing. In some places where there is no major damage what we do is we cut, scarify, and we prepare another base and lay which is sectional rehabilitation, and where is minor cases we repair.”

Ikotun-Ejigbo road for completion this month — govt

We have been given a mandate by the governor, that by the end of September, we must complete the project and get away from the area and we are seriously working towards it

Shodeinde added that it was discovered that a lot of places were not having drains, hence, the corporation embarked on construction of good drainage system in some places with inadequate drainage.

On the expected completion period for the project, he said, “We have been given a mandate by the governor, that by the end of September, we must complete the project and get away from the area and we are seriously working towards it.

“The project is an enormous task, but we pray that God will grant us the weather to be able

•Ikotun-Ejigbo road under construction

to work and deliver on scheduled.”

Shodeinde added that the governor had approved the award for rehabilitation of other roads, but lack of adequate funds remains a major constraint.

Some of the awarded for rehabilitation include: Ketu, in front of the Police station along Ikorodu road,Olosha, in Mushin, Fadeyi, Apapa Dockyard, Ayobo Ipaja, which was left uncompleted among others.

Residents react: Mrs. Bukola Gbade, a resident commended the governor for the intervention and urged him to ensure final execution of the project.

Despite ban, trailers violate Lagos restriction law •Cause avoidable deaths

I

By Dotun Ibiwoye

N spite of the restriction law banning, articulated vehicles, also known as trailers from plying Lagos roads between 6a.m and 9p.m, they are not only violating the law with impunity, but causing avoidable deaths.

The 2012 Lagos Traffic Law which has 59 offences with their penalties covers all road users including private motorists, commercial drivers, commercial motorcyclists and trailer/heavy vehicle drivers.

The law restricts the movement of articulated trucks within the metropolis.

According to Section 2, subsections 1 and 2 of the traffic law: “No trailer other than petrol tankers and long vehicles used in conveying passengers shall enter into or travel within the metropolis of Lagos between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.’’

However the state government has restated the determination to

ensure strict enforcement of the traffic Law. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, stated that the measure became necessary following incessant auto accidents of articulated vehicles, especially, the fatal accident at Ojuelegba, Surulere Local Government Area, involving a container-laden trailer on September 2, discovered to have contravened the Traffic Law.

Transport unions According to Whenu, the state government would henceforth go tough on any trailer and long vehicle that contravenes the Law as such vehicle would be impounded and made to pay the stipulated fine accordingly.

Meantime, leaders of various transport unions and associations in the state, weekend, at a meeting with officials of the state

government resolved to support the new directive introduced in apprehending traffic offenders.

In his reaction, The State Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, who spoke on behalf of other transport union leaders, described the measure as a welcome development just as he pledged the support of their members in co-operating with the state government in maintaining law and order and sanity in the transport sector.

Avoidable killings by articulated vehicles have become a common-place in Lagos as revealed by this statistics in the past two years: On June 7, 2013 , a man was crushed to death by a container at Ikeja Along Bus Stop on LagosAbeokuta Expressway, Lagos State, after a heavily loaded 40foot container truck fell on a government meat van, crushed a passerby, and wounded several others.

On October 26 2013, some people were killed and there was traffic confusion and fear in Maryland Ikeja, Lagos after a lorry carrying a trailer had an accident near the Maryland roundabout.

On Christmas day 2013, No fewer than 10 persons were feared killed when a container fell on a commercial bus along the Alaba Suru area of Lagos State. Eyewitness accounts said the unfortunate incident occurred about 9am April 20, 2015, A tragic accident occurred in the morning involving a trailer truck and another vehicle at Maryland area of Lagos. According to reports, no one died from the incident although injuries were sustained.

September 2, 2015, an accident at Ojuelegba, Surulere Local Government Area, involving a container-laden trailer killed three people.

“The road used to be very bad, actually impassable but now we can heave a sigh of relief. The level the reconstruction has brought a lot relief to people around here. I commend the government of Ambode” Mr. Olivier Ogboh, aka, Osio, said: “We are happy that within 60 days of his administration, the governor could promptly come to our aid. But it will be appreciated if the rehabilitation is completed as soon as possible to alleviate our suffering on this road because it is a busy road. We say well done to the government.

Permanent construction “However, I want to beg the governor to intensify efforts to carry out permanent construction of the road because of the high influx of people to the area.”

Mr. Henry Okechukwu, while commending the government and the pace of work on the road, urged the governor to extend the scope of the project by including expansion of the Ori-oke link bridge, connecting Ikotun to Ejigbo.

“This will take a lot of pressure off the old dilapidated bridge. We learned that in the original plan of the road there were supposed to be two bridges, one for the inlet and other for the outlet. But what we have is one single bridge for both outlet and inlet.”

Governor Ambode, in his determination to deliver the road in due course, it was gathered had mandated the contractor to finish work and deliver for use the project by the end of this month. The road serves as major link to several communities such as: Ikotun Egbe, Jakande Estate, Ijegun, Idimu, Egbeda, Igando, Mushin, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Festac, among others.

46—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

•The interior

More power, luxury for 2016 Ranger Rover T

HE 2016 model year Range Rover Sport brings customers more choices when it comes to personalisation and technology. Additionally, Land Rover ’s most dynamic model gains a new variant in the Range Rover Sport HST. The HST enhances the high performance Range Rover Sport driving experience, thanks to its uprated 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine that produces 280kW and 450Nm – 30kW more than the current supercharged V6 model. Unique chassis settings and bespoke design features complement its higher performance.

The bold new Range Rover Sport HST is identified by its unique exterior design – with a striking black theme – and interior enhancements, all of which give the high performance luxury SUV

a distinctive and dynamic appearance.

The HST is fitted with Stealth Pack lamps (front and rear), which feature non-reflective surrounds and combine with a Santorini Black contrast roof and a new spoiler to give the luxury SUV a purposeful profile.

Distinctive 21-inch alloy wheels feature an exclusive dark satin grey finish, highlighting the uprated 20-inch brake discs and eye-catching red brake calipers. Larger 22-inch Stealth alloy wheels are available as an option.

The bonnet and front wing vents, grille and fog lamp bezels all feature a gloss black finish, echoed by the ‘Range Rover ’ lettering on the leading edge of the bonnet and rear tailgate. Sculpted body-coloured lower door panels and additional vent detailing on the bumpers are also fitted.

In common with other

Dynamic Range Rover Sport variants, the HST

To highlight the HST’s high performance capabilities Land Rover’s engineers have devised a unique Terrain Response set-up for the vehicle

wears a red sport badge at the rear, complemented by unique HST badging on the front wing vents.

Unique chassis settings deliver an even more focused driving experience and sharper responses, without compromising the vehicle’s trademark comfort and refinement.

Detail changes to the suspension reduce body roll and deliver enhanced agility.

To highlight the HST’s high

p e r f o r m a n c e capabilities, Land Rover’s engineers have devised a unique Terrain Response set-up for the vehicle. It features a Dynamic Mode that optimizes the suspension, Electric Power Assisted Steering, EPAS and other electronic systems to suit on-road driving. This feature provides more controlled electronic damping and a more responsive throttle pedal, while enhancing gearshifts and steering response to match the

change in vehicle character.

Inside, the HST is finished with a duo tone seats trimmed in luxurious Oxford Leather.

In combination with a contrast fascia, all-Ebony door trims and centre console and standard Ebony headlining, they create a unique environment. The high quality leather upholstery is available in four Ebony/colour combinations, along with an all-Ebony option.

Abuja Motor Show targets investments for auto sector

T

HE 17th edition of the annual Abuja International Motor Fair will hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja from October 27-November.

According to the Chairman of the organizing committee for the event Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the event is targeted towards boosting investments in the sector, is seriously assuming its rightful place in the Nigerian economy.

He disclosed that the platform of this year ’s edition was packaged in such a way to attract the attention of the new administrations to the importance of developing the sector to enhance the nation’s socio-economic development.

Mr. Agwu also hinted that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo is expected to declare the event open. Mr. Agwu, who is also the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, organizers of the event, said that

every effort had been deployed to ensure that through the event, the sector receives the needed support from the new government and the private sector to enhance its’ rapid development.

“We are packaging a show that will showcase all the existing and potential investment opportunities that abound in the Ni-

gerian automotive industry, which we believe are very attractive to existing and prospective investors," he stated.

According to him, this edition will, as usual, provide the litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the current paradigm shift in the economy, government and the automotive sector. “The quali-

ty and quantity of showcased automobiles is undoubtedly the primary yardstick of measuring the success of any auto exhibition. This means that auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility, wholeness and completeness, not leaving anything to chance. "These will be highly on display at the Eagle Square Abuja

from October 27-November 4, under the auspices of the Abuja International Motor fair."

Continuing Mr. Agwu said, “With our reach, a high powered delegation from the Federal Government led by the new Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will lead the inspection of automobile

brands and the parade of stands; as he declares the event open”.

Executive of states and local government, members and leadership of the other arms of government in all the tiers of government in Nigeria, and a lot of corporate heads and organizations across the nation are expected at the mundial”.

expansion.

Toyota’s North American CEO Jim Lentz, North American Vice President Simon Nagata and Technical Centre President Seiya Nakao attended the groundbreaking event.

“The expansion of this campus is a key element of Toyota’s ongoing unification of our North American operations, which includes a new headquarters in Plano,

Texas,” Lentz said at the event.

“Investments here in Michigan will intensify Toyota’s engineering, product development and procurement capabilities.

The impact of this will be felt by our customers through improved quality, adoption of new technologies and greater value of the vehicles we produce.”

Toyota launches $126m R&D expansion

T

OYOTA Motor Corporation's new investment in its Technical Centre, in Michigan will intensify the company’s engineering, product development and procurement capabilities.

Toyota invested $126 million in its Technical Centre near Ann Arbor, Michigan United States to achieve its goal of maining the lead in the industry.

The expansion includes a new prototype facility for vehicle development, additions to the powertrain development facility and a supply centre.

The construction is expected to wrap up in late next year.

The renovations at the Ann Arbor Toyota Technical Centre, announced in December 2014, are part of the automaker’s push to consolidate its North American R & D and

establish a new North American headquarters in Plano, Texas.

Manufacturing, sales and marketing and corporate functions will be housed in Texas, while Michigan will become the hub for product development.

The automaker is relocating about 300 engineering employees from Kentucky and California as part of the Technical Centre

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—47

By Theodore Opara

3000 mechanics, fleet managers, others register for Automedics Autofest training

S

INCE the news of Au tomedics Autofest broke to the public through the print, electronic and online channels recently, corporate office of the auto experts has witnessed an increased beehive of activities as fleet managers of companies, young women from all walks of life and most importantly auto technicians in Lagos are rushing to take advantage of the free trainings on offer.

It would be recalled that the Autofest team officially announced the free trainings while answering questions during a media parley with members of the Guild of Motoring correspondents at their Ikeja office, recently.

During the interactive session, Mr Gbola Oba, the COO of Automedics Limited informed the audience of a partnership arrangement sealed with two prominent mechanic associations in Lagos State to have their members trained in mechatronics and high tech, 21st century technologies in modern automobile. In his words, ‘Members of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association of Nigeria, NATA and Motor Mechanics and Technical Association of Nigeria, MOMTAN, have both registered thousands of their members in Lagos for the training."

Weststar unleashes new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

T

HIS is good news for sports car lovers in Nigeria. MercedesBenz has finally added its award winning sports car, the Mercedes-Benz, AMG, GT to its line up in Nigeria.

According to Weststar, Mercedes-Benz representative in Nigeria, after many years of development, the wait is finally over.

The AMG GT carries the Mercedes-Benz racing car heritage and conveys the essences of the performance brand AMG. The car is a product of supreme craftsmanship and engineering, in which

this unique sports car embodies the passion for outstanding performance and dynamism in its purest form.

The creative interaction of diverse design elements lends the coupé a superior, self-confident front: the threedimensional diamond radiator grille, with central Mercedes star, a broad louvre and lettering, stands in the centre of the front end.

LED High Performance headlamps with stylish“eyebrows” as daytime running lamps, side lights and indicators, as well as three separate high-beam reflectors, lend

The AMG GT carries the Mercedes-Benz racing car heritage and conveys the essences of the performance brand AMG the GT its characteristic look. The A-wing with front splitter in the lower third of the front apron, a characteristic feature of AMG vehicles, makes the sports car appear low-

slung and wide. ‘Coke bottle’ shape is one of many words that have been used to describe the innovative design of the AMG GT; all modern Mercedes feature the ‘Coke bottle’ theme, the GT being the most extreme example. The long bonnet with its pronounced powerdomes, the greenhouse which has been moved far back, the large wheels and broad tail end add to the vehicles distinctive look.

In addition, the interior design also embodies maximum emotion and sensual purity. The model features radically low,

N2.9b Africa Tyre village begins operation •As ANTM distributes 1000 shop to members, investors

T

HE Africa Tyre Village which is the permanent site for the Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers located at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Express way, has commenced full scale trading activities.

This follows the official opening of phase two of the ultra modern international shopping arcade which gulped N2.9 billion on its completion.

A total of 1,000 lock-up shops were also distributed to the deserving members and stakeholders at the event.

President of the association Issa

Mohammed Akanbi while explaining the modalities for shop allocation harped on the need for the traders to remain resolute and consistent in their quest for freedom and legitimacy despite the teething challenges encountered at the new place.

He said: “It’s only dogs that go back to their vomits! That is why we all must remain resolute and consistent in our determination to ensure that this place operates in full scale capacity, and today is that day.

While at Enu-Owa Idumota about 19 months ago, we were merely slaves to our landlords,

street traders and therefore illegitimate.

Our decision to move the market out of Lagos Island naturally attracted enormous challenges both to us as a union, as well as our individual members.

But this is nothing compared to the benefits of this place, because here, we are genuine, legitimate, happy and more essentially, we have our freedom. I, therefore, congratulate you all for coming this far with us.

"Like I promised during our first anniversary, the modalities for sharing this new shops shall be based on loyalty and

good followership especially when considering the fact that the shops were oversubscribed and the need for us to make some refunds. I also promised a certain group of people who gave us N300,000 each when we needed urgent funds at the beginning of this project - that we will give them shops downstairs. It is my pleasure to redeem all these pledges today."

Akanbi urged his members to therefore take the the agreement forms seriously as the association will not allow any shop to remain closed after seven days from this date, warning that any trader who is not ready

to open his shop and do business at the Village should take the second option of returning his / her shop allocation and having his money refunded with immediate effect.

In his own remark, the ANTM Vice President Okey Ezeifeoma say the development of Africa Tyre Village was split into two phases due to inability of the members and investors to meet the basic financial requirements for the entire project at the early stages of work.

This also resulted in the association forfeiting about 50% of the portion of land allocated to them by the Trade Fair

sporty proportions, which creates a unique sense of spaciousness.

Anyone opening the door of the AMG-GT will discover an exciting interplay between the deep, sloping dashboard and a dominant, arched high centre console; a design which evokes emotions and impresses with its perfection, which was achieved by the brand using the finest materials and workmanship.

The vehicle is everything you would expect from an authentic Mercedes-AMG sports car. From the characteristic styling and the motorsport technology to the optimum weight distribution. The drive system tailored to consistently delivering driving dynamics perfectly complements this set-up.

The model also offers the perfect design and engineering combination to produce an amazing performance on the road as it uses technological DNA of the MercedesSLS AMG- one of the most successful cars in recent years.

The Mercedes-AMG GT embraces the ‘one man, one engine’ philosophy; this philosophy has guided AMG’s approach to manufacturing and is the reason why every AMG engine is hand built from start to finish by one of the AMG master engine builders.

The newly developed AMG 4.0 litre V8 biturbo engine was developed specifically for the

48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015—49

Woman, God, Supreme Court and gay marriage

A

2011 GALLUP poll showed that 78 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians. Gallup’s 2013 survey revealed that 37 percent of Americans said they attended churches weekly. And in 2014, President Obama told a US Christian breakfast meeting that “The United States is one of the most religious countries in the world - far more religious than most Western developed countries.”

Evidence of that religious and Christian bedrock of American society is visible everywhere. In my little town of about 30,000 people, we have about 50 churches located at every imaginable corner. Boldly inscribed on the U.S. currency are the words, “In God We Trust” and the U.S. pledge of allegiance has the words “one nation under God” which President Dwight D. Eisenhower pushed for and got inserted into that pledge. In 1956, the same president signed a law which officially declared the U.S. official motto to be “In God We Trust.”

Perhaps the most visible evidence of the place of religion in U.S. as a corporate entity is found in the first amendment of the country’s constitution. It clearly states that: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. ……..”

Notice that the amendment warns Congress, the law-making body, not to meddle in religious affairs, and mentions religious liberty before the “press freedom” which the U.S. is noted for.

But, the U.S. is also a secular state.

Matters of religion and state are supposed to be kept separate, as enshrined in the first amendment cited above. The phrase that captures this reality is that which talks about the “separation of church and state.”

Several organizations, especially the American atheists, frequently remind everyone about this separation. But, here is where crises often arise. How do you balance a state which is based on religion with the practice of taking religion away from state and other affairs?

That conflict played out in the state of Kentucky last week as one woman clung on to her religious belief by her refusal to carry out her duty as a state official, citing that what was expected of her contradicted her interpretation of the laws of God. That woman is Kin Davis. She is the clerk at Rowan If you give County in Kentucky.

Last week, she people the resolutely denied opportunity marriage licenses to same-sex couples, to choose claiming that which marriage was between a man and orders they a woman and that follow, she made her that’s what decision based on God’s law. Kim is a potentially b o r n - a g a i n causes Christian. She has been married four problems times, twice to the

same man. She acknowledges her past and told the Associated Press that her epiphany occurred about four years ago when she went to church to fulfil a promise she made to her dying mother. While at the church and listening to the preacher, she said “I heard a message of grace and forgiveness and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. No one is. But I am forgiven and I love my Lord and must be obedient to Him and to the Word of God.” So, her life changed. And it did so to the extent that she was willing to put God’s law over and above human laws and activities. In June this year, the U.S. Supreme Court by a 5-4 majority ruled that it was legal for same-sex couples to get married anywhere in the United States.

However, to people like Kim, that ruling was in contrast to God’s ordained law that marriage was between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve or Eve and Evelyn. So, she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Even as the marriage license issue moved to court for adjudication, Kim stood her ground. According to a statement from her lawyer, Kim said that “To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s word.”

Executive fiat But the same-sex couples who would not get the license for marriage equally stood their ground. The court was their only remedy, for Kim could not be relieved of her position by mere executive fiat. She was elected to the clerk’s position in 2014 when she trounced her opponent by 5346 percent at the polls. Her late mother had held that position for 37 years, and Kim’s victory consolidated her family’s hold on that office.

Unfortunately for the same-sex couple litigants, only the legislature in Kentucky State can enact a law that would stripe Kim of her official position. They can only remove her through an impeachment process. As expected, the issue went back to court and last Friday, Judge David L. Bunning had had enough of Kim’s defiant disobedience of the court’s order to issue licenses to same-sex couples. He promptly sent Kim to jail. She is to remain there until she agrees to obey court orders to issue the licenses. Initially, the popular belief was that the judge would give Kim the option of paying a fine or going to jail for her contempt of court. But the judge decided to jail her, arguing that “The court cannot condone the willful disobedience of its lawfully issued order. If you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially causes problems.”

Kim is a Democrat. But, conservative politicians who pander to the Republican Christian base, are already pitching their camp with her. Republican Party presidential contestant, Senator Ted Cruz has come out with a fiery statement in which he asserted that “Today, judicial lawlessness crossed into judicial tyranny.”

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Buhari's appointments, the constitution and worries of Igbo leaders of thought

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By Ben Nwabueze

HE executive power of the Federal Government vested in the President of Nigeria by section 5 of the Constitution is a frightfully enormous power. In terms of its extent, it embraces all the eight functions set out in my earlier write-up.

They are worth repeating here again for easy understanding, viz taking actions involving execution, including appointment and disciplinary control of executive functionaries of government; execution of the laws – the law of the Constitution and other laws; maintenance of law and order; the determination and conduct of policy; direction and control of the departments of state and their activities; protection or preservation of the properties and instrumentalities of government; co-ordination of the activities of government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAS); and lastly pure administration.

In view of the awesome enormousness of the power, it is not unnatural that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari should passionately covet the office, as attested by the fact that he contested for it in four successive presidential elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. But what is disquieting is that, while intensely coveting the office because of its enormous powers,

PROF. BEN NWABUEZE

he should arrogantly disregard the commands of the Constitution imposing restraints on the way and manner the powers are to be exercised. In fairness to him, the question may be asked whether he knows of the constitutional commands and the restraints they impose on the exercise of his wellknown and undoubted powers.

It is hard, however, to believe that, after contesting presidential election for four consecutive times, he is, or can be, ignorant of the limitations with respect to the way and manner for exercising the powers. He must be taken to know of them. His disregard of them cannot, therefore, be other than deliberate and well-calculated. It is necessary at this point to emphasise that constitutionally prescribed manner or form for the

exercise of power is nearly as important as the power itself. Our Supreme Court has held that non-compliance with, or violation of, the former attracts the sanction of nullity equally as the perversion or abuse of the power.

Given that he knows of the restraints which the Constitution of the country he desperately wants to rule, imposes on the way and manner the powers of the presidential office are to be exercised, and that his disregard of them is deliberate and wellcalculated, the intriguing question arising from his disregard of the constitutional restraints concerns the reasons or motives for it. The reasons or motives may reasonably be inferred from his statements, and actions/conduct as well as from events generally, and these suggest that the disregard is done in furtherance of a predetermined Islamisation/ Northernisation agenda.

Northernisation agenda The existence of such agenda is not something conjured up just to discredit him; on the contrary, it is a fact irrefutably attested by his statements, actions/conduct and events generally.

His commitment to the Islamisation agenda was heralded in a speech at a seminar organised by the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria in August 2001 where he (Buhari) publicly declared that he was committed to implementing Sharia law all over the country. The Islamisation agenda was a significant factor in the APC presidential primary for the 2015 election. The voters at the said primary, who were predominantly moslems from the North, wanted a presidential candidate whom they could confidently rely upon to implement the Sharia agenda, and so voted overwhelmingly for Buhari as the man to be relied upon for the job, giving him 3,430 votes, as against 954 votes for Atiku Abubakar, also a Moslem but not a diehard Islamist like Buhari.

His position as a fervent apostle of the Islamisation/ Northernisation agenda was reaffirmed in a speech he, as President-elect, delivered before an audience of exclusively prominent Northern Moslem leaders on May 2, 2015 at Queen Amina Hall, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. “I charge you”, he said with the ardour of a zealot, “to join me as we build a new Northern Nigeria in a generation ………the best investment we can make in the

Map of Nigeria

North is not finding oil in the Chad Basin……..we will start with one local government in each state until we get to every school in all of Northern Nigeria……. To achieve this, I have secured a Northern rehabilitation fund……..to rebuild the North after the devastation of Boko Haram insurgency…… Join me my brothers and sisters and let us finish the work our forefather, Ahmadu Bello, started.” Is it not a sweet, beguiling deceit that the same President-elect should, in another speech, say: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”?

In the ABU Zaria speech, I venture to say, lies the answer to what some regard as the “puzzle” of his appointments since assuming office as President on May 29, 2015. Of the altogether 31 such appointments, 24 (or nearly 80%) go to the North, seven to the South, distributed four to the South-West, three to the South-South and nil to the South-East. The Islamisation/ Northernisation agenda has a link with the President not announcing his ministerial nominees more than three months after his inauguration. The disdainful delay was not, as is naively thought in some quarters, because of his concern to make sure that only the right persons, the Buhari “saints”, would make the list. Far from that; he simply did not want interference by ministers by way of advice in the vital appointments he has made and in the other crucial actions or decisions he has taken. Ministers are an unwanted encumbrance on the regime of personal rule to

The combined effect of the two sets of provisions is that all unfair discriminations, that is to say, discrimination without rational or objective justification, are constitutionally prohibited

which his disposition and his antecedents as army commander and head of the military government have accustomed him. He will eventually announce his ministerial nominees but he will be doing so reluctantly and grudgingly. He neither wants nor needs them.

What is said above is largely by way of introduction. The main aim of this write-up is to examine the constitutional commands respecting the way and manner for the exercise of presidential powers, with particular reference to the obligation laid on the President to (i) submit himself to the restraining influence of the advice of ministers both as individuals and collectively at regular meetings with them.

(This has been examined in my previous write-up); (ii) to observe and conform to the principles of justice, social justice and equality in the administration of government – both legal equality (or equality before the law) and social equality (embraced in the term social justice); (iii) to treat citizens equally without unfair discrimination based on ethnicity, place of origin, religion, political opinion or sex.

Judicial powers The restraints of these obligations are not imposed without compelling reasons. The write-up examines the underlying reasons for them.

Commands of the constitution requiring conformance with the principles of justice, social justice and equality in the administration of government Our Constitution enshrines in its chapter 2, Directive Principles of State Policy which “all organs of government, and all authorities and persons exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers” must, as a matter of constitutional “duty”, “conform to, observe and apply ” in governance (section 13). Among the principles so enshrined are those of justice, social justice and equality. Thus, it is declared as follows: (a) “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice” (section 14(1)). (b) “The state social order is founded on the ideals of Freedom, Equality and Justice” (section 17(1)). (c) “The national ethic shall be

…….Social Justice……..” (section 23) There is another remarkable directive of great significance in this connection. It is commonly referred to as the “federal character ” principle. It is contained in section 14(3), and says: (3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.

Federal character directive A similar provision is made in subsection (4) as regards a State Government and a local government council. The concentration of 24 out of the 31 (or nearly 80%) appointments so far made by President Buhari is clearly a flagrant violation of the federal character directive.

In furtherance of the principles of justice, social justice and equality declared in sections 14(1), 17(1) and 23, chapter 2 goes on to lay on the state specifically a positive duty to direct its policy towards ensuring equality in the general condition of society, i.e. social equality. In view of the natural inequality among individuals owing to differences between them in physical, intellectual and will power, social equality can only mean equality in the general condition of society secured by the actions of the state. The actions which this requires of the state are set out in some detail in chapter2, but it will over-burden this write-up to examine them here.

More pertinently for present purposes, chapter 2 further directs that “every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law”; that “every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunities to secure suitable employment” (s.17(3)); that there shall be “equal pay for equal work without discrimination on account of sex, or on any other grounds whatsoever (s.17(3)(e)), as well as equal educational opportunities at all levels (s.

18(1)).

While, as stated below, the prohibition in the Bill of Rights is limited to discrimination based on the grounds of ethnicity, place of origin, membership of a particular community, sex, religion or political opinion, the directives in Chapter 2 of the Constitution are not so qualified. But the combined effect of the two sets of provisions is that all unfair discriminations, that is to say, discrimination without rational or objective justification, are constitutionally prohibited.

To be continued

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 51

Eagles to test more players against Niger S

UPER Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh will get a good chance to test more players when they welcome next-door neigbours Niger in a friendly today in Port Harcourt.

“We need to play more friendly matches like the one against Niger as this will help the players fully understand the new system the coach is bringing to the Super Eagles,” said top team official Tijjani Babangida.

The disappointing draw by Nigeria in Tanzania was worsened by the 5-1 spanking Egypt handed down to home team Chad on Sunday to open a twopoint gap at the top of the qualifying series for the 2017 AFCON. The midfield remains a big concern for Oliseh after Obiora Nwankwo and Izunna Uzochukwu failed to rise to the occasion in Dar es Salaam at the weekend as they did not carve out chances for the strikers

upfront.

That explained why Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United) and Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars), both midfielders, were handed late call-ups to the squad.

But the search for topclass midfielders will continue as Nigeria now play catch-up with group leaders Egypt in the race for an automatic place to Gabon 2017.

The return of Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi, who was suspended for the Tanzania match, and the injury-prone Joel Obi will be most welcomed.

Home-based Chima Akas, Usman Mohammed and Prince Aggreh are all expected to have run-out against a Niger side, who are still smarting from a 2-0 loss in an AFCON qualifier in Burundi this past weekend.

Foreign-based Godfrey Oboabona and Rabiu Ibrahim will also get a chance to prove themselves to the new boss.

Oliseh Continues from BP 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

Nigeria could only draw 0-0 with Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the weekend as the race to Gabon 2017 reached a third of the way, but former captain Oliseh says he has confidence in his wards to steer Nigeria to the finals.

“I have said it over and over that I am no magician. We have to come to accept the hard fact that we are not right there at the top, at the moment.

“No doubt, we have potential, and based on the unity I have seen amongst the players, and the willingness to work hard and accomplish, we will get back to the top in good time.”

Sunday Oliseh spoke at a press conference at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with the Mena of Niger Republic.

“We are building a new team, and patience is required. It is like starting from the scratch, because the fact is that we didn’t qualify for the last Africa Cup of Nations.

“However, I have the confidence that this group will make Nigeria proud again.”

Coach Oliseh will lead his troops out at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium against the Mena, who lost 0-2 to Burundi in Bujumbura on Saturday. But right back Leon Balogun, who suffered a knock at training and thus missed the Tanzanian match, flew back to Germany from Dar es Salaam.

Midfielder Izunna Uzochukwu is also out, and this necessitated the invitation of Nasarawa United midfielder Bature Yaro. Also, defender Kenneth Omeruo has recovered from his knock against Tanzania.

Today’s match starts at 3pm.

AAG (Volleyball): Nigeria male, female teams lose

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LGERIAN women’s national volleyball team beat their Nigerian counterparts 3-1 (21-25, 25-12,25-13, 25-15) on Sunday, at MassembaDebat sports hall in Brazzaville, on their second day (Group B) of the 11th All Africa Games taking place in the Republic of Congo.

Team Nigeria’s woes in the volleyball event of the on-going 11th All Africa Games continue as Team Algeria women’s volleyball handed out a 3-1 defeat to

their Team Nigeria counterparts in continuation of the Group B games here in Brazzaville on Monday.

Similarly, Team Nigeria men’s Volleyball team fell 1-3 to host country, Congo Brazzaville.

The match was decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of the GAMD in Diata late Sunday night.

Team Nigeria have four more games to play in the group against Cape Verde, Cameroon, Mozambique and Kenya.

Ndanusa elected into C'wealth Games Federation Sports Committee

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ORMER Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Engr Sani Ndanusa has been elected into theSportsCommitteeoftheCommonwealthGamesFederation.

Ndanusa, the Nigeria Tennis Federation boss, defeated WilliamBlick,thePresidentofUgandanCommonwealthGames Association by 8-4 votes at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Annual General Meeting held in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ndanusa, who travelled to the AGM together with NOC boss Engr. Habu Gumel, described his victory as extraordinary and unprecedented as he was unavailable at the poll due to flight delay as he was stocked in Dubai.

•Rabiu Ibrahim

Stop the experiments, Mustapha warns F

ORMER NFF e l e c t o r a l committee chairman Abdulhakeem Mustapha has warned coach Sunday Oliseh to stop testing out players and rather play the country’s finest if the Super Eagles are to qualify for AFCON 2017.

Mustapha, who midwifed the election that brought former NFF president Aminu Maigari to office, also told AfricanFootball.com that Nigeria has no business playing a draw with a country like Tanzania.

The lawyer who is a close confidant of

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai who has the ears of President Mohamadu Buhari, noted: “Comparing ourselves with Tanzania in Football is a mismatch. Tanzania is not a footballing nation. To show we are a serious footballing nation we should do what other big Africa footballing nations are doing which is to win our matches home and away.

“Every Nigerian feels we should beat Tanzania home and away anytime and we didn’t do that.

And this is an indication that all is not well with our football. This is the

Super Falcons Continues from BP nation handed the Falcons, reigning African champions, three points, with their next match to come against Tanzania’s senior women team on Wednesday.

The Falcons seized the initiative right from the start at the Stade Massamba Debat in Brazil, and were three goals up within the first 35 minutes, all by Oparanozie, who failed to score at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in

Canada and in the 2016 Olympics qualifying fixture against Equatorial Guinea.

Egypt’s withdrawal from the men’s and women’s football events means the Nigeria men’s team will have to wait until Wednesday to play Ghana at the Stade de l’unite 3 also in Brazzaville.

The Falcons’ final match of the group phase is against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday at the Stade de l’unite 3.

time for us to walk the talk.

Nigeria played out a disappointing goalless draw away to Tanzania on a weekend when Africa powerhouses,

Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Morocco and Egypt all won away from home.

Mustapha said must their best during the AFCON qualifiers.

NUJ games Continues from BP terrorising Complete Sports throughout the match that ended scoreless.

Like the Nations Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and Taifa Stars of Tanzania, Complete Sports tucked their tails in between their legs from incessant attacks from the ferocious Kirikiri Warriors attackers.

Vanguard tossed them around the pitch to the delight of many. They were lucky to escape defeat and celebrated the draw at the end of the match.

Prince Osuagwu, the Manager of Kirikiri Warriors regretted the many chances not converted but warned their next opponents that ‘’a warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does’’. ‘’First games are always difficult. But am proud of the boys and

the crowd showed support and love for good football. It ended goalless to their advantage but I feel for our next opponents.

They’ll feel the pain’’, he warned.

At the Corporate Headquarters, Onochie Anibeze, an exinternational, former Vasco Da Gama defence ace who managed many international coaches charged Vanguard to show why they are at the vanguard of media organizations in the country by winning the NUJ trophy back-to-back.

NUJ Chairman, (Vanguard) Innocent Anaba assured that the Kirikiri Warriors’ strength, skill and sassy display would see them lift the trophy again.

The Vanguard Warriors play Business Plus tomorrow at the National Stadium, Lagos. It is a must win match for the Sam Amuka Warriors.

52 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

2017 AFCON Fallout... 2017 AFCON Fallout

We panicked in front of Ikeme — Samata T

AIFA Stars ace t r i k er Mbwana Samata said lack of composure prevailed during their Day two of the Africa Nations Cup qualifier match against Nigeria played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The striker said the entire forward line was in hectic mood to score against goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and the panic prevailed every time they had an opportunity and as a result nobody scored.

“All of us had strong urge to score and this excessive quest distorted our efforts as panic never makes ends meet”, said the striker who features for Democratic Republic of Congo’s Lubumbashibased giants TP Mazembe.

The striker rued the missed scoring chances that would have elevated Stars into their first victory in the six-match

We should have scored goals against Eagles — Tanzania’s coach

s

T

AIFA Stars’ coach, Charles Boniface Mkwasa has said his side could have scored goals against Eagles had they not adopted a defensive strategy during the 2017 AFCON qualifier at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Taifa Stars drew 0-0 with Nigeria in the game to see the former stay in the third position of group G of the qualifiers with one point salvaged from two matches.

“The results are not good but I have been satisfied by my players. The team’s performance has inspired me to deploy young players regu-

Carl Ikeme

larly in the coming matches”, Mkwasa said.

Mkwasa said his team had to go for a more defensive approach in the first half, as it did not want to risk giving their opponents opportunity to score early goals.

“We had poor results in recent games, therefore, we opted for a more defensive approach in the first half. We could have scored goals had we opted for an attacking game”, he disclosed.

He added that “we could havecomeoutvictorioushad they made the most of opportunities that came their way particularly in the second half”.

SAMOA 2015 C'Wealth Youth Games: Ogba hails Gold medallists

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GBA attribute track and field athlete’s performance to youth development programme The President of the Athletics Federation of

Nigeria (AFN) Evang Solomon Ogba on Monday has attributed Team Nigeria track and field team success in the ongoing Commonwealth Youth Games to the de-

velopmental programme of the AFN at the federation’s High Performance Center at the University of Port Harcourt.

On the opening day

of the track and field event at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, Team Nigeria has won two gold medals and a silver medal.

In the 100m girls- Omo-

tayo Abolaji won the gold medal in a time of 11.59sec, also our girl Aniekeme Alphonsus Etim – won the silver in 11.64 sec.

Serena battles Venus for semi slot R

IVALS throughout their long careers, sisterly love will be cast aside when Serena and Venus Williams clash at the US Open for a place in the semi-finals.

It will be the second time the two sisters, separated in age by fifteen months, have met at Grand Slam level this year after the two met in the fourth round at Wimbledon in July.

And while Serena leads the head-to-head overall 15-11, the two have split their four meetings at Flushing Meadows, including trading victories in the 2001 (Venus) and 2002 (Serena) finals.

The most recent meeting

Lopez: ‘Djokovic has no weaknesses’

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ELICIANO Lopez has admitted that he is delighted to have reached the last eight of the US Open for the first time in his career.

However, despite breaking new ground in New York, the left-hander has acknowledged that he will be up against it when he meets world number one Novak Djokovic.

The 33-year-old told reporters: “I will be 34 in September so it’s a great feeling to be playing like this and reaching my first US Open quarterfinal.

“When Novak plays good, you don’t know what to do to be honest.

He has no weaknesses in his game.”

Serena

Venus

Azarenka through to q-finals V

ICTORIA Azaren ka has recorded a straight-sets victory overVarvara Lepchenko to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.

The former world number one continued her good form at Flushing Meadows with a 6-3 6-4 triumph over the

American representative.

Azarenka, the 20th seed in New York, hadn’t lost to Lepchenko

since 2005, and she had little trouble in moving closer to the last eight as she recorded two breaks of serve during a onesided opening set.

between the pair in New York saw Serena win en route to her third (of six and counting) title in 2008, and ninth (of 21 and counting) Grand Slam title.

Both players will enter this quarter-final in very good form, with Serena thrashing compatriot Madison Keys for the loss of just six games while Venus was even better, dropping just three games against qualifier Anett Kontaveit.

While Serena has gone on to reach the final in each of the last four years, and is on track to complete the Calendar Grand Slam, something that hasn’t been achieved in 27 years, this will be Venus’ first quarter-final in New York since 2010.

That also happens to be the most recent time she reached a Grand Slam semi-final, where she lost to defending and eventual champion Kim Clijsters.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 — 55

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

NUJ Games: Complete Sports escape defeat from Kirikiri Warriors

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HE Med-View/ Lagos NUJ Media Games rolled off in style yesterday at the Legacy pitch of the

National Stadium with Journalists the centre of attraction in the football events.

Defending Champions, Kirikiri

Warriors (Vanguard) sent out warning signals to their next opponents, Business Plus after Continues on Page 51

I’m no magician – Oliseh insists C

OACH Sunday Oliseh has expressed delight at the unity in the Super Eagles’ camp as the group focuses on earning a place at the •Oliseh: The heat is on.

Continues on Page 51

AAG: Super Falcons wallop Congo 5-1 T

HE Super Falcons leaped to the top of

Eagles to test more players against Niger •••Stop these Details inside experiments,Mustapha warns AAG: Team Nigeria in faltering start

Group A of the women’s football tournament of the 11th All-Africa Games after a 5-1 whiplash of host CongoBrazzaville on Sunday.

Top scorer at the last African Women Championship finals, Desire Oparanozie weighed in with four goals, with Chinaza Uchendu scoring Nigeria’s fifth and final goal.

Victory over the host Continues on Page 51

Nig v Niger: 3pm •Oparanozie

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

MON DAY'S ANSWERS MONDAY'S

ACROSS 1 Passionate (6) 5 Scold (6) 8 Glue (8) 9 Spoken (4) 10 Lettuce (3) 12 Mirror (5) 15 Droop (3) 17 Fighting (3) 18 Employ (3) 19 Poem (3) 20 Alternative (5) 21 Pinch (3) 22 Bird (3) 23 Fuel (3) 24 Fixed (3) 26 Coins (5) 29 Finish (3) 33 Bogus (4) 34 Magnificent (8) 35 Span (6) 36 Vent (6)

DOWN 2 Wireless (5) 3 Flat (4) 4 Test (5) 5 Consecrate (5) 6 Chamber (4) 7 Headdress (5) 10 Angry (5) 11 Dulcet (5) 12 Band (5) 13 Pale (5) 14 Rush (5) 15 Feeling (5) 16 Yawned (5) 25 Anaesthetic (5) 27 Follow (5) 28 Instrument (5) 30 Din (5) 31 Among (4) 32 One (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Part 4, Hop 6, Pick 8, Former 9, Insane 10, Old 12, Began 14, Below 15, Nudge 18, Scribe 20, Leader 24, Naked 26, Regal 28, Loved 30, Wed 32, Statue 33, Astute 34, Trod 35, Tap 36, Dune.

DOWN: 2, Arose 3, Timpani 4, Hero 5, Paid 6, Paste 7, Console 11, Log 12, Bus 13, Nub 16, Den 17, Elk 19, Creator 21, Eel 22, Adopted 23, Rod 25, Axe 27, Acted 29, Eaten 30, Went 31, Damp.

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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