BATTLE AGAINST BOKOHARAM:Chad,Niger launch air,ground strikes in Nigeria

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62357

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N150

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

North must wait till 2019 — PRESIDENCY >>8

BATTLE AGAINST BOKO HARAM:

Chad, Niger launch air, ground strikes in Nigeria •Troops recapture Buni Yadi from terrorists •It's joint battle fought from many fronts — DHQ •Careless talk by MJTF partners worry Military

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A M AT U R U — NIGER and Chad, yesterday, launched major ground and air strikes in the North-East against Boko Haram, after the militants formally pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

The attacks, which Continues on Page 5

Citizen Nigeria, by Dele Cole

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COLUMNIST:

The tragedy of errors in the fuel market •P.44 MAIDUGURI ATTACK VICTIMS—Victims receive treatment for injuries sustained following a bomb blast in Maiduguri,

yesterday. Photo: AFP.

Bloody weekend in Port Harcourt Nigerian >>8 banks sound—CBN C M Y K

We robbed our victim because his daughters drove expensive cars — Suspect >>6

>>9

MAIDUGURI ATTACK: Death toll rises to 100 >>9

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

ALLEGED HATE MESSAGE: Buhari takes Patience Jonathan to ICC •Also writes IGP, NHRC

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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LL Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is to report First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan to the International Criminal Court, ICC for allegedly mobilising a hate campaign against him.

Buhari in the petition to the criminal court claimed that Mrs. Jonathan, whose husband is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP asked supporters of her husband “stone” anyone who chants the APC’s change mantra.

The call by Mrs. Jonathan was reportedly made at a rally in Calabar, Cross River State during a PDP political rally last week.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council, APCPCO in a statement issued yesterday said the letter of complaint against the First Lady was signed by the

Director General of APCPCO, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, will be formerly dispatched to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police (IG) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), among relevant authorities today.

A statement by the campaign organization yesterday quoted Amaechi as saying that “Change, as the entire country must know by now, is the slogan of the APC - the rallying cry of a political party that wishes to bring hope of greater and better things to come for Nigeria and Nigerians. By her statement, Mrs. Jonathan was clearly calling on PDP supporters in Calabar to attack supporters and campaigners of the APC in the state.”

The APCPCO’s statement likened some of Mrs. Jonathan’s inciting comments and conduct

•People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, forced to abandon his convoy of vehicles and take a motorcycle ride through bad roads in Ijagemo Area of Ojo Local Government, during his visit to the area on Friday. during this political campaign season, to those of Mrs Simone Gbagbo, wife of the former

Why corruption persists in govt — Clark

By Daud Olatunji Foremost Ijaw National Leader and former Federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, said yesterday failure to practise true federalism has encouraged corruption in government.

The elder statesman who spoke during his visit to the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo in his palace as part of the activities scheduled for his reception by the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party argued that the current practice whereby a lot of powers were concentrated in the centre had continued to encourage corruption in government.

The former Federal commissioner for finance also proceeded to Ijebu-Igbo where he commissioned Goodluck Jonathan transformation centre built by Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation committee in South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu.

Clark who was flanked by his wife Bisola, said the practice of true Federalism was what Nigeria needed to tackle the current worsening level of corruption.

He said, the Jonathan administration would commence the implementation of the reports of the Confab from May 29th this year if he is re-elected.

According to him, Jonathan has the duty to implement the reports of the National Confab, whether anyone liked it or not.

Clark however accused the opposition All Progressives Congress of initially opposing Jonathan’s plan to hold the National Confab.

He said: “The Yoruba have always asked for true Federalism. So, when we went to the conference in February last year to discuss the basis of our living together in this country we took decisions for a new Nigeria to be born and who is to implement it? Those who call themselves APC today cannot implement it because they were against it. None of them had the courage to say let us have the National Conference. Jonathan did and he has the duty to implement it. So, I’m saying as you know this is not the time to preach support Jonathan. He’s already part of this community.

I want to say as from May 29, every aspect of the Confab will produce a constitution whereby you will have a constitution for Ogun State, you will have a constitution for Delta State and that’s what we had in Chief Awolowo’s time.

“But today whether we are practising Federalism or we are practising unitary form of government, nobody knows.

Every power is concentrated in the centre and that’s why we have corruption today. But if the powers are shared and there is very little at the centre, would there be corruption?

No!” He also stated that although Nigeria required unity, the components must be run in such a way that each state

could develop at their own pace."

president of Cote D’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, prior to that country’s 2010 election.

The party recalled that the ICC indicted Mrs. Gbagbo for her part in planning to perpetrate brutal attacks including murder, rape, and sexual violence, on her

husband’s political opponents in the wake of the 2010 election.

APCPCO said that Mrs. Jonathan does not occupy any formal office in the Nigerian government, adding that the position of First Lady is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution.

It further said that Gbagbo’s case showed the ICC’s awareness of how someone beyond formal governmental and military hierarchies can be identified as responsible for serious international crimes.

The APCPCO pointed out that “Jonathan’s incontrovertible hate speech not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also goes completely against the Abuja Peace Accord jointly signed by the two presidential candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan as a gesture aimed at forestalling violence before, during and after the 2015 elections.

“PDP supporters in the state who may not know better could easily yield themselves to the First Lady’s admonition and embark on a process of wanton stoning and other attacks against APC members”, it quoted Ameachi as saying.

The APCPCO also called on the Nigeria Police to put in place emergency measures to protect the life and property of APC members in Calabar and the entire Cross River State.

WOMEN’S DAY: I've struck a deal with Nigerian women — Buhari

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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aj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) has pledged to uphold the rights of Nigerian women as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution if elected the next President of the country.

The assurance was contained in a special message to Nigerian women, in commemoration of the March 8, 2015 International Women’s Day. In a statement by the All

Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organization, APCPCO on Sunday, Buhari referred to his manifesto released in December 2014 where he said he struck a pact with the Nigerian women in ensuring more positions in his government.

He also promised to provide greater opportunities for females in education, job creation, and economic empowerment.

The statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said “My plan for Nigerian women has been made clear in My Manifesto and Vision for Nigeria. However, I would like to use this special opportunity that the world has set aside to celebrate women, to reiterate my personal commitment to the advancement of Nigerian women in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Fani-Kayode urges Ndigbo to vote for Jonathan

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By Anayo Okoli

HE Director, Media and Publicity of PDP Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi FaniKayode has called on Ndigbo to vote President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 election, saying he has the Ndigbo at heart.

Fani-Kayode spoke in Umuahia yesterday when he and his team visited the state as part of their tour of the states in the zones of the country.

According to him, no other leader in Nigeria has done to Ndigbo what President has so far done to them.

“His unflagging love for the South-East zone has crystallized in a high number of Igbo sons and daughters serving in the present Federal Cabinet.

President Jonathan’s government, as you know, was the first to appoint an Igbo military officer as the Chief of Army staff. Records have shown that it is only the government of President Jonathan that reconstructed the Enugu International Airport while also remodeling the Imo Airport.

“Indeed, the conversion of the Enugu Airport to an International Airport is considered critical to the economic survival of the people of the Southeast. We are happy to list the ability of people from south-east to tap from the You-Win initiative of the Jonathan’s government for economic benefits.

“The government holds the credit for constructing the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriage way as well as the

rehabilitation of the Enugu-Port Harcourt rail-line. We will not forget to mention the construction of the second Niger Bridge which was started by President Jonathan.

The south-east states have also benefited from the progress recorded by the education sector under the government of President Jonathan with federal universities built in Ebonyi, Abia, Imo and Enugu states”, FaniKayode said.

He also attacked the Imo State Governor over his claim that Buhari would win the presidential election, hence the need for Ndigbo to vote for him.

“Let me seize this opportunity to dispel the shameful deceit and propaganda of the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. He has said that the

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

CARD READER—INEC official checking the thumb of a physically challenged voter, during the testing of smart Card Reader at Horare Ward and Jogel polling unit in Jama, Are LGA of Bauchi State, weekend. Photo: NAN.

Chad, Niger launch air, ground attack in Nigeria Continues from Page 1 followed a sustained build-up of troops in southern Niger, have opened up a new front in regional efforts to wipe out the Islamist group, whose six-year insurgency has spread across borders.

The Nigerian troops also, weekend, recaptured Buni Yadi town, the headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area and Buni Gari town both in Yobe State from the terrorists. “ Ve r y early this morning, troops from Niger and Chad began an offensive against Boko Haram in the area of Bosso and near Diffa,” a Niger

government source in Niamey told AFP on condition of anonymity.

More than 200 vehicles, some of them with machine guns, as well as tanks, ambulances, water tankers and transport trucks, were seen moving towards the border, radio station Anfani , based in Diffa, said.

Aircraft targeted Boko Haram positions on Saturday and early yesterday, it added, while a Diffa resident and aid worker said troops were seen heading to the border and heavy gunfire was heard.

The previously lacklustre counter-

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every second is a chance to turn your life around—Take Heart Quote When you stop expecting things to be a certain way, you can appreciate them for what they are .

Ultimately, you will realize that life’s greatest gifts are rarely wrapped the way you expected.

Experience is what you get when your plans don’t go as planned, and experience is the most valuable commodity you own – it builds your strength.

You have the power to turn your wounds and worries into wisdom, you just have to do something about them. You have to accept what has happened and use what you’ve learned to step forward.

Everything you’ve experienced has given you the upper hand for dealing with everything you have yet to experience. Realize this and set yourself free.

insurgency against Boko Haram has been given renewed vigour with the deployment of troops from Cameroon, Chad and Niger last month.

Troops record victories The armies have claimed series of successes in rebel-held territories in recent weeks, as part of an operation to clear and control the northeastern states in time for the general elections set for March 28 and April 11.

Much of the focus has been on Chad’s army, which has experience in tackling Al-Qaedalinked extremists in Mali alongside French forces.

But the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the Nigerien and Chadian attacks were “complementary to the ongoing push against the terrorists.

“The mission of routing the terrorists from Nigeria’s territory is being conducted from various fronts in and out of Nigeria and is achieving expected

results so far,” he said in a text message.

On Friday, the African Union endorsed the creation of a regional force of up to 10,000 men to join the fight against Boko Haram.

The force, the idea which was adopted at an AU summit in January, will be based in Chad’s capital N’Djamena, the pan-African bloc’s Peace and Security Council

said.

It will be mandated “to prevent the spread of Boko Haram activities and other terrorist groups” and “eradicate their presence,” the body agreed in a meeting earlier week.

Diplomats said Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin had committed to providing troops, who would “operate freely” in a still-undefined region.

Nigerian troops recapture Buni Yadi On the recapture of Buni Yadi and Buni Yari, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, in a statement, said during the operations, the troops encountered little resistance as the insurgents were on the run. “Cordon and search and mopping up operations are ongoing in these areas.

Operations by troops are also continuing to recover the few areas remaining in the hands of terrorists,” the statement said.

It will be recalled that Boko Haram terrorists on February 25, 2014 killed 59 students in an attack on the Federal Government college Buni Yadi, in Yobe State, near the state’s capital city of Damaturu. According to the state Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai, “some of the students’ bodies were burned to ashes.”

Rufai said all those killed were boys. He said the school’s 24 buildings, including staff quarters, were completely burned to the ground.

President Goodluck Jonathan called the attack “callous and senseless murder...by deranged terrorists and fanatics who have clearly lost all human morality and descended to bestiality”.

Careless talk by MJTF partners worry Military

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B U J A — MEANWHILE, the Nigerian military has raised concern over careless talk and undue exuberance by some individuals from the military of neighbouring countries involved in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJNTF), which it argued have the implication of destabilising the spirit of the joint efforts against terrorism within the subregion.

Reacting to a purported statement in some media by officials from the MJTF that troops from Niger and Chad made deep incursions into Nigerian territory to battle Boko Haram

elements, Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, advised that it is necessary for officers from participating countries to beware of the terms they use while speaking with the press and also understand the implications of those terms.

According to him: “The location in question has to be mentioned before one can confirm whether it is part of an assigned or authorised mission or an incursion as described.

This campaign against terror only makes provision for collaboration and cooperation; not incursion into territories.

I think there is a careless

use of terms by some inexperienced people or officials eager to make impression without understanding the implications. There’s no allowance for incursion here.

“The truth is that there were some preemptive manoeuvres along an axis in the theatre.

Nigerian forces were also involved.

It is unfortunate if that is what this young man is reporting in this false and divisive way. He may have to be called to order to stop this exuberant attitude of misinforming people as this is not good for our collective efforts. We will take this up where it matters.”

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Housewife nabbed for allegedly hacking husband to death in Enugu

By Austin Ogwuda & Austin Igata

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NUGU—THE police in Enugu have arrested a housewife for allegedly hacking her husband to death over an undisclosed reason.

The deceased, identified as Elijah Agbo, hailed from Imirike Agu village in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The incident, according to the state police command’s spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, took place last Thursday at about 9pm, after the suspect lured her daughter to sleep.

Amaraizu said in a statement: “The wife, Grace Agbo, suddenly asked their daughter, Deborah, a 12year-old, to go to bed.

“As soon as the daughter went in, she heard the sound of a loud sound and she came out quickly, and saw the father lying in a pool of his blood as blood was gushing out of his head.

“It was discovered that the mother used a big stick to hit the father on the head which allegedly caused him severe injury, forcing him to fall down, became unconscious and later gave up the ghost.

“The body of the deceased had been deposited at General Hospital mortuary, Ikem, for autopsy, while the suspect has been arrested by police operatives.”

We robbed our victim because his daughters drove expensive cars —Suspect

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Lagos State Investigative Bureau (SCIB) have arrested two members of a four-man robbery gang in Lagos which specialises in terrorising residents of Isolo, Oshodi, Ikeja and its environs.

The suspects, identified as Ihenachor Samson, 25 and Raphael Ugbekele, 33, were arrested after successfully carrying out a robbery operation in Bucknor Estate in Isolo, Lagos.

It was learned that the armed gang, which attacked the house of one barrister (names withheld), gained access into the compound through the back fence.

They tied up the security man and cut the burglary to gain access to the main apartment, where they allegedly stole the victim’s Porsche Chyes SUV, house appliances, plasma television, home theatre, clothing and other valuables.

They also broke into the shop attached to the building and carted away some goods and recharge cards.

Vanguard gathered that after the operation, the victim reported the case to the Commissioner of Police who then detailed operatives of the Lagos State Investigative Bureau, SCIB, to investigate the case.

The investigation paid off months after as the operatives tracked the suspects to their hideout and arrested Samson, and subsequently arrested Raphael too.

Although the vehicle is yet to be recovered, it was gathered that when the detectives got to one of the suspects’ house, they discovered the victim’s home theatre and Plasma television.

Suspect's account

Speaking to Vanguard, Raphael, who just returned from Ikoyi prisons after serving a jail term bordering on robbery and receiving stolen, said: “It was at Ikoyi prison that I met the two members of the gang. I am the leader of the gang. I was the one that brought the guns that we used for operations.

"One of my associates whom I met at Ikoyi prisons gave me the guns. After I returned from prison I began to squat with my cousin in the estate.

"I decided to rob the barrister because his daughter’s drove expensive vehicles arrogantly in the neighbourhood. We were able to carry out the operation

RALLY: Founder, Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, Comrade Elliot Uko (4th left) with members of IYM and South-East Self Determination Coalition on a peaceful rally on violence-free 2015 elections, in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Man stones brother to death in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — PALPABLE confusion and anger have enveloped Umuokoroma, Umungwa, in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, following the reported tragic stoning to death of 42-year-old Kingsley Nwabueze by his younger brother, identified as

Ihechukwu.

It was not clear at press time what led to the ugly incident but Vanguard gathered that Kingsley went to one of the local eateries to help himself with one of the local delicacies when Ihechukwu traced him to the place.

A villager, who spoke on

Delta community protests killing of 38-yr-old leader

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI —HUNDREDS of residents and indigenes of Oteri in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, took to the streets to protest alleged extra-judicial killing of the vice chairman of the community, Mr. Blessing Unuesefe.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We want the police to investigate the matter to a logical conclusion”, “There was no shoot-out as claimed by the Police and Bakassi”, “We demand the release of the corpse of our vice chairman, Blessing Unuesefe.”

They appealed to Delta State government and Commissioner of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the C M Y K

incident.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, chairman and secretary of the community, Mr. Uteme Bateren and Dominic Egbonodje respectively, said though the community did not condone any form of criminality, the position of things surrounding the killing of the 38year-old Blessing Unuesefe called for proper investigation by the authorities.

They said: “As a community, anyone who tries to hide under the guise of the community executive would be unmasked; hence if he is found wanting, as a community, we would move on.

“But till that is ascertained, rather than making unsubstantiated allegations, security agents should unravel the puzzle that has been created following his death.”

successfully because I have watched and monitored them closely.

“I also met Olaitan, the receiver, in prison and he promised to help us sell the vehicle. He has only remitted N30,000 unfortunately he was caught, arrested, charged to court and is currently in Kwara prison where he is serving a jail term on robbery.”

Demanding the remains of the deceased, a representative of the elders’ council of the community, Mr. Johnson Umukoro said: “We are not questioning the authorities for doing their job, but according

to the law, you can’t kill a suspect in cold blood without investigating him and abscond with his remains, that is like taking us back to the military era.”

Fire guts Igbinedion-owned ITV in Edo Mudashiru, who spoke to jourBy Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY — THE Independent Television, ITV, owned by the Esama of Benin Kingdom and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, was gutted by fire Saturday night.

It was observed that the television studio was completely razed which eye witnesses said commenced at about 9pm.

According to the Head of News of the station, Mr Abiodun

nalists inside the burnt studios of the TV station, the fire started few minutes after 9 pm when the station was broadcasting the network news of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. He said the management of the television station was yet to issue official statement on the matter, noting, however, that fire fighters from Edo State Fire Service, the University of Benin Fire Service and the Military Fire Service prevented the inferno from ravaging the entire building.

strict grounds of anonymity, recalled that Ihechukwu allegedly attacked his elder brother with all manner of dangerous weapons, including bottles and knife.

“Kingsley could not fight back as a result of his injured right hand. He quietly left the place for the family home, without finishing his food and drink,” the villager said.

Vanguard also gathered that Kingsley, who had already lost a lot of blood, no longer had the strength to run away from his attacker, who was now stoning him with bricks.

“Sensing that his victim was dead, Ihechukwu dragged the lifeless body of his elder brother to his room and ran away thereafter,” the villager recounted.

Efforts to get either Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area or the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy superintendent of police, for comments, failed as their mobile telephone lines could not be reached.

However, Vanguard gathered that “the parents of the victim are telling the police at Otoko all they know about the incident.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—7

How we're forced into robbery, given N1000 after each operation — Teenagers zArrested for alleged burgling at Navy Town barracks

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS— TWO teenagers, who apparently threw caution to the dogs, weekend, gave a startling revelation of how they had been sneaking into Navy Town barracks in Lagos, burgled apartments of military personnel and carted away valuables estimated over N400,000.

The suspects, Elijah Benjamin(15) and Ehis Akhimien(13) whose frail looks would never give them away as buglers, told bewildered journalists at the Nigerian Navy ship, NNS WEY, shortly before they were handed over to policemen by the Commander, NNS WEY, Commodore Ignatius Iliya, that they usually scaled the fence of the barracks through a bill board close to the wall.

They, however, stated that they were mere errand boys, disclosing that their ‘masters’ usually waited for them at the other side of the fence each time they went on operation.

Luck, however, ran out on them during one of the attempts, following their apprehension by a patrol team of naval personnel attached to NNS WEY, at about 6pm last week.

Explaining how they were arrested, Iliya said the suspects usually came in the day time to access the vicinity, with a view to ascertaining some of the apartments which occupants had apparently travelled.

Scaling fence Asked how they were able to gain access into the buildings, Iliya said: “When you are approaching Navy Town from the back gate, there is a sign board that is close to the building. What they do is to climb the sign board and jumped into the building at night. Most of their activities take place during yuletide periods when most of the families have travelled. These ones came to locate the buildings that were vacant .

“As a result of the security strategy put in place to checkmate these ugly traits, these children were arrested.

And during interrogation they confessed they came for recognition.

"Their confession led to the arrest of Afeez Lamidi and Abdusalam Garuba who they said recruited them to steal in the neighbourhood.

"Others are Tonton and Blast who are currently on the run.

We also arrested one Ibrahim C M Y K

Police allegedly kill scavenger over N200 bribe

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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Idris, Lamidi and Garba Idris, who they alleged bought all the stolen items from them."

Iliya said about N450,000 items were allegedly stolen from the barracks by the teenagers.

How we operate — Akiemien When approached, 13-yearold Ehis Akhiemien, a primary 6 pupil of Assurance Primary School, Kirikiri, said he started stealing four months ago. He stated that his alleged partner in crime, Elijah Benjamin, introduced him into burglary.

He said: “Elijah said we should go to people’s houses to steal. We would jump the fence into the barracks at about 6pm and would hide until it is dark.

Elijah would tear the nets of our victims with blade, from where he stole the items. At times some of the kitchen doors were left opened, thereby facilitating his entry.

"On my part, I would be on the look out for any intruder. At the end, we would take the stolen items to our boss who would be waiting for us at the other side of the fence.”

Asked if his parents were aware of what he was into, he shook his head, explaining that he usually went for the operation any time he was given money to go and eat.

We were forced into robbery— Benjamin On his part, 15-year-old Elijah Benjamin stated that they were forced into robbery by Afeez Lamidi and Abdusalam Garuba.

He said: “We were taken to waterside in Kirikiri by brother Afeez and Abdusalam where we were briefed on how to go and

The teenage suspects: Ehis, Benjamin steal. They threatened that if we did not go and steal they would beat us and even kill us. They also threatened to kill us if we told anyone.

"In one of the operations, we came with N50,000. We also got N12,000 and N7,000 in separate operations. At the end of each operation, they would give us N1,000 and pat us on the back for being good boys. “ We have also stolen motor bike and bicycle from the barracks as well as phones, televisions and DVDs.” Asked how they were able to take the stolen motor bike and bicycle out of the barracks, he replied: “We usually told operatives at the gate that we were taking them for repairs.

They would not suspect us

because of our ages.”

At a point, Benjamin who said his father was a gateman, pleaded to be let off the hook, promising to turn a new leaf.

“My dream is to become an engineer. If I am allowed to go, I will go back to school and focus on my study,” he said.

However, on their parts, Afeez and Abdusalam who the suspects alleged recruited them, denied the allegation.

But the buyer, Idris, admitted to have bought the stolen motorcycle from them for N5,000 and the bicycle at N3,000.

The suspects were thereafter, handed over to policemen attached to Kirikiri division for further investigation.

OKOJA — An overzealous police officer from ‘C’ Division in Kogi State Police Command, yesterday, shot dead a scavenger in Lokoja over the deceased’s refusal to give him N200 weekend tip.

The development caused a heavy traffic on the ever-busy Ganaja road as friends and colleagues of the scavenger took to the street burning tyres and disturbing vehicular movement.

An eye witness said the Policemen who were on routine visit to the site at 200 housing units, where the scavengers usually gather their wares for onward sale to interested buyers, shot him twice in the head after his refusal to part with the usual weekly stipends which resulted in a heated altercation.

One of the dead scavenger’s colleagues said: “The Police visit us (scavengers site) and demanded to know the identity of the owner of a caravan (pointing to the caravan) and when we told them that the person who brought it said he could only come out tomorrow because he also bought it from an Igbo man, the police asked him (the deceased) to part with some money.

“He declined because he was not the owner of the caravan, and in the process, they begin to attack the deceased, dragging him on the floor and eventually one of them shot him on the head and he died immediately.”

The death led to blockage of the ever-busy Ganaja road, with the scavengers numbering over 40 burning tyres and disrupting traffic.

It, however, took the intervention of men of the SARS to disperse the protesting youths who demanded justice over the death of their colleague.

The aggrieved colleagues, along with some youths in the area, also burnt and pull down some billboards of candidates of the PDP, mounted after the Dunamis bridge.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

'Missing N30tn’:

SERAP replies Okonjo-Iweala, says we are not tool for APC or any party

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OCIO-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has urged Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to “embrace constructive engagement on issues of human rights, transparency and accountability,” and “to avoid sound bite and opportunistic attacks on civil society organizations simply working to make the government fit for purpose so that it can function to improve the conditions of millions of marginalized and disadvantaged Nigeri-ans.”

SERAP’s comments came after Mrs Okonjo-Iweala last week in a statement lambasted the group for instituting a lawsuit against her over the claim by a former Central Bank governor, Chukwuma Soludo, that Nigeria has lost as much as N30 trillion to corruption and mismanagement.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said it was “a politically motivated suit against her based on the discredited N30 trillion allegation by Professor Charles Soludo. The suit confirms that SERAP is nothing but a political tool of the opposition hiding behind the façade of advocacy. Like their previous efforts, this latest one will fail because Nigerians can see through their antics. The latest in the campaign of falsehood and politicization of the economy by persons and groups who are getting more desperate by the day, because the economy, despite their propaganda, was still standing and will continue to stand. We look forward to meeting SERAP in court.”

But SERAP in a statement on Sunday by its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni said, “We are disappointed that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s response offers little in terms of dealing with the real issue and why the Minister failed to respond to a valid freedom of information request made under the law signed by this government. While we do not intend to go into the substance of the case now in court, we are compelled to respond to the misleading and entirely unfounded allegation that SERAP is a tool in the hand of the opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC.” The organization said that “it strives to ensure that its human rights and accountability work meet the highest standards of analytical rigor devoid of politics.

Wait till 2019, Presidency tells North zSays 2015 elections beyond Jonathan, Buhari.

By Henry Umoru & Ben Agande

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BUJA — THE Presidency, yesterday, urged the north to forget the 2015 presidency and wait till 2019, saying that the 2015 general election was about the stability of the country and not the fulfilment of the ambition of one man.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said the election was not about Jonathan or Buhari but about the unity of the country.

According to him, rather than insist on producing the president of the country in 2015, the north should wait till 2019 when it would have an “unequivocal” and “indisputable” opportunity to rule Nigeria for eight years.

Citing historical parallel, Okupe said the Yoruba were no longer

causing trouble because their son had been allowed to rule Nigeria for eight years after Chief Moshood Abiola was denied the opportunity to do so in 1993.

According to him, “the north, since independence, has been the political stabilising group in this country. The north is far more advanced than any section of this country in terms of politics and political leadership.

"When MKO died and civilian politics was brought back for us to vote, the north sat down and met and decided that because of the injustice done to the Yoruba people, the Yoruba must present the next president at that time.

And they called this nation to accept and buy into a national consensus to patronise Yoruba people. And that had a salutary effect on the political stability of this country. That is the role the north has always played in the

politics of Nigeria.

It's beyond Jonathan and Buhari

“The consideration and implication of the 2015 general elections for this country go beyond Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. It is about stability of this country. And both the north and the south have always given concessionary consideration to each other. When we went for independence, the north was not ready, the south waited.

“In 1958, the colonial masters had agreed to give Nigeria independence, but the north said they were not ready. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other southern leadership conceded. They agreed and said they would wait for their brothers.

So, we did not start the concession

for peace just now.

“We have always tried to balance the polity and not create problems in this country. Now, Goodluck Jonathan comes from an area that, in perpetuity, has always been the strongest ally of the north.

“Shehu Shagari said that, and that is why, irrespective of what is going on in the north, he knows the history and will never support the north to be against a son of the south because when things were tough, hard and there were no friends and when there were hostilities against the north, the south-south stood by the north.

"How conceivable would it be that the north had been ruling for so long and when there was a crisis, the north conceded to Yoruba people?

“And now, the goose that lays the golden eggs was not brought up by anybody, but by God; an act of providence. The man is doing well, and you are saying that just because they are in minority, you can chase them out.

“Now that we have allowed Yoruba to rule, Yoruba have kept quiet and they are no longer causing problem. You don’t expect any upheaval from Yoruba land anymore. Why can we not concede this remaining four years?

Let us exercise a lot of patience

MEETING: President Goodluck Jonathan (left); former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (right) and former South African President, Comrade Thabo Mbeki (2nd left), after a lunch meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Nigerian banks sound —CBN

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, pronounced Nigerian Deposit Money Banks sound, in spite of the current national economic challenges.

The verdict, CBN said in a statement in Abuja, followed a recent top-down stress tests of Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, carried out by it, which revealed that “the banks have adequate capital to absorb unexpected losses.”

According to the apex bank, “unaudited results of banks, and the results released so far, indicated that economic headwinds had not significantly affected returns.”

The CBN, however, directed the banks to put in place effective

risk management system, especially price hedging, adding that it would continue to monitor banks to ensure sufficient internal retention of capital to serve as buffers.

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, in a release on March 4, 2015, disclosing the outcome of the IMF Executive Board 2014 Article IV Consultation with Nigeria, commended the efforts of the CBN in ensuring financial system soundness.

According to the IMF statement made available to newsmen, “Directors noted that financial soundness indicators remain above prudential norms, but the concentration of credit risks and foreign currency exposures call for continued close oversight.

"They welcomed progress in strengthening supervision and regulation, including of cross border activities, and encouraged additional initiatives to foster financial market development, including of hedging instruments, and improve financial inclusion.”

The Directors also commended the unification of rDAS and the interbank foreign exchange market rates, noting that greater exchange rate flexibility could help cushion external shocks.

According to the global organisation, Nigeria’s economic data were broadly adequate for surveillance, just as it agreed that tightening fiscal policy and allowing the exchange rate to depreciate while using some of the reserve buffer were appropriate responses to the recent fall in global oil prices.

"Nobody killed Yar’Adua. For some of us, Yar’Adua was our person, but God knows best. But if this has happened, let us exercise a lot of patience, maturity and understanding.

Why do we want to drag this country to a cliff because of the ambition of one man who is supported by some greedy people who don’t even represent their people?

“A country cannot be roasted or derailed purely on the ambition of one person. If Jonathan completes his next four years, the north has a chance; an unequivocal chance, an indisputable chance and an opportunity that cannot be denied to present a candidate they want who will rule the country for another eight years.

“Even if Buhari wins this election, which is impossible, cannot do a second term. So, when the second term comes, why would other people not contest against him? He is a northerner and if he cannot run for election again, then, the thing should go back to the south.

"So, would the north be satisfied with only four years?

These are the issues. That is why I am saying this 2015 election is beyond Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. It is a matter of national stability.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—9

Bloody weekend in P-Harcourt as gunmen kill 11

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— It was a bloody weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital as 11 persons were shot dead at different locations by unknown gunmen.

Six of the victims were killed on Worlu Street in D Line close to Oroworoku community when the assailants stormed a spot near a mechanic workshop at about 7.15 pm demanding to see the owner of a vehicle parked outside.

It could not be confirmed if they saw the person they were

looking for but the assailants, numbering about four, suddenly dashed to their vehicle, pulled out their rifles and started shooting indiscriminately at those they saw. Eye witnesses said six persons died on the spot.

When Vanguard went round the area yesterday, residents were seen in groups discussing the development. None of them was willing to volunteer information to our reporter.

Vanguard gathered that Policemen from the Olu Obasanjo Police station later came to evacuate the corpses that night.

Nobody could say if the

killing was cult related as the development generated so much tension in the neighborhood.

There was still palpable fear on Worlu Street, D Line area of Port Harcourt when Vanguatd visited the scene yesterday morning.

Similarly, on Igbukwu Street area of Port Harcourt on Saturday, some suspected cultists fired gunshots indiscriminately for several hours. It was not clear what their intention was but they literally took over the street.

Residents scampered for safety as gunshots rented the air. The gunmen also smashed bottles on the road.

Unconfirmed report said

one person died during the incident while the Police later moved in to restore normalcy.

Vanguard gathered that another four persons were shot dead that same Saturday at the Eastern Bye-pass area of the state capital.

According to eyewitnesses, the Police later came to remove the corpses. This incident raised the number of those shot dead to 11 on Saturday.

Effort to get the Police to confirm or deny the incidents were futile as the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad declined comment.

In a response to a text to the Vanguard for comment, he merely said: “I decline comment.”

Maiduguri attacks: Death toll rises to 100

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI — THE death toll from last Saturday multiple suicide bomb blasts in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State has risen to over 100, with scores still recuperating at various hospitals for treatment.

On Saturday multiple explosions, the Police Commissioner, Clement Adado told journalists that only 54 people were killed, but sources and hospital mortuary attendance, yesterday, revealed that more than hundred people were confirmed dead, as over 50 people, including the female suicide bomber, were killed in the fish market which was the first target of the attacks.

But a source at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital revealed that most of the injured ones brought to the hospital with serious injuries did not survive as they died while receiving treatment yesterday morning.

Also at the Umaru Shehu Hospital in Bulumkutu ward of the metropolis, no fewer than seven people died while receiving treatment.

At the State Specialists Hospital, a source claimed that more than 20 dead bodies were brought in from the Monday market attack, while scores of the injured died as a result of excessive bleeding yesterday.

Sources at the Borno express motor park revealed that the male suicide bomber who was in his early 20s attempted to enter the mosque at the BOC motor dealers section, but when he was accosted by someone that it was not yet time for prayer, he quickly turned back to attract dealers as he pretended to be a customer after which he detonated the explosives, killing four dealers and other

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HONOUR: From left: Chief Sir Victor Umeh, APGA Senatorial candidate for Anambra Central; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State; his wife Ebelechukwu and Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, after Obiano and his wife were honoured by the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria in Onitsha, weekend. customers nearby.

Unconfirmed reports also had it that “the death toll of the bomb attack has risen with additional five dead and dozens admitted at the emergency ward out patient department of the university of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital UMTH as against the earlier death toll of Saturday which stood at 17.

At State Specialists Hospital Maiduguri, an attendant who does not want her name in print told our correspondent that “due to the gravity of injuries of some victims brought into the hospital yesterday (Saturday) and coupled with the excessive bleeding by the victims, scores could not make it overnight.

"Many passed away this morning (yesterday) before the doctor on duty conducted routine checks while another victim is also critically lying on bed and if extra care is not taken, he may not survive.

Many have however been discharged yesterday and today

(Sunday) after treatment”.

She added that “already there is a standing order on free treatment of all victims by the state government. We treat them and government takes care of the bills as usual. We have enough drugs and doctors except that it is

weekend and only those on call duty will be available. We did not call any doctor on special call because we have doctors on call duty over the weekend. We even learnt that the governor may be visiting the victims still on bed in the hospital.”

Jonathan meets with Abdulsalami, Mbeki behind closed doors

By Ben Agande

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan met with a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), and a former South African President, Thabo Mbeki behind closed-doors.

Though it is not unusual for the president to meet with past Nigerian and other African leaders, reasons for such meetings are sometimes

given.

Yesterday’s meeting with the two former leaders was unusual because both General Abdulsalami and Thambo Mbeki met with President Jonathan at the same time.

The meeting was held in the President’s official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and both former leaders declined to speak with journalists at the end of the parley.

FG reviews policy on tax holiday

By Emeka Anaeto

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AGOS— The Federal Government has revised its policy on tax holiday for investors in the economy granted under the Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI) Scheme. The tax relief would now be for three years instead of five years.

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC, the federal agency incharge of the policy, has already started writing to the companies who are hitherto enjoying the holiday to intimate them of the policy revision while urging them to comply.

It was not stated why thiedownward review but sources in the finance ministry indicates a major policy review focusing on aggressive tax system that would rein in the negative revenue profile of the government orchestrated by the oil price crash.

However, tax experts at KPMG Nigeria group are saying that the downward revision aligns the NIPC’s current practice with the provision of the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act (IDA), for the tax relief period to be for a period of three years in the first instance.

Beneficiaries that meet the stipulated conditions for extension may have the period extended for an additional one or two years, as also provided in the IDA. For companies that have fully utilised the five-year PSI, it is not clear whether they would be required by the NIPC to refund tax for two years out of the fiveyear period.

KPMG is of the view that the directive would apply only to companies that are still within their initial three-year period, but industry operators say the initial PSI grant for five years is whole contract that should not be broken until it runs its full term otherwise it would be a breach to force the current review on beneficiaries.

It is also unclear whether the NIPC would refund the excess two per cent service charge collected from PSI applicants. PSI applicants were required, by virtue of the PSI Regulations 2014, to pay 2% of the estimated tax savings to the NIPC before they could obtain an approval-in-principle.

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

NCAA gives 90-day grace to private jets owners

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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AGOS—THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday, granted a 90 days grace to private jets owners to come up with their operational preference.

It will be recalled that last week, NCAA, issued final warning to all owners of foreign registered, privately operated aircraft in the country who had failed to regularise their documentation in conformity with NCAA operational status, warning that they will face severe sanctions from the regulatory Authority if they fail to do so.

The ultimatum was given at the conclusion of a meeting between the officials of the Ministry of Aviation and the stakeholders in the General Aviation sector which warehouses all the owners and operators of private jets.

According to Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Alhaji Mohammed Abass, gave the ultimatum after the meeting which lasted for several hours in Abuja.

Ndubuoke said “As part of the unanimous decisions at the meeting, the blanket ban on the operators of foreign registered privately operated aircraft in the country has been lifted with

conditions attached.

“As earlier indicated, the 90 days ultimatum is one of the conditions, during which it is expected that all operators would have regularise their documentation to specify their choice of operation.

“However, during this moratorium, it is still subsisting that no private Jet owner will be allowed to surreptitiously convert his jet for commercial purposes. At the end, it was agreed by all present at the meeting that any violator during the ultimatum and at expiry will be visited with much more stiffer penalties than earlier earmarked.”

MEGA RALLY: Lagos PDP, Agbaje scoff at APC

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, have described Saturday’s mega rally organised by the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a no issue and a signal that Nigerians have rejected the APC. On his part, Mr Jimi Agbaje, in a statement by his media director, Felix Obaogwina said the rally was a sham and a flop.

Court dismisses CBN, AMCON objection against Bank PHB shareholder's suit

By Inocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed the preliminary objections by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON and others against a suit by some shareholders of the defunct Bank PHB Plc. Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa assumed jurisdiction in the suit in which the plaintiffs are challenging the alleged illegal transfer of their shares to Keystone Bank without compensation.

The plaintiffs are demanding N38.6billion from the defendants being “fair compensation” to them for the value of their investment in Bank PHB Plc. They are also praying the court to set aside the alleged unlawful nationalisation, compulsory acquisition and expropriation of their investments in Bank PHB, and are seeking N20billion as damages for the loss of value of their investments in Bank PHB. Defendants in the suit are CBN,

BRIEFING: From left; Mr Kufre Ekanem; Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mr Kunle Afolayan, Amstel Malta Cashprize winner (Best Overall Movie); Mrs Wangi Uba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, MNET, West Africa, and Mr O.C Ukeje, Amstel Malta Cashprize winner (Best Actor In a Drama) at the Amstel Malta sponsored AMVCA press briefing which held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos, on Saturday. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Keystone Bank, AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and AMCON. The plaintiffs are arguing that NDIC on August 5, 2011, wrote Bank PHB’s Managing Director informing him that the bank’s assets and liabilities had been transferred to Keystone Bank without any form of adequate compensation to the shareholders.

They are consequently asking the court to declare that the action amounted to unlawful compulsory acquisition of their investment and is therefore, unconstitutional, null and void.

The defendants in their preliminary objections had urged the court to strike it out for lack of jurisdiction.

Ruling, Justice Yunusa held that as shareholders, the plaintiffs have a say in the bank, adding that no arm of government can take away a citizen’s right to acquire or hold property; therefore, there can be no compulsory acquisition of the shares.

Mr Agbaje, who is the PDP governorship candidate said that the APC rally was ignored

by Lagosians and Nigerians in a clearly damning verdict.

Calling on Nigerians to discountenance the rally as a noevent, he said “So much for APC’s so-called one million man march, which did not garner even up to a tenth of its projected participants. In shunning the rally, Nigerians have demonstrated that they want nothing to do with the ruling party in Lagos State. It is a damning signal for APC and its leaders. And they had better read the handwriting on the wall and prepare for the worst defeat of their lives.”

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taofik Gani, the Lagos PDP said the One Million Man march organised by the APC to support its presidential candidate was tattered and poorly coordinated, adding that

it exposes the Lagos State APC as fatigued of ideas to continue governing the state.

The party described as blatant falsehood and over exaggeration of the number of attendees which the APC continues to put at one million probably to give General Muhammadu Buhari false hope in Lagos State.

According to the PDP, the capacity of the Stadium used is 24,325 and could not have

NIIA Directors kick against ‘needless litigation'

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IRECTORS and Research Fellows at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos have called on the Foreign Affairs Minister to dissuade the Director General of the Institute to desist from wasting its financial resources

Vote for right candidates, Ikorodu NBA chief counsels Nigerians

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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HAIRMAN of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA Ikorodu chapter, Lagos State, Mr. Dotun Adetunji, has urged Nigerians to cast their votes for candidates that will make the country attain a better economic status.

Speaking at a rally/procession in Ikorodu organised by Lawyers4Change, Adetunji called on the general public to go to the various polls and cast their votes and coordinate themselves in a peaceful manner during and after the elections.

He said: “The youth should be careful not to sell their rights and

accommodated over 100,000 without stampede. The party said that the APC was over ambitious to expect one million lovers of APC in Lagos State at this period that the masses are disenchanted with its policies. “A reason why Governor Babatunde Fashola could not attend the rally?”

It posits that the realistic figure of about 11,000 APC members actually participated due to coercion or monetary inducement.

conscience for being thugs to politicians who call for violence during the elections. We have to be hopeful and be wise in choosing a better candidate that will be good and effect positive change in our country.''

Also speaking, the Coordinator of Lawyers 4 change, Mr. Adeshina Ogunlana, at the rally, said that the group’s idea was to sensitise the people at the grassroots to vote for the candidate that will bring about positive change.

He noted that the movement is not politically influence but based on the platform of some selected professionals who seek for change in the country.

on needless litigation.

The aggrieved Research fellows and Directors described as wasteful, , the decision of the Director General, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa to spend “the sum of N60 million to hire the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to prosecute a case of theft of intellectual property, emblements of sponsorship fund brought against the institute by the project consultant who is claiming that the Director General appropriated the project idea and allegedly shared the funds sourced from sponsors among his favoured staff.”

A director of the institute who pleaded anonymity, said “the Directors and Senior Research Fellows have advised the DG against embarking on a legal action that will tarnish the image of the institution in the eyes of the local and international community but there seems to be a clique that believe that this is an avenue for them to make money.”

According to the source, “the DG has shunned the advice of the Governing Council and other senior research fellows to save the resources of the institute by exploring alternative conflict resolution approach but has he refused.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—11

No plot to pass vote of no confidence on Jega —ONDO REC

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—AHEAD of the general elections, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, has said that National Electoral Commissioners and the State Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were not in any way contemplating passing a vote of no confidence on the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

According to him, rather than passing a vote of no confidence as being rumoured in some quarters, when the issue of voting comes, RECs and Commissioners would vote overwhelmingly in support of Jega because he is a team player who carries everyone along.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Ondo REC took a swipe at those he described as lazy politicians who were peddling rumours that there were plans to pass a vote of no confidence on the INEC chairman to pave the way for his removal from office. He said such politicians were not only out to discredit the INEC but also desperate to cause confusion in the land ahead of the elections.

Agbaje said: “As we speak,

as the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, I am not aware of any plan to pass a vote of no confidence on our chairman, Professor Jega, by National and Resident Electoral Commissioners as is being alleged in some quarters. It is the handiwork of a few lazy politicians, they just want to cause confusion in the land.

“Even if the National and

Resident Electoral Commissioners are to meet today to vote on our Chairman on any issue, especially the 2015 general elections, I am sure he will get nothing less than 80 pert cent votes in his favour because he is a team player any time, any day.

Nigeria is blessed to have such a man as the chairman of INEC at this point in time."

On the level of collection

and distribution of PVCs in Ondo State, Agbaje disclosed that INEC had given out 1,105,709 PVCs representing 74 per cent collection, adding, “We still have 388,460 cards or 26 percent of the total cards in our custody as of last Friday. So, we are calling on those who are yet to collect theirs to take advantage of the extension of the collection deadline to do so.”

RALLY: From left: Chairman, Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Adebayo Dayo; Ogun East PDP senatorial candidate, Prince Buruji Kashamu; Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and his wife, Dr. Abisola Sodipo-Clark, at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, yesterday.

Fayose calls for suspension of PVC card readers

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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KITI State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to suspend the use of smart card readers for the conduct of this year's general elections.

Fayose, who called the attention of the electoral body to the many flaws detected last Saturday during INEC's test run exercise in 12 selected states in the country, noted that it would be a great disservice to the nation on the part of the commission to start experimenting issues like presidential election due to alleged overzealous attitude of the chairman of INEC, Prof Atahiru Jega.

According to the statement issued in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said he was not against the use of any technological device to ensure credible elections but the flaws recorded during the test run exercise were too fundamental to be ignored.

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He said: “Unless INEC has an agenda that is different from the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, the use of the card readers should be suspended for future elections so as to enable proper test running of the technology."

Urging Jega not to experiment on the cards with

the presidential election, Fayose said Jega was not being truthful on the commission's preparedness for the election.

“Jega told us before February 14 that INEC was ready. He heaped the blame for the postponement of the elections on security. However, the

same INEC that Jega said was ready to conduct elections on February 14 was testing card readers on March 7, meaning that all the flaws that characterised Saturday's exercise would have been witnessed on February 14.

Wouldn’t that have been disastrous?”, he said.

Ondo PDP leaders sheathe swords for Jonathan’s re-election

By Dayo Johnson

They were led by a former governorship candidate, Chief HE crisis within the Olusola Oke and Special Peoples Democratic Adviser to President Goodluck Party, PDP, in Ondo State was Jonathan on Amnesty Affairs weekend, resolved as the Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

The defection of governor leaders agreed to sheathe their swords for the success of Olusegun Mimiko had the party in the general polarised the party with some leaders resolving not to allow elections.

PDP leaders, especially from him hijack the machinery of Ondo South senatorial district, the party.

Similar stakeholders at a special stakeholders meeting held at Igbokoda, meetings are slated for this weekend, resolved to now week in the two other senatorial districts of Ondo work for the party.

T

North and Ondo Central.

Addressing newsmen after the over three hours meeting, Oke and Kuku said: “Those that were aggrieved have resolved to forget the past and forge ahead by working and supporting our party in all the elections. We have heard and accepted the plea from our leaders for us to forget the past and forge ahead by working and supporting our party in all the elections.’’

N2.8bn unremitted deductions: Ogun workers begin three-day warning strike tomorrow

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has directed public servants in Ogun State to embark on a three-day warning strike commencing tomorrow over alleged failure of the state government to remit about N2.8 billion deducted from their salaries.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, JNC Secretary, Modiu Bello, said that the council was constrained to embark on the strike following the failure of all known channels of negotiation and dialogue to get the N700 deducted monthly from the workers’ salaries for four months remitted to the appropriate agencies.

The JNC, however, said it had agreed to defer further negotiation on outstanding unremitted Contributory Pension Fund deductions until after the general elections.

Partisan politics: Ekiti to investigate civil servants

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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HE Ekiti State Government has set up a six-man committee to investigate reported cases of civil servants involved in partisan politics in the state.

The state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, made the disclosure, weekend, in Ado Ekiti at a meeting with leaders of organised labour.

The six-man committee, according to the statement, is headed by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission.

“Those who want to play politics should leave the service and become card carrying members of the political party of their choice. Nobody should say I am a Fayose supporter to cause trouble in the civil service, whoever does that will be shown the way out,” the governor said.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Rivers PDP alleges plot to set up Jonathan, Wike

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has called on the Inspector General of Police to disband a wing of the Police in the state called C4I, saying it had allegedly uncovered a plot by All Progressives Congress, APC, to connive with the security body to implicate some chieftains of the party in phoney criminal activities.

Chairman, Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Organisation in the state, Mr Emma Okah, who briefed newsmen, yesterday in Port Harcourt, alleged that the APC had concluded arrangement with the C4I to release arms illegally to some youths for nefarious acts, adding that they would later be arrested and forced to implicate the governorship candidate of the party, Mr Nyesom Wike, President Goodluck Jonathan and other chieftains of the party to their callous activities.

Urging the Inspector General of Police to thoroughly investigate the allegation and ensure those behind it were brought to book, the party alleged that among other things those to be allegedly equipped with arms illegally by the special unit of the Police would carry out indiscriminate kidnappings and cause chaos in the state before their arrest.

He said: “We have uncovered a heinous and shameful conspiracy by the said C4I and APC to arm some young men who would thereafter, be arrested while

armed with the very weapons given to them by the C4I and APC. After their stage-managed arrest, false confessions would be obtained from them in consonance with the orchestrated plan to the effect that they were armed by the President and the governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, Chief Wike, to commit sundry criminal acts including kidnap, armed robbery, and political assassinations.

"As a means of suppressing evidence and concealing the false confession, the young men would thereafter be killed by the C4I through administering poisons on them. The C4I and their APC co-conspirators would then falsely allege that the President in concert with Wike and the PDP are responsible for the murder of the young men.

“Prior to this time and just to

mention one out of several cases, the C4I had attempted to abduct and possibly eliminate a member of the PDP in Rivers State, Mr Tonye Ayella. Mr. Ayella, who is the PDP’s candidate to represent Port Harcourt constituency 2 in Rivers State House of Assembly in the 2015 general elections, was saved from abduction and possible elimination by security men attached to Mr Evans Bipi, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This matter was reported to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, who has refused to investigate the issues.”

Meantime, the APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Chris Finebone, dismissed the allegation by the PDP as laughable and ludicrous.

He said: “For the APC, this is

yet another contrivance from the deep box of propaganda of the PDP in Rivers State. It simply flies in the face.

“While not speaking for any organ of state like the Police or any other security agency, the APC in Rivers State believes that it is unthinkable for any sane mind or group of sane individuals to imagine that the Nigeria Police or other security organisations would attempt what the PDP is charging.

That can only be possible between the PDP and any unscrupulous federal agency.

"The Rivers State chapter of the APC would like to urge the PDP to approach the various federal government controlled security agencies with the facts of its findings for proper investigation to ascertain the veracity of their claims."

INTERACTIVE SESSION: Delta State APC governorship candidate, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor (middle); his running mate, Chief V.O.T Abanum (on his right) and representatives of professional bodies, during an interactive session in Warri, Delta State.

I'm being witch-hunted, says suspended Bayelsa PDP Chair

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G OA — T H E suspended Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd) weekend, slammed the 13-member State Executive Committee, SEC, of the party, saying that the recent move against him by the SEC was sponsored by some desperate political leaders in the state over the 2016 governorship race.

According to Inokoba, though his purported suspension and claims of misconduct by the SEC were manifestly phantom and baseless allegations, the alleged diversion of N40 million, the involvement in promoting factions within the party, the refusal to attend Bayelsa Central Campaign activity and the involvement of his aides in the alleged beating up of a

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party member, were lies and attempts to hijack the party structure in the state.

Inokoba, in a statement in Yenagoa after he was prevented from assuming office by a team of armed policemen, said the charges against him were fictitious and a frame-up concocted by those with inordinate political ambition in the state.

He said: “My accusers alleged that I collected N40

million from a PDP bigwig in the state and diverted same. I wish to keep the records straight by stating unequivocally here that I did not collect N40 million or any other sum of money from anybody on behalf of Bayelsa State PDP and never diverted same for my personal interest.

“This remains the whole truth and nothing but the truth on this matter. I am only being framed

because of the inordinate political ambition of some highly placed individuals in the state. I was equally alleged to belong to a faction within the state PDP. I respond to this allegation by stating that section 10(1)(5) of the PDP constitution 2012 (as amended) prohibits me from belonging to any group or faction within the party. I am not a member of any group or faction."

I'll rescue Delta from PDP stranglehold —EMERHOR into power, his hold in the country.

By Onoja Innocent

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ELTA State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, yesterday, promised to rescue Delta State from the stranglehold of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that if voted

government will run the state like a business empire with a human face.

The APC candidate reiterated that the ruling party was bereft of new ideas and has nothing new to offer the people, which was why they are jittery of the opposition and are doing everything possible to make sure that credible elections did not

Emerhor, who spoke in Warri at an interactive session with various support groups and nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisations in Delta State, said that the PDP can no longer be allowed to plunder the collective wealth of the people of the state, adding that they have crumbled Nigeria with their bad leadership.

Ex-militant leaders seek recognition

by Jonathan

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X - M I L I TA N T leaders from Obotobo 1, Ogulagha Kingdom, Bonny Gawei and Francis Muturu from Bomadi, Delta State, have cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan to stop aligning himself with some ex-militant leaders to the detriment of others.

The ex-militant leaders reminded the President that a single tree does not make a forest, adding that his predecessor, late President Musa Yar’Adua, who eventually worked with all exmilitants leaders in the region carried everybody along.

The ex-militant leaders, in a statement, lamented their neglect by the Presidency, Amnesty Office and other agencies, querying why the Niger Delta struggle had been personalised and made for the glory of some few persons.

They advised President Jonathan not to put his eggs in one basket explaining that, once they were called upon, they were ready to serve the President for the good of all.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—13

EPZ groundbreaking will determine Itsekiri’s vote —EKPOKO

By Godwin Oritse

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TSEKIRI Leaders of Thought, weekend, said that the groundbreaking ceremony of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Ogidigben, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State, on March 13 will determine the vote of the Itsekiri nation in the forth- coming general elections.

Speaking after a meeting of the Itsekiri leaders in Lagos, Secretary of the group, Mr Edward Ekpoko, advised all Itsekiri sons and daughters to think of the Itsekiri ethnic group first before casting their votes.

Ekpoko described the agitation by the Ijaw as oppressive, adding that violence will only lead to a wider divide amongst the ethnic groups He said: “The Itsekiri know who they will vote for and one of the factors that will determine the Itsekiris’ vote will be the EPZ groundbreaking. We still look up to President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking and Itsekiri all over world are watching. If he does not perform the ceremony on that day, we will leave everything to posterity and it will be a day the Itsekiri will never forget.

“Violence has become right. If

you pick up arms today, the government will listen to you.

It is very sad. From what we have heard, the President is coming to perform the ceremony on March 13. In view of the threat from the Ijaw that if Jonathan does not win the election, there will war and all that, every Itsekiri man has to be conscious of that and be at

alert.

“The Federal Government has not even come out to condemn the statement by these reformed militants and that is creating fear amongst other people in the Niger Delta, not only the Itsekiri.

“Election is an expression of one’s right and Jonathan became President through an

elective process. I think the Ijaw should let the process run its full course. Elections are not a do or die affair.

“Those who will vote for Jonathan will vote for him, it is not by threat and those who will not vote for him will not vote him. Some of the militants are not helping Jonathan by their utterances and statements, as they are doing a great disservice to him.”

PVC TEST-RUN: INEC officials attending to a registered voter in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area Ward One, unit 23, during the card readers test-run in Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Ijaw group demands inclusion of Ogulagha Kingdom in EPZ project

By Godwin Oghre

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GULAGHA—AN Ijaw group, Sokebolou/Yokiri Peoples Congress, weekend, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, not to exclude Ogulagha Kingdom from the scheme of things in the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project or risk imminent catastrophe in the area.

The group, in a statement by its Chairman, Bob Towei, said: “The people of Sokebolou/ Yokri communities in Ogulagha Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area, will not fold their hands and watch the state government take away from them what rightly belongs to them.”

The group named Adedegbene, Agbogoromagbene, Ologoseimor-ere communities, among others, as “rightful owners” of the land where the EPZ project is sited, saying that the truce facilitated by the governor between the Itsekiris and the

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Gbaramatu Kingdom of Ijaw only was a non-issue and will not be respected by Sokebolou/ Yokiri communities of Ogulagha Kingdom, also of Ijaw, whom they said were the true owners of the EPZ project site, as they were not invited by the governor to take part in the truce.

Calling on the president to prevail on Governor Udughan to reconvene another meeting with all stakeholders including Ogulagha Kingdom before the proposed groundbreaking, the group said: “Nobody should blamed us for whatever action we carry out if our people of

Ogulagha are ignored.

“We want to categorically state that the directive President Goodluck Jonathan gave to Dr. Uduaghan at Asaba to harmonize all stakeholders of the EPZ project was not followed hence only Itsekeri and the Gbanramatu-Ijaw were invited.”

Itsekiri community dismisses ultimatum by Ijaw youths

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—UGBORI, an Itsekiri community in Warri, Delta State, has dismissed the seven-day ultimatum given to it last Wednesday, by some Ijaw youths to vacate their homeland, as well as pay N500 million damages for alleged destroyed property, saying they are illegal occupants.

Ugbori community head, Olare-Aja Edwin Omagbemi, said the youths took refuge on part of the community’s land around the port area during the seven-year Warri crisis.

He said there was no Ijaw

community known as Lotiebiri in the area, as Ugbori has been there for over 500 years until runaway militant Ijaw youths forcefully occupied the portion of the community’s land.

Omagbemi said that the state government had compensated them to go back to their various villages and vacate the land to avoid causing another crisis between both ethnic groups.

According to him, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan appealed to the Ugbori community youths not to deploy any force to chase away the illegal Ijaw occupants, saying: “Even after accepting to vacate the land, the Ijaw youths refused

to leave and are now demanding N500 million restitution on Ugbori community over an alleged damage on their property.”

He said that the state government at a time acquired the land illegally occupied land to avoid crisis between the Itsekiri community and the Ijaw militants.

The land was subsequently fenced off by the government using an Ijaw youth leader and member of the Delta Waterways Security Committee, Boro Opodu, who asked the unrepentant youths to vacate the land to no avail.

Olejeme lauds women on fight for equality

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EPUTY Chairman, F i n a n c e Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has commended the courage and determination made by women in the fight for equality so far, praising President Goodluck Jonathan for elevating women in the country.

She also advised Nigerian women to keep their eyes on the long range prize for self and the country.

“We have witnessed a transformation in women’s participation in public life. More women are exercising leadership in politics and business; more girls are going to school,” she said.

In her message on the International Women’s Day 2015, Olejeme urged Nigerian women to make an informed decision when choosing the next president of the country.

“Nigeria is moving in the right direction.

Women have received reasonable positions in government at the federal level," she said.

Eket women demand relocation of MPN hqtrs to A-Ibom

By Tom Moses

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KET—WOMEN of Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to relocate the headquarters of Mobil Producing Nigeria, MPN, from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State, the extractive base of the company.

Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, made the demand on behalf of the women of Eket council, weekend, when the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio visited the area to rally support for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, President Jonathan and other PDP candidates in the Eket senatorial district.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

APC calls for removal of INEC Resident Commissioner in Enugu

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—THE leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State has called for the removal of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, over alleged nocturnal visit to a local government chairman.

Director of Media and Publicity, Enugu State APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Emeka Okafor, in a statement, described the purported visit as unwarranted.

The statement said: “To sustain the integrity of INEC, the staff, especially principal officers, must shun the tendency to hobnob with desperate politicians who are determined to scuttle the democratic process by shortchanging the due process of power transfer.

“It is on this basis that the APC in Enugu State condemns the recent visit of the REC for Enugu State to the council chairman of Enugu North LG,

Mr. Emeka Ede on Wednesday, March 4, 2015.

"The visit, which allegedly spanned almost three hours is a taint on the integrity of the REC and denigrating of his

office.

“At this time when public search light is beamed on INEC, it is expected that INEC staff should be careful in their official conduct.

Any

personnel whose action and conduct will tend to undermine the impartiality of INEC must face official sanctions.’’

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the solution to the problem of power sector could be achieved in six months if the Distribution Companies, DISCOs, were ready to yield some percentages of their concessions to the state government.

Fashola made this statement at the commissioning of the 1.2 kilometer Glover Road and 8.5 megawatts, Peninsula Integrated Power Project, PIPP, Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The governor, while commissioning the fifth IPP, said: “Let the EKO DISCOs sign a contract with me, giving part of their concessioning to the state government. In about six to eight months, there will be power in all homes in Lagos State.

“So, let no one say that he has no money to deliver power for the entire country. This is the limit to which the law allows us to do, but we have done this to make a statement that power can be generated. ‘’So, when they come with lies that power is impossible, you can tell them that we have power here; we make it possible.”

He opined that the project showed that the money to C M Y K

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN: From left: Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Campaign For Democracy; Mrs Joke Silver, Nollywood Actress and Barr. Ruth Idahosa, Founder, Pathfinders Justice Initiative @ Advocacy Campaign; organized by the Pathfinders Justice Initiative, weekend, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

POWER SUPPLY: All homes in Lagos will be lit in six months if... —FASHOLA

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

Armed robbers torment residents of Ado Ekiti

improve the Nigerian economy is here, “since we don’t need the World Bank to come and do this for us.”

Fashola noted that he felt fulfilled with the conduct of youths that delivered the project, despite the difficulties in getting to the finishing point.

Explaining the importance of the project, the governor said the project, courtesy of the state government, in partnership with PIPP and Heritage Bank, would help to provide power supply to power the Lagos State public water corporations in Lekki Phase 1, Oniru, Victoria Island and Ikoyi, as well as over 25km of public lighting in the

Lekki axis.

Earlier, Commissioner, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Taofeek Tijani, said the new addition was about continuity in public infrastructure programme of the state government.

General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Damilola Ogunbiyi, said the state had shown that reliable and sustainable power projects are possible through the youths.

Ogunbiyi said though it had been a successful story, the state was just scratching the surface in its “aggressive development plan,” in the area of power.

Promoter of the project, Faruk

Agoro, noted that the new IPP was an innovative idea of worldclass natural gas-fired power generating facility, sold to the government by youths and it was bought into, to support government institutions, especially in the area of water supply and security.

Stage One is 8.5 megawatts, with the capacity for 30 megawatts. Lagos IPPs now has a total of 47 megawatts of electricity in total, powering public institutions around the state. The generated megawatts is however a tiny drop in the over 9,000 megawatts power deficit in the state.

Wife of Edo Majority Leader launches advocacy which include widowhood rally against child labour practices, female genital

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S part of activities to mark the International Women Day celebration for 2015, market women in Jettu, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo State, were among those present at the meeting organised by the Philip Shaibu Foundation to educate rural women on their inheritance rights as well as launch out an advocacy rally against child labour.

The wife of the Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly and convener, Mrs Maryam Shaibu, who took a swipe at the Nigerian Constitution, said that

women under the law in Nigeria were not well treated.

She canvassed the right of women to inherit property of their biological fathers even though they might have been married.

The practice of denial of inheritance right has caused untold hardship to women, she lamented.

She, however, frowned at the language of the constitution as it affects womanhood. Mrs Shaibu, who criticised the provisions of the constitution as it relates to attack on women in different forms, identified harmful practices,

mutilation, forced marriage and others as threat to the lives of women in Nigeria.

She stressed the need for effective parenting as a panacea for social vices.

She said: “If children are adequately guided the chance for them to go astray in their adult years are slim.”

She cautioned parents against children’s access to social media which she said portends a great threat to effective parenting as children are exposed to unguided information that are capable of negatively influencing them.

DO EKITI— RESIDENTS of Fajuyi Housing Estate along Ilawe Road, Ado Ekiti, were on Saturday night tormented and robbed of their belongings by a 7-man gang of armed robbers.

This is coming just about four weeks after a student of the Federal Polytechnic,Ado Ekiti, was killed by robbers at Olorunda area of the state capital during a robbery operation.

The men of the underworld were said to have raided from house to house, of their b e l o n g i n g s , m o n e y, l a p t o p s , handsets, jewelry, etc without being caught by the police.

Shedding more light on the ordeal the residents went through, Mr. Ayo Orebe, the general chairman of the housing estate, said the armed men raided 6 households within two and a half hours of operation.

Orebe said: “The robbery incident happened around 12 am.

Before it happened, there were ominous signs that something terrible would happen.

Dogs in the neighbourhood, including my three dogs, were barking violently and that made me to make calls to our executives that everyone should be at alert as the violent barking of the dogs signalled an imminent danger.

“It was around 12:30 am that one of the victims, a young man rushed to my place to recall the ordeal he went through with the armed men.

“He said he was at home with his family, a kid of two years and his wife when the robbers broke into his apartment, demanding for money and other personal effects.

“He said he would have put up a fight but they put a gun to head of his first son of barely two years old and that humbled him."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 15

S’West APC flays Jonathan on confab report

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, faulted a statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan that the implementation of 2014 National Conference report was dependent only on his re-election.

The party also described Jonathan’s statement as illogical and unreasonable, directed only to earn cheap popularity from South West marginalised by his administration.

In a statement by the National Vice-Chairman (South West), Chief Pius Akinyelure, the party said if the Jonathan’s administration was interested in restructuring, it should not have waited for three years in office before convoking the 2014 National Conference.

The party said: “The lopsided nature of the

federation his (Jonathan) administration inherited about six years should have swung into action immediately and put necessary mechanisms in place to equitably and fairly restructure Nigeria for the benefit of all.

“Jonathan is using the report of the 2014 National Conference as a political weapon to sneak into the hearts of South-West people, whose his administration has not been fair to despite their overwhelming support for the president in 2011.”

The party, therefore, asked the President to desist from making promise he could not fulfil. ‘’President Jonathan should stop appealing ethnic sentiment in order to score cheap political marks. ‘’A President, under whose watch the Ekiti election was rigged, cannot restructure Nigeria. A president that grant hardened amnesty to exconvicts cannot evolve

equitable Nigeria.”

The party urged the people of South-West and Nigeria in general, not to take the President serious again, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had no idea on how to move Nigeria forward. ‘’ Stop deceiving innocent people. Stop destroying Nigerian unity on the altar of ethnic politics. Stop fuelling division among groups that make up Nigeria,@ the party said.

APC said its flag bearer, Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof.

Oluyemi Osinbajo, had made a covenant with the people of Nigeria contained in the 2015 Buhari/Osinbajo Manifesto.

The party said once elected, the Buhari/ Osinbajo government would initiate action “to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states.'' in order to entrench true federalism and the federal spirit.”

DELTA GOV: Unemployed graduates root for Emerhor

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ARRI—A Deltan Youth group made up of unemployed graduates, The Political Credibility Alliance, has endorsed Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as its candidate for the governorship election of Delta State.

In an interactive session with newsmen yesterday in Warri, the group, through its leaders, Mr. Gideon

Erhue and Hon. Yalaju Awani, described Emerhor as the sort of governor the youths of Delta have been waiting for.

According to Awani, “Clearly God has answered our prayers as we now have a highly intelligent yet remarkably humble leader we can all confidently look up to without expecting complete disappointment at the end of the day.”

While conceding that hitherto most members of the group had placed their hope in Chief Great Ogboru of Labour Party, Erhue, on his part, said: “Unfortunately one man cannot hold an entire state to ransom forever. Though we have long admired Ogboru, it is now clear to us that we simply cannot keep hoping on him only to regret our support for him when the election results are announced. He should have joined a party that can defeat PDP instead of this abracadabra situation in which he claims Jonathan will deliver him when the same Jonathan has vowed to deliver his fellow Party man, Okowa. We are left with no choice but to line up behind O’tega. At least his message and actions have been consistent all along.”

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Nobody'll dictate to me as gov —IKPEAZU

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—PEOPLES Demo ratic Party ’s governorship candidate for the April 11 election in Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has said his government would not be dictated to by any person, insisting that it would bear his signature.

He said the fact that he was being supported by the incumbent governor did not mean the governor would run the government for him.

According to him, in states like Anambra and Lagos, where the then incumbent governors helped in the emergence of their successors, they did not control the government. ‘’Abia’s case will be not be different. The government will bear my signature, not somebody’s signature. For every action, there is a burden. I have weighed my position, the advantage outweighs the disadvantage. I am comfortable with Governor T. A. Orji,” the PDP governorship hopeful said. He was reacting to insinuations that he might be a stooge of the incumbent governor.

Ikpeazu wondered why the opposition found it difficult to give credit to Governor Orji where he had done very well, saying they always talk of Abia which is not even his creation.

He noted that Governor Orji had done a lot in Umuahia, the state capital, alleging also that some desperate politicians in the state were inciting youths to go back to kidnapping but warned the youths not to fall for such temptation again.

Ikpeazu warned Abia youths that security operatives would crush them if they fell to such evil temptation.

According to him, some politicians are tinkering with the idea of luring the youths back to

kidnapping just because they want political power.

He lamented the huge human and material resources the state lost to kidnapping and wondered why any reasonable leader would want to incite Abia

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BUJA—THE factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, has lost his bid to get the Supreme Court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accept his list of candidates for the 2015 general elections in the country.

He had asked the apex court to direct INEC to accept his list of candidates as the candidates of APGA for the elections.

Okwu in the substantive suit at the apex court, is challenging the June 18, 2014 decision of the Court of Appeal Abuja, which had affirmed Chief Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi as the National Secretary of the party.

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He said no other governorship candidate in the state understood how kidnapping was stopped other than him, explaining that was the reason he would continue to advise youths against being used by politicians.

By Anayo Okoli

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FORUM: From left; Yetunde Ogunseye, Managing Partner, Yetunde Ogunseye and Co. (Chartered Accountants); Uchenna Erobu, Partner, Akintola Williams Deloitte; Abiodun Laja, CEO/Proprietress, Lekki British School, Lagos, and Oluyemisi Edun, Chief Financial Officer, FCMB, at the 2015 Akintola Williams Deloitte international women’s day forum in Lagos.

‘Ohanaeze’s hawking presidential endorsement like pure water'

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru the apex Igbo socio-cultural group

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BUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the forthcoming elections, Presidential candidate of United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has berated

APGA: Okwu loses bid to get INEC accept candidates' list

By Innocent Anaba

youths to go back to the evil just to cause trouble for the state.

Ikpeazu warned politicians to realize that the youths they were arming would in future constitute a major problem for the state when they turned monsters.

Abia gets over 3000 card readers, distributes over 80% PVCs

Okwu, through his counsel, had told the Supreme Court that he had submitted his own list of candidates to INEC after holding his own primaries but that the commission had refused to act on them, adding that INEC did not have the power to reject any person nominated by a political party.

He further told the court that the appeal involved the determination between the appellants (Chief Maxi Okwu and Chief Dickson Ogu) and Umeh and Shinkafi, who are the authentic National Officers of the party-APGA. “That a determination of this central issue will determine who can validly nominate candidates to contest elections on the platform of the political partyAPGA,” he had argued.

for hawking endorsement like pure water.

Chief Okorie, who was the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as well as UPP, which he chairs, wondered in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja why the Igbo nation would like to play second fiddle when UPP had given the zone the opportunity by ceding the presidential slot to the area.

He, however, said he was not disturbed as, according to him, UPP will spring some surprises in the elections, which would be the revelation in the 2015 elections.

He said: “When it comes to politics, this kind of thing has always happened. Even though what Ohaneze has done this time is a little scandalous, it has not been different from what has always happened in Nigerian politics especially the Igbo politics aspect of it.

“The second republic people will remember very well that almost every Igbo political leader was in NPN and they were all fighting for number two position. ''It was so bad that what NPN did was to decide to give it to any Igbo man provided that he brings N2million at that time. It was for the highest bidder and that was how Alex Ekwueme being a highly successful contractor and consultant paid.

“He did not become running

mate because Igbo people sponsored him but because he outpaid the others and that was what prompted Nnamdi Azikiwe to come out because he had already stated that he was not going to run.

“So, when he saw his own people clamouring for number two position, he could not reconcile it with the fact that he led the struggle for Independence. That was how he came and he came late and chose the smallest of the parties at the time – NPP (Nigeria Peoples Party) which was founded by Waziri Ibrahim.''

M UA H I A — I N readiness for the March 28 and April 11 election, the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abia State has received 3, 233 cardrReaders for the polls, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko, has disclosed.

Prof. Oko also denied the rumoured revolt by some INEC’s resident electoral commissioners, RECs, against the chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, saying there were no such thing in the commission.

Oko, who disclosed this to journalists in her office, weekend, said the commission actually needed 3,187 card readers, while the excess 46 were back-ups.

“It is surprising to read from the media that some state Resident Electoral commissioners are plotting to pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, as a prelude to removing him from office.

“This, definitely, does not apply to this state and the meeting of RECs with the chairman referred to by this media report is essentially to assess the state of preparedness of the state offices of the commission for the elections and has absolutely no other agenda, hence the need to debunk this notion in its entirety,” Prof. Oko said.

On the distribution of permanent voters’ cards, PVCs, she said the state has distributed a total of 1, 146, 087 PVCs of the 1, 353, 948 PVCs received in the state.

INVASION OF AYOGU EZE'S RESIDENCE:

‘We're yet to get formal report'

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—ENUGU State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Mr. Ebere Amarizu, has said that the state police command has not received a formal report over the alleged invasion of Senator Ayogu Eze’s country home at Enuguezike last Tuesday.

Asked if any police officer was arrested in connection with the incident as speculated, he said “I am not aware”.

The country home of Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu North senatorial district, was attacked by gunmen who stormed the place at about 5.20 pm on Tuesday shooting sporadically into the air.

Mr Okechukwu Eze, a close relation of Senator Eze said that “if not for the quick intervention of police and youths from the village, the thugs could have started destroying my brother ’s and house and property.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—17

Nomination opens for Nigerian Healthcare Awards

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• Some local herbs on display.

Local herbs, bleaching creams, others linked to kidney diseases

By Gabriel Olawale & Damilola Akingbade

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Professor of Medicine, and honorary Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof.

Fatiu Arogundade, has cautioned on the indiscriminate consumption of local herbs, usage of bleaching creams and combination of different painkiller drugs.

Making the assertion during the commemoration of World Kidney Day 2015, organised by Cedar Group Hospital in conjunction with the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Amuwo Odofin/Ojo branch, Lagos State, Arogundade explained that the indiscriminate consumption of local herbs and combination of different painkiller drugs with the usage of bleaching creams endanger the kidney.

“Some of these local herbs when you take them it purges you and makes your body weak and leads to loss of fluids in the body and causes blood supply to the kidney to drop. By the time that blood supply drops, kidney function is disrupted and such person will now retain what the kidney ordinary should have excreted. By the time this is accumulated in the body, the body becomes weak and the patient starts getting sick and vomiting.”

“Another thing that can cause kidney disease is some of the things we applied on our skin. For instance bleaching cream, when it accumulates in the body it affects the kidney and over a long time it distrupt the kidney function. Combination of different painkiller drugs is another threat to kidney, when you take these drugs it goes to the kidney and attack some kidney cells. By the time this persists for a long time it kills the kidney cells and such a person will start developing evidence of kidney disease and having

problem of ill health on account of kidney disease.”

Arogundade regretted that despite our abundance as a country we still find it difficult to nap some of the condition that causes Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD. “In our environment, from the study available in Nigeria, about 18 to 20 percent of Nigerians have kidney disease that may not manifest. The people that we see in the hospitals that manifest it they are just about 0.5 percent. That is 5 out of every 1,000 people. The condition that causes CKD is now highly prevalence. In our communities about 25 percent of our people have hypertension. Diabetes which is uncommon before now have about 20 percent of our people living with it.

“Fuelling this figure is the fact that people do not embrace primary prevention measures, we do not have regular screening, many people cannot

Some of these local herbs when you take them it purges you and makes your body weak and leads to loss of fluids in the body. This causes blood supply to the kidney to drop. By the time that blood supply drops, kidney function is disrupted and such a person will now retain what the kidney ordinary should have excreted

remember when last they went for screening and it is in the process of screening some people that have acquired the disease can be treated so as to avoid progression. Most people now come to the hospital only when they become symptomatic, which means that the disease has reached the advance stage and become irreversible.”

Arogundade explained that these diseases attack the kidney gradually without symptoms at the early stage makes it a silent killer, “ we have what we call stage one to three in which the renal function is still relatively good so even if they retain some things they may not become symptomatic until it gets to that critical level. By the time it gets to that critical level they would have lost about 90 percent kidney function. That is the time they will now present with the symptoms.

Corroborating his view, a Nephrologist at Cedar Dialysis Centre, Dr. Ofonime Udoh, however, advocated for adequate care for pregnant women and the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“We need to care for our pregnant women, give them good antenatal care so that the child is healthy at birth. We should also ensure good environmental hygiene to avoid common infections that may later cause kidney disease.

People should also drink a lot of water as it helps in flushing the kidney.

There are some lifestyles that make people prone to kidney diseases, “smoking, excess of alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, consumption of a lot of salt and those on obese side.

Udoh pointed out the need for hypertensive patients to get treated and ensure their blood pressure is well controlled. “Diabetic patient should ensure they see their doctor regularly and ensure their blood sugar is brought under control. Those that have kidney disease already and are symptomatic should also get treated.

OMINATION has opened for the 2nd edition of the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards, NHEA even as June 26, 2015 has been announced as the new date for the event as against the earlier date of April 10, 2015. The shift in date was as a result of the 2015 general elections which fall within the same period.

According to NHEA Programme Coordinator, Dr. Shola Alabi, the NHEA 2014 was a great success, pledging that NHEA 2015 will be bigger and better.

In a press statement, Alabi also hinted that Nominations will close on May 26, 2015 while nominees will be announced on May 29 and voting commence till Wednesday, June 17, 2015.

Announcing that nomination forms were available for download on www.nigeriahealthcareawards.org, he explained that the event which will hold in Lagos has 26 award categories including the Lifetime Achievements Award, Outstanding State Government Healthcare Programme of the Year, Outstanding CSR Health Project of the Year, Healthcare Media Excellence, Private Healthcare Provider of the Year, Public Healthcare Provider of the Year, Laboratory service provider of the Year, and Radiology Service Provider of the Year.

Others are; Indigenous Biomedical Engineering Service Company of the Year, and International Biomedical Engineering Service Company of the Year, International Pharmaceutical Company of the Year, Indigenous pharmaceutical company of the Year, Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year, etc.

“NHEA will recognise the most deserving individuals, organisations who champion compassion, courage and a winning mindset. Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientist and medical engineers who have contributed towards reaching the goal of quality and affordable healthcare in the country will be celebrated.

It would be recalled that Professor Emmanuel Adeyemo Elebute the founder of Lagoon Hospitals and Hygeia was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

About 500 healthcare community leaders, representatives of private and government organisations, renowned members of sectors affiliated to the industry are expected at the event.

Different stakeholders from the healthcare sector, policy makers, diplomats, CEOs, senior executives, eminent personalities, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, health media and industrialists.

The award is being organised by Global Health Project and Resources, GHPR, in collaboration with Anadach Group, USA.

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 FEW elections have had the hype of the 2015 elections, which has created strands of expectations that would be challenging to manage. They are principally on two fronts – expectations of victory and campaign promises to change the country. Voters seem to be buying into them.

Most voters have a catalogue of reasons why victory should be their party’s. In the same manner, they can reel out the party’s manifesto or the electoral promises of each candidate. All the campaigns centre on the certainty of victory for each contender.

Nobody talks about the possibility of losing the elections. Each party wants to unchain the potentials of Nigeria, leading it to peace, progress, and prosperity.

Here are typical manifestoes of the 2015 elections: •Better management of our natural resources •Building roads, power and infra-structure •Creating jobs •Fighting corruption •Free, relevant, quality education •Healthcare plan for children and adults

2015 – Managing Electoral Expectations •Restoring Nigerian agriculture •Social welfare plan for the less advantaged •Strengthening peace, security, and foreign policy These are noble ambitions that could really change Nigeria. Any organisation that is able to free Nigerians from any of those shackles would be on its way to

creating a new country.

Criticisms of these manifestoes include the capacities of the winning party to mobilise resources to execute them. In the contest for power, words seem not to have meaning.

Nigerians would benefit from better ideas that are distilled from the contentions to serve the people better. The high standards of service politicians promise at election times disappear once the contest is decided. Will 2015 be different?

Beyond the promises the parties make and the peace accords they have signed how are the parties managing the expectations of their supporters? As they preach their advancement to victory, parties should also tell their supporters about the flipside of victory – defeat. How would the parties take a loss of the elections?

Management of elections – on the part of the parties – should include education of their supporters to accept victory or defeat, for elections go either way. The change Nigerians want includes violence-free election.

OPINION

By Nick Balebo

O

NE of the most salutory events in the ongoing electioneering frenzy in Delta State is the emergence of Olorogun O‘tega Emerhor as the governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Best known as a visionary and business angel who breathed life into companies and corporate entities that had gone comatose, Emerhor joined the Delta governorship race with a lofty vision to rework Delta State and make life meaningful for the people. As someone who understands that government is about the welfare and security of the people, Emerhor has evolved an all inclusive development programme that is likely to alter the socio-economic fortunes of Delta State and its people for good in no time if he mounts the saddle come 29 May 2015.

What daily preoccupies Emerhor at the moment is the task of ensuring that Delta State realizes its manifest destiny and live the dream of the ideal state. And Emerhor has been assiduous in putting together a development blueprint which he has articulated with a missionary zeal and conviction.

Delta State has not been isolated from the gale of misrule which has afflicted Nigeria in the last sixteen years. It is therefore understandable why the people are on edge and anxious for a new beginning, yet with very high hopes that Emerhor will win the election in line with their resolve to become the major

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Emerhor’s vision for Delta State stakeholders in the state as the credo of democratic governance demands. The truth is that the people have been bruised and confined to the margins in the scheme of governance and wealth distribution.

Those who have access to political office connive to undo the people socioeconomically. This is why the state has been embroiled in socio-economic misfortunes as reflected in lack of employment opportunities, poor infrastructure, collapse of both education and health sectors, rural decay and urban degradation and more.

Emerhor understands politics as he does the boardroom. He also knows that good governance is increasingly getting tied to how well an economy is run or managed.

The resources of Delta State in spite of the dwindling fortune of oil which is the main source of revenue can still sustain four states if well husbanded. And Emerhor is the undisputed guru in the management of men and resources. This is his major selling point, to turn Delta State around

Deltans must vote wisely so that Emerhor’s vision can open up an entirely new and glorious dawn

to join the group of economically prosperous states in Nigeria and indeed the world.

Emerhor is at home with the fact that the whole of Delta State and its entire people are in dire need of development since the deprivation of the last sixteen years has been an ill wind that blew no one any good. This is why his development vision reflects a pan-Deltan concern which focuses on a wide spectrum of socioeconomic imperatives. Those who know often submit that Delta State derailed from the lofty dreams of old and that only a visionary, a committed leader, a thinker and purpose oriented mind can drive the state to achieve its great destiny. This is where the personality of Olorogun O’ tega Emerhor comes in as the game changer.

Emerhor is a first class development thinker and turn-around hand. The truth is that the state needs him now more than ever before. 2015 and post-2015 will signpost a new beginning for Nigeria and many states. Yet, only the states with the right calibre of leadership will be part of this new beginning. That is why Deltans must come together and ensure that Emerhor gets voted in as the next governor of the state so that the roller coaster of development will not pass the state by.

Emerhor’s vision is sustained by a panDelta bias which reads as follows: ‘’a model state where multi-ethnicity is a resource and where equity, justice and fair play are the building blocks of a secured

environment and vibrant economy’’. A vision such as this is what Delta State needs for rejuvenation. The vision in a nutshell embraces all the indices that have held down the state since it was created in 1991.

Lofty as the vision is, it is complemented by an ideal mission which is ‘’to make Delta a model through a purpose-driven leadership anchored on a touch-base participatory governance, bed-rocked on private sector initiatives, investor friendly orientation and commitment to hard work and service to all’’. The clincher of the mission is to ‘’empower the people to live a prosperous life’’. Emerhor no doubt is set to inspire Delta and its people to greater heights. Only in western democracies do you encounter such lofty declarations that are tied to the evolution of new states and emergence of new eras.

Emerhor’s manifesto has been well crafted into what he calls the ‘’Ten Cardinal Points’’. Each item in the manifesto points at his pro-people and panDelta development agenda. From comprehensive socio-economic empowerment, to security of lives and property, infrastructural development, agro-industrialization, education, health and housing and collaboration with foreign investors, Emerhor has mapped out a prosperous future for Delta and her hopeful citizens. Deltans must vote wisely so that Emerhor’s vision can open up an entirely new and glorious dawn.

•Mr. Balebo, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 19

By Henry Okpala

M

IKE Onuzulike, in a national newspaperof February 28, attempted a rebuttal of the facts contained in the article, “Ndukwe’s Burden of Misrepresentation”, earlier published in some national newspapers written by Chukwuka Odinaka.

Onuzulike accused Chukwuka of being a hireling working for Ndukwe’s opponent. This, I assume, presupposes that he too was hired by Ernest Ndukwe, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the coming Anambra South Senatorial election, to play on the intelligence of voters in Anambra South Senatorial zone, especially all of us who hail from the same town of Oraifite with Ndukwe. I say this since he has suggested that no one can speak the truth or comment on matters of public interest without being hired.

Most sadly, Onuzulike did not earn the fee he might have been paid for that shoddy and unintelligent write up. He did not succeed in making Ndukwe appear as the “perfect guy” he wanted. I had, at least, expected him to grab the opportunity offered by Chukwuka’s article to refute the tough accusations leveled against his principal. I was disappointed that he did not even mention one project Ndukwe attracted to his community in his ten long years as the Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

As a man who set out to defend Ndukwe, he could have attempted to manufacture one, at least to save his master’s face, albeit temporarily.

His inability to name one thing Ndukwe used his high-profile public office to do for the people he seeks to represent has made Ndukwe more vulnerable than ever. Apart from his long stay at

The Ernest Ndukwe I know NCC, Ndukwe has been parading the names of many companies and Onuzulike should have told Nigerians what Ndukwe used those companies to achieve for his community.

Even in psychophancy, there is some honour and the least I expected from Onuzulike are tantrums and brickbats. His piece sounded more like the Shakespearian tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.

As Chukwuka did, I challenge Ndukwe and his defenders to point out “one dead project” he attracted to his native Oraifite. Let him refute the allegation that he does not belong to an age grade in his town, as this is a serious misdemeanour that passes him off in the town as “efulefu” (an unserious person).

For someone who desperately seeks to represent his people, let Ndukwe tell Nigerians how many times he had attended Oraifite Town Union Meetings? Strategies for the peace and development of Igbo towns are perfected in such meetings. Had Ndukwe been part of those strategies? I want to ask Onuzulike if he does not belong to an age grade in his town. Does he not attend his Town Union meetings? If he is an indigene of Nnewi as he indicated, does he not see Dr. Dozie Ikodife, Sen. Ikechukwu Obiorah and other prominent sons and daughters of Nnewi in their Town Union Meetings?”

Onuzulike should proudly tell people what development projects Ndukwe, as the boss of NCC for ten years, attracted to his village alone through any of the telecom companies, which spent billions of Naira under his watch developing other communities across Nigeria.

As a successful Igbo son, has Ndukwe taken the Ozo title? He is married from Onitsha and his inlaws as well as his people of Oraifite

By Akpodiete Atawa

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E are barely three weeks from the Presidential/National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) election and another two weeks after, there will be the Governorship/State House of Assembly elections. The closeness of the elections this season has resulted in various tactics to win votes. One troubling approach is the use of religion and ethnocentrism by various candidates.

Most people are not aware that 2010 Electoral Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prohibits campaign based on religion or tribe. Specifically, Section 102 states as follows: “Any candidate, person or association who engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, is guilty of an offence under this Act and on conviction shall be liable to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for twelve months or to both.”

With that said, can a Christian vote for a Muslim? This point is probably answerable by citing the biblical mandate that a Christian should not be unevenly yoked with unbeliever. Specifically, 2 Corinthians 6:14 states “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

However, God has been known to use an evil king or unbeliever to teach believers a lesson and accomplish His will.

A more vexing problem is can a Christian decide to vote on purely ethnic

hold the Ozo institution in high esteem. Why didn’t he take the title? Is it because he doesn’t care about the values and tradition of the people he seeks to represent?

Sen. Chris Ngige, representing Anambra Central, has the title of “Onwa”. Sen. Andy Uba is the “Ugomba Aguata”. Sen. Margery Okadigbo holds the prestigious title of “Odibeze”. Her late husband, Sen. Chuba Okadigbo was the famous “Oyi of Oyi”. Which title did Ernest Ndukwe have before December last year? Is it not true that it was in the wake of his Senatorial ambition, that he was conferred with a chieftaincy title last December ?

Onuzulike should at least have been intelligent to provide answers that could ameliorate Chukwuka’s accusations against Ndukwe.

However, we must understand the plight of a man who was suddenly drafted to defend the antecedents of a man he does not know well.

Ndukwe was guilty of the accusations by Chukwuka because before now, he abhorred our people and had nothing to do with us. I am in a better position to say this.

My name is Henry Okpala.

The serious businesses of the legislature is not achieved by loudmouths but by legislative diplomats who secure compromises behind closed doors

Ndukwe and I are from the same Awor-Ifite village in Oraifite. Our houses are about 400 metres apart and I have had the singular privilege of being the ViceChairman of Awor-ifite village Union for four years. I get angry and upset when I see my brother, Ndukwe, claiming to be what he is not and had never been.

In my four years as ViceChairman of our Village Union, Ndukwe never attended our meetings or contributed in any way to the development of the village despite several entreaties.

To hire people like Onuzulike to defend him and smear the integrity of decent people have only compounded his woes, because many more people would come out forcefully to refute these lies. The truth that no one has said before is that Ndukwe is insensitive.

About five years ago, he built his first house in the village and sunk a borehole in the compound. In other communities, people of Ndukwe’s status sink boreholes to alleviate the sufferings of their people. Ndukwe sunk his own to make money from his poor kinsmen. He added to the suffering of his kinsmen by charging money for water fetched from his borehole. In Igboland, this is an abomination. It was in the wake of his Senatorial bid that he discontinued this exploitation and maltreatment of his kinsmen.

Rather than answer the posers before him Ndukwe has conjured an imaginary enemy called Sen. Andy Uba, who is the incumbent Senator and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the coming National Assembly elections, and commenced a smear campaign against him. They want to know how many bills and motions Sen. Uba has sponsored in the Senate. Fair enough, I will answer but not before educating them that the office of the clerk of

Christians and ethnic politics basis? Recently, I received a call from a kinswoman asking me why I was not supporting “my brother.” I inquired “who is my brother?” In both the 12th Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and third Chapter of the Gospel of Mark, this same question was posed to the Lord Jesus Christ. His answer was that “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35). My kinswoman was talking about someone from my tribe (ethnic group). Ostensibly, she was saying I should vote for a particular candidate because we are from the same tribe. She did not say vote for him because we are both born-again since I am not aware of the religious persuasion of the other two candidates. I know that my candidate is a believer and he approached us at a Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) meeting some years back to solicit our support for another candidate.

In 2012, I wrote a piece titled “Pastors and Politicians.” I put a disclaimer or caveat that “I am a Pastor and also a person very interested in the politics of dear Delta State and our beloved country Nigeria. I also encourage Christians to be involved in politics because of my belief in the

In civilized climes where there is separation of State and Religion, a church that endorses a political candidate will lose its tax exempt status

statement attributed to Edmund Burke that “all that is necessary for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.”

There have been a lot of controversies lately with allegations of “Men of God” (Clergy) supposedly receiving bribes to support a particular candidate. The allegation, while untrue and laughable, reminded me of the thin line that we must not cross when proselytizing on the pulpit as opposed to at a political rally. Christians involved in politics must be careful. Pastor must be more careful because teachers of the Word of God face harsher judgment than their listeners/students. James the half-brother of Jesus said, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1).

During the Local Government elections, I received a text from a fellow Pastor that his religious body was endorsing a particular candidate, who coincidentally was a Pastor. My reply to him was that a church or religious organization should never endorse a political candidate. In fact, a Pastor has no business telling his congregation from the pulpit whom to vote for. This does not preclude him from asking his congregation to vote their Christian values. In fact, in civilized climes where there is separation of State and Religion, a church that endorses a political candidate will lose its tax exempt status.

Nonetheless, faith-based organization such as Christian Coalition of America, exist to research and provide valuable information to Christians and the general

the National Assembly is a public one, and they could, at any time, obtain information on the legislative activities of Sen. Uba. I want them to know that, Sen. Dr. Andy Uba has demonstrated effective representation and sensitivity towards the socioeconomic and political exigencies of his constituents and Nigerians by sponsoring and co-sponsoring many people-oriented Bills and Motions. From 2011 till date, the distinguished Senator has sponsored four motions and cosponsored 17. He has sponsored nine bills and co-sponsored two.

Unarguably, this does not look like the report card of a docile Senator.

Good legislative representation does not require much talk. The serious businesses of the legislature is not achieved by loud-mouths but by legislative diplomats who secure compromises behind closed doors . This is what the great Zik of Africa referred to as “masterly inactivity” – less noise but plenty of action. There is the well known profile of a Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, whose first speech and contribution on the floor of the House, despite being a member of the House for more than one year, was his acceptance speech, after being elected Speaker of the House. Simple-minded fellows like Ndukwe’s defender could have passed him off as a bench warmer legislator but his colleagues knew him better to elect him Speaker. They did not assess him by the volume of noise he made publicly but by the innate qualities they knew he possessed.

This is “masterly inactivity” in action and Sen. Andy Uba personifies this famed philosophy of “masterly inactivity”.

I will advise my brother against the use of people who can do nothing for him except offend more sensibilities.

•Mr. Okpala, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Oraifite, Ekwusigo LGA, Anambra State.

public about electioneering and the values of various candidates. Our problem in Nigeria is that most political parties have no clear cut ideology or manifesto, making it difficult to pin them down. Which political party is conservative and which one is liberal in Nigeria?

Our incumbent President has visited many mega churches to seek for prayers, which is understandable based on the current challenges facing Nigeria. A Muslim can go to the mosque, just like you can visit your native doctor if you so wish.

It is good that Nigeria allows us freedom of religion. Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.

Section 35(1) adds that “national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.” Furthermore, Section 38 (1) then adds that “ Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

In the Body of Christ, there is no Yoruba, Hausa, Ibibio, Efik, Bini, Ishan, Fulani, Calabari, Anioma, Ibo, Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko or Ukwanni candidate.

So, I can emphatically and unequivocally state that a born-again spirit-filled Christian will not vote for a candidate based solely on ethnic reasons.

•Rev. Atawa, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

20—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

WOMEN’S DAY: Stakeholders seeks end to maternal mortality It’s social, cultural, legal issue—WARDC Achieving MDG 5 vital —DEVCOMS NETWORK Empower women to make decision on pregnancy—GYNAECOLOGIST

By Chioma Obinna

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S Nigerian women joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year ’s International Women’s Day, medical experts and partners on the NOTAGAIN Campaign have called for effective implementation of policies and commitments that promote rights and access to quality maternal health and family planning services.

Statistics available have shown that Nigeria currently has an unmet need of 16 percent for family planning among currently married women and 53 percent of women complain of at least one problem in accessing health care.

According to the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, 2013, Nigeria recorded slight improvement in access to antenatal care— the proportion of women receiving antenatal care from a skilled provider is 61 percent compared to 58 percent in 2008.

Goals,MDGs, 5, she said with less than 297 days left to the deadline, Nigeria is still far from achieving the MDGs 5, which aims at reducing by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio, MMR and achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health.

Commenting on Nigeria’s high maternal mortality ratio, the Programme Officer, Media, Development Communications, DevComs Network, Mr. Ayodele Adesanmi, said Nigeria must intensify efforts towards achieving MDG 5.

According to him, this means intensifying efforts made regarding Midwives Service Scheme, MSS, orientation of public, wide adoption of free maternal and child health programmes, increased funding of maternal health programmes, tracking and learning from causes of maternal deaths, and something very innovative.

WARDC Family Planning Vision 2020

In a message to mark the International Women’s Day in Lagos, the Advocacy Advisor, Nigeria Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI, Ms. Charity Ibeawuchi, noted that Nigeria joined the world at the London Summit in 2012 to commit to achieving the Global FP (Family Planning) Vision 2020, which aims at supporting the rights of women and girls to decide freely and for themselves, whether, when and how many children to have.

Ibeawuchi urged government at all levels and partners to work together to ensure that Nigeria’s goal of 36 percent Contraceptive Prevalence Rate is achieved by 2018.

She said: “Culturally appropriate information and facts about family planning and its benefits should be widely available to all. In particular, the youth should know all about FP well before they engage in active family life.

“It is only when young women begin early to know their reproductive health that they can genuinely achieve responsible family life. When all families are planned, the larger society will begin to also plan its affairs and eventually achieve development.”

On MDGs

On the Millennium Development

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The Executive Director, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, described maternal health issue as a host of human rights issues, including social, cultural, legal and accountability issues.

She said: “In the past, people look at the issue of maternal health from medical point of view.

“However, if you do not situate it between the human right discourses, you may not be able to have a holistic understanding of what maternal health is and the implication of maternal health.

“When you situate it in that manner you will be able to understand that maternal health is a social, cultural and legal issue. It is an issue of accountability.”

Empowering women

On his part, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Technical Adviser to DevComs Network on Health Matters, Dr. Adeleke Kaka, called for actions to empower women, adding that, empowering women would make them to decide when to get pregnant or not.

The International Women’s Day 2015, celebrated annually on March 8 all over the world, seeks to encourage effective action for advancing and recognizing women through the theme Make it Happen.

MARCH 9, 2015

Investors' confidence in economy nosedives zNaira devaluation, Election 2015 trigger fear, uncertainty in private sector

By OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

T

he recent devaluation of the Naira and mounting uncertainty surrounding the elections is already taking its toll on the economy as investors' confidence in the economy's performance has ebbed. A survey conducted by Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry among private sector chief executives points to the fact that in the first three months of the year aggregate, Business Confidence Index (BCI) dropped from 30 per cent it posted in the last three months of 2014 to 22.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year. The BCI survey, Financial Vanguard learned, covered 180 top business executives in 162 companies over the period, 6th - 23rd January, 2015. Only top decision makers — owners, MD/CEOs, directors and other top managers participated in the survey.

The drop in the level of local investors’ confidence in the economy represents 7.7 per cent slack of the confidence level among business operators over the last three months.

According to the survey, this is the largest quarter-on-quarter point drop of the BCI score over the last three years. Conventionally, movement of the BCI score by up to five points indicates the presence of significant positive or adverse development in the country ’s economic/business environment.

The drop of the BCI scores at this time suggests that business leaders are largely pessimistic about expanding their businesses and investment spending over the next few months.

According to the survey result, the factors that mostly lowered the confidence level of business leaders C M Y K

at this time are heightened uncertainty surrounding the general elections, depressed crude oil price in the international market and the volatile exchange rate leading to significant depreciation of the local currency.

Over the last few months, business managers and investors have faced heightened anxiety and commercial risks associated with political

uncertainty in the country.

Unpredictable political developments have engendered uncertainty among economic agents, increased the risk profile of new contracts and distorted investment plans. Initial commercial plans and investment decisions across the economy have become very fragile, leading to less than optimal operations

and delay tactics by companies pending when things will start to normalise.

It said that over the years, Nigeria’s BCI scores over continues to trail below the 50 per cent global business confidence threshold due to the lingering infrastructural and institutional shortcomings. The Q12015 BCI survey presented far reaching and very worrisome picture about the state of the economy triggered by profound political uncertainty and oil price fluctuations.

The survey said that operators in the oil and gas industry are mostly disturbed by the uncertainty surrounding delayed passage of the PIB coupled with the adverse developments in the global oil and gas market while the approval delay of the 2015 draft budget, influx and rising Continues on page 22

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Cover Story

Vocation and technical education – a key to improving nigeria’s development. part 4

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VISIT - From left, Business Development Manager ,FMDQ-OTC plc,Mrs Tumi Sekoni, Managing Director/CEO Bank of Industry,Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa;Managing Director/CEO FMDQOTC, Mr Onadele Koko and Group Head, Treasury Division BoI, Mr Taiye Emagha during a courtesy visit to BoI in Lagos.

Investors' confidence in economy nosedives Continues from page 21 patronage of offshore consultants/advisers and political risks in the country were mostly the concern of players in the professional business services sector.

According to the report in the IT/Telecoms sector uncertainty relating to approval and contents of the 2015 budget, security challenges, regulatory issues and 2015 elections top the concerns of players in the IT/ telecoms sector while declining patronage due to weak consumer demand, depreciation of the local currency (Naira), e-trade platforms and rising cost of goods/services gives lots of concern to traders The report said “Business leaders in the financial services sector mentioned that macroeconomic fluctuations,

flight to safety due to the general elections, downgrade of sovereign ratings by international rating agencies, policy uncertainty and exchange rate volatility.

According to the LCCI survey “The agricultural sector is mostly troubled by the continued challenges of

Decreasing business confidence is often a pointer to slowing economic activities

U.S. renews commitment to boost Nigeria’s food production

T

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID) weekend renewed the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in boosting its food production for export.

USAID’s Mission Director Michael Harvey said this in a statement by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria at the end of a four-day national workshop on food security. The statement said the workshop, which was jointly organised by the agency, Federal Ministry of Health and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, was meant to boost Nigeria’s food production capacity. The director said in the statement C M Y K

that the workshop was part of the U.S. government’s long term effort to support the National Food Safety Management Committee. It said the committee was put in place to promote a strong food safety regime to boost Nigeria’s export market as well as the agriculture sector.

“We are pleased to have USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture work together with Nigerian counterparts to hold this workshop. This training follows the inauguration of the InterMinisterial Committee on Food Safety and the National Food Safety Management Committee by the government of Nigeria in January 2015.

access to and cost of credit, infrastructure shortcoming, weak agricultural-industry linkages, and transport and logistics constraints. It also said that Manufacturers, both the big players and SMEs, major challenges are 2015 general elections, cost and access to credit, rising cost of production, exchange rate fluctuation, influx of fake and substandard products, regulatory infractions and worsening public power supply. Hotel and Tourism Sector Operators on their part “confirmed that sharp drop in the number of events and conferences occasioned by election uncertainties, lower room occupancy rate and the recent emergence of new entrants into the sector were largely responsible for slower patronage recorded in the sector at this time. Building and Construction it was learned confirmed that election spending, delayed payment of contractors, weaker demand for real estate and increasing security challenges are issues that mostly affected their business and investing activities during the period.

BCI is a leading economic indicator designed to measure the degree of optimism on the state of the economy that business leaders are expressing through their activities of investing and spending.

Decreasing business confidence is often a pointer to slowing economic activities because business owners are likely to decrease their investment. The more confident entrepreneurs and managers feel about the business environment, the more likely they are to make new investments, create job and impact the economy.

he focus is on the roles of education bound to the role of technology and vocational manufacturing skilled education in enhancing manpower but also to economic entrepreneurial skills that will development and global equip students for economy.

In Nigeria, entrepreneurship education in technology education was Information and previously not seen as Communication Technology fundamental for national (ICT.) driven technological development, or for the environment. The world has economic development, but for become globalised and the the school dropouts, and other future prosperity depends on social and political comparative advantage. This development within the nation comparative advantage hinges and for individuals. Hallak on people and their technical (1990) argues that technology or technological sophistication. education is also linked to Towards this, some crucial human resources development entrepreneurial and technical and that this has an impact on skills needed by the students in more than just economic colleges of education growth, but also an impact on (technical), polytechnics and the wider development of universities to meet the trends individuals and societies. in a global economy is According to him, it contributes analysed. to: Technology education is to be (a). Individual creativity, considered as the key agent of improved participation in the technology development, either economic, social and cultural as a way of developing human roles in society. capacity, increasing the shield (b). Improved understanding work force for modernisation, of an individual and heir industrialisation, respect for others, thus environmental development or promoting social cohesion and as a matter of personnel material understanding freedom, developing capability (c) Improvement in health and and empowerment. Technology nutrition. education is increasingly (d). Improved chances of recognized to be central to both economic development. the origins of technological (e). Improved technological development and challenges development. and to the prospects for (f). Socio-cultural change. successfully dealing with them (g). Democracy and equality (Alam, 2009). Decision makers (h). Ecological development/ at all levels, need timely, quality of life (increasing reliable access to knowledge people’s awareness of their generated by technology and environments). technical education to introduce From our analysis so far, it is rational policies that reflect a clear that modernisation and better global understanding of economic development, complex technical, economic, depends on investment and social, cultural and article issues appreciation of modern trends concerning the society, and our in technology education. environment.

Technical According to Woodhall (1997) decision making and priority investment in technological setting is an integral part of education and training overall development planning produces benefits for the and formation individual and for of technology society as whole. development The roles of strategies. technical and Above all, From our analysis vocational education t e c h n o l o g y so far, it is clear in enhancing education is a that entrepreneurial skills human right modernisation using information and, as such, and communication and economic should receive technology is very priority in the development, important in training allocation of depends on for self-employment, n a t i o n a l investment and self-reliance and resources. It appreciation of skills acquisition now has become modern trends in that government very necessary cannot employ every not to only keep technology graduate. t e c h n o l o g y education

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 23

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he recent devaluation of the Naira has again brought the vulnerability of the average Nigerian to the fore. Almost every housewife today tells the husband that the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar has gone up. This is because in the market place, traders adjust prices along the day’s exchange rate swing. Many are wondering why this should be so. In finance, an exchange rate between two currencies is the rate at which one currency will be exchanged for another.

Foreign exchange is bought and sold in the foreign exchange market at a price that is called the rate of exchange. More specifically, the exchange rate is the domestic money price of foreign money, establishing equivalence between dollars and British pounds sterling, dollars and French francs, a back seat. Each time the rate). The price and volume of currency drops in value, crude oil exported by Nigeria dollars and Naira, and so on.

It is also regarded as the Nigerians are quick to blame are determined externally. Price value of one country’s currency the government and the Central of crude is determined at the in terms of another currency. For Bank for the falling fortune of international oil market and the example, an inter-bank the Naira. Yes, government has volume produced is determined exchange rate of N197 to the failed in the past to put in place by OPEC. The amount of United States dollar means that policies that encourage local foreign exchange inflow from N197 will be exchanged for production but the government crude is not sensitive to each $1 or that $1 will be and the citizenry have to share depreciation or devaluation. It exchanged for N197. Exchange the blame. For a productive is the same story with non-oil rates are determined in the and export-driven economy, exports that have no value foreign exchange market, which exchange rate depreciation is addition.

In economics, the increase of is open to a wide range of an incentive to produce more supply of foreign exchange to in order to get a larger share of different types of buyers and sellers where currency trading the international market. Nigeria is mainly dependent Devaluation makes local goods on the response of foreign is continuous.

Foreign exchange is cheaper than imported goods. demand for exports from supposedly a monetary For countries like Japan, Nigeria. Ordinarily, upon instrument to facilitate Korea, China and America, devaluation, the foreign international trade between one devaluation is of much benefit exchange price of exports falls. country and another. The to their exporters as their When foreign demand is scenario playing out in the products become cheaper and elastic, this decline in export Nigerian market place shows more affordable abroad. prices will stimulate an that Nigerians have tied their Citizens of these countries are expansion in the quantity livelihood to the dollar. Local more concerned with an over exported that will be sufficient production and imported valued currency.

In Nigeria, the reverse is the products are now being priced with reference to the fortunes of case, because of the country’s For a productive the dollar. Increasingly, the low productive base, low nonand export-driven oil export and over-dependence economy is being dollarised with the monetary authorities on foreign exchange earnings economy, exchange unable to do anything about it. from oil, devaluation is an rate depreciation is This is so because Nigeria has economic pain because the an incentive to over the years become so goods and services produced by produce more Nigerians are less sensitive to dependent on imported goods that local production has taken changes in price, (exchange

Nigeria is in a foreign exchange quagmire to enlarge total receipts of foreign exchange despite the lower prices in terms of foreign exchange. However, because the response of foreign demand for Nigerian goods is low, total receipts of foreign exchange become smaller.

Generally speaking, the demand for manufactured products (especially “luxurytype” products) has higher response to devaluation than the demand for agricultural and other primary products produced in Nigeria, which is often inelastic. Many primary products satisfy basic needs and their consumption is relatively insensitive to price changes.

The same is true of intermediate goods that are purchased as raw materials, semi-finished, and the like, when these goods contribute only a small share to total costs of production.

Such products face a derived demand that tends to be inelastic. The demand facing a product with many substitutes is likely to be more elastic than a product with few or no substitutes. That is why in a country like Nigeria, devaluation cannot be of benefit to the economy.

So long as Nigeria continues to use its foreign exchnage

earnings to import petroleum products, cars, rice, fishery and poultry products, the demand for foreign exchange will continue to rise and outstrip supply, and the value of the Naira will continue to fall. This is because the sensitivity of the demand for foreign exchange depends mainly on the degree of changes of the domestic demand for imports. When higher import prices in domestic currency cause a fall in the quantity of imports, then devaluation improves the balance of payments on the demand side which is not the case in Nigeria. At the very worst, when the quantity of imports stays the same, depreciation has no effect on the balance of payments as far as foreign exchange demand is concerned.

When the foreign exchange price of imports does not change after devaluation (import supply is perfectly elastic), then the elasticity of import demand fully determines the demand elasticity of foreign exchange.

Nigeria can only come out of this present quagmire if Nigeria begins to refine crude here in Nigeria, make the auto policy work such that Nigeria like Brazil in a short time, will begin to export cars and other manufactured products, produce rice locally, become self-sufficient in fish and poultry among others. Only then can Nigerians begin to think of a strong Naira exchange rate.

Business & Economy

By GODWIN ORITSE Customs decentralizes issuance of transit cargo approval

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HE Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has decentralised the issuance of approval for transit cargoes with a view to facilitating quick movement of these categories of cargoes through Nigerian ports and assist government to regain its lost transit cargo businesses.

The Executive Secretary Nigerian Shippers’ Council Mr. Hassan Bello in an interview with Vanguard said that its collaboration with the Customs has led to the decentralisation of the issuance of the document.

Before now, issuance of transit document for the movement of cargo out of Lagos port was approved only at the Headquarters of the Customs service. The document, according to Bello can now be issued in Lagos and other Customs formation across the country.

Bello also said that Nigeria has over the years lost these

transit cargoes to ports of neighbouring countries adding that the government has commenced moves to reclaim these businesses back.

The Council boss explained that the Inland Container

Depots, ICDs will play a crucial role in the movement of these cargoes as most imports will be destined to the ICDs for onward movement to their country of destination.

For this reason, a survey to

determine the cost and time to transport goods from Lagos through Kano to Jibiya (a border town between Nigeria and Niger) was conducted by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, CILT.

CITA commissions N500m facility for airlines in Nigeria

By Providence Obuh

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ITA Aviation Fueling Company, leading jet fueling firm in Nigeria, has commissioned its ultra modern Aviation Fuel Storage and Handling Depot worth about N500 million.

The project, adjacent to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, is built with the latest edition of filtering technology and has the capacity of about 1.8 million litres; 1.5 million litres dedicated to jet fuel and 300,000 litres dedicated to water and foam as a precaution against fire disaster.

Managing Director of CITA Aviation

Fueling Company, Mr. Thomas Ogungbangbe, disclosed at the commissioning of the facility in Lagos.

He further disclosed that the company is currently operating in 10 major airports in the country with a huge sum invested on the new facility to maintain its leadership Status in the jet fueling industry.

This is even as he described CITA as one of the fastest growing aviation fueling companies in Nigeria with expertise in quality service delivery.

He said: “We strive to be the largest aviation fueling company in Nigeria that is why on issues of quality, we have been

The survey, otherwise known as the LAKAJI (Lagos, Kano Jibiya) project also determined the number of days for cargoes to be transported to their final destination.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, the Vice President (West) of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Logistics, CILT, Dr. Alban Igwe told Vanguard that apart from the involvement of Customs, other agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, the haulage companies, freight forwarders and other stakeholders that will assist the movement of transit cargo to their destination are working on the project.

Igwe said that the issue of transit cargo is beyond port competitiveness adding that logistics is a major factor that will enhance the smooth movement of these cargoes.

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Business & Economy

Adeyeye tasks Aerospace centre on standards

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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SEMINAR - From left: Chiagozie Nwizu, MSME Advisory Manager, Diamond Bank PLC; Raymond Mbonu, Business Manager, BrigdeHead Branch, Diamond Bank PLC; Chief Emmanuel Eziokwu, KSJ, Chairman, Prollo Pipes & Profile Industries Limited, Onitsha; Iheanyi Nwanosike, Business Manager, New Market Road Branch, Diamond Bank PLC and Nicholas Peter, MSME Proposition, Diamond Bank PLC at the 47thBusinessXpress Seminar of the bank organized for Micro-Small, Medium Enterprises at Onitsha.

he Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye has tasked the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS) to improve its standard in order to compete favourably among institutions like it in the

world. Adeyeye threw the challenge to the Executive Director of RECTAS, Mr Adewale Akingbade when the new ED paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Works in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Minister said it has become imperative for the Ministry to continue to Support RECTAS in every possible in order to enable the training

institute achieve its objective and expand its scope. He advised the ED to use his four-year tenure to improve the centre in order to be at an advantage with others similar training institute and also rank high in the world.

‘The relevance of this centre at this special time can’t be re emphasized so it is our duty therefore to do whatever is in our power to strengthen the activities, to encourage the works of the researchers in the centre, to make sure there is enough and adequate resources are provided to be able to carry out the vision”. He pledged the Ministry’s support to the centre, “What is needed is continuous support for it to have all attributes to be able to carry out your mission efficiently and successfully. So you are welcome here, count on our support, our doors are opened all the time, we will continue to give you the necessary support”.

He added, “I want to assure you that we will continue to support the centre in every way possible so that it becomes the centre of excellence not only in the station that it is located but also in the African sub region and I look forward to the time where the centre can be compared to similar ones all over the world and I have no doubt that we have the man power to ensure that we are ranked amongst the best in the world”.

“I wish you in the next four years a very successful tenure I will encourage you not only to build on what your predecessors left behind but to make fundamental changes, changes that will fundamentally improve the quality of your service, I want you to take very bold and courageous steps to really expand, to build the work of the centre and like I said always count on our support”.

M r A d e w a l e Akingbade, Executive Director of RECTAS, said the support was i n s t r u m e n t a l to infrastructural development of the centre.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 25

Business & Economy

44 ships inbound Lagos ports with foods, petrol

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orty four ships laden with general cargo, foods, petroleum products and other goods, are expected to arrive Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Thursday in Lagos. The NPA stated this in its daily publication, the ‘Shipping Position,’ made available to newsmen.According to the NPA , the ships are expected to arrive from March 5 to March 24.It said that 24 of the expected ships would arrive with containers, while five others were expected to arrive the ports with general cargo.

The document explained that eight ships would sail into the ports with petrol, base oil and kerosene, while six other ships would arrive with rice in bags, bulk malt, bulk salt, bulk sugar and soya beans.It indicated that 16 ships had arrived the ports with foods and petroleum products, waiting to berth.

BPP saved N95bn through contract reduction in 2014

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he Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Emeka Ezeh, on Thursday said that the bureau had saved N95 billion for the Federal Government through cost reduction of contract sums. Ezeh, who made this known in Abuja, said the amount was in 2014. He said that the amount was from the difference of what contractors and service providers had submitted through various Federal Government institutions to execute projects and what the bureau approved.

“Last year, BPP saved Federal Government about N95 billion through cost reduction of contract sums.

This is a part of the stories that a lot of Nigerians are not hearing about. But I can tell you that the government is doing a lot to prevent corruption. Better to prevent the milk from being spilled rather than struggling over milk that is already on ground and waste more resources on picking something that is on ground.

C M Y K

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he Chairman, Securities and E x c h a n g e Commission (SEC), Dr Suleiman Ndanusa, said capital market integration would help to tackle regional challenges and create a larger market for local and international businesses.

Ndanusa said this at the meeting of the West African Capital Markets Integration Council (WACMIC) in Abuja.

He said:“ Integrating West Africa’s capital markets will not only empower us as a more formidable competitor to other emerging markets but also help tackle the challenges of depth, breadth and liquidity.

This will help create a much larger market for local and international businesses in the region. Integration could also usher in a wave of product innovation as expertise is utilised from across the region to churn out innovative products for different categories of businesses and investors. “ According to the United Nations, by 2050, West Africa will host more people than North America and almost as many people as the Latin America of about 720 million.

Investors are looking to capture this future growth and the onus is on us to create an integrated capital market that will serve as an ideal gateway for such investment.

Ndanusa said he was hopeful that the outcome of

VISIT - Mrs Dorothy Gimba, Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, and Engr. Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), during a courtesy visit to the FAAN MD at the agency's headquarters.

Integration of West African capital market'll tackle regional challenges — Ndanusa the deliberations would strengthen and promote efforts geared at integrating the West African Capital Markets.

He noted that the meeting was timely as it would review milestones attained, discuss WACMIC’s current status, identify what needed to be done and specify challenges to be surmounted. He added

that the meeting was important because of the recent global economic environment that had led the International Monetary Fund to revise global growth expectation downward to 3.8 per cent.

The chairman said the first phase of the regional integration, which was the approval of Sponsored Access

Framework, was already launched on April 1, 2014 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. He, however, urged the members to work towards ensuring the harmonisation of market processes, regimes and instruments while ensuring an adaptable environment and minimal cost of compliance.

Nigeria’s trade to hit N27.6trn by December — NBS

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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he country ’s total produced trade is expected to hit N27.6trillion by December this year from N25.17trillion recorded in December 2014 by the end of this year, according to National Bureau of Statistics. NBS in its economic review and outlook for the

next three years showed an increase of N2.43trn which represents 9.66 per cent rise.

The Bureau posited that the recent depreciation of the naira would result in cheaper prices of non-oil exports, adding that this would have a positive impact on trade.

It stated, “While exports are expected to be positive in the near term, the impact of

declining crude oil prices is likely to result in a decline in the value of oil exports over the forecasted period. The recent depreciation of the Nigerian naira is expected to result in cheaper prices of non-oil exports, resulting in a boost.

“Although the decline in crude oil prices may weigh on the value of oil exports, the

Nigeria ranks 75th in global logistics index

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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IGERIA currently ranks 75th in the Trade Logistics Global Economy 2014 report.

Certainly this represent a quantum leap from 121st position in 2012.

It is an indication that logistics business is getting better.

It features the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), which the World Bank has produced every two years since 2007.

According to the report, the LPI measures the on-theground efficiency of trade

supply chains, or logistics performance. This year ’s edition covers 160 countries.

Supply chains are the backbone of international trade and commerce.

It explained that teach country ’s logistics encompasses freight transportation, warehousing, border clearance, payment systems, and increasingly many other functions outsourced by producers and merchants to dedicated service providers.

The importance of good logistics performance for economic growth, diversification, and poverty

reduction is now firmly established.

Part of the report reads “ Although logistics is performed mainly by private operators, it has become a public policy concern of national governments and regional and international organizations.

“Supply chains are a complex sequence of coordinated activities.

“The performance of the whole depends on such government interventions as infrastructure, logistics services provision, and cross-border trade facilitation.

recent depreciation of the local currency is expected to bode well for non-oil exports.

“The depreciation also means that imports are likely to be more expensive and are likely to slow going forward.

The value of total trade is projected to increase by 9.66 per cent in 2015.”

The NBS report added that inflation might rise to 8.8 per cent this year, noting that it was expected to remain moderately stable, averaging 8.13 per cent over the 2015 to 2017 period.

It said contrary to speculations that there were likely to be increased pressures on prices as a result of the general elections, a review of the historical time series in the current democratic dispensation revealed that this was unlikely to be the case. “ Lagged effects may, however, exist as the headline index was higher the year after the election in all cases.

Nevertheless, upward pressures on inflation rates are likely to be caused by the recent depreciation of the naira.

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Banking & Finance

FCMB showcases e-banking ser vices at Social services Media Week

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irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has continued to demonstrate its strength in the delivery of cutting-edge, prompt and cost effective solutions that meets the needs of its customers. This was displayed during the 2015 Social Media Week (SMW) Lagos Conference which held recently, where the bank showcased its various e-banking products, apps and social media advancements.

The conference, which had FCMB as a sponsor, brought together thought leaders, innovators and business practitioners who interacted and offered insights, ideas, inspirations and trends that enabled participants leverage the benefits of social media to realise their respective individual and business aspirations.

During the five days conference, the bank exhibited its newly enhanced mobile banking channel, known as FCMBMobile. The product now has a better look and feel, user friendly and more secured features for customers to carry out payments and other transactions. Some of the transactions that can be performed on FCMBMobile include, funds transfer, checking of account balance, bills payment (e.g Dstv and Gotv subscriptions) and top up of air time on mobile phones, among others.

Participants at the conference had an opportunity to download the FCMBMobile app and test firsthand how the product worked.

Commenting on the bank’s e-payment and other electronic channels, the Group Head, Cards and Electronic Banking Group, Mr. John Iwuajoku, said that, ‘’the added security benefit on FCMBMobile is to ensure that our customers use the channel with peace of mind”. He assured that, ‘’we will continue to enhance the security and other capabilities of our e-banking channels be it in fixed locations or on-the-go. With FCMBMobile, our customers can now conduct their transactions from the comfort of their homes or offices without visiting any of our branches.

C M Y K

Investment opportunities will emerge despite stock market volatility —SOTUBO

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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ele Sotubo is the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Nigeria’s largest stockbroking firm in value and volume of transactions handled at the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In this interview Sotubo talks about the capital market and efforts to deepen it, the bond market, corporate governance issues, listing of oil and gas companies, among other issues. Excerpts:

•Sotubo by the Debt Management Office as the Government Stockbroker to FGN Bonds and part of the duties assigned is to create awareness on Retail Bond trading. Retail investors have started taking advantage of investing in bonds on the secondary market through retail bond trading as this helps to diversify their potfolio and manage their risk.

Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited has been able to consistently provide liquidity in the retail bond market. We now have retail investors participating in the bond market with a minimum of N100,000 as against wholesale bond market which requires N100 million minimum. We will continue to organize workshops and educate the public on the advantages of investing in bonds.

The current reforms in the economy, particularly in power and agriculture, have helped to position Nigeria as an investment haven. Are investors showing strong

There have been agitations for multinational oil and gas companies and telecoms giants to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange to further boost the capital market’s contribution to the GDP. The jury is out on whether the capital market is a true reflection of the economy. What efforts are market operators like yourself making to encourage telecoms and multinational oil and gas companies to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange?

The listing of these companies will help deepen the capital market. The regulators and operators are currently in discussions with the government on the best way to ensure that these companies list on The Exchange to help deepen the market.

Beyond that, we will continue to play an active role in listing such companies on the NSE. The listing of SEPLAT, an oil and gas company, on the NSE is a clear example of our contribution as financial services group to deepening the NSE. What measures would you recommend to boost confidence of local investors Foreign investment withdrawal and increase their participation in the stock from the market in 2014 was market? largely as a result of Macros fall Restoring confidence in the in oil prices and currency market after the global melt down will be a gradual devaluation and exchange rate process as activities in the instability equities market is cyclical.

Foreign investment withdrawal from the market in 2014 was largely as a result of Macros fall in oil prices and currency devaluation and exchange rate appetite for opportunities in the instability. Improved macro-economic situation aforementioned sectors?

With the recent GDP rebasing and the will galvanize investors’ interest and boost retail reforms around the power sector, we see investors’ confidence in the market.

The increase in the number of more strong appetite from investors, perhaps not sophisticated domestic investors such as pension on the stock market now. However, investors and asset management and insurance companies have shown increased interest in partnering should drive participation in the medium to with Nigerians on power projects and to a longer-term. We believe that the increase in retail large extent agricultural transformation.

The challenging macro-economic investment products such as Exchange Traded environment is likely to slow down the pace Funds (ETFs) will also encourage retail investors of investment on that front as many players participation.

The appointment of Stanbic IBTC wait on the sidelines until the elections are Stockbrokers two years ago to manage bonds well out of the way and the uncertainty for the federal government was expected by around the fiscal operations of the stakeholders to lead to a more robust market government has been eased.

In the last decade, technology has for bonds, opening up the market to retail redefined the operations of the capital investors. Will you say stakeholders’ market.

How do you see technology expectations have been met?

Yes, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers was appointed shaping the stockbrokerage business in the

next decade?

The interesting thing about technology is that it fosters efficiency and productivity. It also drives transparency in the capital market. This can also be a mode through which retail investors can be attracted into the market.

Many Nigerians using mobile devices can now have access to put their trades through the market. With the introduction of Direct Market Access (DMA) and other similar initiatives, we expect that this will help to improve participation of investors in the capital market.

There seems to be a general disposition by Pension Funds Administrators (PFAs) to federal government securities, about 40 percent of PFA’s investments are skewed in that direction, followed by money market instruments. Investment in the capital market is considerably less. Which factors, in your opinion, other than regulation, determine these investment decisions?

Apart from the perceived low risk appetite of PFAs, which is understandable when we consider the adverse effects of the 2008 stock market crash on portfolio investors, we also believe that the limited number of high quality liquid stocks reduces their options.

Lack of depth in the Nigerian market makes the available options limited. The preference for capital preservation and guaranteed money market yields also contribute to the low risk appetite for equities. Part of the regulation also requires pension funds to report returns on an annual basis, which discourages them from taking the long term view on investments.

We expect the listing of more quality companies as reforms in sectors such as the power, oil and gas, telecommunication and agriculture increase demand for capital.

What can investors expect from the capital market in 2015?

We expect continuous volatility in the equities market as macro concerns linked to the falling oil price and currency drive investor sentiment. The passive position of domestic investor has not helped the situation.

Despite the bearish outlook, we expect trading opportunities to continue to emerge for short-term investors while longer-term investors take advantage of the falling prices to increase exposure in quality stocks. We also expect the political risk as we approach the general elections to weigh on investor sentiments in the short-term.

However, we expect to continue to see investors interest in quality names.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 27

Corporate Finance

By PETER EGWUATU

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ando Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to creating value for its shareholders as it continues to adopt proactive measures that would enhance profitability and returns for stakeholders. Despite the fall in oil prices which threatened to wipe out more than $1.6 trillion in earnings for oil producing companies and countries, Oando Energy Resources (OER), has realized a cash windfall in the sum of $234 million due to the proactive fiscal measures put in place prior to the slump in oil prices The substantial gain made by the company has reaffirmed its positioning for success as it will boost investors’ confidence in the company. The management of OER has reaffirmed its commitment to take proactive measures to boost shareholders’ value. The company has steadily navigated the ups and downs of the cyclical oil & gas market by adapting quickly and being fiscally innovative to enable its business operations run as normal.

The downturn in global oil price has led to most upstream exploration and production players restructuring their 2015 plans including making redundancies, cutting capital expenditure and an expectation of lower revenues and operating cash flows. Local oil and gas firms have not been immune to the effects of this slump; the pressure on the naira and general uncertainty - elections and Boko Haram - has and will continue to have an adverse effect on local players.

The income realised by the company , according to the management of OER will be applied towards a $238 million loan pre-payment, thereby substantially reducing the company’s total debt for the acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigeria (COPN) from $900 million to $615 million today.

It should be noted that last year, the total market capitalisation of the banking sub-sector had declined by 24.5 percent from N2.219tn to N720bn as seen by their collective adverse performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yet a consortium of financial institutions including FBN Capital, First City Monument Bank Limited, Zenith Bank, and Fidelity Bank bought into Oando’s long-term vision for regional domination within the energy sector starting with its game-changing acquisition.

The COPN deal was funded with a 50/50 debt-equity mix, and the pre-payment of $238 million to local and international lenders on the debt portion implies a reduction on the net purchase price to $1.2 billion.

OER successfully realized $234 million by resetting its crude oil

Oando shareholders to get more value for investment hedge floor price from an average of $95.35 per barrel to $65.00 per barrel on 10,615 bbls/day for the next 18 months and another 1,553 bbls/day for a further 18 months until January 2019. The company will pay an additional $4 million from its cash reserves.

Hedge positions are investment decisions often taken by companies with the intention of offsetting potential losses/gains that may be incurred, especially during a global downturn.

Pade Durotoye, CEO OER said: “The decline in global

crude oil prices led to a substantial gain for our company." and we have 10,832 bbls/day average production hedged for the balance of 2015 and 8,000 bbls/day for 2016. Cashing out some value from this hedge will enable us reduce our outstanding loans and leverage by $238 million, saving the company $65 million in interest payments over the remaining term of the loan facilities, whilst preserving a floor of $65 per barrel.

With 50% of our Oil Production

hedged and 65% of our production being gas committed to stable long term priced contracts, we are well positioned with strong cashflow to meet our obligations and aspirations through this current oil price down cycle.” The more leveraged a company is the greater its financial risk, by taking the proactive step of having hedging tools in place and significantly reducing its leverage profile OER is optimising its balance sheet for increased earnings which could translate to rewards for shareholders in the mid to long term.

MEETING - From left, Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, Chairman SEC, Kalilou Traore, Commissioner Industry and Private Promotion, ECOWAS Commission, Oscar Onyema, CEO Nigeria Stock Exchange and Edoh Kossi Amenounve, DG/CEO Bourse Regionale Des Valeurs Mobilieres during the 5th meeting of the West African Capital Market Integration Council (WACMIC) in Abuja.

Stockbrokers, Anabel initiate new employment option for youths

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he Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in collaboration with Anabel Leadership Academy has commenced a new initiative to support the federal government’s drive for youth empowerment in Nigeria. Under the new initiative, plan is underway to put in place an arrangement whereby the beneficiaries of the institute’s Professional Diploma in Securities and Investments would be employed as agents in the diverse areas of the financial market.

The new move which may entail a review of some rules and regulations in the financial system formed the fulcrum of a closed- door meeting by some Chief Executive Officers of top-class stockbroking firms, principal officers of CIS and management of Anabel Leadership Academy.

The breakfast meeting, first in the series of such meetings was at the instance of CIS and Anabel.

Addressing the participants at the strategy meeting, the President and Chairman of the Council of CISMr.Albert Okumagba explained that the CIS had earlier signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Anabel Leadership Academy Limited to enable Anabel mobilize over 150,000 young Nigerian’s annually to undertake training and certification as a precondition for launching the youths into the financial

world. Okumagba noted that this is actualizing the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and Savings, thereby creating jobs for themselves by establishing Financial Planning Houses for the institute.

In his exclusive presentation at the meeting, the President, Anabel Leadership Academy, Mr. Nicholas Okoye identified the strategy that would enhance the training and empowerment of the beneficiaries of the holder’s Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment.

He explained that after the certification by the institute and practical training by Anabel, the young ones would be integrated into the Federal Government’s policy of annual job creation. Okoye also noted that operators in the financial market including the capital market, money market, insurance etc could employ the young ones as agents and this would strengthen the marketing of financial products and services nationwide. Participants at the meeting expressed delight at the new initiative and urged the Institute and Anabel to work out modalities for absorbing the young ones into the financial market, especially the regulation, risk management and other components that require a review.

GTBank records N116.39bn PBT in 2014

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uaranty Trust Bank Plc has recorded a Profit Before Tax, PBT of 116.39 billion for the audited financial results for the year ended December 2014 .

A review of the 2014 results shows positive performance in virtually all financial indices, reaffirming the bank’s position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Nigeria. The Group delivered an impressive Profit Before Tax of N116.39billion, an increase of 9.30billion or 8.7% over the N107.09billion reported in December 2013 and Gross Earnings of N278.52billion an increase of 14.8% from the N242.67billion recorded in the same period of 2013. In terms of value creation for its shareholders, the Bank recorded pre-tax ROAE of 32.94% and ROAA of 5.22% respectively.

The Bank’s balance sheet remains strong with 12.4% growth in Total Assets, from N2.10trillion in 2013 to N2.36trillion in the year under review. Loan book growth up by 27.12% to close at N1.28trillion from N1.01trillion in 2013; driven primarily by growth of the foreign currency loan book, on the back of the 2013 $400mm Eurobond issue. On the back of continued growth of the Bank’s Retail franchise, Customer Deposits grew by 13.3% from N1.43trillion in 2013 to N1.62trillion in 2014.

The Bank continues to maintain a disciplined and prudent approach to loan growth in line with its Risk Management framework. The Bank’s Non-Performing Loans (NPL) ratio remained low at 3.15%; down from 3.58% in the comparative period of 2013.

On the back drop of this result, the Bank is proposing Total-Year Dividend of N1.75k per share (inclusive of the 25kobo interim dividend paid at half year 2014).

Commenting on the financial results, Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, said that the Bank’s financial performance in 2014 attests to the inherent soundness of our strategy and resilience of our earnings.

The Group has delivered a respectable Profit Before Tax of N116.39billion in spite of all the headwinds the industry experienced in 2014.

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Homes & Housing

FG housing loans board approves 500 mortgages

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overning board of the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board has ratified housing loans for 500 federal workers.

A release from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the board, Mr Akinwale Adegbola, showed that at its 72nd meeting last week, in Abuja, the board also ratified the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.

According to Adegbola, the aim is to tackle the challenges faced by public servants in accessing soft loans to renovate their homes.

UK house prices dip 0.3% in February

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K house prices fell 0.3 percent in February leaving the average house price at £192,372, according to the Halifax.

The fall, the first since October, followed a rise of 1.9 percent in January.

However, prices in the three months to February were up 2.6 percent compared with the previous quarter.

Quarterly measures are often seen as more reliable as they smooth out monthly volatility, and the Halifax said the underlying trend indicated prices were firming.

Prices in the three months to February were 8.3 percent higher than for the same three months a year ago, slightly lower than the previous annual increase of 8.5 percent.

Martin Ellis, the Halifax’s housing economist, said recent rises in people’s earnings and spending power, coupled with low mortgage rates and recent stamp duty changes were likely to be underpinning the market.

He also said demand for properties remained higher than the number coming on to the market. “The supply of both new and second hand homes available remains low; another factor which is likely to be supporting house prices,” he stated.

NMRC, US firm seal N200bn mortgage investment deal

By YINKA KOLAWOLE

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he Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a US-based investment firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, for the investment of $1bn (about N200 billion) in the Nigerian mortgage sector.

Cantor Fitzgerald is a global private investment firm with strong expertise in assetbacked mortgage securities.

The firm has also made arrangements to build 10,000 houses in Kaduna, Lagos, Enugu and Abuja within the next one year.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, last week, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said the entry of such an important player into Nigeria’s mortgage sector will boost the prospect of achieving the core vision of the NMRC which is to get young Nigerians convenient access to the means of owning their own homes.

The minister described the MoU as a very significant moment for the country, noting that the mortgage sector has a huge untapped potential. She noted that the mortgage sector in other climes remained the engine of the economy because of the huge job opportunities and its multiplier effects. “Cantor Fitzgerald’s presence in Nigeria shows that our mortgage strategy is attracting the right kind of attention from the right kind of people around the world

a n d this will deepen and diversify and ultimately reduce the cost of mortgage and housing in Nigeria,” she said.

Managing Director of Cantor Fitzgerald’s Investment Bank, Mr. Jack Hefferman, said his firm was fascinated by Nigeria’s steady progress in the mortgage market, hence the need to bring liquidity to Nigeria to deepen the mortgage market.

According to him, the double digit interest on mortgages currently applicable in Nigeria would gradually give way to single digit as liquidity increases in the system and more houses are made

When I first started interest rate was 12 per cent and over 30 years, it has dropped to four percent.

Nigeria can experience same,” he declared.

Hefferman further disclosed that the land for the housing units in the four pilot states has been acquired, adding that that works on designated sites would commence in April this year, starting with Lagos State.

In his comment, Chief Executive Officer of NMRC,

Double digit interest on mortgages currently applicable in Nigeria would gradually give way to single digit as liquidity increases in the system available. “NMRC is exactly the right business model to bring liquidity to Nigeria’s housing sector. I have been in the mortgage sector for about 30 years in the U.S.

Prof. Charles Inyangette, said the signing of the MoU marked another significant step by the federal government to change the face of the housing sector in

New York tops world’s luxury property market

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ew York’s luxury property market registered the biggest gains globally in high-end home prices in 2014, according to Knight Frank, a global residential and commercial property consultancy firm.

The value of high-end residential property in the U.S. financial center soared 18.8 percent between December 2013 and December 2014, far outpacing the global average price growth of 2 percent, the real estate consultancy ’s annual Wealth Report showed on

Thursday. “With New York number one in the Prime International Residential Index, it is clear that it has transformed itself again in the recent past, and as result, has broadened its appeal to the international investment community,” said Alistair Elliott, senior partner and group chairman of Knight Frank.

U.S. cities dominated the top end of the rankings, with four cities featuring in the top 10. By contrast, Asia, which had four markets in the top 10 in the previous year, had just one.

New York was followed by Aspen, Bali, Istanbul and

Abu Dhabi, which saw gains of between 14.7 percent and 16 percent. San Francisco, Dublin, Cape Town, Muscat and Los Angeles rounded out the top 10, with price advances between 13.2 percent and 14.3 percent.

Beijing and Guangzhou, previously in the top 10, have now slipped to the middle of the Prime International Residential Index – which tracks the price performance of 100 of the world’s key luxury markets.

Singapore, meanwhile, has fallen almost to the bottom of the charts.

Despite the

•Affordable housing development

t h e country. He said that NMRC has fully commenced operations, having received its licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Meanwhile, giving an update on applications for mortgages under the NMRC, which opened last year, Okonjo-Iweala noted that that out of 66,000 applications received, 25,000 had been pre-qualified, 9,000 had been given offer letter, while monies have been disbursed to 33 Nigerians to acquire their homes. She further disclosed that a number of other initiatives were being worked out with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to enable workers borrow from their Retirement Savings Account to own houses. She added that efforts were also in the offing to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies to expand the housing market. slowdown in China’s economy, wealthy emigrants from the mainland continue to be a significant force in global luxury real estate market, said Nicholas Holt, head of research for Asia Pacific at Knight Frank.

Around 76,200 Chinese millionaires are estimated to have emigrated or acquired alternative citizenship in between 2003 and 2013.

Going forward, Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey will become major suppliers of ultra-high net worth individuals hungry to buy high-end international property,” Holt said.

“Indonesian buyers will become a much more serious force in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region in 2015.”

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Insurance

Large corporations face pressure to protect themselves

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arge corporations are under increasing pressure to disclose and ultimately financially protect themselves against weather, climate and natural disaster risks, the result of which will be a growing demand for insurance, reinsurance and risk transfer.

In the last couple of years the pressure is mounting, with the United Nations and other global organisations now pushing for international accounting standards to include a level of disclosure.

The “1-in-1003 initiative, which looks to integrate climate and natural disaster risk into the financial system through a process of stress-testing and disclosure, is gaining support.

It seeks to mandate that globally active corporations report their exposure to 1-in100 year disaster losses and also their resilience efforts against weather and disaster risks on balance-sheets.

The idea is that by encouraging disclosure it will also encourage greater resilience. Corporations would look to become more physically and financially resilient to disaster and weather losses in order to improve their balancesheets, which of course means greater use of insurance and risk transfer, resulting in greater need for reinsurance and risk transfer tools such as insurance-linked securities (ILS) and catastrophe bonds it is assumed.

The UN process is ongoing, with other organisations such as the World Bank heavily involved and engagement from across the financial, capital markets and business sector.

The desire to get something in place to at the least encourage, if not mandate, disclosure of disaster and weather risks is high.

Interestingly, in some business sectors large shareholding investors are now pushing this same agenda as well, as they become increasingly aware of the threat that a changing climate and resulting heightened potential for disaster and weather impacts could have on their holdings.

Interestingly the sector that has most recently come under pressure is the U.S. oil industry.

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VISIT - From left, Acting Director General of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Janet Omisore, 2nd Deputy National President, Iyalode Alaba Lawson; Cote D'Ivoire Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Kone Epouse Toure Maman; NACCIMA National Treasurer, Arc. Thomas Awagu and Acting First Counselor in the Embassy of Cote D'Ivoire in Nigeria, Mr. Luciey Kouakou during the Ambassador's courtesy visit to NACCIMA Secretariat in Lagos.

Leadway, AIICO emerge lead insurers of deep water vessel

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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eadway Assurance Company Limited and AIICO Insurance plc are the lead underwriters on the newly acquired deep water vessel owned by Petrolog Limited.

The acquisition which was financed by First Bank of Nigeria Limited and brokered

by FBN Insurance Limited boosted the capability of Petrolog Limitied, a corporate customer of the bank by funding the acquisition of a brand new ABS classed Dynamic Positioning Dive support Vessel, ‘DSV Vinnice’.

The bank’s financing activities in the oil industry also included funding specialised vessel acquisition scheme for local content support; supporting major pipeline distribution and gas infrastructural development projects in several communities; funding rig acquisition for indigenous operators and financing lines to indigenous fabricators for oil and gas contracts.

Though the bank did not disclose the amount involved but said the funding was part of its continued drive to improve local content in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, First Bank, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, said the bank was delighted to be “a part of this major milestone achievement by supporting indigenous participation and local content in the nation’s oil and gas

sector, especially the upstream end.”

According to him, “The vessel, which is 85 metres long with a beam of 22 meters, is the largest indigenous owned

It is equipped with 4 point mooring system, 100 tons AHC Crane, Shaft generators for the two bow thrusters and two fire fighting pumps

DSV in its class and is capable of providing diving, offshore construction and field support”. He explained further, “It is equipped with 4 point mooring system, 100 tons AHC Crane, Shaft generators for the two bow thrusters and two fire fighting pumps. It is powered by 3 main 800kW Caterpillar generators, the vessel is also equipped with a 192kW emergency generator and the saturated diving system is powered by dedicated 800kW main and 400kW emergency generators”.

Onasanya said the Vessel which was commissioned for business operations early this month, is also equipped

with an ABS classed air dive system for more shallow subsea diving activities.

He said, “This further demonstrates our commitment to increase the capability of corporate customers as we continue to put them first in the heart of our business.”

Onasanya promised the bank’s continued partnership with and assistance to the company to enable it fulfill its vision and corporate objective of being an industry leader in the provision of support services to the oil and gas companies, adding “For instance, First Bank had expended over $3.3 billion (N500 billion) in the financing of various oil and gas projects in Nigeria last year. This financing package represents 37.40 per cent of the bank’s portfolio.” The amount, the bank said, represented its total financing activities for the upstream, midstream and downstream sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry.

The bank noted that it has committed $650 million for the development of selected marginal field operation, while it expended $270 million to offshore pipeline projects and $234 million as local contract support for specialised vessel acquisition scheme.

In appreciation of the bank’s financial support, the Executive Chairman, Petrolog Limited, Dr. Vincent Ebuh, commended the bank for believing in the management by supporting their dream from inception. The support, he said, helped them to realise the company ’s goals and business objectives. Ebuh confirmed that the bank has been helpful from inception the company began banking with it, adding “they have provided us with the financial muscle needed to succeed in our line of business”.

Premium Pension, Stanbic IBTC, others nominated for Businesstoday awards

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he Management of Businesstoday Online has said that Premium Pension, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and 17 other firms in the Pension and insurance industry have been nominated for the Businesstoday Online awards 2014 scheduled to hold in May, 2015.

Managing Director/CEO of Businesstoday Online, Nkechi Naeche, said that the yearly award which is in eight categories is exceptional for insurance and pension operators and individuals who have excelled in their various fields in 2104. She said firms nominated for pension company of the year category are: Premium Pension; Stanbic IBTC Managers, AIICO Pension Managers and FUG Pension Managers.

Those for Pension Man of the year are:

Director General, Lagos State Pension Commission (L ASPEC), Mr. Rotimi Adekunle Hussain; Managing Director Premium Pension Limited, Mr. Wilson Ideva and Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Demola Sogunle.

Nominees for the insurance company of the year category are: AIICO Insurance Plc, NEM Insurance plc, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Custodian and Allied Insurance and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) while those for insurance man of the year are: Managing Director/CEO, Goldlink Insurance Plc, Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo; Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Insurance Group, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr. Tope Smart and AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Edwin Igbiti.

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Interview

Retail investors have not sufficiently returned to stock market — Afolayan

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he Managing Director, Securities Africa Financial Limited, Mr. Folabi Afolayan, in this interview speaks on issues affecting the stockbroking firms, capital market activities, among others.

Excerpts:

By PETER EGWUATU

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he main challenge facing stockbroking firms at the moment is that of volume of business. Trades in the market have been largely done by institutions (mainly foreign) while the domestic retail investors have not sufficiently returned to the stock market since the financial crisis of 2008/ 2009. There are a few stockbrokers working with these foreign institutions who collectively control the major volumes traded in the market.

Foreign investors are also very sensitive and any information that reflects uncertainty in politics and government policies trigger a fast withdrawal from the market which results in high levels of volatility.

Thus, the market still suffers from confidence issues within the domestic sector. We need increased level of domestic participation to improve the volume of trades and to contain the high volatility currently being experienced in the market. Other challenges include the issue of brokerage commission which continues to be squeezed as stockbrokers pursue limited clients for business as well as the increase in regulatory costs of doing business, which is like a double jeopardy.

Of course operational costs or what I will call high infrastructural deficit costs is a common challenge across board for anyone running a business in Nigeria as you try to maintain a good and conducive working environment and service a level of redundancy.

How can these challenges be addressed?

I would like to limit the main challenges that face the industry to three main areas; Awareness, Confidence & Distribution.

Other issues like increasing operational and regulatory costs are quite common to all regulated businesses.

Awareness of the benefits of the Capital market and traded securities is quite low in Nigeria C M Y K

•Afolayan even amongst those you expect should know when you compare with more developed markets.

If you measure the NSE market penetration, measured as a ratio of turnover to GDP. It is estimated at 1.67%, which is dismal, compared to a country like Kenya which has 4.08% market penetration. To solve the issue of awareness, the market needs to make a concerted effort by both operators and the regulators. The regulators, SEC & NSE have tried to address this recently with increased educational efforts, collaboration with Nollywood and by reaching out to ordinary Nigerians, but I think these efforts can even be more strategic. We probably need to engage policymakers to make financial literacy, especially knowledge of the capital market, a compulsory part of the school curriculum right from the primary school level. This is a medium term strategy but should improve awareness.

Can you say the level of retail investors’ confidence in the stock market at the moment?

In terms of confidence, the domestic retail investors are yet to regain the boldness to come back to the market after the market crash of 2008/2009.

There is also the perception that the market is not transparent and this has not been helped by the number of illiquid stocks on the bourse as some investors are still looking for ways to sell some of their holdings. To improve trust and confidence in the market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE & Securities and Exchnage Commission, SEC have put in place a market making mechanism to allow for improved liquidity but this has not properly taken off. All clogs in the way of proper market making such as the proper framework for short selling, securities lending and attractive reward system will need to be addressed. For institutions, a

In terms of confidence, the domestic retail investors are yet to regain the boldness to come back to the market after the market crash of 2008/2009

number of them especially the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have complained about the limited number of securities available for them to trade on.

So efforts to bring in the telcos, power plants and attract IPOs using proper incentives will help improve confidence and participation amongst this group. Whilst the Pension law allows PFA’s to invest up to 25% of their Assets Under Management (AUM) into Quoted Equities, the total exposure from that group has only been 16% of their AUM, leaving them with a lot of headroom.

What can you say about cost of transactions?

For Distribution, the acquisition cost of retail clients is high and Know Your Customer, KYC documents are largely unavailable which has to do with the National Identity Scheme. Usually it is better when savings mobilisation is institutionalised through collective investment schemes, such as mutual funds.

Unfortunately, the depth of funds under management is currently very low. The reformed pension scheme has been

largely successful with N4.9trillion AUM raised within 10 years of establishing the scheme, which translates to about $25 billion or 5% of GDP. This is very low when compared to the Pensions Assets of South Africa of $236 billion or 67% of GDP and Brazil at $284 billion which dwarfs Nigeria. So you can start to see how far we have to go. To move the Pensions AUM and mutual funds further, the industry has to be creative in attracting the informal and public sectors into collective schemes which will improve distribution. Each stockbroker reaching out to individual retail clients is very cumbersome and costly, especially when facing the KYC challenge. The use of technology through e-trading will help in a way as internet usage improves and cost of internet continues to drop, but the country needs to move into a centralised ID regime in such a way that once an Investor already has a Bank account & has done biometrics with a BVN number, he does not have to go through the process of doing his KYC all over again. This will however need the different regulators and policymakers to agree to one database pool.

There are concerns that online trading is fast making stock broking job an allcomers’ business. a. Do you agree? b. What are the implications to stockbroking business?

No, this is not so. Trade execution is only one aspect of the job of a stockbroker. The stockbroker is a well trained professional who can use his skills for Investment advice and research. As Nigerians become more aware of the benefits of the stock market and the stakes become even bigger as the market deepens, the reliance on the investment skill of stockbrokers will be more relevant. Also, on-line trading can only be done though the

trading platform of a stockbroking house, so even though execution of trade seems to have been contracted out, other duties to allow for a successful trade settlement will still be performed by professionals. The implication is that transparency will improve in the market as well as confidence. This will ultimately lead to increased trade volumes.

The Nigerian Capital market is contending with illiquidity.

What is the way forward?

The way forward I believe is to compel the companies to provide timely and richer information on their businesses.

So, a lot more disclosures should be provided to investors which will help in quicker decision making. I have addressed the other issues relating to market making, earlier in the interview.

Are there positives that an investor can take out of the market?

Yes, the equities market index (ASI) lost about 16% last year and has lost about 15% already this year which will make many investors wonder if they have not permanently lost value. The good news is that the fundamentals of the market are still very strong and positive.

The regulators have also improved regulatory oversight which strenghtens the integrity and orderliness of the market.

The issues that have affected the market largely relate to perceived political risks and the losses in value appear to be an exaggeration of the risk. A well conducted election and tidy post election resolution of disputes will dissipate the tension and allow for a rally in the market. Thankfully, the price of crude oil is rising in the international market, which would help to reduce our budget deficit and stabilise the naira.

Can you tell us a brief background of Securities Africa Financial Limited and its operational focus?

Securities Africa Financial Limited was incorporated as PSL Limited in 2001 with special focus as an operator in the Nigerian Capital Market. Then it was a subsidiary of Prudent Bank Ltd. In 2009, the company changed its name to Skye Stockbrokers Limited to reflect the new name taken up after 5 Banks merged to become Skye Bank Plc. Upon deciding to divest its interest in noncommercial banking businesses, Skye Bank gave up its shareholdings in the company and this brought Securities Africa Limited into the picture owning majority of the shares with other local investors taking up some shareholdings. The company has done well for itself in terms of brand recognition and product/service offerings.

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“

he agreement shall be governed by the laws of England and, subject to clause 26 above, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.”

Section 28 of the agreement between ECOBANK TI and its top Directors and Executives.

The ordinary meaning of that clause would appear to have excluded the jurisdiction of any courts in any other country other than England. Why an African bank, with global stakeholders should select England for the resolution of disputes, controversies and claims between it and others need not delay us here. But, one can speculate that the integrity of British Courts must be one of the reasons. Indeed, the fact that an African Court, in any country on the continent, would entertain a case in which its jurisdiction had been specifically ousted should be an indication of the low regard disputants and litigants have for our Courts in Africa.

Fortunately, the lower court in Togo does not have the last say on this matter. But, its judgment has already had one crippling consequence for all the other stakeholders of ETI. The bank cannot pay dividends until this matter is resolved finally. And that might take quite a while. Even if the Court of

ECOBANK: Victim of injustice — 2 Appeal in Togo reverses the lower court’s judgment, Mr Tanoh might still exercise his option to proceed to the country ’s Supreme Court thereby delaying dividend payments for much longer.

Once again, it needs to be stated why everybody, especially in Africa, should be interested in this case. Briefly, they include, but are not limited to the following: avoidance of bad precedent, upholding the sanctity of agreements in their entirety, protecting Africa’s access to international finance, upholding reasonable ethical standards in Business transactions and promoting African political/economic integration. Permit me to summarise how the Togo court’s decision threatens all of these.

A substantial portion of laws, in any country, rests on precedents, defined as, creating an example which might be used as justification for other cases. If the judgment in Togo is allowed to stand, then any multi-national company which has such a clause regarding arbitration of disputes will henceforth be subjected to the

expenses, and uncertainties of facing a court which had no jurisdiction in the first instance.

Today, it is ECOBANK, tomorrow it might be DANGOTE, MTN or STANBIC. Sanctity of agreements has always been the bedrock of commerce among stakeholders who value their integrity.

Presumed, of course, is that each party to the agreement understands his/her obligations at all times. Those lacking legal training are enjoined to seek legal advice. Even some lawyers

Sanctity of agreements has always been the bedrock of commerce

still engage other lawyers because as the saying goes, “A lawyer who has himself for a lawyer, has a fool for a lawyer”.

We are not sure the principle of sanctity of agreements had been upheld here. Africa badly needs influx of foreign capital. Let us tell ourselves the honest truth.

No country on this continent can grow rapidly without foreign direct investment. The almost 5 per cent annual growth credited to us had been possible largely on account of large quantum of FDI. But, capital takes flight the minute it is threatened.

Nothing can do it faster than uncertain justice or brazen injustice. In crying out against the injustice to ECOBANK, we are merely affirming the belief that it is in our collective interest to play by the rules – at all times.

Businesses are not always governed by the precepts promoted by religions. At the same time they are, or should not, be devoid of ethical standards to which all those engaged in business universally will aspire and subscribe. All African nations and people should enroll in

promoting those standards because it is in our self-interest to do so.

Finally, African political/ economic integration lags behind those of other continents and this had contributed its own quota to our underdevelopment by comparison with others. There is a huge gap to close; but, it cannot be done with each nation operating as if it an island sufficient unto itself.

More cooperation is required; which can only be achieved by improving confidence anchored in the belief that any country in Africa is home to every individual or corporate citizen.

That, in turn can only come about when an Egyptian can expect the same fairness in Namibia, or a Zambian in Gambia, as he would expect in his own country. When that is achieved we will become a continent on the move – instead of several weal economies struggling to survive.

LAST LINE. This series of interventions had deliberately avoided the issues for determination in the case. On no account do we want to intervene in the substantive issues at stake. But, court cases occur within broader social settings and they sometimes produce consequences for others far removed from the parties themselves. It is for the case of those others that this had been written.

Micro-Finance

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APO Microfinance Bank, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc and the French Agency for Development, entered into partnership on “Housing Scheme.” The scheme is designed to enable persons at the bottom of the pyramid have access to decent shelter with attention to adequate sanitation. LAPO MfB engages potential clients, carries out loan appraisal, disburses and ensures repayment with an adequate monitoring system, Lafarge provides technical support through active participation in the management of the Project while the French Agency for Development provides an on-lending facility to LAPO. The project piloted in Ogun has been scaled up and now extends to Lagos, Oyo and Edo states; however implementation will begin in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states soon. In this interview, Managing Director LAPO MfB, Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, said that microfinance is a realistic approach to affordable C M Y K

Microfinance, a realistic approach to affordable housing — LAPO MD

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

housing, stating that and collaboration are imperative to tackling Nigeria’s housing deficiency.

How would you rate the impact of the Affordable Housing Scheme on those at the bottom of the pyramid since inception?

The Project has been enthusiastically embraced by Nigerians and over 5,000 families have so far benefitted from the scheme since inception. In this regard, operations are being expanded to more states and discussions are ongoing for collaboration with other large corporate entities to expand the frontiers of affordable housing. Our focus is not just helping clients complete their buildings but also ensuring adequate

sanitation. The project has economic, social a n d environmental impact angle. We are also aware that houses for lowincome earners are not just shelters, but are equally locations for their economic activities, to this end, we are putting in place a

I believe there is a strong commitment to making affordable housing possible in Nigeria

Ehigiamusoe system that will enable impact assessment not only in terms of number of houses but with equal attention to social indicators. The success recorded so far is due to a number of factors which include commitment of the partners in the project who have all delivered on their obligations.

LAPO Microfinance Bank particularly brings its solid experience in low-income people engagement and micro-lending to bear on the implementation of the project; secondly, the project was

preceded by proper preparations including an extensive survey; and adoption of ‘incremental approach’ to housing financing.

What are your plans to extend this scheme to other states in the country?

The pilot phase is coming to an end and we are in the process of scaling up the project. From LAPO MfB perspective we seek to mainstream the affordable housing loans into our regular product mix. The implication is that the product will be offered in all our branches across the country.

How would you rate government’s support to bridging the housing deficiency gap in Nigeria?

I believe there is a strong commitment to making affordable housing possible in Nigeria; a good initiative is the Mortgage refinancing company. One hopes that the advent of this initiative will begin to yield fruits. Efforts should be made to ensure that this has impact on low-income households.

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E-Commerce Complustech deploys e-solution for church management

Africa Internet Group opens Yaba office

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frica Internet Group, AIG has officially launched its Yaba office. The office houses six of its ventures in Nigeria.

These includes: Easytaxi, a mobile app that connects drivers and passengers, Lamudi, an online real estate marketplace, Carmudi, an online vehicle marketplace, Hellofood, an online and mobile platform where people can order food from different restaurants across the city, Kaymu, an online marketplace and Jovago, an online hotel booking platform.

These ventures relocated from its office in Lekki recently to Yaba, a home to more than fifty technology start-ups including Nigeria’s online retailer, Konga.com, e-payment service provider, Paga, and online hotel booking service, Hotels.ng, etc. The office is spread across three floors at the same building that houses the popular Ozone cinema.

Conducting journalists on a tour of the facility, Lamudi’s Managing Director, Mr. Obi Ejimofo said the move was inspired by the fact that Yaba has become Nigeria’s ecommerce hub attracting a nest of technology and start-up companies, earning it the name, Nigeria’s Silicon Valley.

Interswitch launches N1.6bn e-payment growth fund

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nterswitch, a pan-African integrated payment company has announced the launch of a new N1.680 billion ($10 million) ‘ePayment Growth Fund’.

The fund has made its first investment in ‘Africa Courier Express’ (ACE), formerly APost, a Nigeria-based and Africa focused technology driven ecommerce logistics and warehousing firm. ACE has developed and rolled out a new cutting-edge technology to track, deliver and collect payments seamlessly for and on-behalf of its clients.

The company will receive an initial investment of US$850,000 from the Interswitch ePayment Growth Fund to enable the firm execute its West Africa expansion plans with the potential to access additional funding.

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UNVEILING - From left: Ani Nweke, NCC controller, Lagos State, Ademola Olukotun, General/Country Manager Archos Nigeria and Frederic Balay, MD Archos SA France at the unveiling of Archos devices in Nigeria recently.

Uber to decongest Lagos, boost employment STORIES BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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eneral Manager, Uber Nigeria, Ebi Atawodi has said that the taxi service, Uber will create more jobs and decongest Lagos when the service has achieved maximum uptake within the city.

She stated this during a press briefing in Lagos last week.

According to her, the Uber service is pushing for fewer cars on the road globally using the technology while increasing utilisation and efficiency.

Ebi said Uber has grown in Lagos considerably since launch six months ago with demand exceeding 100 per cent.

“Uber brings job creation, financial opportunity, less congestion, safety, price transparency and innovation into Nigeria. And with services like Uberpool, driving utilisation by 72 per cent, the climate is helped with fewer emissions including less traffic on the road,” she said.

“It’s really about empowering small business owners. This is because, as a driver, you are doing a couple of things.

In this instance, you don’t have to wait for hours waiting for that next trip. With Uber, they just sit in their cars and the job comes to them. This means that we are removing congestion, traffic, and time wasted on traffic. So the beauty is that as a driver, you spend more time working and earning money as opposed to

sitting and waiting for a trip,” she added.

She further said that it is also about creating a higher level of standard and transparency in the industry, because with technology like Uber, the standard is uniform and the experience is the same and seamless.

Uber service is pushing for fewer cars on the road globally using the technology

Uber, a technology company that connects riders with drivers through a smartphone application – recently launched in Lagos as a reliable and flexible alternative to urban transportation in the city.

Uber rides have a GPS tracking system which sees where the rider is on the map, making pickup more efficient than alternate means of transportation. Riders also have access to a live GPSenabled map throughout their journey and can share this with a third party – such as family, partners or friends – who can track their progress to their destination.

Shoptomydoor acquires large warehouse

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hoptomydoor, an online service that enables Nigerians shop from overseas, has acquired a 23, 000sqr foot warehouse in Houston, Texas to provide easy logistics access to Nigerian businesses shopping overseas. The solution allows for easy procurement, shipping, clearing and delivery of goods from the US and other countries to Nigeria.

In a statement, Shoptomydoor said, “The solution focuses primarily on serving individuals and consumers. They offer specialized warehouse system that allows individuals to use the Visa and Mastercards to shop in stores all over the US, UK and China as if they are local residents. Shoppers send the purchased items to their assigned local address and Shoptomydoor delivers it in a few business days.”

It added: “Having acquired its own clearing license in Nigeria, the Shoptomydoor group can now offer businesses free local address in the US, UK and China allowing them to make purchases of industrial supplies from stores such as Amazon industrial, northern tools and have these delivered right to their local addresses. Depending on the company’s choice, shoptomydoor offers consolidated air and ocean shipping services for these companies."

omplustech Nigeria Limited has launched Church+ v2, an e-solution to help churches, fellowships and ministries overcome administrative and management challenges.

Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday at during the product launch in Lagos, CEO, Complustech Nigeria Limited, Peter Ihesie, said the solution is aimed at helping churches build better relationships with members, manage full administrative operations, improve communications and connections and measure performance at any time.

He disclosed that, due to Church+’s flexible, seamless and user-friendly interface; they were upbeat to reach at least 10, 000 churches across the country within the next six months.

According to him, “Church+ v2 offers users better membership management and performance analysis."

Lamudi’s Dial4Home targets property seekers without internet access

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nline real estate marketplace, Lamudi.com has launched a property hotline (07000 526834)for the Nigerian community. Known as ‘Dial4Home’, the hotline has been developed as an extension to Lamudi’s Internet platform to extend access of its large property database to the estimated 50 million feature phone users who do not have access to the internet.

Addressing journalists at the official launch in Lagos, the Managing Director of Lamudi.com, Mr. Obi Ejimofo noted that “many view Nigeria as a market with significant potential for Internet-based businesses, with over 60 percent of all Internet connections made from an estimated 12 million smartphone and tablet devices.

However, there are more than four times as many mobile subscribers who do not have access to the Internet via their device.”

He stated that with the launch of Dial4Home, “Lamudi aims to enable property-seekers without an Internet connection to access the same kind of service that users enjoy at its website.”

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People in Business

By EBELE ORAKPO

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r John Olanrewaju Oni is the Deputy Director and Centre Manager of Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) Abeokuta which came into existence in 2007 and began operation in 2008. In this chat with Financial Vanguard, Oni who is A m b a s s a d o r , Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), speaks on the strides so far made by the centre under the National Board for Technology Incubation. Excerpts:

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ccording to Dr. Oni, TIC Abeokuta with 23 incubation units and numerous non-resident incubatees, is one of the centres established by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST). The centre has within seven years, extended to Odogbolu (17 incubation units) and Owode-Yewa (10 incubation units), each with a liaison office, seasoned professionals and numerous resident and non-resident entrepreneurs.

About TIC program: "Technology incubation program is all about commercialisation of technology-based inventions that emanate from universities, research institutions, colleges of education and even individual inventions that can be commercialised and this is to engender entrepreneurship culture in Nigerians, create jobs for the youths and wealth for business owners. This will in turn increase the gross domestic product of the state and nation because as we nurture these upcoming businesses in incubation centres across Nigeria for about three years, they neither pay tax nor electricity bill, and they are given free working space.

This is a policy of the NBTI, our supervisory agency and a parastatal of the FMST that we should use that as our own counterpart funding to support the growth of entrepreneurship and small businesses.

"So in this vein, the Federal Government is working assiduously to ensure that we have all it takes to support upcoming entrepreneurs and small businesses are nurtured to become industrial giants. If they are employing 10 people when they are under incubation, you can imagine

•All products of the centre

•Dr John Olanrewaju Oni

‘NBTI engendering entrepreneurship culture, creating jobs’ ‘

the number they will employ when they graduate."

Three phases: The program is structured in three phases - preincubation, incubation and post-incubation phases.

During the six-month preincubation period, if the owner of the invention or business has not registered it, he will register it and perfect the product to the point that it will be acceptable to consumers. We encourage people not to have their husband/wife as managing director and the daughter/son as the director so that in case of any eventuality, the business will continue.

"We encourage them to invite friends, bankers and knowledgeable people that can contribute to the business so that if anything happens to the owner, it will continue.

After the six months, the person will prepare a feasibility report and a business plan based on what he/she has developed. The business plan will be evaluated by the technical advisory committee made up of professionals from NAFDAC, SON, Export Promotion Council, etc., and

approved by the DirectorGeneral of NBTI, Dr. Mohammed Jibrin. The committee will evaluate the business plan and feasibility reports and if they pass, the pre-incubatees now have the option of staying with us for three years as resident incubatees or non-resident incubatees for five years if they have a place outside the centre which is adequate for their production and the product will be certified by

We have disposable cups made from waste paper, security wears, etc

NAFDAC or SON. That is why we purposely selected them to be part and parcel of the development of the product from scratch to the point of certification and acceptability. The preincubatees receive a lot of guide so that they will not just produce things that will not be acceptable to the consumer. After the three years, if we certify their products as good and acceptable, and the patronage is great, then we recommend them to the state government which is a stakeholder (alongside institutions of higher learning, research institutions, nongovernmental small business organisations and financial institutions).

"The government will in turn provide an industrial park for them, built or ready to be built. These graduates now become postincubatees. It is from the industrial park that they will start to pay tax, electricity bill, water rate etc. We open them up to international trade fairs, exhibitions, seminars, conferences etc., so that their businesses can survive. We also link them up with financial institutions like National Economic Reconstruction Fund where

t h e y c a n benefit.

Ogun State Government brought in BOI and paid the counterpart funding of N500m and they are giving out small loans which some of our entrepreneurs have benefitted from."

Our products: TIC Abeokuta boasts of various products and excellent packaging.

"We have a range of products from moringa using locally available raw materials – tea, glow lotion, hair oil, oil, soap, powder and foundation- all from moringa; Raybeec herbal soap, a stress relief soap made from shea butter, Valuplus dental drop/mouthwash made from local chewing stick; Combatol for hair bumps; 125T Ofada rice, packaged for the supermarkets. We also have disposable cups made from waste paper, security wears, honey packaged in 20ml cups for ease and affordability.

Most of our products are made with equipment fabricated here by our engineers.

Oni was full of praises for the Federal Government through the DG, Dr. Jibrin for the 250seater multipurpose hall and to the state government for tarring the road leading to the centre, providing 30 industrial plots and an admin block.

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42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Aviation

Court declares retrenchment of FAAN GM illegal

By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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he Lagos division of the National Industrial Court, (NIC) has declared the sack of the former General Manager, Legal, of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr Bayo Alabidun, by the government as illegal and wrongful.

In a judgment delivered by Justice B. B. Kanyip, the court held that the sudden retrenchment of the claimant, (Alabidun) from service on October 4, 2011 by the authority of FAAN was wrong, hence it ordered the full payment of his salary from October 4, 2011 to May 29, 2015 within 30 days of the judgment.

The court also awarded the cost N50,000 to the claimant as cost of the action filed in court.

It added that the failure to pay the damages and the salaries as ordered by the court “shall attract interest at 10 percent per annum.”

Alabidun who was the General Manager, Legal department of FAAN, until the termination of his appointment joined the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Minister of Aviation as defendant in his suit.

Among other reliefs, he prayed the court to declare that he is still a staff of FAAN, until his appointment ceases by due process of law and in accordance with the staff conditions of service governing his contract of employment with FAAN. Besides, he prayed the court to declare that the “defendants’ letter Ref. No. FAAN.CA/CPF 4949/1/15 dated Ocober4, 2011 purporting to ‘disengage’ the plaintiff from his public service position or as public servant is unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

Also, he prayed the court to grant him damages in the sum of N1Billion for abuse of office by the defendants “in unlawfully interfering with plaintiff ’s employment as a public servant.”

But the defendants in their response stated that “the claimant was relieved of his position as General Manager, Legal of FAAN in 2011 along with others, who the Interim Board believed, after a careful study, could not fit into the Transformation Agenda in the Aviation sector of the current administration.”

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FAAN spearheads air cargo sector development

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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he Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma has said that the Authority will support any effort aimed at maximising the potentials in the country’s air cargo sector.

Engr. Dunoma made this remark last week during the Nigerian Air Cargo Summit in Lagos. He said that the quest to maximise these potentials has led to the remodeling of designated perishable cargo airports across the country.

According to Engr. Dunoma, “a recent IATA report suggested that cargo volumes are expected to grow by 4.5 percent in 2015, as compared to the time when air cargo business faced weak markets and increasing competition since 2011”. The Managing Director, who was represented

by FAAN’s Director of Cargo Development, Dr Uche Ofulue, therefore called on all private investors and stakeholders in the aviation industry to reach out and showcase the rich potentials of Nigeria to the world by keying into the opportunities available in the country’s air cargo industry.

According to him “some

Work has already started on some of these cargo terminals at some airports across the country

strategic airports in Nigeria e.g.

Akure, Makurdi, Minna, Abuja, Owerri, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Uyo, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt have been designated fresh and dry cargo airports, for the direct exportation of fresh agricultural produce from surrounding local communities to markets in

Europe, the United States of America and other countries across the world”.

He further assured that “Work has already started on some of these cargo terminals at some airports across the country”.

Other FAAN staff who attended the event include: MD/CEO, NAHCO Robert

CONFERENCE - From left: Mr Colin Udoh, Supersport Presenter; Mr Diran Olojo, Sub-Regional Head, Brand and Marketing, West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank; Dayo Aderugbo, Head, Corporate Affairs and Ade Ojeikere, Group Sports Editor, The Nation Newspapers at the press conference to announce Standard Chartered Road to Anfield Tournament held in Lagos on Friday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

FG selfish with Nigeria Airways liquidation — OGUNLEYE

By DANIEL ETEGHE

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he liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited, NAL, by the Federal Government in 2003 has been described as a selfish act by the former image maker of the airline , Oba Olufemi Ogunleye.

Oba Ogunleye who is now

the Towulade of Akinade in an interview with Vanguard in his community said that the inability of the Federal Government to pay the remaining N70bn severance package for the ex-workers after late Alhaji Umaru Yar ’Adua paid a part of the packages indicated that the government was unconcerned

Arik Air seeks deployment of police to strengthen airport security

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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Bilderman, Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Capt. Henry Omeogu, National president, NAGAF, Eugene Nweke, Acting Chief Commercial Manager, Mr. Seyi Adewale, MD/CEO ANCLA, Nze Aloysius Emeka, GM Economic Regulation/ Facilitation, NCAA, Mrs. Anthonia Abiola Vincent.

rik Air, has called on the Federal Government to deploy armed policemen at the nation’s airports to tighten security in view of the growing terror threats in the country and in the world. The airline made this known at the weekend when the new Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Dorothy Gimba paid a courtesy visit to Arik Air headquarters in Lagos.

The Deputy Managing Director, Captain Ado Sanusi who spoke on behalf of the airline said to further tighten security at the terminal buildings and the airside, there was need to have armed police officers at these areas, especially at this time when insurgency is threatening peace in

the world, forcing various countries to restructure their security system, including airport security.

Sanusi also said that the presence of armed police officials is necessary in order to checkmate disruptive passengers who overreact when flights are rescheduled or cancelled, adding that cancellation and flight rescheduling are a trend in international air travel, which passengers should be familiar with.

He assured the new Commissioner of Police that Arik would continue to support the activities of the Command and gladly respond when called upon to assist. Sanusi said “In view of the new security situation in the world, there is need to have armed policemen at the terminal buildings and at the airside of the airport.

with the plights of Nigerian workers. He added that during the existence of the defunct national carrier, the workers were told that their pensions would be paid for life, but wondered why the same government reneged on its promise, stressing that hundreds of the former carrier workers had died in abject poverty.

He maintained that since Yar ’Adua paid parts of the pension in 2009, President Goodluck Jonathan had not made any commitment to pay the remaining 20 years pensions as agreed before the liquidation of the national airline.

He said, “During the existence of the airline in those days, we were told that pension was for life, when you finish serving and you reach a pensionable level, you take your pension for life, but suddenly when they liquidated the airline, they said they commuted the pension to five years.

I retired in year 2000 and today is year 2015, maybe they thought that I would die and today, I have not died.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 43

Advertising & Promotions

OYSAA frowns at unapproved political ad materials Stories by PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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he Oyo State Signage & Advertisement Agency, OYSAA said it is disturbed by the spate of unapproved political campaign materials that have pervaded the advertising space in recent time. The agency complained that the adverts posted in different sites and unauthorized places, is a flagrant breach of the extant laws and regulation of the agency.

“We wish to inform the general public that OYSAA, the statutory Agency of Oyo State Government vested with mandate to regulate outdoor advertisement of any nature including political campaign materials will not tolerate any violation of its guidelines and procedures,” the Director General of the agency Mr. Yinka Adepoju, said.

The Director General further directed that all political campaign organizations/ committees are advised to apply and obtain approval of OYSAA before posting the campaign materials for their parties in any location, including lamp poles.

The agency further said the

Adverts posted in different sites and unauthorized places, is a flagrant breach of the extant laws and regulation of the agency

warning became necessary in order not to exacerbate the already tensed political climate in the country, and to maintain the pervading peace being enjoyed in the state.

“For avoidance of doubt,

OYSAA will not permit the abuse of its guidelines for any advertisement campaign, especially political campaigns because of their sensitivity. He stated. “Those that have posted advertising materials and put

Centre: Diamond Bank CEO, Uzoma Dozie during the video production of the new ‘’Diamond Mobile App” TV commercial

Diamond Bank features CEO in new TVC

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zoma Dozie, Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank PLC, is leading the bank’s positioning drive as an innovative and technologically driven financial institution as he features as lead character in a new television commercial for the ‘Diamond Mobile App.’ Following a successful Rights Issue last year mainly targeted at developing its Information Technology infrastructure, the bank has introduced new solutions that have transformed the Nigerian banking space. The new TVC, shot in the bank’s corporate head office in Lekki, Lagos,

positions Diamond Mobile App as the reliable and ultraefficient assistant for the high performing executive who likes to keep in sync with the personal side of things. In character, Dozie says: “As the CEO of Diamond Bank, time is precious and doing things right is important; quickly, efficiently and easy.”

Despite his visibly busy schedule, he shuns a shortlist of applications for personal assistant position, pointing out that there are some things he never likes to delegate - like booking flight tickets for his wife, getting movie tickets for

Kasapreko checkmates product adulteration ...introduces hologram seal cap

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up billboards indiscriminately without approval from the body are hereby directed to remove them within the next seven days, as failure to do this shall be met with the appropriate sanctions. Such advertiser (s) should formally approach the agency for clearance and secure approval for such sites and materials before they are posted.” He advised.

or health of consumers, Kasapreko Company Limited owners of the Alomo Bitters has introduced a hologram seal to differentiate it from the fake.

The hologram seal is a silver-like shining seal which is similar to that found on the nonpolymer Nigerian Naira notes, and it has been strategically positioned on the cap of the brand for easy identification of the authentic bitters brand as against the imitation.

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, the Managing Director, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kojo Nunoo, Managing Director, Kasapreko Nigeria, said the introduction of hologram seal on the caps is one of the initiatives by the company to checkmate criminal faking of Alomo Bitters by unscrupulous profiteers, and to protect consumers against the consumption of

substandard bitters products which endanger human life. The refreshed packaging for Alomo Bitters, according to him, is also aimed at empowering consumers to have access to genuine Alomo Bitters at all times. He added that it further demonstrated the company’s care for the consumers and their safety.

“This initiative is a security standard for global brands, and essentially it is meant to ensure clear brand differentiation and to highlight the unique features that distinguish Alomo Bitters from the imitated version and other substandard bitters products in the market,” Nunoo said.

He added, “criminal faking of the original Alomo Bitters has been a major challenge we face in Nigeria. As a company that places priority on the wellbeing of our consumers, this bothers us a lot.

his children as promised and buying tickets to events he wants to attend – all of which he simultaneously attends to on the go via his mobile phone. Then comes the clincher: “I can do all of these on my Diamond Mobile App. It’s beyond banking. Who needs a PA?” Speaking on the commercial, Ayona Trimnell, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank PLC, explained that the TVC reinforces the bank’s message that the Diamond Mobile App is the ultimate personal assistant for easy, convenient banking.

According to her: “The Diamond Mobile is borne out of our commitment to continually offer value-added solutions that conveniently fit into the lifestyle of our customers. It is safe, easy to use and specifically developed for the success minded individual who is focused on maximizing all life’s moments whenever or wherever they are. The TVC is available on youtube via the following link https:// w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=yzvXE3_wxRc.” The Diamond Mobile App was recently upgraded with a Touch ID Feature which allows users seamless login to their accounts by simply identifying their fingerprints as an alternative to entering a User ID and password.

First Bank trains NGOs on sustainability

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irst Bank Nigeria Plc through its sustainability workshop has trained Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs on modern tenets of sustainability in care giving.

The workshop titled ‘Sustainability strategies for NGOs,’ which took place at the Lagos Business School, LBS in Lagos also provided capacity building training for NGOs who are in partnership with corporate organizations, while exposing them to modern approaches in sustainability on how to address social and environmental issues.

Speaking, Centre Manager, First Bank Sustainability Centre, Ijeoma Nwagwu, said through the support First bank has positioned itself as a top leader on sustainability which is a key issue, especially now that there is a lot of uncertainty with the oil price drop, the devaluation of the Naira and the forthcoming elections.

According to Nwagwu, “through the training, we saw that there are things that companies must do to survive, the idea of sustainability is that you are thinking long term, bearing in mind the social, environmental and economic concerns in your broader environment that will make you survive.

SON DG speaks at BJAN consumer day celebration

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he Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu is to speak at the 2015 World Consumer Rights Day celebration. This coincides with plans by Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN) to join the rest of the world to mark this year’s celebration themed: ‘Healthy Diet.’

The Association has domesticated the theme to fit into the local industry with the theme “Implication of Unhealthy Diet to National Development.”

The event, which is scheduled to hold March 13, 2015 at White House Hotels, GRA, Ikeja and it will also be used to honour individuals who have contributed to the nation’s marketing communication industry and consumer empowerment in 2014. To deliver the keynote address at the BJAN third edition of consumer day symposium is the Director General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu.

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44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

The tragedy of errors in the fuel market

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uriously, in an attempt to align with public sentiment, in an election year, government was stampeded by popular demand to concede and accommodate a N10/litre subsidy on a reduced pump price of N87/litre. Clearly, this decision was not thoroughly thought through, as it ignored the role of Naira exchange rate on the domestic pump price of petrol, as consistently explained in several articles in this column. Clearly, with continuously bloated Naira surplus in the market, the reduced dollar income from prevailing lower crude prices has exposed the fragility of the Naira/dollar exchange rate mechanism, and rapidly precipitated a run on the Naira.

Not surprisingly, the Naira has since plummeted to about N200/$ from the earlier pegged rate of about N155/$.

Historically, the CBN has consistently used the reason of a widening gap between official and black market rates as the prime driver of Naira devaluation.

The following excerpt from an earlier article titled “Why Fuel Prices Will Always Rise And Make Subsidy Inevitable” will explain the relationship between the Naira exchange rate and the price of fuel; …”thus, for example, if for the sake of argument the international commodity price of a litre of petrol is $1, then our domestic pump price would be about N160/litre, (also at the rate of $1=N160), plus clearing costs and other local charges. Conversely, if government finds it expedient to devalue the Naira, as a result of fall in revenue, to say, N200=$1 to boost monthly allocations, then, of course,

the deregulated domestic fuel price will also become N200/litre!, plus margin and other local charges; thus, subsidy values will be over N100/litre if pump price remained at N97/litre.

However if international petrol price increases to $1.20/litre, while Naira remains at an exchange rate of N200=$1, then Nigerians will have to pay over N240/litre, plus margins and local charges, with over N140/litre as subsidy if the domestic pump price remains fixed at N97/litre.

Thus, irrespective of crude oil market prices, weaker Naira exchange rates will spiral fuel prices to instigate the need for subsidy, while increasingly stronger Naira exchange rates will instigate lower petrol prices and eliminate subsidy.”

See www.lesleba.com.

That this simple reality has finally dawned on the managers of our economy, became evident when Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy noted at a recent media briefing that “the present fuel scarcity was caused by a number of factors, including the depreciation of the Naira’. The Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, was more categorical when he told the Senate Committee on Petroleum that “the scarcity currently being experienced across the nation was caused by two rounds of devaluation of the Naira carried out by CBN in November last year and this month (Feb 2015).”

Regrettably, despite over 20% Naira devaluation in recent months, the persistent imbalance between humongous surplus Naira and rationed dollar auctions has

further fuelled speculation to drive Bureau De Change dollar rates above N220/$.

Nonetheless, if the underlying causative factor of Naira surplus is not addressed, the gap between the current, official interbank rate of N198/$1 and the BDC rate of N220/$1 would further widen and it would not be unexpected if the Naira exchanges for N300/$ by the close of 2015.

Consequently, even if crude oil prices once again rebound above $100/barrel, so long as the huge disequilibrium between “eternally” surplus Naira and rationed dollar supplies persist, the Naira exchange rate would remain loyal to a southbound destination. This should not really be strange as Nigerians recognize that even when crude prices rose well above $150/barrel about six years ago, and exceedingly buoyant reserves provided more extended imports demand cover, than we ever thought possible, no one questioned the stagnation of the Naira exchange rate at about

CBN has consistently used the reason of a widening gap between official and black market rates as the prime driver of Naira devaluation

N150=$1.

Clearly, if government had recognized the relationship between fuel price and exchange rate, they would have also anticipated that lower crude prices and reduced export revenue could spark speculation and trigger a weaker Naira exchange rate, which would push fuel price well beyond the earlier subsidized price of N97/litre.

Ironically, the price reduction expected from a 50% drop in crude oil price has since been negated by over 25% drop in the Naira exchange rate.

This reality, sadly, escaped the consideration of the Finance Minister, the CBN and the PPRA with disastrous consequences for stability in fuel supplies nationwide, as marketers suspended further importation until government agreed to reimburse a loss of about N100bn already incurred from the exchange rate differentials consequent upon Naira devaluation and the bank interest charges on delayed payments of subsidies on sold stocks. The scare of the imminent elections probably stampeded the finance minister and her team to hurriedly issue sovereign I.O.Us to Marketers to serve as confirmation to creditor banks that government will ‘eventually’ settle this debt.

Consequently, in addition to an earlier projected deficit of about N1tn in the 2015 budget, it is now clear that with government’s penchant for recklessly selling its risk free sovereign debts at between 10-17%, this payment for managerial negligence will ultimately swell government projected borrowing by at least 10% this year!

Sadly, if the Naira exchange rate slide is not halted, so long as the CBN continues to deliberately manipulate market equilibrium against the Naira, such extra budgetary payments may not be the last this year. Payment of subsidies to oil marketers for future supplies will, predictably, still be administratively, negligently delayed by the usual bureaucracy, while the Naira exchange rate will continue to depreciate if CBN continues its misguided traditional defence of the dollar.

Ultimately, marketers would again suspend importation, fuel scarcity will again surface and create economic distortions, while the public will gnash their teeth in anguish at petrol stations for a while, before a hurried accord will once again be concluded with marketers, despite the attendant cost of hundreds of billions of Naira that government would once again have to borrow to settle accumulated debts owed the banks by fuel importers. Thus, an endless cycle of business folly that compounds the evidently deepening poverty nationwide will be sustained.

Certainly, the Naira will continue its free fall unless the market supply equilibrium between Naira supply and the dollar is redressed in favor of the Naira. If however, excess Naira supply continues to be driven by CBN’s substitution of Naira allocations for dollar derived revenue, then a Naira rate of N300/$ would soon evolve to drive fuel prices well above N200/litre with disastrous consequences for inflation and consumer demand, and ultimately on manufacturing capacity and employment opportunities.

Business & Economy Telephone penetration in Nigeria hits 100% mark — NCC

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he Nigerian tele-density also known as telephone penetration has finally hit a 100 per cent mark, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

This information is contained in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Monthly Subscriber Data, made available in Lagos weekend.

According to the data, the country’s tele-density stands at 100.59 per cent as at the end of January with the active lines/ phone numbers on the telecommunications operators’ networks reaching 140,822,483.

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Tele-density measures the percentage of a country ’s population with access to telephony services as determined by the active subscriber base.

“It has a direct relationship with the number of mobile subscriptions on telecom networks and as it grows so does the subscriber base and vice versa,” it said. According to NCC, tele-density is calculated based on population estimate of 126 million up till December 2005 from December 2006, based on a population estimate of 140 million.

It said that from December 2001 to 2006, tele-density was based on connected subscribers.

However, tele-density from December 2007 was based on active subscriptions on mobile networks. The data showed that the industry tele-density stood at 91.40 per cent as at January 2014 and increased by 9.19 per cent to reach 100.59 per cent

by January 2015.

In February 2014, it moved up to 91.40 per cent; 92.14 per cent in March and at the end of April, the figure declined to 90.78 per cent.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha Nkiruka Nnorom CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter Capital Market Reporter

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Media/Marketing E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 49 We have “swagger” – yes – but to what purpose?

Citizen Nigeria

By Patrick Dele Cole

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HAT is the price of being Nigerian? Every U.S. citizen is proud of his country?

How many Nigerians can say that they are proud to be Nigerian?

Nigerians in Every Country The growing feeling that Nigeria cannot provide for its citizens, thereby making millions of them pack out, has become the recognized as the Andrew syndrome.

Nigerians in China, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, etc., have fled because there are no jobs in Nigeria, and they have no security of life and property, as well as no sense of self worth.

Hence, they had travelled overseas.

As children, Nigerians learnt about the Greek mythology of bringing home the Golden Fleece by Jason. But the Greeks came back home: Now the traffic in Nigeria is one way out, if one can judge by the queues at the embassies! There is a palpable growing disrespect for Nigerians all over the world; even in Dubai and Doha – even with our money. Nigeria driving licenses are not accepted in Dubai or Doha.

There is a temporary ban.

Social media is full of all other restrictions which I would not go into here.

The young now go to Europe and the U.S. to have babies because they want U.S. citizenship for their children.

They do not want their children to have the hassle of standing and waiting for visas.

What is the inspiring myth of the U.S. – anyone can be anything – a land of opportunities. Why do our children not think we can do the same here?

Many fathers, like me, have been unable to convince their children not to seek dual nationalities.

There are over 100,000 doctors; 100,000 lawyers and engineers of Nigerian descent, that is, Nigerians. We have become like Palestine with more qualified people outside the country than within it.

I have argued this with my children and their colleagues.

I had insisted that all my children go to University in Nigeria (all did except one).

I also argued against going to U.S. to have babies. My argument was that since they all had no problems getting visas, why do they think that years from now they would have problems. I had taken them around Nigeria and round the world, trying to bond with them during holidays, so as to smash the myth that everything overseas was better. I further argued that the countries they were so enamoured to go to were built by men and women who were dedicated to bringing progress to their fatherlands. If they all left, who was going to

do the building of Nigeria? You would think I was speaking to myself judging from the scant attention they paid to me!!

Young couples would pay up to US$100, 000.00 to have their wives deliver babies in the U.S. When you ask them, they reply that they want another country to go to when, not if, but “when” things get hoary and desperately bad in Nigeria. In short they are convinced that Nigeria will not survive, or would go through a nasty patch.

Many Nigerians who stayed overseas have no idea what Nigeria has become. Yet, they nearly all want to be employed as political advisers to top Government functionaries: Many erstwhile ViceChancellors, and serving professors and corporate administrators (both national and international), have become Ministers. The resulting performances of these “expatriate” Nigerian Ministers have been poor and mainly useless. For nearly 40 years, the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development have been headed by Nigerian “expatriates” who, even more than home-grown graduates and politicians speak to us about economic revolution, agricultural revolution, and Industrial revolution. It is a game of mirrors and more mirrors. Nigeria is not like India, which has home-grown planners, who achieve and export that achievement, whether in steel, computers, car manufacturing, as in the case of keke mawa was, etc. If you have foreign passports for your children that say a lot about your faith in your country!!

It is conceded that a lot of inventions have taken place in Nigeria, which has neither been backed up with implementation, or even encouragement. For example, the sickle cell anemia medicine was invented at the then University of Ife (now, Obafemi Awolowo University; whist the Federal Institute for Industrial

The FT the other day: quoted Nigerians as saying that oil has corrupted us: Or has it destroyed us?

What was being said, I believe, is that easy oil money has dulled our ingenuity, our appetite for hard work, etc.

Research, Oshodi, Lagos (FIIRO) invented the yam pounding machine. The production of these medicine and machine in Nigeria was not supported by either the Government or the Organised Private Sector. Both had to look for developers outside the Country. In the case of the medicine, the patent was bought by an outside company, which suppressed it; whilst in the case of the latter, a Japanese company bought the patent, and developed the machine. Now, it is being produced cheaper in China.

Such frustrating disposition by the Nigerian Government and corporate world may have served to stimulate the exodus of the Nigerian indigenous inventors but these cases are rare.

Yes, things are bad in Nigeria But the returning Nigerian “expatriates” does not have a solution for Nigeria. They cannot, and never will. If top Government officials and leaders keep one eye on their children overseas- how can they truly work for Nigeria?

Thirty to Forty years ago, Nigerians walked proud around the globe. If you were overseas, and you heard a rukhus – it was probably because some Nigerians were protesting against discrimination.

Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Liberia, even South Africa, have all lost the respect they used to have for Nigeria.

There is an old joke about other African nations protesting to God that God was unfair to them because He gave Nigeria everything, - gold,

Today, the primary checks necessary for promotion to the most senior levels in the Civil Service is no longer done. The Constitution has done away with illegitimacy and has approved dual citizenship.

Many senior Military and civil servants now go to overseas for their retirement. Many of our Ministers, Senators, and Assembly men are U.S. citizens or foreign citizens as well as Nigerians. I have nothing against that but we must be cautious.

Three of our finance Ministers have been U.S. citizens. A score of others in really sensitive posts also have dual citizenship.

On many international issues, we do not always agree with U.S. and Western policy: A glaring example was our position of debt forgiveness; and the then Minister of France, who had argued in 1999 and 2000 that much of the debts we were being asked to pay were fraudulent and subjected to high unacceptable interest rates, even in cases where the companies to whom these debts were owed were no longer in existence. Many of the Western countries accepted this argument, and suddenly a new Finance Minister arrived. We were now being told that for Nigeria to be credit worthy, we had to pay these same debts.

Nigeria seems now to have no standards about anything. We are unable to grade Universities, Schools, and other tertiary institutions: We are constantly lowering our already low standards. With our population, ingenuity, ambition – Nigeria ought to be a paradise, or at least, being on the way to one.

Many would say that this judgment is too harsh, and point at GSM or Dangote, as

* Nigerians uranium, manganese, tin, coal, gas, oil, tar –sands, a large population, fertile soil, etc.

God’s reply was “wait until you see the leaders and the people that I am putting there!”

Old Civil Service forbade Nigerians married to expatriates to work in certain Ministries. Our Nationality Laws stipulated that you cannot be a Nigerian except your father was a Nigeria. The Service used to refuse to employ people married to foreigners, all has now changed. (You cannot reconcile your first sentence of the paragraph with the third. You can only restrict the ministry of employment only if there is employment in the first place.)

evidence that we are progressing.

Perhaps, Nigeria is not a country for statistics. The smallest matter that deals with numbers defeats us. It is true that some direct foreign investments which have come into Nigeria do so via a template.

Europe/U.S. investors go to South Africa and recruit a South African citizen they send to Nigeria.

The South African comes to work in Nigeria and reports back to South Africa, and from there to Europe or to the U.S. Sometimes, there is a field office in Dubai – for Nigeria!!

Even the investors do not want to come directly for fear of contagion – as if we were leprous.

The Nigerian Passport is worthless, and is beginning to

worry other ECOWAS Countries who want to issue their own passports without carrying the burden of the shame of Nigeria.

Everything in Nigeria – excess: MTN, DSTV the two institutions to which we have taken to as fish to water: but at what expense? We now have a useless NTA, Silverbird, Channels, and AIT, etc., which shamelessly cannot broadcast their own programmes except through DSTV. As for telephones – forget it. Fixed lines – no longer exist. We have no post offices – we strut about doing internet banking, internet shopping when I cannot write a letter to my people in Abonnema or to a friend in Zungeru.

Nigeria has excess private generator sets: there are more here than any where else in the world. The back bone of communication in Europe and the United States is still the land line.

How did it all start? Chinua Achebe and Cyprian Ekwensi etc., produced books with the theme of culture clash between those educated and the traditional societies. This has now been pricked up again by Chinanmanda Ngozi Adichie,and has been folklorised as the main theme of Nollywood.

Perhaps, however, in anything and everything, there must be proportion. If I went to live in Kano today, there would be a culture clash: When people from Texas to go Washington DC, there is a culture clash, just as Yorkshire people have when they go to live in London.

(But in the case of the U.S. and England, you can only be talking about sub-cultural clashes, rather than cultural clashes.)

But culture clash can be a good thing, since it brings changes in attitude, which itself is fundamental to progress. But we must get out of the quagmire of typicalisation, and get on with making progress: When you bring a train which I used to go to see my father from Port Harcourt to Barkinhadiin 1952 back in 2015 – using coal or diesel engines- that cannot be termed as progress, when trains in Japan and Europe are now running at 300mph on electricity.

When you revive industries that is, car assembly plants built in 1976 back into life in 2015 – you may call it progress. But you should know better. It certainly is not an industrial revolution.

A revolution is the end product of a cataclysmic clash of ideas and ingenuity bringing about a totally new way of doing things and making things.

The FT the other day: quoted Nigerians as saying that oil has corrupted us: Or has it destroyed us? What was being said, I believe, is that easy oil money has dulled our ingenuity, our appetite for hard work, etc. Why should oil be charged with this heinous crime? If it is so bad for us, why do we not leave it for those in whose territories or areas or communities the oil exists? No one told us in the 1950s, 1960s, etc. that cotton, groundnuts, cocoa had spoiled Nigerians. *Dr. Cole, ambassador, Lagos.

a former wrote from

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and insensitivity. But we know that the criticism is only coming from a particular section whose strategy for the campaign is criticism, propaganda and threat.

So it is understandable.

But it is to reassure Nigerians that the Federal Government has no ulterior motive, it cannot have, not with the record of achievement that it has as its own collateral for the campaign.

The argument has been that if the government has not been able to decisively tackle insurgency in 6 years, with just few weeks to election, what will the government do differently.

Some people have argued that it was a deliberate ploy by the government. What do you have to say?

I think again that that statement arises from ignorance because first and foremost, the issue of the insurgency is not a peculiarly a Nigerian issue.

It is a global issue with a specific focus on Nigeria and countries bordering around Nigeria. And you could see the futility in the effort battling insurgents and having them escape into neighbouring countries, regrouping and relaunching attacks from some

•Duke:Nigerians should continue to give the government the necessary support

Some people 're not happy Jonathan is now defeating Boko Haram — Edem Duke MINISTER of Culture and National Orientation and Supervising Minister of Information, Chief Edem Duke speaks on the preparations for the forthcoming election and calls on Nigerians to hold those who are threatening violence if they lose the election accountable. He also speaks on a number of other national issues.Excerpts:

By Ben Agande

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RITICS claim the g o v e r n m e n t influenced the postponement of the election for selfish reasons. Is that true?

I think all I can say is to reassure Nigerians. When you look at the fact with the shift in the date, it is not an extensive shift. But inbetween, you can see that it has afforded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the

opportunity of reaching many more Nigerians.

You can also see that there is a bit of relief, even though, there is great agitation in several parts of the country that people have not got their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs yet.

That people in certain localities have deliberately been deprived of the opportunity of collecting their PVCs. Those issues have been addressed. If you remember the last media chat by the President during which he said that because of the

security concerns that the status of the equipment of the Army will improve and he assured that in a few weeks there will be a dramatic change for the better around the terrain where insurgents are operating. You can see that all of these are coming to pass.

What would have been the story if eight million people were not served with PVCs if the insurgency were still prevalent in most parts of the northeast, what would people have said? They would have accused this same government of irresponsibility

They began to wish secretly that these successes against the insurgency were not happening because some of them premised their campaign on insecurity

of those territories.

So it was identified that for this to be checkmated effectively, there is need to now mobilize the support of countries in the Lake Chad region, of countries in West and Central Africa so that there is a more holistic, more participatory engagement of insurgency.

And all over the world where insurgency has occurred, you will agree with me that it is a multi-dimensional approach that had always been deployed to attend to it.

So some of these stories and propaganda are deliberately fabricated in order to make the government look bad and you would see that when government began to record some successes, some of those who had thought that it would not be done, began to feel unhappy about it. They began to wish secretly that these successes against the insurgency were not happening because some of them premised their campaign on insecurity.

And let me also say that it is not how long it has taken us to address this issue but the fact that it has been addressed. And also bear in mind that those who want to use the issue of security or insecurity or insurgency to campaign had always been there, they had always been big players, big community leaders, big retired generals in certain parts of the country and they never lifted a finger to give advice, to give support and to intervene.

In fact, I understand that one of them was nominated by the insurgents to be their spokesperson but he felt embarrassed that they openly identified him as their preferred spokesperson. And these people never contributed thoughts and ideas in challenging this.

Rather, they sat back and saw the destruction that plagued the nation within and around where they were living and they thought the best thing to do was to fuel it or to keep silent so that at some point in 2015 they can use it as campaign propaganda.

But the providence that sees that Nigeria after 100 years must not disintegrate has brought a solution.

In the next couple of days chiefs of defence staff from ECOWAS, from Central Africa countries, will be gathering in order to develop a roadmap for the final onslaught on this insurgency.

So, Nigerians should continue to give the government the necessary support and encouragement and more importantly they should continue to celebrate and

Continues on page 53

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

I'm going to the Senate to make a difference in Nigeria — Murray-Bruce MR. Ben Murray-Bruce, Icon of business and entertainment, is vying for a seat in the Bayelsa East Senatorial District to represent his people in the Nigerian Senate. In this interview, he justifies his entry into the race, talks about his vision for Nigeria and explains what he wants to do differently in order to bring about an unprecedented impact on Nigerians at home and abroad. Excerpts:

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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HY are you leaving your flourishing business empire to dabble in the murky water of politics?

I don’t see what I am going to do as dabbling in the murky waters of politics but as a chance to serve. At my age, I’ve done as much as I can of what I set out to do. Now, I want to reinvent myself and have another chapter in my life. In this chapter of my life, I want to serve the people of Nigeria.

What gives you the confidence that given the Nigerian political climate you can succeed as a politician?

As a businessman, I was never scared of whatever I did in life. People forget that in 1999 when I was made the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority, television viewing was only possible for six hours a day.

People forget that not too long ago, there was no cinema in Nigeria, and I brought it back to Nigeria.

People forget that not too long ago, Nigeria only had the Federal Radio Corporation as the only national radio station and then Raypower came a few years later with the same ideology and we played music and changed the radio landscape. People forget that with entertainment, we changed the television landscape. People forget that not too long ago, we had no malls in Nigeria and we changed that.

So, I have never been worried about being a pioneer. To be a pioneer requires that one has the courage to take a risk. So, if you take the risk and it works, you make history and if it fails, so what? But the important thing is to try to make your vision work.

Are you not afraid that your efforts could be frustrated in the Senate?

Well, I understand your concern because everyone I

have spoken to over my decision to go to the Senate asks me similar questions.

Some say to me Ben, what are you going to do in the National Assembly? You are going to fail, you are going to carry ‘Ghana-Must-Go’, you are going to collect bribe try to impeach someone and when you get the money you drop the charge and all that.

You are going to do crooked things and so on.

But I keep asking myself, what message are we sending to the younger generation by seeing politicians as thieves and corrupt people? So, for me, if it takes one person to make a small difference then it is worth it. We cannot continuously insult our leaders. I am already appalled by the campaign of insults by the parties.

It is wrong and senseless and I dissociate myself from it. I will not be a part of

We cannot continuously insult our leaders. I am already appalled by the campaign of insults by the parties. It is wrong and senseless and I dissociate myself from it

•Murray-Bruce:The future of Nigeria lies in Technology

running down any leader in this country or any political party.

Never and it is not right. I will not run down anybody.

The adversaries are my friends, members of my party are my friends and I will not insult them: they will be my friends before the elections and they will remain my friends after the elections.

We should remember that Gowon and Ojukwu fought and more than one million people died and after that they had dinner together afterwards. Buhari overthrew Shagari, and they hung out afterwards.

Babangida overthrew Buhari and they still hung out together.

Abacha threw out Shonekan and they still shook hands and had dinner together.

So, anybody who thinks that these two weeks left gives them right to insult leaders and distinguished Nigerians as if they will not see them again after the election, should know that what they are doing is wrong. It is criminal and I will not be a part of it.

Anybody, who wants to fight war in the name of politics should go and fight Boko Haram. That is a war and politics is a contest that one must win and the other loses

and life goes on.

You are contesting with a former governor and a more experienced politician.

Would you smile and go home if you lose to him?

Look, if I win, I win and if I lose, so be it. Why should I be so obsessed with victory that I would want to kill somebody? Whose interest and purpose would such victory serve? What would I tell my children and how would I explain to my children that someone died because I wanted to win an election?

Or that I played a voodoo politics? Why should I be a part of such a demonic act? I have a reputation in the world so why should I destroy it on the altar of politics? I only want to win to win fairly in order to serve.

The people will decide. If they vote for me they will get a good leader in me but if they reject me, they get what they vote for. That is the way I look at it.

Your manifesto talks about making Nigeria go green if you win the election. How would you do it?

First of all, I am a Nigerian and a nationalist. A hungry child in Bayelsa is not

different from a hungry child in Akwa Ibom or Maiduguri.

When a child is hungry they need food and do not care who brings the food or milk. Now, look at where we are today.

We have privatized the power sector and the cost of power has gone up 100 percent and a lot of industries are in trouble.

But there is something we don’t produce, that is the sunlight that is given free by God. But the good thing is that sunlight can give us the same amount or more of light that we are paying for from gas or hydro sources. The sun is free and can give us the energy to do everything.

So, we should explore the maximum use of the solar energy. Soon, I am going to lead the way in the use of solar energy in Nigeria.

From April, I am going to start powering Silverbird Complex with solar energy and I will also begin to drive my electric car here for all Nigerians to see what solar energy can do.

I am going to even bring in some electric cars to the country and I will recharge the car free for any Nigerian who buys the cars. These electric cars can do a 100 miles per charge and if you are within town, you cannot exhaust the mileage even with the use of air condition.

I have been driving electric car in America for over two years.

I have two of them and I have never bought gas in my home in the U.S. My house is powered by solar energy which has cut my bill by 50%.

I am going to prove to the public that my car will be powered by solar energy and that my house can be powered without gas.

Let me tell you the difference between me and them. Oil is like cocaine.

The best cocaine producers don’t consume what they produce but sell to others and use the money to do what they need. Why consume what you have? Nigeria as a nation has become a drug addict.

I am saying today I will not be a drug addict but will use the sun to power energy in Nigeria. I will create a bill to get a billion Naira Fund to power every home in Nigeria to solve our electricity problems and create over 50,000 jobs.

By so doing, we will be grooming Nigerians on Science and Technology and make our people become slave masters instead of being slaves.

The future of Nigeria lies in Technology and not sending our people to be welders and

Continued on page 53

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015—53

BOKO HARAM: Some people 're not happy Jonathan is now winning — Duke Continues from page 51 appreciate the forces that are operating in those territories.

Is it true as it is alleged that the government has plans of compelling the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega go on terminal leave?

I am not in the position to speak on that for now. But I align myself with the statement of the President that he has confidence in the chairman of INEC. The most important thing is that any Nigerian that finds himself in a privileged position to serve this nation must serve with transparency and integrity because history will judge him or her.

And if that privilege leaves you with the ability to lead a sensitive electoral process and for any reason you make it toxic, then there is also a place in history for you, whether it would be a dark page or a golden page remains to be seen.

The forthcoming elections have raised some anxieties leading to people moving from their places of abode to their places of origin. Are you scared that there could be post-election violence like in 2011?

Postelection violence had in the past been unknown to Nigerians the truth must be told. The fear of post-election violence arose from the former candidate of the CPC, who is

•Duke:

now the candidate of the APC. He is the author of postelection violence in Nigeria.

And right now some of the body language, some of the comments coming out of

It is important for all the players in this exercise to raise their voices of assurance to people who feel intimidated and threatened that they will protect them because parties have strongholds

certain camps are responsible for this uneasiness and tension in the land.

But you know, what we have not looked at again is that when this same candidate contested against another retired general, he didn’t threaten anybody. When as a retired general he contested against another retired general he didn’t threaten anybody.

Now that he is contesting against a younger civilian from a minority part of Nigeria, there is this intimidation that whether you have done well, or you have not done well, I am desperate to win this election. So people are more anxious about what one candidate will do when he loses than the progress of one candidate when he wins.

So that is what we are facing.

As a government, what assurance will you give Nigerians especially those moving because of the fear of possible post-election violence?

What I would like to say to Nigerians is that no individual, no group that desires the votes of Nigerians to lead this country must intimidate us to move away from our comfort zones and become refugees in transit.

It is important for all the players in this exercise to raise their voices of assurance to people who feel intimidated and threatened that they will protect them because parties have strongholds.

So it is easy for Nigerians to identify in whose stronghold or perceived stronghold some of these scary sentiments are emanating from.

I'm going to the Senate to make a difference in Nigeria — Murray-Bruce Continues from page 51 Ke-ke NAPEP riders while some others lord over our natural resources as CEOs. If you oil companies in the Niger Delta why should we be training our people as welders while the foreigners are in Harvard and fly First Class?

It means you have many bills to make?

I have ten bills already.

Why did you not suggest this idea of solar energy to the President who happens to be close to you?

Yes, I have done that already, and the Ministry of Power is doing some solar farms already.

But there is a difference between putting together

•Murray-Bruce:

some solar farms and putting down a billion Naira budget.

Part of the deal is to ensure that 90 per cent of the components of the solar projects are produced here in

Nigeria.

I am not keen on bringing in the components from outside so that Nigerians can benefit maximally from it.

CARD READER: INEC, PDP, APC return to drawing board

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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AST Saturday’s demonstration of the use of the card reader in selected states of the country has left the political class perplexed. Those against the use of the card reader cannot openly come out to denounce the device given its effective blockage of fake Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. At the same time, those in rabid support of the use of the device are also constrained by the shortcomings as seen in its failure to effectively read the thumbprints of a significant number of potential voters in many places it was used.

In some centres as Bauchi, potential voters were had to clean their hands repeatedly as it emerged that the card reader is constrained by ointments, grease or other sorts of lotion.

However, INEC officials say that all hope is not lost. Voters whose thumbprints are not read by the card readers could still vote but would have to fill an incident report form to reflect the development.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that had earlier expressed reservation on the use of the card reader was restrained in its comment on Saturday evening after the mock accreditation.

“Our response to the emerging problems and challenges from Saturday’s testing of the card reader is ‘RES IPSA LOQUITORthe fact speak for itself. The PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians await INEC’s official response and or its final decision after such defining challenges, party spokesman, Olisa Metuh said in a statement Saturday.

The All Progressives Congress, APC which had championed the use of the card reader as a way of checking malpractices was yet to react as at press time yesterday.

The APC had prior to the conduct of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States last year called for the use of the card readers as a prelude to using them for this year’s general election. But INEC for some yet undisclosed reasons refused even if the PVCs were deployed for the elections.

Now, following last Saturday ’s qualified successful demonstration of its use, eyes are now on the election management body, INEC. Meanwhile, the two major political parties one against the use of the reader and the other vociferous in its agitation for its use are going back to the drawing board to push forward their strategies to sustain their positions.

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Too late to convince Nigerians, APC tells Jonathan ...Opposition says President flaunting phantom achievements T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent efforts to showcase his achievements in government to convince Nigerians to vote for him and his party in the forthcoming polls as too little, too late. ‘’Mr. President, you cannot undo, in six weeks, the glaring instances of cluelessness, incompetence and near total lack of governance that your administration has exhibited in the past six years, even if you move Aso Rock to the South-west or bribe every Nigerian with the proceeds of corruption,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. ‘’Your Administration-sanctioned smear campaigns against APC leaders, your obscenity-laden meeting with youths, your offer of jobs to 167 out of over 40 million unemployed youths, and your temporary relocation to the Southwest where you believe your naira and dollar rain will translate to votes are all belated and of no effect,’’ it said.

APC said all the President’s latter-day efforts went up in smokes on Saturday when over one million Nigerians marched through the streets of Lagos in support of change, even as a hurriedlyorganized, pretend march led by the President in Abuja failed to distract from the success of the Lagos march, as envisaged by the organizers.

The party said its latest opinion poll on the forthcoming elections shows that Nigerians have already made up their minds regarding which party they will vote for, even before the six-week postponement of the elections, which was orchestrated to allow the sinking PDP and its candidates at all levels to recover from the dizzying effect of the daily blows being dealt on them by Nigerians.

It said a President who was playing dirty politics while over

15,000 Nigerians were being murdered by the evil Boko Haram cannot now expect to reap from a sudden resurgence in the fight against the terrorists. ‘’Mr. President, you had all of six years to secure the lives and property of Nigerians, provide jobs, improve the economy, give Nigerians constant power supply

and curb corruption, but you did none of those things. ‘’Under your watch, Mr. President, the economy has virtually collapsed with the US dollar now exchanging for over 220 Naira, the highest ever, millions of youths are roaming the streets even as your government fleeces them from time to time

A

BUJA—DESPITE declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan that he does not intend to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, a group has insisted that he must step down in accordance with laid down public service regulations.

The group, Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria, said at a press conference in Abuja that Jega did not deserve to remain in office to conduct the 2015 since it was time for him to proceed on pre-retirement leave like his predecessor, Maurice Iwu, C M Y K

By Victor AhiumaYoung

O

REWARD CEREMONY: From left: Mr. Phillip Obioha, Chief Operating Officer, CWG Plc; Professor R.A Bello, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos and Professor Duro Oni, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) during the reward ceremony of the best graduating students of the Department of Computer Science, University of Lagos and University of Douala in Cameroon respectively.

HATE PUBLICATIONS: Lagos APC seeks sanctions on erring stations

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AGOS—THE Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has urged the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) sanctions television stations and newspapers that are

broadcasting and publishing damaging documentary and hate advertorials on key opposition leaders.

The APC accused the organisations of partisanship by stepping out of the broadcast and media ethics to protect the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

POLLS: Jega must step down, group insists

By Soni Daniel

over phantom jobs, industries are collapsing in droves, Nigerians are more divided than ever, many states and even the FG can’t pay workers’ salaries and corruption is at an all-time high as the looting of the public treasury has become the order of the day while Nigerians have never felt so insecure.''

RESCHEDULED NLC POLLS: Candidate summons tribal meeting, seeks royal fathers’ help

did in 2010.

The Director-General of the group, Preye Dressman, asked INEC as a public institution, backed by law and duly recognised by the constitution to be properly guided by the provisions that are clearly enshrined in the book.

Dressman said, “We have duly carried out our research and found nowhere, where it is written or insinuated that INEC is a private organisation to be run differently from what has become sacrosanct, with respect to its contemporaries. By that, I mean other public service institutions in Nigeria.

“It is instructive to note that his

(Jega) tenure as INEC chairman is a 5-year arrangement which is clearly indicated in the law establishing the commission. By June this year, that tenure would have been fully exhausted, leaving the president with the prerogative of either retaining him or replacing him.

“Objectively speaking, there is nothing sinister or strange about asking Prof Jega to proceed on a disengagement leave at this time.

This to us is not tantamount to removal as has been bandied by members of the opposition APC and other disgruntled elements who have chosen to cry wolf at every development that they read as being inimical to their interest.”

which it alleged was desperate to perpetrate itself in office at all cost.

APC spokesman Joe Igbokwe, who made the call, identified a particular television station, with headquarters in Lagos, of engaging in false and desperate propaganda sponsored by agents of the ruling party.

In a statement, Igbokwe said the station has thrown decency and decorum to the dogs in its desperate effort to partake in PDP’s grand looting of hundreds of trillions of Nigeria’s oil wealth.

“What the station (name withheld) is doing for the collapsing PDP is akin to what similar organisations did for the military in the days Nigerians struggled against dictatorship and that the station will go down with the PDP government,” Igbokwe predicted.

In the statement, Igbokwe said the documentaries against the APC leaders were sponsored by spurious, unnamed individuals, all aimed at tarnishing their image.

It reads: “The station is doing this nefarious activity irrespective of the dangerous consequences these hate propaganda bode for the Nigerian state even after the election.''

NE of the candidates in the rescheduled March 12 Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, election accused of promoting tribal and ethnic agenda, was in the South-West part of the country last week, promising to increase the number of delegates from Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states by five delegates each.

Until now, states like Lagos, Oyo and others in South-West were given one delegate each by the candidates while Kano alone had over 60 delegates.

This came even as he summoned an Arewa meeting for Wednesday March 11, 2015, for delegates from the North and had been soliciting the assistance of royal fathers from the region to woo delegates.

The candidate has been accused of taking over 90 percent of the union’s total delegates from the North, with majority of such delegates from non-union members from his village.

He was brought to SouthWest by one of the labour leaders from the zone working with him.

It was gathered that the South-west labour leader was becoming uncomfortable with the tribal and ethnic toga the candidate had been identified with, hence the visit to the two states.

A source in one of the meetings with some of the delegates from the SouthWest, told Vanguard that he tried to woo delegates from the zone with additional five delegates each, especially Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states, that he visited.

According to the source, the issue of Kris-Lally Housing fraud which he was a principal actor, was raised in the meeting, where he tried to exonerate himself from the mess.

“But we are not deceived by this as many of us know better and we also saw what happened on the floor of conference-in-session during the inconclusive National Delegates Conference, NDC, last month,” the source added.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 55

Vanguard CLASSIFIED Confirmation of Name This is to certify that these names Oteri Jonathan Deruviesa, Oteri Jonathan Uvie, and Oteri Jonathan Oviesa is same person but now wish to be known and addressed as Oteri Jonathan Oviesa. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Eco Bank and general public please take note.

OMENAKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uchechukwu Gloria Omenaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uchechukwu Gloria Nkwa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKWUNIFE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elizabeth Ekwunife, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Umeadi-Awaji. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKAJA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okaja Maria-Goretti Chizoba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olisa Maria-Goretti Chizoba. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OYEBANJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Taofeeqat Olajumoke Oyebanji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taofeeqat Olajumoke Oladiran (same person). All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLUWOLE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Omowunmi Oluwole, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Islamyat Omowunmi Lamina. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DZUNGWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dzungwe Joy Adoo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Adoo AhmedHaruna. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

ONYEDIKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyedika Hope Ogochukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mbadiwe Hope Ogochukwu.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Po l y t e c h n i c , O k o , NYSC and general public, please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeke Esther Nwakaego, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anamalu Esther Nwakaego.

All former documents remain valid. Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, NYSC and general public, please take note.

O N Y E M A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyema Ifeoma Cynthia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ozoigbo Ifeoma Cynthia. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

JIDOUWA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jidouwa Daris Chinye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinye Alex Egbunike. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NYEMNKEM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nyemnkem Joy Nkemdilim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omorogbe Joy Nkemdilim.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O K A F O R — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor Eucharia Nwanneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinweoba Eucharia Nwanneka.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Maureen Obi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chioma Maureen Ndulue. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWANETI—I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwaneti Ifenyinwa Juliet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agada Ifenyinwa Juliet. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONYEABOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Chukwubike Onyeabor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Nneka Chukwubike Ugwu.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

UBOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uboh Rosemary Onyebuchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Isaac Rosemary Onyebuchi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

DANIEL—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fatima Flora Daniel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fatima Flora Daniel Okpalaji. All former documents remain valid.

Standard Chartered Bank and general public please take note.

IJELI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Cynthia Onweazu Ijeli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cynthia Onweazu Charles-Kalio. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EYETEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Eyetemi Harison Onoghari, now wish to be known and addressed as Joseph Oharison Onoghari.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EDEARIESE—I, formerly known and addressed as Edeariese Eguriase Stanley, now wish to be known and addressed as Egbe Eguriase Stanley. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

56— VANGUARD, MONDAY, MARCH 9 , 2015

Blogger lashing: Saudi rejects criticism of Badawi case

S

Flight MH370: Angry families reject report F

AMILIES of those missing on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have rejected a report issued on the first anniversary of the plane’s disappearance.

The interim report gives no new clues as to what happened to the plane.

One relative described it as useless.

It does reveal that an underwater locator beacon battery had expired a year earlier, but it is unclear whether this affected the search.

It would be recalled that the airliner was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it vanished.

Malaysia and Australia say they remain committed to finding the missing plane.

As families of the 239 passengers and crew held remembrance ceremonies on Sunday, some expressed their frustration

•Tan Tuan Kee (R) and his family are worried the search for their son and brother will end with the report.

It contains masses of technical information about the missing aircraft, its maintenance record, the background of the crew,

and the various air traffic control and military radar tracking records of the plane, says the BBC’s Jonathan Head.

It notes the battery on the

Iraqi troops, militia make advances near Tikrit

I

RAQI security forces and Shi’ite militia fighting the Islamic State took control of the center of a town on the southern outskirts of Saddam Hussein’s home city Tikrit yesterday , security officials said.

Sending in more troops and fighting fierce clashes, the army and militiamen were still struggling to drive out Islamic State militants entrenched in buildings in the western section of the town of al-Dour, officials said.

Military commanders said the army and militia, known as Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) units, launched another offensive late on Saturday to break into the center of al-Dour.

By yesterday, they had succeeded in recapturing the central area where government headquarters are located, but Islamic State insurgents were still holding positions in the west.

“Daesh snipers are still targeting our troops from some of the high buildings.

We should be able to take them out with helicopter attacks this evening,” said Ahmed al-Yasiri, a Hashid Shaabi leader fighting in alDour. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Officials said security forces and Shi’ite militia fighters had also captured about third of the village of Albu Ajil south of Tikrit - hometown of the executed Sunni president.

Some Albu Ajil residents C M Y K

were accused by authorities and Shi’ite militia groups of taking part in the killing of soldiers from the nearby Speicher army camp when Islamic State fighters overran Tikrit and northern Iraq last June. Shi’ite

militia fighters have described the advance on Albu Ajil as revenge for the Speicher killings, although militia leaders say all civilians in the Sunni Muslim region will be well treated.

beacon of the flight data recorder had expired, which may suggest searchers had less chance of locating the aircraft, although the battery on the locator beacon of the cockpit voice recorder was working. But the report offers no significant new information which might explain where the plane went, or what happened to it, adds our correspondent.

Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood was on board, ridiculed the fact that investigators had interviewed just 120 people.

Obama optimistic over U.S, Iran nuclear talks

T

HE United States and Iran have narrowed their differences in nuclear weapons negotiations, President Barack Obama said in the face of a renewed Republican warning yesterday that any deal will face a tough congressional review.

“We have made progress in narrowing the gaps, but those gaps still exist,” Obama said in an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that was recorded on Saturday and broadcast on Sunday.

He nonetheless repeated he was willing to walk away from negotiations, which are scheduled to reach a framework deal in late March, if Tehran does not meet Washington’s demands.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, cautioned the Democratic president not to make “the bad deal we all anticipate he’s going to make”. He said Obama “cannot work around Congress forever”.

•Obama McConnell told CBS he was hoping to get 67 of the Senate’s 100 members “to assert the historic role of the Senate ... in looking at matters of this magnitude”.

Sixty-seven votes are needed to overturn any presidential veto of legislation regarding an Iran deal. The same number of votes are needed for Senate ratification of treaties negotiated by presidents with foreign countries.

Arguing that Iran was

“fomenting trouble” in other Middle Eastern countries including Syria, McConnell also warned that the Senate “cannot ignore all of their other behavior in looking at the potential nuclear deal.”

The negotiations with Iran center on restricting its ability to produce weapons grade nuclear materials while allowing it to develop nuclear energy.

Defending the talks, which have come under withering criticism also from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama told CBS: “Iran has abided by the terms of the agreement, we know what’s happening on the ground in Iran, they have not advanced their nuclear program, we’ve been able to roll back their 20 percent highly enriched uranium during this period of time” of negotiations.

McConnell had planned to debate on the Senate floor this week a bill requiring Obama to submit any deal with Iran to Congress for approval.

AUDI Arabia has expressed “surprise and dismay ” at international media reports criticising the flogging of a Saudi blogger for insulting Islam.

In its first official statement on the case the foreign ministry said it rejected any interference in its internal affairs.

Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail last year. He received the first 50 lashes in January prompting strong criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

The foreign ministry said it could not accept any impingement on the country’s sovereignty, or on the impartiality of its judiciary system.

“The kingdom unequivocally rejects any aggression under the pretext of human rights,” it added. Mr Badawi’s case has prompted

international protests and was raised by several governments.

Germany’s economic affairs minister and vice-chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, was urged by MPs and human rights organisations to take up Mr Badawi’s case while in Riyadh.

Before going into a meeting with King Salman, Mr Gabriel said “the harshness of this sentence, especially the corporal punishment, is something unimaginable for us and of course it weighs on our relations”.

Mr Badawi’s 1,000 lashes were scheduled to be administered over 20 weeks.

He received his first 50 lashes outside a mosque in Jeddah in January, but subsequent rounds have been postponed.

Mr Badawi established the Liberal Saudi Network, a now-closed online forum that sought to encourage debate on religious and political matters in 2008.

Radical Islamists face ban on working with children’

B

ANNING radical Islamists from working unsupervised with children could be one measure included in a new government anti-extremism strategy, reports have said.

The Telegraph says a leaked Home Office document also suggests Sharia courts and councils are areas of concern.

Job centre staff may also be told to identify vulnerable claimants who could become targets for radicalisation.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said she was “concerned about what might be taught in some of our schools”.

The BBC

understands the document has yet to be signed off by the coalition.

‘Fundamental British values’ Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the government was “increasingly aware” of the need to tackle extremists at home who “give succour to” terrorists.

“It isn’t just those who break the law by committing acts of violence,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.

The new government strategy on tackling extremism has been working its way through Whitehall for some time.

The document reportedly proposes a number of new measures, including tightening the rules on citizenship to make sure new residents embrace

Russia charges killers of Nemtsov

R

U S S I A N authorities said yesterday they were holding five men over the killing of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, one of whom served in a police unit in the Russian region of Chechnya, accor-ding to a law enforce-ment official.

The five men were frogmarched into a Moscow courtroom on Sunday, forced by masked security officers gripping their bound arms to walk doubled over, a Reuters reporter at the court said. They stood in metal cages in the courtroom as television crews were ushered in to film them.

A judge ruled that all five should be held in custody and said that one of them, Zaur Dadayev, had admitted his involvement in the killing when questioned by investigators.

Dadayev served for a decade in the “Sever” police battalion, part of the interior ministry in Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported. They cited Albert Barakhayev, a senior security official in the neighboring region of Ingushetia, where several of the men were detained.

Nemtsov was shot dead on the night of Feb. 27 within sight of the Kremlin walls, in the most high-profile killing of an opposition figure in the 15 years that President Vladimir Putin has been in office.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MARCH 9 , 2015 —57

U.N expresses disappointment over failure of S/Sudan peace talks

•UN Secretary-Generals

U

.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Kimoon at the weekend expressed deep disappointment after troubled talks to end more than a year of bloodshed in South Sudan broke off without a deal a day earlier.

Friday’s adjournment was the latest impasse in negotiations over the world’s youngest country, where a political row between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar triggered a conflict that has killed more

than 10,000 people. “(Ban) expresses his profound disappointment following the unsuccessful conclusion of the (East African bloc) IGAD-led peace talks and the failure of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to display statesmanship and reach an agreement on powersharing,” the U.N. press office said.

The U.N. statement said Ban “recalls” the Security Council’s newly established

sanctions regime, though it did not explicitly call for anyone to be sanctioned.

It added that Ban appealed for a resumption of the peace talks, noting that “he strongly urges both parties to refrain from any attempt to escalate the conflict.”

U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf on Friday issued a sharp rebuke to Kiir and Machar for not reaching an agreement.

Mbeki urges African leaders to Invest in ICT infrastructure

By Emeka Aginam, just back from Barcelona, Spain

F

ORMER South African President, Thabo Mbeki has urged African governments to invest more in Information Technology Infrastructure to resolve toughest problems like health, governance, education, traffic, among others currently facing the continent.

This is even as the GSM Association (GSMA) has estimated that there are more than half a billion mobile connections on the African continent.

Mbeki who spoke at the Ericsson African Night at the just concluded 2015 Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain said that increased use of mobile technology has already benefited several sectors in the continent especially education and health.

The former South African President also highlighted on the African Renaissance concept on how best African people and nations shall overcome the current challenges confronting the continent and achieve cultural, scientific, and C M Y K

economic renewal.

He told the gathering comprising of telecoms operators, African leaders in the ICT ecosystem, including Airtel, MTN, Unitel and Millicom and international Technology Reporters that Africa must leverage on ICT tools to face the challenge of the 21st century and attain digital economy. Apart from foreign interventions, Mbeki was optimism that use of mobile can a long way in resolving current issues facing the continent. Acknowledging that weak IT infrastructure remains a challenge, he said that “Africa has come a long way. We cannot continue like

this. Mobile technology has enormous impact in our lives.

We must invest in it. We must embrace it more. Mobile technology has intervened and is an important enabler to help the continent respond to local challenges like health, education, traffic, agriculture, among others”, he explained.

He said that use of mobile technologies can help Africa achieve financial inclusion and also help rural farmers to check weather condition and cost of farm products.

The African night was hosted by Ericsson with the focus on the development of the telecoms industry in Africa.

Rocket attack hits Kidal UN base in northern Mali

A

ROCKET attack on a United Nations base in northern Mali has killed three people and wounded at least 12 others.

A peacekeeper died when about 30 rockets struck the base in the desert town of Kidal, said the UN mission.

Some rockets missed their target, killing two civilians.

It is not clear who carried out the attack. Islamist militants are active in the area.

Meanwhile an al-Qaeda-

linked group said it carried out an attack in the capital which killed five people on Saturday. Al-Murabitoun, an Islamist group led by Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, said the attack on a bar in Bamako was a “revenge operation” against the “infidel West”.

A gunman opened fire at La Terrasse bar, killing a French national, a Belgian security official working for the EU and three Malians.

58 — V anguard, MOND AY, MARCH 9, 2015 Vanguard, MONDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Here is a day when things are meant to go according to your plans and record success. Yongat-heart may be in for a romantic day. You just have to take the initiative.

LEO; This is your day; although there will be some challenges within your base of operation, eventual success will be yours. Be more family minded.

VIRGO; Even if friends have failed to live up to expectation in the recent days you will need to leave the past behind you and forge ahead. Lovers are fairly favoured.

LIBRA; Recent challenges notwithstanding pleasant surprises are possible. The more financially ambitious you are today the better for your cause.

SCORPIO; Better opportunities indicated for those of you willing to be as self assertive as possible, and it could turn out to be a happy day to be remembered by real lovers.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

N auditing there is no sentiment attached. It is a very serious business. It is aimed at diagnosing and detecting the

This Is Your Year shortcomings of a business. Ditto with your life. It is even much more serious with your life. Now there is something you have been

TERROR MUDA

holding on to though you know is not working, you have stubbornly refused to let go, there is something

in “Never say goodbye”

in your life who is a drain pipe and you won’t jettison such a person, there is something you have been doing though not yielding positive result you have kept doing it over the year.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; Although you will need to keep your secrets for the next few days that is not to say you should not pursue your financial interest. Take care of your health.

CAPRICORN; Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make an important move because good luck and success are closer to you today than you image. Be hopeful.

AQUARIUS; Tomorrow will prove more rewarding financially but you will have good opportunity to do things rightly within your working arena. Be loving.

PISCES; Some of you who are travelling purposely for love are in for rewarding day. All of you will need to take your social life more seriously.

ARIES; Professional advice may be needed over your finances but if you are sure of what you are doing you can go ahead. Be more family minded;

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; Unusual co-operation may come your way today but if you are carried away by this the whole thing may change tomorrow. Respect your spouse.

GEMINI; Better than yesterday. Happenings within your working arena will not give you cause to worry but situation may change tomorrow. Your finance are favoured.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my birthday ruler?

According to the date I was born I should be a Libran by my star but most of the time when I read horoscopes written by both yourself and foreign Astrologers Scorpio always applicable to me, why?

Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don=t publish my date of birth.

Ndubuisi, Delta.

Dear Ndubuisi, You were born on a Sunday meaning that mighty Sun rules your birthday. You were wrong to have taken Libra as your Sun sign because the Sun was placed in early degree of Scorpio together with many other heavenly bodies. Then with the Moon in Libra when you were born will equally be influential in your characteristics build up but, you are mainly a Scorpio born person.

You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as there was no planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise.

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born.

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon (your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person and partly in Libran. And that is to say basic characteristics of both Scorpio and Libra are highly pronounced in you.

Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you don’t develop it is another thing.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 —59

Leave Eagles alone, Erico, Esu advise Keshi

By Solomon Nwoke

A

S the controversy involving the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and out of contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi over the renewal of the latter’s contract rages on, former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico and Crown FC of Ogbomosho Coach, Godfrey Esu have urged Keshi to throw in the towel if he’s not happy with the terms of contract.

Last week, Keshi acknowledged receipt of a new contract from the NFF and was however angry with its contents and subsequently described it as a ‘slave contract’.

The Big Boss was unhappy with several clauses inserted in the deal and duly went on to voice his sentiments.

It is still not clear if Keshi will accept the deal or whether the NFF

Continues from BP A member of the committee, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, had during the budget defence session between the Committee and the Ministry of Sports, asked the Minister why the Ministry and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), were still bent in appointing Keshi as National Coach despite his failure to qualify the Super Eagles for the last Nation’s Cup, a similar failure that led to the sack of Samson Siasia and other coaches who failed with the national team years back.

Danagogo in his response to the question said “the search for Chief coach of the National team was not restricted to Keshi alone but at the moment, he seems to be the one being focused upon by NFF which in fact, has led to a fresh contract offer to him but that did not in any way suggest that Keshi was indispensable.

“Appointing a Chief Coach for the national team is strictly a technical matter that should be looked at on empirical basis and which is directly under the purview of the NFF expected to make the best use of technical staff at its disposal to carry out the exercise.

“Although for now, it is Keshi that has been picked by them but the windows of scouting for

would seek an alternative coach for the Super Eagles.

The seeming impasse between the NFF and Keshi has predictably divided public opinion but former national team keeper, Erico and Esu want the matter settled amicably to move the national team forward.

Both coaches spoke differently to Sports Vanguard on the rancour surrounding the Eagles coaching job, but jibed the NFF and advised Keshi

to come out with a decision after taking a deep look into the contract terms.

Said Erico “It’s quite disheartening the scenario surrounding Keshi’s contract with NFF because, I think the new NFF took a very harsh and wrong step at the very initial stage as their first pronouncement was to sack Keshi. I don’t know what they had at the back of their minds and it’s backfiring now. But with the rancour

surrounding his contract, Keshi should take a deep look into the whole scenario and make up his mind.

In his opinion, Coach Esu summed it up, “the manner NFF treated Keshi was not right. If we could give a foreigner (Clemence Westerhof) four years to coach our national team, then Keshi deserves a good measure, but if what he is offered is not okay by him, he should walk away”, said Esu.

Ameobi ponders MLS move summer.

S

•Ameobi

Senators the best are still there for them to explore which are not restricted to Keshi” Responding to a related question, the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, denied the rumour making the rounds that Keshi had rejected the fresh contract offered him by declaring that there was no written letter from Keshi to NFF to that effect.

He Said: “For now, as far as the NFF is concerned, Keshi is the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles based on the fresh appointment we offered him to that effect which he has not rejected as wrongly reported in the media.

“C o r r e s p o n d e n c e should not be hear-say, it should be between employer and employee.

As the employer of Keshi, NFF has not received any letter from him rejecting the new appointment offered him and on the basis of that, NFF strongly believes that he had accepted the offer and will resume work very soon in view of the serious engagements ahead of the Super Eagles, one of which is the international friendly match with the South African national team coming up on the 29th of this month , preparatory to Nation’s Cup and World Cup qualifiers coming up months ahead”.

He explained that the

HOLA Ameobi has started planning for a career outside the English Premiership, with his deal with Crystal Palace set to run out in the next three months.

The Daily Star claims the Nigeria international could be heading to the the United States if the Londoners do not extend his contract in the

fresh appointment offered Keshi is largely based upon the template of the former, which gives him N5million as monthly basic salary, official residence here in Abuja and some other entitlements in form of attractive allowances.

The committee, however, took up both the Minister of Sports and the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye over illegal construction of about 140 shops inside the premises of the Ahmadu Bello stadium in Kaduna, a development that is contrary to Stadium management practices all over the world.

The argument of Elegbeleye who described the shops construction as legal, having been wrongly approved by NSC but abnormal, being against stadium management practices across the world , did not go down well with the committee members.

One of them, Senator Abdulkadir Jajere said since the project was contrary to stadium management practices worldwide, it cannot be said to be legal in any sense.

But the Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Gumba ruled that the committee should have a close session with the sports administrators over the matter.

Shola Ameobi returned to the EPL in the January transfer window after a brief stint in Turkey with second - tier Gaziantep BB. Since his debut for Crystal Palace against Arsenal on February 21, he has made three appearances as substitute.

It is assumed that the experienced striker rejected a move to the MLS before agreeing terms with The Eagles.

Continues from BP the world press conference that announced the friendly in Johannesburg on Friday, stated clearly that Nigeria now wants to win every match.

“It is a friendly match, but Nigeria wants to win all games, whether friendly or competitive.

The Bafana Bafana played a big role in the Eagles not qualifying to go to Equatorial Guinea to defend their African title, at the last Africa Cup of Nations, and I

Continues from BP ahead inside the first minute through Ibenegbu Ikechukwu’s clever ball after being teed up by Abu Azeez.

Emmanuel missed a header at the far post that would have put Nigeria 2-0 up as the Beach Eagles swooned over the South Africans.

Goalkeeper Oladepo made two brilliant saves from Fanni as South Africa tried to claw their way back into the game but were soon undone as Abu Azeez beat two defenders to slot home and make it 2-0 to the Sand Eagles.

South Africa pulled one back through Ndlovu who scored straight from a corner kick to peg it at 2-1.

•Keshi

AYC Continues from BP later in the same manner.

He beat goalkeeper Seydou Sy to the ball before wrong footing a defender and netting his second goal of the night.

Sidy Sarr capitalised on a mix up in the 18yard area, before slotting a low shot past Joshua Enaholo, who was outstanding for the

Eagles don’t think the Super Eagles have forgotten that.

“Anytime any of our teams turns out wearing the national colours, they have to fight hard for every ball. That is the policy of the new NFF administration.”

Nigeria and South Africa clash at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit on Sunday, March 29 in what is seen as a big battle, with South African football

Nigerian side.

Attacking midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew added a third late in the first half for Manu Garba’s team.

Nigeria’s next match will be against Congo on 11th March at the Stade Leopold Senghor.

The final Group A match will be against Ivory Coast on 14th March at the Stade Caroline Faye. suddenly gaining in confidence when playing Nigeria.

Nigeria held a noose over South Africa for decades, but recently, the Super Eagles failed to defeat South Africa in a Cup of Nations qualifying fixture (0-0 in Cape Town and 2-2 in Uyo), meaning failure to reach the finals, and South Africa’s U-17 boys, Amajimbos, pipped the Golden Eaglets to a place in the final at the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic last month.

Sand The second period started with South Africa equalising through Power again for his second of the game but Abu Azeez notched his sixth of the tournament and Nigeria’s third with a turn and shot to restore the lead to 3-2.

Nigeria got a penalty after Fanni fouled Abu Azeez but the Warri Wolves man missed the spot kick as the South African goalkeeper saved his kick.

Ndlovu got South Africa back into the game with a well taken shot to beat Olalekan to make it 3-3 in a very interesting second period.

Azeez got Nigeria back into the lead again

just before the end of the second period with a snap shot which rested in the back of the net as the second period ended with Nigeria leading 43.

Ibenegbu cracked the upright at the start of the third and final period as Abu Azeez tested the South Africa goalkeeper with a fierce volley before Victor Tale’s free kick gave Nigeria a two goal cushion.

Abu Azeez’s goal made it 6-3 with four minutes left in the third period as the Sand Eagles began to ascertain their supremacy late on in the game. An own goal by South African captain Nester made it 7-3 for Nigeria.

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60—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Lagos ITTF World Tour: Draws hold as Egyptian contingent arrive T

HE draws for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, Lagos Open hold today as 12man Egyptian contingent arrive in Lagos.

According to the tournament director, Olaranti Lajide, the all players and teams are expected to be present at the draw holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium with the matches in the preliminary expected to serve off on Tuesday Match 10.

“The appointed official from ITTF have all arrives on Sunday for the event as there will be short briefing for all the officiating officials and this will be followed by the draw and this will determine how the matches will be played from the preliminary stage.

Unlike in the previous editions, where players compete in four events, this year, six events – singles (men and women), doubles (men and women) and U-21 singles (boys and girls) will be jostled for at the fiveday tournament with a prize money of $46,000,” he said.

Lajide also disclosed that all the participating teams and players are expected to arrive on Monday while the Egyptian team led by Omar Assar will also arrive in Lagos as well. “Some of the European players have arrived and we are expecting everybody in Lagos latest by Monday,”

F

Arsenal ‘ll attack Man U—Wenger RSENE Wenger has A no intention of telling his Arsenal team to defend

deep in Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at Manchester United.

•As Super Seven fly Nigeria colours

UPER Seven FC have won this year’s Standard Chartered Bank five-a-side tournament tagged ‘Road to Anfield’ which ended yesterday at the Astro Turf play ground, Lekki, Lagos.

Super Seven team defeated Dobber FC 6-5 via penalty shootout after playing out a goalless draw at full time. And by their victory, the team would now represent Nigeria at the regional circuit where they would play against Ghana and Gambia this week in Ghana. The eventual winner will represent the West African region against countries from East and Southern African regions in the final at Anfield. The ‘Standard Chartered Trophy’ is an international 5-a-side C M Y K

OR their imme-nse support in the last few years, the Minster of S p o r t s / Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Tammy Danagogo has commended the government and people of Korea Republic over the development of taekwondo in Nigeria.

In a letter signed by the minister and addressed to the Ambassador, Republic of Korea, it stated that the performance of Team Nigeria in major competitions has been outstanding, adding that this became possible with the continued support of the Korea Govern-ment.

“We hereby write to convey the profound gratitude of NSC and indeed taekwondo lovers in Nigeria for your unequaled support to the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) under the leadership of Mr. George Ashiru.

FOCUSED...Nigeria's Table Tennis Star, Aruna Quadri returns a serve.

Standard Chartered ‘Road to Anfield 2015’ excites Aderugbo

S

Sports minister lauds Korea over support for taekwondo

football tournament organized by the Bank in partnership with Liverpool FC that offers football fans a once in a life time ‘Money Can’t Buy’ opportunity of playing at an English Premier League football pitch..

Standard Chartered’s global footprints will compete for the ultimate trophy on the 7 & 8th May 2015. The winners of the ‘Finals’ will be crowned Overall Champions of ‘Standard Chartered Trophy 2015’.

Speaking at the end of the national final Sunday, Country Head Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria, Dayo Aderugbo was excited at the level of performance of the players and the huge turnout of spectators.

Arsenal have climbed to third in the Premier League after a run of seven victories in their past eight matches.

That run included a fine 20 success at champions Manchester City in January, a match in which Arsenal drew plaudits for a strong defensive showing and a masterclass in counter-attacking football.

While some pundits believe similar tactics could put holders Arsenal into the semi-finals, Wenger wants his team to play on the front foot at Old Trafford.

“At Manchester City, we scored the first goal, then we were on a defensive foot because they had to come out, and that [who scores first on Monday] is not predictable,” he said.

“But what is for sure is both teams will go for it, so that means we will have to attack well and defend well.

“You have to analyse it. You also have to look at ways of possession - is it in your own half or is it in the opponents half? If it is in your half, it can be a bit illusionary possession.

“I still think possession is an important part of the game - you cannot go into a game and say you do not want the ball.

•Man U forward Robin van Persie (m) is surrounded by Arsenal defenders in a previous clash.

Ihonvbere, others back Ilaboya-led Edo FA to succeed

S

ECRETARY to the Edo State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere and the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Priesley Ediagbonya, has backed the newly-elected members of the state FA to move football in Edo to the next level.

Ihonvbere stated this on Friday in Benin City, when the executive members of the Edo FA, led by their chairman, Frank Ilaboya, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Ilaboya, who introduced his board members to Ihonvbere, thanked the

SSG for his support during the election. The respected sports journalist also solicited for the cooperation of Ihonvbere “in our activities, particularly on the promotion of Insurance FC to the Premier League.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015— 63

Musa tops Russia goals chart N

IGERIA international A h m e d Musa is now the leading scorer in the Russian league after his brace helped CSKA Moscow beat Terek Grozny 2-1 on Saturday.

Ahmed Musa now has nine goals under his belt ahead of teammate Bibras Natcho and Hulk of Zenit, who each have eight goals.

Ahmed Musa’s double was a great way to the restart the R u s s i a n P r e m i e r league and •Ahmed Musa he told AfricanFootbal.com both goals are for his w i f e Jemila and son Musa.

He said t h e y deserve it as they have been there for him.

“I dedicate my goals against Terek Grozny to my lovely wife, Jemila and son. They deserve the honour because they have been

there for me always. They are source of inspiration and encouragement to me,” Ahmed Musa told AfricanFootball.com He put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time following a deflection by attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev.

Terek Grozny forward Igor Lebedenko got the equaliser just past the hour-mark, with the Nigerian winger scoring the winner in the 76th minute after

a great solo effort by Mario Fernandez.

CSKA Moscow are second on the log after matchday 18, seven points away from leaders Zenit Saint-Petersburg.

Taraba secure slim home win over Rangers I N the first game of the new NPFL season, Taraba FC survived a late scare to triumph 3-2 over visiting Enugu Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

Bobby Abel gave Taraba an early lead but Enugu Rangers’ Senegalese import Peter Coly leveled things up for his side to send the teams into the halftime break level at 1-1.

Taraba, buoyed on by their home fans, thronged forward in search of the lead and a minute after resumption a penalty was awarded in their favour.

Okey Odita guilty of committing the foul that lead to the penalty protested his innocence to no avail and Abdulmalik Mohammed blasted his spot-kick into the net to give Taraba a 2-1 lead.

Five minutes after the hour mark Taraba took the game away from Enugu Rangers with their third goal of the game courtesy Nura Ahmed who came in as a substitute.

Rangers responded to going two goals behind by bringing in Samuel Agba and the power p l a y i n g forward took just 16 minute to make his mark in the game scoring his side second goal to bring scores to 3-2.

Agba almost snatched a

•Emeteole point for his side but a superb save at the death from Taraba goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Obilor, helped the home side pick up all three points in their first game of the season.

Yakubu's brace sinks 3SC W

IKKI Tourists defeated fellow promoted side 3SC 2-0 in their first game of the season in Bauchi on Sunday.

Former JUTH FC forward Victor Yakubu gave the hosts Wikki Tourists the lead in the sixth minute with a superb header to score the first goal of the 2014/2015 season.

Yakubu completed a brace as he scored from the penalty spot in the 56th minute to give Wikki 2-0 lead.

Bayelsa United forced visiting Lobi Stars to a 1-1 draw in their first league game in Benin on Sunday.

Coach Justin Tenger-led goals in colours of Samsunspor. His total side took the fight to haul this season is seven Bayelsa United and were with the lead in goals having scored three rewarded rd minute when the 43 goals for Karsiyaka.

Aminu, Ofoedu score in Turkey N

IGERIA U-23 ace Umar Aminu was among the goals as his Turkish second division team Osmalispor thrashed Giresunspor 40 on Sunday.

Osmanlispor are third on the league table with 41 points in 23 games The former Samsunspor striker scored his side’s second goal in the 61st minute.

He has now scored three goals in the league for his new side, bringing his total in the league for this season to four having scored one for Samsunspor.

Compatriot David Abwo was in action for Giresunspor.

In a related vein, Nigerian striker Chikeluba Ofoedu was the match winner for Samsunspor as they beat Antalyaspor 2-1 on Sunday.

Samsunspor are sixth C M Y K

on the league table with 36 points in 23 games.

The former Rangers striker scores the winner in the 82nd minute.

He has now scored four

•Uche Obioma Arinze scored.

Lobi new boy Uche Ihuerulam fails to scores against his former team on the hour mark.

Respite came for Bayelsa United when Eric

Frimpong nodded home the equaliser in the 75th minute. Bayelsa United captain Salomon Junior was sent off in the 90th minute for pushing an opponent inside the Lobi box.

El-Kanemi off to a winning start

E

•TUSSLE...Umar Aminu (r) vies with an opponent

L-KANEMI Warriors picked up a slim 1-0 win over visiting Nasarawa United in Kano to start their Glo NPFL campaign on a winning note.

Playing with about 65 percent of their players from last season, El-Kanemi dominated the early proceedings with Sunday Adeniji forcing Nasarawa goalkeeper, Dami Paul, into two fantastic saves.

They finally got the breakthrough five minutes from the half time break when Abraham Audu’s left footed strike nestled into the net of Nassarawa leaving Paul with no chance. The second half saw a much more balanced display as both teams cancelled out themselves although none was able to create any clear cut chance.

However, El-Kanemi appeared the most likely to score the second goal of the game as the lively Sunday Adetunji was causing the Nasarawa backline all sort of troubles.

Nasarawa United failed to put up any form of resistance to the free flowing passes of El-Kanemi Warriors who increased the pressure on the visitors as the game progresses.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

AYC: F/Eagles beat Senegal 3-1 N IGERIA opened its African Youth Championship campaign on a positive note as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice in a 3-1 win over hosts Senegal at the Stade Leopold

Senghor last night.

Awoniyi got the Flying Eagles off to a perfect start, breaking the deadlock against the Young Lions in the tenth minute after benefitting from a long pass from

Senators drill Minister over Keshi •Danagogo confesses “Keshi is not indispensable’’

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

A

•Senator Lokpobiri

will not treat the game with velvet gloves.

Akinwunmi, who was at

S the Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation expects a response from Coach Stephen Keshi over a fresh contract offered him to continue as Super Eagles coach, the Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, has declared that Keshi is not indispensable.

The Minister made the declaration in Abuja while responding to questions from members of the Senate Committee on Sports as regards the indispensability or otherwise of Keshi as the Chief coach of the Nigerian National team (the Super Eagles), against the backdrop of his alleged rejection of the fresh contract.

Continues on Page 59

Continues on Page 59

•Keshi

Eagles won’t be in Nelspruit for picnic — Akinwunmi

T

HE build –up for this month’s international friendly between Nigeria and South Africa has

TODAY'S

continued to pan out nicely after NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi assured that the Super Eagles

PUZZLE

the back.

The striker doubled the advantage three minutes

Continues on Page 59

•Awoniyi

Sand Eagles thump S/ Africa to claim bronze

N

IGERIA’S Sand Eagles have won the third place game at the Power House Beach Soccer Challenge in Durban, South Africa after beating the hosts 93 in the classification game on yesterday.

Nigeria had lost 6-5 to Senegal in the second semi-final on Saturday while the Ivory Coast •Ibenegbu beat South NPL Results Africa 9-1 to Bayelsa 1 Lobi 1 advance and Enyimba 0 Akwa 0 set the two Taraba 3 Rangers 2 sides for the Sharks 0 Sunshine 0 third place Gabros 2 Wolves 0 match.

The Sand Giwa 0 Abia 0 Dolphins 0 Kwara 0 Eagles went El-kanemi 1 Nasarawa 0 Wikki 1 3SC 0 Continues on Heartland vs Pillars (PP) Page 59

QUICK CROSSWORD

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Initial (5) 5 Relish (6) 8 Giant (5) 10 Carrier (6) 11 Detail (4) 14 Corsair (6) 15 Devilish (7) 18 Through (3) 19 Fruit (3) 21 Adroit (4) 23 Revolt (5) 24 Gather (4) 27 Colour (3) 29 Owns (3) 31 Remote (7) 32 Flower (6) 34 Cab (4) 35 Harmony (6) 38 Skinflint (5) 39 Breakwater (6) 40 Cogs (5)

DOWN: 2 Wrath (3) 3 Current (6) 4 Fasten (3) 5 Cut (4) 6 Swerved (6) 7 Spurn (6) 9 Coach (7) 12 Gratuity (3) 13 Horse (4) 16 Atmosphere (4) 17 Diced (5) 20 Boring (7) 22 Cringe (4) 24 Touching (6) 25 Attempt (4) 26 Wages (6) 28 Dress (6) 30 Gender (3) 33 Season (4) 36 Entrap (3) 37 Abroad (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Assist 5, Spot 8, Piste 9, Car 10, Lees 11, Earl 12, Appal 13, Supper 16, Deer 18, Edam 20, Yes 22, Was 23, Rep 24, Made 25, Area 28, Draper 30, Grade 32, Idle 33, Iris 34, Top 35, Atone 36, Side 37, Inched.

DOWN: 1, Accuse 2, Scrapped 3, Solved 4, Dispersed 5, Steamer 6, Peal 7, Tell 8, Pea 14, Rewarding 15, Cap 17, Ear 19, Despatch 20, Yap 21, Secrete 26, Arisen 27, Groped 29, Miss 30, Glad 31, Ere

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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