BOKO HARAM:Obasanjo's son shot in Mubi attack

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62227

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Ooni, Alaafin rivalry resurfaces

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Obasanjo's son shot in Mubi attack

B-HARAM:

•Ambushed with colleagues by Boko Haram, taken to hospital By Ndahi Marama AIDUGURI— •Over 20 insurgents killed, 3 soldiers injured in gun duel M SON of former President •B'Haram controls 3 LGs in Borno, 2 in Adamawa, 1 in Yobe Obasanjo, Lt ColOlusegun Adeboye Obasanjo, an army engi•Soldiers, residents flee as terrorists approach Maiduguri 9 neer at the 3rd Division in Jos, Plateau State was shot yesterday by Boko

Continues from page 5

COLUMNISTS: Help! We are losing the war against Boko Haram •P.17

U.S. and the ISIS challenge •P.

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Mr & Mrs INSECURITY—Right: Members of local vigilante called Civilian JTF on patrol in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday.

Left: Lt. Col. Adeboye Obasanjo. Photos: NAN/Sahara Reporters.

EBOLA: FG decries Stop calling us selective ‘Ebola’ community —Oduoha monarch quarantine of Nigerians See Inside

•P.8

DIMGBA IGWE: Kayode IGP orders full Aderanti is investigation new Lagos as NPAN, others mourn CP •P10 •P.58

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—President Goodluck Jonathan (R) discussing with the Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy, Mr Vladimio Makei, during his visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

Obasanjo's son shot in Mubi attack Continues from page 1 Haram terrorists as he led soldiers on an offensive to reclaim Michika town in Adamawa State which fell into the hands of the insurgents. Twenty four soldiers were also reportedly killed during the encounter in which Lt Col Obasnjo was said to be seriously injured.

The Defence Headquarters did not respond to inquiries seeking confirmation of the incident but a reliable military source, who confirmed the story, said the injured Obasanjo was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital inYola, the state capital.

At the time of the incident which took place at Baza, Major Gen J.S.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Our destiny is not determined by where we begin in life. Our lives are destiny in motion. We make our destiny as we move along.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Life speaks to us all the time...we just need to be more aware of its messages...being aware brings about a better grasp of happenings and situations in our lives — Take Heart Quotes

A

ND from Deepak Chopra comes meaningful understanding on how to live life more beautifully. He surmised that when you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities... in which it becomes possible to achieve the spontaneous fulfilment of our every desire.

These co-incidences are synchronicities and require gaining access to a place deep within yourself. When a coincidence arises, don’t ignore it. Ask yourself, what is the message here? What is the significance of this? You don’t need to go digging for the answers. Ask the question, and the answers will emerge. They may arrive as a sudden insight, a spontaneous creative experience, or they may be something very different. Perhaps you will meet a person who is somehow related to the coincidence that occurred. An encounter, a relationship, a chance meeting, a situation, a circumstance will immediately give you a clue to its meaning. “Oh, so that’s what it was all about!”

Zaruwa, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, who serves as the Brigade Commander of the 23rd Army brigade in Yola and Lieutenant Agwu were all together advancing towards Michika when Boko Haram fighters ambushed them.

According to reports, the army also lost an armoured tank to the militants. As a result of the attack, Mubi town has practically been deserted following the closure of schools and massive retreat of soldiers from the city.

Meanwhile, as the insurgents overran Michika, security operatives were said to have fled when they ran out of ammunition on Sunday.

A competent source from Michika, who escaped the attack and now taking refuge in Gombi council area of Adamawa State, expressed worry over the deadly attacks carried out by terrorists in the NorthEast. He regretted that this has destabilized the economic fortune of the citizenry who had laboured in this rainy season but had to abandon their farmlands.

Another resident who fled from the attack on Michika, Mr. Tumba Philemon who is now residing with one of his relatives at the state university in Mubi, expressed fears that the insurgents may invade Mubi as the town is not

far from Michika town which has been reclaimed by insurgents.

How Boko Haram wreaked havoc in Michika He noted that the terrorists, who succeeded in chasing away security operatives in Madagali town, invaded neighbouring Michika on Sunday and wreaked havoc on innocent civilians and internally displaced persons before hoisting their black and white flags.

Philemon added that, he was contemplating leaving Mubi town when he discovered that the state university authorities in Mubi has given directive that the school will remain closed on Monday (yesterday) and urged students to go back to their various homes for safety as the school authorities could no longer guarantee their safety.

He said when he discovered that the university had been closed, he had no option than to relocate to another zone.

Over 20 insurgents killed, 3 soldiers injured in gun duel Over 20 Boko Haram terrorists were killed by

the troops of Nigerian Army on Sunday, while three soldiers sustained fatal injuries when the insurgents attacked the residence of former Commander of Niger-Delta Special Task Force, Major General Tukur Buratai and Buratai Central Primary School in Buratai Town of Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

A resident of the area, Mallam Idi Buratai said the gunmen, numbering over 50, stormed the town on motorcycles and Hilux vehicles and attacked the residence of General Buratai and Buratai Primary school, and succeeded in burning them.

He said: “The soldiers guarding the residence of the former Task force commander, in collaboration with their colleagues from Biu military barracks and the members of vigilante group, repelled the attack, killing over 20 members of the sect”.

Mallam Idi said the terrorists also succeeded in burning all mobile network masts in the town, adding that the terrorists, who stormed the town at about 9:30am on Sunday, came through Buni-Yadi, the town captured by the insurgents in Yobe State last month.

A resident of the town, who fled to Biu, Bukar Buba said the soldiers guarding the residence of the Army General successfully repelled the attack, where many insurgents were killed, adding that they however fled with three vehicles inlcuding a military vehicle, noting that the three soldiers that sustained injuries later died at Biu general hospital while receiving treatment.

Confirming the incident, the District Head of Buratai, Alhaji Maina Garga said the insurgents attacked the residence of General Buratai but the soldiers guarding the house successfully repelled the attack, killing many of the insurgents,

while three soldiers sustained injuries.

He said normalcy has since returned to the town, as the soldiers guarding the residence of General Buratai got prompt re-enforcement from Biu Military Barracks.

Boko Haram's strongholds in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe Altogether, Boko Haram terrorists are now in control of six local governments in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. In Borno, the insurgents have taken over and hoisted their flags in Gwoza, GamboruNgala and Banki local governments. Bama and Damboa which were earlier taken over by the insurgents had been reclaimed by the military. In Adamawa, the insurgents are in control of Michika and Gulak local governments, while in Yobe, they have taken over Buni-Yadi Local Government.

Army Hq confirms Mubi attack, mum on Obasanjo's son Army Headquarters yesterday night disclosed that some soldiers and officers prosecuting the war against Boko Haram terrorists were yesterday attacked at Mubi, Adamawa state.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye in a telephone chat, confirmed that there was an attack on Mubi last night. He said that some soldiers and officers were affected but that he could not confirm if Obasanjo’s son was affected in the attack.

6—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Telecom operator docked for N40m theft

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A TELECOM operator, Samson Ukpolo, was yesterday arraigned before an EbuteMetta chief magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing N40 million.

The defendant, who resides at Plot 3685, Lakeview Estate, 2nd Rainbow, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, told the court that the telecoms operator, who worked with Global Investment and Communication Limited, situated at 5, Charity Road, Oko-Oba, Ifako-Ijaye, Agege, Lagos, and others now at large, committed the alleged offence between January and August 2013.

He said they conspired to steal the said sum belonging to one Mr. Albert Uduma, who is the owner of the company.

The prosecutor said the offence was punishable under Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant’s counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi, urged the court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal term.

Ogunbiyi further informed the court that the defendant could not be responsible for the offence of other employees.

In her short ruling on the bail application, Magistrate E. B. Daodu admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Daodu also ordered that one of the sureties must have a landed property within Lagos State, while the second surety must be a Grade Level 15 officer in Lagos State or federal ministry.

She further ordered that the two sureties must deposit N200,000 each to the designated account of the court’s Chief Registrar, and show the court evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos State government.

The magistrate, however, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail condition and adjourned the matter till October 22.

Endless deaths on Abuja Airport/Kubwa expressway A

By Henry Umoru

BUJA — CAPTAIN Sabo Sambo, younger brother of Vice President Namadi Sambo and son of Mallam Nasir el-Rafai, former Federal Capital Territory minister, were just two on an endless list of those who have lost their lives in ghastly road crashes on Abuja Airport Road.

Yesterday, two persons were again seriously injured on the road, renamed Umaru Yar ’Adua Road, in a multiple accident involving four vehicles.

The accident which happened by Pyakasa, Airport Road at 10am. Vanguard's visit to the scene showed that the crash happened after Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, with number plate, Abuja EL 645 ABJ, lost control, summersaulted after the right side tyre pulled off.

Following the accident, a truck with number plate, Lagos KTU 577XD, while the driver was trying to avoid a major accident, veered into the drainage on the Airport Road.

Another Honda car with number plate, Katsina AE 834 MLF, also ran into a drainage while trying to avoid the SUV, just as a Range Rover Land Cruiser with number plate, Lagos GGE 743 LX, was also affected as it was hit by the truck, with one of its front tyres pulled off.

According to an eyewitness, who was behind the white SUV, Chodozie Udogu, the driver of the vehicle became confused thereby struggling with the car which was badly damaged.

Udogu told Vanguard that if the driver of the truck had not veered into the drainage, the accident would have been worse as many vehicles would have been affected.

Following the crash, passers-by parked their vehicles at the scene, apparently to sympathise with the victims, to help save life as well as assist in removing the damaged vehicle from the road.

Glasses, some parts of the damaged vehicle as well as blood

Scenes of accidents on the road. Photos: Henry Umoru stains were seen at the scene of the accident.

Soon after the accident, one of the injured persons who was at the passenger’s seat of the Jeep was on the floor with blood gushing out from his nose and ears until men of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, came and evacuated the injured to the hospital.

Men of the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, and Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were on ground to take the necessary documentation and to remove the vehicle from the road.

Trouble with the road

As a means of tackling the problem of perennial traffic congestion usually encountered by those coming into the Nigeria capital city, the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2008 awarded a contract for the expansion of the Abuja Airport and Kubwa expressway.

They are also known as the Outer Southern Expressway and Outer Northern Expressway respectively.

The contract, which involved expansion of the roads to 10 lanes as well as the rehabilitation of the existing expressways, was awarded at a cost of N257 billion.

The two lots of the Airport

Two die, others injured in Ogun auto crash

I

By Bose Adelaja

FO— ROAD users on Lagos/Abeokuta expressway, yesterday, experienced a terrific gridlock, following an auto crash that led to the death of two people while others sustained injuries.

The incident occurred around 6.30am, at Vulcanizer bus-stop, Ifo area of Ogun State, when a 18-seater bus

with number plate, APP338XE, which was heading for Lagos, suddenly lost control and somersaulted. This led to the death of two passengers, a male and female, while others were seriously injured.

Vanguard gathered that one of the victims had his legs shattered while four others were seriously

injured but the driver of the bus was said to have escaped unhurt.

There were conflicting reports on the cause of the accident.

Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, Public Relations Officer Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident, attributing the cause to over speeding by the driver.

Expressway project were managed by Julius Berger, while Messrs Dantata and Sawoe and CGC Nigeria Limited executed Lot I and Lot II of the Outer Northern Expressway (Kubwa Expressway) projects, respectively.

Although the contractors were scheduled to deliver the project to the government at the end of 2014, travellers are already using the roads, which are over 90 per cent completed.

But the expansion of the roads, which was described as another bold step in Nigeria’s march towards vision 20-2020, for which the quality of infrastructure is one of the critical elements, is gradually turning into a killing machine.

The problem is the open drainage constructed in the middle of the expressways which many have described as a death trap as vehicles regularly crash into them, with fatal consequences.

The situation is usually worse during the rainy seasons.

Regular users of the roads lament that about six vehicles find their way daily into the ditch-like drainages on rainy days, often with massive damage to the vehicles involved in addition to fatalities or injuries.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—7

How I was raped by soldier for 5 hours under a tree — Student I

doctor she met told her to buy hand gloves which she did.

She said: "The doctor told me to lie down and use his phone torchlight to examine my private part and wrote a report that although there was no trace of semen, the private part had been tampered with."

It was gathered that the doctor claimed he could not carry out test on the inner part of the vagina because the hospital did not have the facilities to carry out such test.

The victim's lawyer said a soldier called him at 8.25 pm on Sunday informing him that the Army had commenced court martial trial on the indicted soldier, but that the student must appear to testify.

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN — A 23-year-old National Diploma, ND, student of Mass Communication Department, Ibarapa Polytechnic, yesterday, narrated how she was raped under a tree by one of the security men attached to Operation Burst set up by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to check criminality in the state.

The incident was said to have happened in Eruwa from 10.30 pm on August 29 this year while she was returning after seeing off a friend.

She said she was raped repeatedly for five hours before she was let off the hook by the rapist soldier.

Suspect recommended for disciplinary measure

How it happened

According to her, the soldier allegedly ordered her to climb the motorcycle while threatening to stab her with a knife.

She said: “It happened on Friday, August 29, 2014. I was coming back to my room after seeing off a friend. He accused me of being a cultist for moving about around that time, but I denied it. He then ordered me to climb his motorcycle, but I pleaded with him that he should let me go.

"He removed a knife and said that he would stab me if I refused to obey him. So scared, I climbed the Okada and he took me to the Operation Burst office in Eruwa.

“When we got there, he forcefully led me to a dark area under a tree and ordered me to remove my dress to enable him see if I had tattoos on my body.

"I told him I did not have tattoos and that he should let me go. He then removed the knife again and said that he would slaughter me like a ram if I failed to ‘cooperate’ and that I would be buried like many other girls who had failed to cooperate in the past, and nobody would trace my death to him.

"Sensing danger, I removed my clothes. He ordered me to lie down under the tree and had sex with me several times while I was crying.

“He raped me till 3.30 am and I complained of catching cold. He entered into the office and brought out a bottle of beer. He gave it to me to hold for him.

"Later he said he was going to bring a blanket for me to cover my body. I waited for about 30 minutes, but when he did not return, I dressed up and ran away.”

Case reported at Police station

The victim's counsel, Mr. Adeosun, confirmed her story, saying: “In the morning of Saturday, August 30, 2014, the

The victim victim called her parents on the telephone and told them what happened. It was the parents that came to brief our office. We thereafter advised that the victim should report to the Police Station at Eruwa, which she did.”

When the matter was reported to the security outfit, the girl identified the rapist among other security operatives paraded before her.

To worsen her ordeal, the Eruwa General Hospital where she went for test did not help matter.

According to her, on arrival in the hospital, the

Responding, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, quoted the security outfit as saying it had recommended the suspect for disciplinary measure for abandoning his duty post.

In a statement issued by the outfit’s Second in Command, CSP Elijah Bawa, “immediately the outfit was informed of the allegation of rape against the said soldier, he dispatched an investigation team to Eruwa.

"The team met with the Divisional Police Officer for the Eruwa Division, DSP Kayode Adigun who disclosed that the 23-year old Mass Communication student of the school lodged a complaint with the command that she had been raped by the soldier who was also an operative of the anti-crime outfit.

"The outfit’s Second in Command and the DPO took the complainant to the Eruwa General Hospital for medical examination, the result of which they said proved negative.

"The soldier will, however, be charged for abandoning his duty post in the night without permission against standing instructions in the Operation Burst’s code of conduct,” he said.

Police nab man for attempted murder

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS— The Police in Lagos have arrested a middle aged man identified as Alfred Chibuzor for attempting to strangle one Mrs. Ngozi Ojiaku in her one-room apartment at 38, Twins Street, Itire, Lagos.

According to reports, the victim had gone to have her bath in the morning when the suspect reportedly entered her apartment to steal her valuables.

However, trouble ensued after the victim entered her room and found a stranger hiding behind her door while her belongings were scattered on the floor. As she alert neighbours, the suspect held her neck to the floor in a bid to strangle her.

It was then that the victim’s son alerted neighbours and the suspect was arrested and taken to Itrire Police Division.

Suspect's account

“I came to Lagos to see my Uncle at Waraola Street, Itire but I was told that he had relocated to the village and I had no money to feed and travel back to meet my mother in Edo State. I entered the room to see if I could get money to travel back."

50 shops, vehicles consumed as fire razes Lagos plank market

By Evelyn Usman, Bose Adelaja & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—Building materials worth several millions of naira were at the early hours of yesterday destroyed by fire that engulfed a plank market in Abule-Egba area of Lagos.

Over 50 shops were destroyed in the fire said to have been caused by power surge.

Also, two vehicles, a commercial bus and a Toyota saloon car parked in the market, were burnt.

Yesterday's incident brings to three, the number of markets burnt in three months.

Vanguard gathered that there was power surge which resulted in a spark, then fire from one of the shops.

A truck with 10,000 litres of water from Agege fire station, according to the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, was drafted to the scene. Two other trucks from Ikeja and Ikotun stations, he said, were also

dispatched.

According to Fadipe,“the trucks were positioned strategically to cut the fire from where it was heading and were able to contain it to the arena.

"So far, 50 shops, made up of iron sheets, planks, cutting machines and other building materials in a row of three, were consumed by the fire. No life was lost, neither was anyone injured.”

Fadipe indicts market executives Expressing concern over the impact of such fire on the affected owners as well as the nation’s economy, Fadipe said the failure on the part of executives of markets in Lagos to heed the agreement reached between them and the fire service caused the incident.

“In January 2014, we held a meeting with executives of plank markets in Lagos, where we advised them on fire security measures but they failed to heed the advice. Since the meeting,

three markets have been razed by fire,“ he said.

He highlighted the need for the establishment of a hydrant location as well as segmentation of wares in the markets as part of measures aimed at forestalling fire incidents.

“There is also the need for centralised power generator in the markets as against the situation where each trader has his power generating set and kegs of petroleum products in his shop, which usually spark up fire in the event of fire incident.

“The need for segmentation can never be over emphasised. By this I mean , each product should be assigned to a row in the market. That way, if there is any fire outbreak, we will know where to concentrate on and how to safeguard such area.”

Meanwhile, the affected traders, some of who rushed to the scene when they were informed, could not salvage any of their wares. Those whose rows were not affected succeeded in taking their wares outside the market.

Unfortunately, some of them lost their wares to hoodlums who pretended to be helping out.

Policemen from Abule-Egba who arrived the scene, prevented hoodlums who attempted to hijack the situation to steal.

Traders recount ordeal A trader who sells drinks and recharge cards at the market said she lost over N200,000 to the fire while another trader, Mrs. Bola Shotobu, lamented that she lost two deep freezers, electricity generating set, recharge cards and an unspecified amount of money.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the traders were seen trying to erect new structures while some were still searching for their valuables.

Mr. Abiodun Sule, a resident of Awori community, who spoke with Vanguard called on the relevant authorities to take adequate steps to avert future occurrence.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

IGP appoints new police commissioners ...Aderanti is new Lagos top cop; Bature is Rivers'

By Kingsley Omonobi

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B U J A — FOLLOWING recent promotions and retirements in the Nigerian Police force, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba yesterday appointed new Commissioners of Police for 21 states of the federation with CP Kayode Aderanti moving to Lagos as the new CP. He takes over from AIG Manko who is now in charge of Zone 2.

CP Usman Baba is the new Commissioner of Police in charge Delta State. He was formerly in charge of Police Cooperative at Force headquarters. CP Dan Bature is the new Commissioner of Police in charge of Rivers State. He takes over from AIG Tunde Ogunsakin. CP Paul Okafor is the Commissioner of Police in charge Kogi State.

He was formerly DCP attached to Police Pensions.

CP Wilson Inalegwu is the new FCT Commissioner of Police. He takes over from AIG Joseph Mbu Joseph; CP Hyacinth Dagala is the Commissioner of Police in charge of Benue State. CP Usman Yakubu is Commissioner of Police Nasarawa State. CP Isaac Gabriel Achong is the new Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State and CP Idris Farouk Umar is the new Commissioner of Police in charge Jigawa State.

Others are CP Salihu Garba, Commissioner of Police Kwara state, CP A.K. Shodipo, Commissioner of Police Oyo State, CP Abubakar Marafa is Commissioner of Police, Osun State, CP Clement Adoda is moved to Borno state as the Commissioner of Police, CP Karma Hosea Hassan is the new Commissioner of Police, Anambra state. He takes over from AIG Bala Nasarawa who is the AIG in charge Force Intelligence at Force headquarters.

Furthermore CP Titilayo Busari is moved to Cross Rivers State as Commissioner of Police; CP Valentine Ntomchukwu is moved to Bayelsa State as Commissioner of Police.

EBOLA: FG decries selective quarantine of Nigerians zConfirms 19th Ebola case; survivor discharged in P' Harcourt z477 under surveillance in PH, 27 in Lagos; 11 survivors so far, 7 deaths

By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna, Favour Nnabugwu & Gabriel Olawale

T

HE Federal Government has expressed reservation at the manner in which some countries have continued to selectively quarantine Nigerian travellers as a result of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, outbreak without any health or scientific basis.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who made the observation yesterday in Abuja, while giving an update on Ebola in Nigeria, appealed to countries and individuals not to profile or stigmatise anyone on account of EVD. The minister who observed that Nigerians who travelled out of the country since the outbreak of the EVD have faced untold trauma at destination countries, therefore urged countries guilty of the practice to tread with caution in carrying out security and health checks on Nigerians without having to stigmatise them on the basis of the dreaded scourge.

His words: “In particular, we have observed that some countries have continued to selectively quarantine Nigerian travellers without any health or scientific basis. For the record, let me say clearly that while any individual from any country of the world could be a carrier of the EVD and transmit same to others, no single Nigerian as of now has introduced EVD to any country.

The Federal Government shall continue to remain vigilant and strengthen screening at ports of entry and exit,” he said.

Chukwu who warned that as long as there is a single case of EVD anywhere in the world, every nation, every individual remains at risk and Nigeria and Nigerians are not exempt, argued that Nigeria will continue to support protocols approved by the World Health organisation, WHO, that do not support the closure of borders, do not restrict travel, and do not stigmatise anyone on the basis of the passport they carry.

Chukwu who spoke on the 50th day after the EVD, was imported into the country, also confirmed the 19th case of the disease, even as another survivor was discharged from the isolation centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers state,

WORKSHOP: From left: Director-General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Alhaji Yusuf Usman; Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke and Director-General, Institute for Cultural Orientation, Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, at the Train-the-Trainers Workshop on capacity building programme for the protection of cultural heritage in Nigeria's conflict-afflicted areas, in Abuja, yesterday.

bringing the number of survivors to 11.

19th Ebola confirmed

case

Confirming the 19th EVD case in the country, Chukwu said he was the fiancé of one of the primary contacts of Sawyer’s who died of the disease, whose test results were ambiguous but further tests established the disease.

“He had only mild symptoms and he has since recovered from the illness. He was quarantined but because of the equivocal test result he was not placed on active treatment, “he explained.

The latest survivor, the minister noted, is the sister to the late Dr. Iyke Enemuo who secretly treated a primary contact of the LiberianAmerican, Patrick Sawyer that imported the virus into the country in hotel room.

Giving an indication that the wife of the late Port Harcourt doctor may be discharged this week as she is completely free from Ebola symptoms, Chukwu explained that all cases in Nigeria are traceable to the Index (first) case explained that “As of this morning (Monday) the total number of confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria is nineteen, fifteen in Lagos, four in Port Harcourt. The total number of deaths from EVD in Nigeria stands at seven. Five of this died in Lagos, one in a private hospital, the index case Mr. Sawyer, and the other four in the isolation ward in Lagos State.

“Two of the seven died in Port Harcourt, the medical doctor who

died in a private hospital and the contact, a patient in the hospital at the time the doctor was also on admission, who died in the isolation ward in Rivers State.

The total number of patients who have been successfully managed and discharged stands at nine and the latest is the sister of the Port Harcourt doctor who was discharged from the isolation ward in Rivers State yesterday.

He noted that the nine patients successfully managed and discharged are among the total number of 11 survivors of EVD in Nigeria.

The Minister also revealed that at only one person, the wife of the Port Harcourt doctor is on treatment in the isolation ward in Lagos noting: “She no longer has any symptoms and is undergoing series of tests preparatory to her discharge from the isolation ward this week.” He added that 38 days after the diseases was imported into Port Harcourt, 477 contacts have been traced and are under surveillance.

“The 477 contacts under surveillance are mixed group consisting of tertiary and quaternary contacts of Mr. Sawyer’s. Five contacts have already been discharged from surveillance in Port Harcourt having completed 21 days of observation, “he explained Also, in Lagos, only 27 contacts are under surveillance while a total of 339 contacts who were previously under surveillance have been discharged having completed 21 days of observation Five contacts have already been

discharged from surveillance in Port Harcourt having completed 21 days of observation.

Rumours debunked

The minister noted that in the last one week, the EVD rumours have been investigated and all the cases have turned out to be Ebola negative.

He debunked specifically, rumours in Kebbi, Kaduna, Lagos, Oyo, Ebonyi, Delta and Sokoto States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

On the visit of the Ministers of Health to Port Harcourt weekend, Chukwu said they were able to inspect facilities for the management of EVD the state and met with experts on ground.

He expressed satisfaction that facilities at the Rivers State treatment center, laboratory and Emergency Operation Centre met world standards, adding that the case management team has enough medical and nursing personnel and the morale of the personnel were high.

He recalled that the Federal Ministry of Health has commenced distribution of ambulances, utility vehicles and motorcycles to the Port Health Services at the international airports, seaports and land crossings.

“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has also commenced the training of State personnel in the management of EVD. The personal protective equipments, PPEs, which were ordered, are expected in the country in a few weeks but for now we have enough,” he stated.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 —9

Soldiers, residents flee as Boko Haram approaches Maiduguri A

S the rampaging Boko Haram insurgents continue their deadly attacks in Northern Nigeria, towards Maiduguri, it appearred, yesterday, as if the army has given up, with soldiers deserting and residents fleeing the towns and villages.

At night, a resident said he was awake and heard gun shots from a distance.

“Nobody can sleep anymore,” explained a resident from Maiduguri, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Gwoza, Bama, Gulak, Michika, Duhu, Shuwa, Kirshinga captured by insurgents Gwoza, Bama, Gulak, Michika, Duhu, Shuwa, Kirshinga – the Islamists have been capturing new cities on an almost daily basis.

They arrive in hijacked army vehicles, fight off the Nigerian troops and terrorise the residents. “Boko Haram are committing all kinds of atrocities killing and raping.

At the same time they are taking young girls in batches and the city is littered with dead bodies,” said Senator Ahmed Zanna. Bama is just 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from Maiduguri and fell to the Islamists four days ago.

Zanna recounts how the soldiers who were supposed to defend Bama, refused to advance any further, noting, “They were ill equipped and they just stayed in Kondudga.”

Sect gunning Maiduguri

for

Maiduguri would be a major win for Boko Haram in their hope of creating an Islamist-ruled state. “Even a brief capture of Borno’s capital, will be a significant symbolic victory for Boko

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA—IN spite of clear fiscal regulatory provisions that all federal government Ministries, Agencies and Departments must return their annual operating surplus to the treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, failed to remit a combined N28.27 billion of such surplus funds.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission , FRC disclosed this while meeting officials of the two

Airtel to sell 3,500 telecom towers in Nigeria, others

By Abdul-Lateef Ligali, with Agency Report

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CONDOLENCE VISIT: Wife of the President, Mrs Patience Jonathan at the Abuja residence of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State to condole with him over the death of his father, Pa Aliyu Wada.

Haram,” said Ryan Cummings, a South African security expert, who is also a member of the Nigerian Security Networks. Capturing Maiduguri would give Boko Haram a very strong boost, believes the Nigerian expert Nnamdi Obasi of the International Crisis Group, added. With Maiduguri, the Islamists would not only control a major city but also an international airport.

Terrorists are better equipped — Military The morale of the government troops is very low and the terrorists are better equipped. Military officers said: “We cannot do anything against Boko Haram, because most of the Boko Haram are using modern automatic weapons and the military is using AK47s.”

A reporter Mubi in Adamawa State said the town can also fall prey to Boko Haram.

We all live in fear, says resident

“We all live in fear,” explained a resident.

“Because soldiers come into our houses, take off their uniforms and put on civilian clothes. So if the military is already fleeing the fight, we don’t stand a chance.”

Over 10,000 flee the fighting Thousands of people have fled the fighting. In Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, residents have taken in those who had to leave their homes.

Ten people now live in one room and a woman who goes by the name of Aisha explained their fate: “There is nobody left in our town.

Everyone has left, because the terrorists came into our town and they killed the people. We are desperate for help.”

In Maiduguri, residents are now also preparing to leave. “The people are scared. Many have already left the city,” said a woman who chose to remain anonymous. “We who remain here, hope that God will help us.”

The residents have armed

themselves with sticks. They no longer believe that the army will defend them.

Thousands of young men have now gathered in Maiduguri and are demanding that the government recognize them as local defence groups, so that they can officially support the soldiers.

“There are soldiers in the city, but they are not wellarmed,” explained a resident who had trouble sleeping.

Even the Senator Ahmed Zanna is unsure whether the army can defend Maiduguri: “If Bama with an army of 1,000 can fall within three to five hours, then there is every likelihood that these people will advance towards Maiduguri.”

Bama under government control —Official In the meantime, official sources say that Bama is once again under government control and that Maiduguri is safe for now. Nevertheless, the residents remain skeptical.

HARTI Airtel has signed a ten-year deal with Eaton Towers, under which it will sell more than 3,500 telecommunication towers in Nigeria and five other African countries.

The tower, the Economic Times reported would be sold to Eaton, while it will also lease access to the infrastructure.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, while the agreements are subject to statutory and regulatory approvals in the respective African countries, the paper said.

Airtel said the deal will allow it to focus on its core business and reduce capital expenditure on passive infrastructure.

“This agreement with Eaton represents the next phase of Airtel’s growth journey in Africa. We are strong proponents of telecoms infrastructure sharing, which results in industry-wide cost efficiencies,” Manoj Kohli, chairman, Bharti Airtel International Netherlands BV (BAIN), said in a media statement.

Also commenting on the deal, Eaton Towers’ Chief Executive Officer, Alan Harper said, “This transformational deal would give Eaton Towers the most diversified tower portfolio across Africa. We are proud to be chosen by Bharti Airtel as their key partner in these six countries.”

He said the agreement will take its Africa coverage to seven countries with over 5,000 towers.

SEC, NPA fail to remit N28bn surplus — FRC agencies in Abuja, yesterday and insisted that the regulation be complied with.

It said that the breaches were made in 2007 and 2008 by SEC which failed to remit N10.34bn in 2007 and N11.61bn in 2008 , amounting to N21. 95 billion.

NPA had less figures of N3.79bn and N2.53bn in 2007 and 2008, totaling about N6.2 bn.

“For year 2007, 80 per cent of SEC operating surplus was supposed to be N11,152,535,000 rather than N808,736,586,40

which SEC had earlier remitted to the Federal Government as 80 per cent of its operating cash surplus. SEC has therefore been unduly withholding the balance of N10, 343,798, 413.60 due to the Federal Government.

“SEC’s 2008 audited financial report indicated an excess of income over expenditure of N14, 506,368,610. Eighty per cent of this sum is due the Federal Government and should thus have been remitted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of

the Federal Government before the end of April 2009.

“In spite of all the reminders that this commission has sent SEC, there is no indication that SEC has made this due remittance after these years,” the commission said, in a memo to capital market regulator.

The commission added that SEC had equally failed to forward its audited account to it in spite of several requests, an indication that the unremitted figure could be higher it the

trend was maintained between 2009 and 2013.

“In spite of this commission’s various requests, SEC has not availed the FRC of its three-year estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2010 – 2012, 2012 – 2014 and 2013 – 2015. SEC has failed to forward to the FRC its approved annual budgets for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013", it said.

Officials of the FRC said the problem of failure to remit operating surplus by MDAs would be addressed head-on.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

OSUN POLL: PDP, APC to inspect INEC’s election materials today

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO — THE Peoples Democratic Party PDP and its main rival, the All Progressives Congress, APC, will today inspect the electoral materials used for the August 9, 2014 governorship poll at the state’s headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. The development followed the reliefs granted both parties by the Osun Election Petition Tribunal, adjudicating complaints from the results of the gubernatorial election, won by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, of the APC. According to a letter, with reference no INEC/OS/EP/ 226/VOL.III/ 403, signed by the administrative secretary of INEC, in Osun, Mr. Oladipo B. Oladapo, “the commission has fixed September 9, 2014 for both parties (PDP & APC) to simultaneously commence inspection of all election materials for the Osun State governorship election held on August 9, 2014 by 10.00am prompt at the Commission's premises in Osogbo INEC headquarters, Km 4, Gbongan/Ibadan Road, Osogbo.”

It reads further that “both parties are by this notice advised to attend the inspection unfailingly as the Commission will release all the materials for inspection on the date stated above.”

It would be recalled that the three-man Election Petition Tribunal, headed by Justice I.M Bako, had during its last proceeding about two weeks ago, granted the prayers of both the legal teams of the APC and PDP, seeking the nod of the tribunal to inspect materials used for the poll.

The APC through its lawyers, including its National legal adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, Kunle Adegoke, AbdulRahman Okunade and M. A. Okunade had sought the order of the tribunal to allow the exparte motion be conducted outside the prehearing session of the matter.

Court seals Ewekoro Power Plant over N114m tax

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE NATION’S power supply which has witnessed marginal improvement in recent times may nosedive, once again, as the Ewekoro Power Plant has been sealed up on the orders of a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta.

The order followed alleged failure of the company to meet its N114 million tax obligations to the Federal

Government.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, said in Abuja, yesterday, that Justice P.F. Olayiwola, ruled on its motion on notice after hearing from counsel to the Service, Mr. Adeyeoluwa Matthew.

It noted that the court gave the order after series of adjournments occasioned by the refusal of the company’s officials to appear in

court in the case brought against it by the Service.

The seal-up was carried out by the court bailiffs, with a combined team of the FIRS officials and officers of the Lagos State Police Command.

FIRS had approached the court to compel the company to meet its tax obligations, but the company neither appeared nor was represented in the court, prompting multiple adjournments.

“Dissatisfied with the company's conduct, the court issued a bench

warrant to compel appearance which the officials of the company equally evaded, necessitating the sealing of the company’s premises,” FIRS said in a statement.

The court ordered, “interim forfeiture of property of corporate head office of Ewekoro Power Plant, at Victoria House, 35/37, Isheri Road, Aguda Ogba area, Ikeja, Lagos State, pending final liquidation of the tax liability of N114,000,000.

Kayode Aderanti is new Lagos CP

By Leke Adeseri, SWest Regional Editor

T

INAUGURATION: Lagos State APC gubernatorial aspirant, Ambode, acknowledging cheers after inaugurating his campaign office in Lagos, yesterday.

2015: I’ll do better than Tinubu, Fashola, says Ambode zAs Muslim community supports guber bid

By Charles Kumolu

L

AGOS — A governorship aspirant in Lagos State, under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has said the compelling need to take the developments recorded by former governors of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the incumbent, Mr. Raji Fashola, SAN, to another level, informed his ambition to govern the state in 2015.

He insists his ambition has no ethnic colouration, stressing that the various ethnic nationalities in the state will be carried along if he picks his party nomination and wins the 2015 governorship election in 2015.

This came as Chief Imam of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulhakeem AbdulLateef, dismissed claims that the Muslim community would not work for the victory of Ambode at the gubernatorial primaries and governorship election.

Ambode spoke, yesterday, in Lagos, at the commissioning of his campaign secretariat and inauguration of campaign committees in all the local governments across the state.

According to him: ‘’This campaign

has no coloration, so we are carrying everyone along. Whether you are Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or Urhobo, you have a place in this project. We are one. We want to create a new level of leadership that will challenge the status quo to ensure that our people are freed from poverty.

"The work we are going to do is for Lagos State. I want our people to do it selflessly without recourse to monetary gains. We have been working on this project for a long time. We are here to present banners to all local government areas in the state to enable our people carry out house-to-house campaign in the 377 wards in the state. ‘’We have succeeded in bringing all the legacy groups together. These groups are going to work for our victory in their various local government areas.

The reason for setting up these committees is to give governance back to the communities. The standards set by our leader, Tinubu and the actualisation of that dream by Governor Fashola, has to be taken to another level to ensure continuity. Nobody was coerced to come here. The population of the people here shows you the direction the state is headed to.’’

HE NEW Commissioner of Police, CP, for Lagos State, Aderanti Cornelius Kayode was born into the family of Aderanti on June 26, 1960, at Odo-Otin, in the present Osun State.

He obtained his Senior Secondary Education Certificate at Offa Grammar School in 1977. He was in Kwara State College of Technology between 1977 and 1979, where he obtained Certificate of Basic Studies (GCE Advance Level) He graduated from the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1982, and joined the Nigeria Police Force from the rank of cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, where he was trained at Police Staff College, Jos in 1984.

He also attended Harvard Kennedy School, Executive

CP Aderanti Education, USA, where he obtained certificate in Senior Executive in National and International Security in 2008.

Cornelius Kayode Aderanti, a global outreach, community developer, Police trainer, mentor and a big tree in the international community where he had served for years, had headed Interpol and later was posted as Director of Peacekeeping.

He was appointed Commissioner in charge of the Western Ports Police Command in February this year.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 —11

UNIOSUN students call on Dep Gov to wade into varsity's crisis

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

HAJJ: 2014 Hajj pilgrims, boarding an aircraft to Saudi Arabia, yesterday, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Ooni, Alaafin rivalry resurfaces as Oyo lays sole claim to Oranyan

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN — THE claim of ownership of Oranyan projenitor which generated a heated criticism between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade last year, resurfaced, yesterday, as Oyo town claimed it had the unique privilege of having the Oranyan dynasty.

Oba Lamidi Adeyemi disclosed this at a briefing as part of activities marking the third year which kicked off, yesterday.

The issue ruptured the relative peace between Alaafin and

Ooni of Ife last year after the former celebrated the deity.

Referring to Ile-Ife, he said it was wrong to claim Oranyan as their progenitor.

While admitting that the shrine and spiritual headquarters of the deity are located in Ile-Ife, Speaking through Most Rev. Ayo Ladigbolu, Oba Adeyemi, said, “the Alaafin inaugurated Oranyan festival in 2010 purely as a deserving commemoration and celebration of his and our progenitor, Odede Oranyan. As I have said before, the descendants of Oranyan are found not only in Lagos, Edo, all the South West states, but they are also found in several West

African countries, including Benin republic, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.”

“There are two Oranyan shrines at Agbaakin Compound as well as Ajiroba in Oyo. His elaborate shrine in Pobe, Benin Republic bears testimony to the territorial influence and exploits of the legendary Oranyan, whose obelisk and shrine are also found in Ile-Ife, the spiritual headquarters of the Yoruba race.

Of all landmarks, only Oyo has the most unique honour of preserving intact, and undiluted the undeniable Alaafin dynasty founded by our progenitor and first Alaafin.”

He said that Oba Adeyemi was

the successor of that Alaafin, saying, “If they (Ife) had kept their mouths shut and allowed Oyo town to do its things in its own way, this controversy would not have arisen. Nobody else bears the title of Alaafin.”

He recalled that the maiden festival dwelt on gains of the Oranyan Dynasty and its indelible impact on our present age.

The second festival, he said, focused on the importance and sanctity of oath-taking and promise keeping in the socioeconomic and political development of our society.

He noted that the festival would attract visitors from both within and outside the country.

Ondo APC picks holes in state govt's decision to employ 2,000 teachers

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE — THE All Progressive Congress, APC, in Ondo State and the state government, yesterday, disagreed on the planned employment of 2,000 into the state teaching service six years into the present administration.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko had, last week, directed the immediate massive recruitment of 2,000 teachers into the state’s teaching service by the Teaching Service Commission.

But the APC in a statement in Akure picked holes in the exercise.

The party’ Publicity Secretary Abayomi Adesanya described the exercise as “deceptive and a mirage to cajole the people ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Adesanya argued that the recruitment exercise did not have a genuine back up and was propaganda by the government.

He claimed the state had not witnessed any meaningful development since the inception of the Mimiko led administration, saying, “what Ondo State people

witnessed, since February, 2009, in the scope of employment and empowerment are nepotism, discrimination and partisanship.

“If 2,000 qualified teachers are genuinely recruited, in the highly-publicised recruitment plan of the government, and not the usual chicanery, trickery and media propaganda of the Mimiko-led administration, then, the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led administration would have scored

a point, truly beneficial to the good people of the state, since inception in February 24th, 2009.

“If it takes the government sixyears to embark on recruitment exercise, how many additional years will it take the same government to finally get the teachers into the classrooms to teach our children?

"No wonder, the mixed feelings and cheers that welcomed the recruitment plan from the good

people of Ondo State, is therefore, understandable in view of the antecedents of the government.”

“Therefore, it took the people of Ondo State by astonishment, that a government that has abandoned them for almost six uneventful years suddenly announced its intention to recruit 2,000 teachers. Is this August recruitment exercise a bid to shore up the dwindling popularity of the government”?

Osun PDP raises alarm over resumption of REC

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO — THE controversial Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, who was removed from office few weeks to the August 9 governorship election in the state following a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, re-appeared at the state INEC headquarters to resume at his duty-post.

The PDP had since last year alleged that Akeju was a card

carrying member of APC and could not supervise a free and fair election.

The state chapter of the party however, yesterday, raised alarm over the resumption of Akeju, who proceeded on leave late June amidst calls for his removal by some political parties in the state.

The party said it was alarmed by the return of Akeju to office at this moment, when there were fears about the safety of both used and unused materials for the last governorship election.

The PDP, in a statement by Prince Diran Odeyemi, its Director of

Media and Strategy, in Osogbo, said: “The INEC will have to explain to us why a REC that saw a political contest among politicians as a personal issue between him and the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, would be returned to office, even when there are overt plans by some people to doctor the materials used for the poll.

"Akeju had done enough damage, returning him now, with no iota of doubt, gives both INEC and APC out as allies working towards perfecting electoral fraud in the state.”

SOGBO — STUDENTS of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Ikire Campus, have called on the state deputy governor, who doubles as Commissioner for Education, Mrs. TitiLaoye Tomori, to wade into to crisis rocking the university.

In a statement by the campus students’ association out-going president, Siji Samson and the president elect, Abubakar Basit, the students appealed to the deputy governor to facilitate re-opening of their classes to enable them complete their course works and sit for exams.

The campus was last month closed indefinitely owing to violent protest by students of the institution over an ugly accident which occurred when the vehicle conveying some students on excursion to Oke-Ila, a town in Ifedayo Local Government Area of the state, had fatal accident and claimed the lives of a student and a lecturer of the institution.

The statement read in part: “With the compromise reached by our parents on September 6, 2014, concerning the closure of our campus, we pray your excellency to facilitate the re-opening to enable us complete our course works and sit for our exams.”

Apostolic Faith cleric, dies at 97

O

NE OF the founding fathers of the Apostolic Faith Church in Africa, Reverend Hector Elebute, has passed on, aged 97. The cleric died on Sunday, August 31, 2014.

Late Elebute functioned in many capacities in the church as Sunday School teacher, pastor, secretary treasurer and a member-ofthe-trustees in the church.

He will be laid to rest in Atan Cemetery after a burial programme at the Apostolic Faith Church, Anthony Village Campgrounds, on September 11 and 12.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Yemi Elebute and daughter, Mrs. Olufemi Adesanya.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Two Naval men injured in scuffle with Ugborodo youths

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—THE Nigerian Navy yesterday said that two of its personnel were injured in a scuffle with youths in volatile Ode-Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, recently after the military entry into the community to enforce peace and resettle persons displaced by recent crisis in the area.

Youths in the community were said to have confronted the military peace enforcers in the community, demanding the Navy to vacate the community immediately on perceived feeling that they were being instigated by opposition community leaders to witch-hunt them.

Capt. Musa Gemu, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta, Warri Naval Base, said two of his men were injured, but declined given details.

LG polls: We'll consolidate democratic dividends in Delta — SDP

By Ikenna Asomba

A

HEAD of the October 25, local government elections in Delta State, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has promised to bring the true dividends of democracy to the people if elected at various councils.

The National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Martin Ohwevwo, who gave the assurance at the South-South caucus meeting of the party in Asaba, commended the state government for setting the stage for the elections, noting that his party was ready to kill corruption, as well as create jobs to avoid the monumental political error of the past in the country.

Also, the state Chairman of the party, Mr Idawene Oke, who reaffirmed the party’s resolve under the leadership of Chief Olu Falae, said SDP believes in and has fate in President Goodluck Jonathan’s desire for a second term in office in 2015.

Ebola not a death sentence — DICKSON

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — G O V E R N O R Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, yesterday allayed the fears of the people of the state over Ebola disease, noting that it was not a death sentence, if detected early and treated.

Dickson, at the state

monthly transparency briefing iin Yenagoa, said “Ebola is not a death sentence. People do recover from it if identified and treated on time. Though there is no known case of Ebola in Bayelsa State, we pray it does not occur here.”

The governor urged Bayelsans to be vigilant and observe personal hygiene,

noting “When you noticed anyone with the symptoms, this is not the time to resort to herbalists and prayer warriors but to report to the nearest health facility.

“We are one of the first states to set up system to check any outbreak of the virus in the state. We thank God we have no case of Ebola to treat. It is not yet over

because of what is happening in our neighbouring state.”

He thanked the Commissioner for Health for his untiring effort in enlightening the masses on how best to prevent the virus from entering the state.

Ijaw youths tackle oil firm over worker's injury

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— ABOUT 50 Ijaw youths disrupted activities yesterday at the premises of a multi national oil firm in Trans Amadi area of Port Harcourt.

The youths who stormed the place under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council, alleged that the oil giant refused to treat an alleged Laboratory Supervisor when he suffered an accident in the course of his job because MEETING: From left; Alhaji B. T. Rotinwa; former Head of Service, Lagos State, Princess he was a contract staff.

Aderenle Ogunsanya; former Secretary to the state govt, SSG, Lagos State, Prince Bolaji “Mr Steve Aralu worked for Onafowokan and Chief Oloruntele Oduloye during the meeting between Eminent persons of them (the company) for 11 years Ikorodu Division, EPID with Conference of Leaders of Ikorodu Divition, COLID on the permanent as a Lab Supervisor. He had an Voters Card/INEC Voters Register Updates at the town hall, Ikorodu. Photo by Shola Oyelese. accident involving explosion of a faulty chemical injection pump that bathed him with chemical while on duty. The company refused to treat him because he was a contract staff.

“He developed cancer of the eye and other terrible organ complications from the chemical contact, the company sacked

By Simon Ebegbulem seven local government area are registered ahead the 2015 him from work.”

National Secretary, Ijaw Youth of the state, known as the general elections.

In a chat with Vanguard, Council, Mr Briston Emmanuel, ENIN CITY—AHEAD Benin Kingdom, have the proposed voters commenced mobilization of the Enogie of Obazuwa and who spoke to the media said registration exercise in Edo their subjects with a view to younger brother to the Oba of the company later hired a State, the Enigies in the ensuring that all eligible Binis Benin, Prince Edun Akenzua, Senior Advocate of Nigeria to said the Enigies will meet on challenge demand for fair September 12, with a view to treatment by Mr Aralu. strategizing to ensure that every Bini son and daughter at the age of 18, obtains the permanent voters card within South Senatorial district as the the stipulated time for the exercise in the state.

By Festus Ahon university’s VC. Prince Akenzua, who also is Calling on Governor G H E L L I — Emmanuel Uduaghan to prevail the Convener, Benin Leaders COALITION of on the Governing Council to of Thought, explained “We Urhobo Youth Organization, appoint an Urhobo descent as are doing this because we are EPUTY Majority Leader, CUYO, will on September 19, the VC of the university, he aware of plots to use this House of 2014 protest to Government argued that all the tertiary exercise to reduce the number Representatives, Mr Leo Ogor, House Asaba, against the institutions in the state are of Benin voters in Edo South. representing Isoko alleged move to zone the managed by persons from the Those who hate the Benins constituency, has donated position of the Vice senatorial districts where they have done this in the past but N500,000 towards the they have failed. We are completion of St. Mathias Chancellor of the Delta State are sited.

University, Abraka to Delta “College of Education, Warri aware that the population of Catholic Church, Uzere, Delta South senatorial district. has an Ijaw person from Delta the Benins is more than what State. He made the donation Addressing newsmen in South as the provost; Delta State it is today and we want to during the funeral mass of Ughelli yesterday, Polytechnic, Ozoro has an has prove that with this exercise. Dame Pauline Ekoko, late wife “So, we want all eligible of Professor A. Ekoko. spokesman of CUYO, Mr. an Isoko man from Delta South Stephen Ohwokirerhuo, as the provost; Delta State Benins to register because we Ogor thanked God for the alleged that the Governing School of Marine Technology, are going to participate deceased’s commitment and Council of the institution had Burutu has an Ijaw man from actively in the coming service to humanity, whom the decided to play down on Delta South as the provost and election. The Enigies don’t officiating minister, Rev. Father candidates from the Urhobo so on. So we don’t see why the care about the political party Emmanuel Obabjere, described ethnic nationality to pave way governing council is planning any Benin man or woman as a model for Christian living. for the emergence of either to appoint someone from Delta belongs, all we want is for Her widower, Professor Prof F. Peretomode or Prof South as VC of the Delta State every qualified Benin to vote Ekoko, also pledged a donation Robert Benigho Ikomi both of University, Abraka that is sited to any choice of their of N1,000,000 to the church on candidate in 2015.” whom he said were from the in Delta Central,” he said. behalf of the Ekoko family.

Enigies mobilise Binis for voters registration exercise B

Zoning: Urhobo youths slate Sept 19 for protest

U

Rep donates N.5m to complete Church

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—13

Why I have high regard for Uduaghan,

by E.K. Clark

By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire IAGBODO—ELDER statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has said that he has high regard for Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, because he is respectful and does not answer back even when he (Clark) abuses him.

“I have abused him (Uduaghan) many times, he never answered back; that is the behaviour of a well-bred person,” Clark told Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, a governorship aspirant from Delta North senatorial district, who came on a consultation visit to his Kiagbodo country home in Burutu Local Government Area.

He said that the governor ’s reaction was contrary to that of a governorship aspirant (not Okowa), who organised people to take him to the cleaners.

“What did I say before he started organising people to abuse me, so Uduaghan is my son any day. What did I say, I said the President is going to re-contest in 2015; you

K

(aspirant) cannot contest.? If you do, it will be unfair to the people of Delta State.

“They (Deltans) will be campaigning for a President, who is an Ijaw man and campaigning for a governor, who is also an Ijaw man and

you want them to vote for the two of you?"

At the moment, he said Uduaghan was doing well and it was likely Deltans will give him a wonderful exit.

C h i e f C l a r k , h o w e v e r,

said he had advised Governor Uduaghan not to sponsor any governorship candidate for the 2015 elections to avert the traumatic experience of his predecessor, Chief James Ibori.

BRIEFING: From left: Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Konbowei Benson, Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), and Governor Seriake Dickson, during the 16th edition of the Bayelsa State monthly transparency initiative press briefing in Yenagoa.

We cannot cure Ebola disease, by Akumazi traditional healers

A

By Austin Ogwuda

SABA—FOLLOWING a stern warning from the Delta State Government, threatening to clampdown on traditional healers in the state laying false claim for cure of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, some native healers, insisted that they were wrongly attacked.

The state government had in a statement by the Information Commissioner, Mr. Chike Ogeah threatened to clampdown on them and ordered that no such claim should be allowed to be advertised forthwith.

But the Akumazi Traditional Healers, under the aegis of Otu-Odozi Elu Association Akumazi Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of the state, said that it was not true that they claimed to have cure for the dreaded disease.

On plans to clampdown on them, two members of the traditional healers of OtuOdozi Elu Association, Chief Eric Ekabudike and Chief

Ulokiweri Dibie noted that the healers actually have the medicine for small pox and measles but definitely not the Ebola virus, adding that they

could not have claimed they have the cure for the Ebola, which was still alien to the community.

Oshiomhole, Esan APC leaders meet over Ikimi

B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday met with leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo Central senatorial district of the state over the exit of the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi from the party.

All party leaders from Igueben, Ikimi’s domain who were at the meeting, pledged their loyalty to the APC, echoing that “Chief Ikimi did not consult before his exit from the party and we are aware that he left because he was not

given the National Chairman of APC. That is his personal problem, as a result we are not going to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with him.”

Vanguard gathered that the meeting between the governor and the APC leaders from that area became necessary since the structure of the party was left in the hands of Ikimi in Igueben.

Ikimi produced the APC executives and the chairman of the council, Mr Julius Asemota. The meeting was

called to produce a new leadership ahead the forthcoming general elections.

Also at the meeting which lasted till the early hours of yesterday was the senatorial Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Henry Okoror. The chairman of the council, Mr Asemota who led other members of the council including councillors, said though he was a blood relation of Chief Ikimi, but he does not intend to join the PDP with him.

Gov Imoke bags PFN award

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A G O S —

PENTECOSTAL Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Cross River State chapter, has conferred the Most Church-Friendly Governor of the Year award on Governor Liyel Imoke for his dynamism and leadership style.

Speaking at the event in Calabar, yesterday, the President of the association, Bishop Emma Isong, said that “Imoke has been very supportive and friendly to the church, right from the inception of his administration.

“It`s unfortunate that Imoke cannot go for a third term, we would have supported him again. I assured him that the church will assist the government in shopping for a credible candidate for 2015 election in the state.”

LG POLLS: Karemi pledges all-inclusive administration

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E O P L E S DEMOCRATIC Party, PDP, chairmanship candidate for Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Oluwole Karetimi has offered olive branch to his co-contestants in the primaries, assuring to run an all inclusive administration, if elected.

Karetimi shortly after a thanksgiving service at Redeemed Christian Church of God Warri, thanked God for his victory at the PDP primaries, noting that, if elected, his administration will run an open door policy as well as take useful contributions from his cocontestants in developing the council.

C M Y K

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—15

Police nab 9 suspected kidnappers, robbers in Enugu E

By Tony Edike

NUGU—THE Enugu State Police Command has arrested nine persons suspected to be members of armed robbery and kidnap gangs operating in the state.

Five of them that allegedly belong to an armed robbery gang were apprehended while planning a robbery operation in Enugu while the four suspected kidnappers were nabbed in their hideout after a gun duel with operatives of the Antikidnapping Unit of the state command, which left some of the suspects fatally injured.

According to a press release issued by the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, operatives of the Central Police Station, Enugu, through proactive measures, arrested the five robbery suspects before they could carry out their nefarious activity on Sunday.

He gave the names of the suspects as Ukwuome Michael of No 38 Agbanike Road Abakpa Nike, Enugu, Obi Raphael Onyedika of Uzodinma close New Haven extension Enugu, Michael Orji of Mgbo Village Ohaozara Onicha, Ebonyi State, Monday Degba of Mgbo Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Chinedu Agbedo of Udi siding Enugu.

According to him, the

policemen had a tip off that “the suspects were about carrying out a robbery operation with a coal city taxicab with number plate UWN 542 XA and fleet No 621 when the operatives swoop on them and upon thorough search of suspects and vehicle, a locally made pistol with three live cartridges concealed by the door side of the vehicle were discovered.”

The police spokesman said that

the suspects are now helping the police in their investigations.

In a related development, Amaraizu said that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command have arrested four members of a kidnap gang.

The suspects, who gave their names as Peter Uche, Chukwuemeka Aruejiofor, Sunday Joshua and Ndubuisi Nwankwo, according to the

PPRO, were nabbed on September 3, 2014 following a raid on their hideout.

He said that the suspects sustained severe gunshot wounds in the serious gun battled that ensued between them and the policemen.

He said that the suspects were already helping the police in the investigations of the alleged kidnap of one Edith Uchedenyi and Chinwe Eze by their gang.

CONDOPLENCE VISIT: Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari (left), Alhaji Aminu Tafida (right) condoling with Senator Dahiru Tambuwal (middle), over the death of his mother in Sokoto. NAN PHOTO.

Deliver or quit, Chidoka tasks managers of airports A

By Okey Ndiribe

BUJA—THE Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, yesterday warned that any airport manager who was not ready to serve the public should be ready for sack.

The minister, who issued the warning at a meeting he held with managers of the nation’s airports in Abuja, further stated that the meeting was an important step in the ministry’s efforts to improve operations at the nations’ airports.

He said: “The meeting is important because despite all the span of authorities from the minister to the permanent secretary and the MD, the critical person on the ground is the airport manager”.

Chidoka explained that he initiated the meeting to interact with them on a one-on-one basis and to share his vision of the airport with them, listen to their complaints, challenges and ensure a performance-based management system.

“This meeting is designed to achieve the critical objective of ensuring that our airports are secured for passengers so that

they can travel in comfort; so that minimum standards are maintained at the airports and that those who use the airports will also feel the impact of the work of the airports managers.

“This will also lead to documenting sufficiently the

expectation of each airport manager and to measure the output of the airport manager and what he has committed towards achieving it. “ It will require us to create common minimum standards across all the airports and to

ensure that each manager maintains that minimum standard. It will also mean that the airport managers will have a mindset change from being airport managers to become service deliverers,” the minister said.

Dimgba Igwe was a consumate biographer, —Sen Okonkwo

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By Ikenna Asomba

AGOS—SENATOR Annie Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Sixth Assembly, yesterday, joined millions of other eminent Nigerians to pay tribute to the late veteran journalist and Vice Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Dimgba Igwe.

The Senator, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Mr. Collins Ugwu, commiserated with the Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Dr. Orji Kalu, the Sun Publishing Company and the Nigerian media family, describing Dimgba as a consummate biographer with depth, sweet literary choreographer and a great enabler of ideas.

He said: “The shivering news of Dimgba Igwe’s death is yet to unnumb my nerves because the mortal reality is a grave hit to Nigeria’s diminishing conclave of superior and senior journalists, a denial of peace to a family with deep faith, a vicious incursion to The Sun’s foundation integrity, and an emotional blinder to The Sun’s creative family, my good friend Orji Kalu, and indeed his veteran 'twin brother' Mike Awoyinfa.

“Infact, words are lacking when hearts are grieving, because when a star dims on the Sun, its like an eclipse without notice. I hope this gives us comfort but I doubt. Adieu, our Dimgba.”

500,000 jobs created in 6 months, says National Bureau of Statistics

A

By Emanuel Elebeke

BUJA—THE latest job creation figure released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, yesterday showed that the economy created 500,224 jobs across the country in the first six months of 2014.

The figure was announced by the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, at a workshop organised by the NBS for the review of definition and methodology for computing unemployment statistics in Nigeria.

He said the new figure was arrived at through a recent job creation survey carried out by the NBS for the first and second quarters of 2014.

According to him, the scope of the survey covered formal and

informal establishments and public institutions in the country.

NBS, it will be recalled, started conducting quarterly job creation surveys in Q3 of 2012 and had since released job creation numbers for up to Q4 of 2013 and

now Q1 and Q2 of 2014.

According to the report, in the Q1 of 2014, the formal sector recorded 76.018 new jobs; informal recorded 158,894 new jobs, while the public sector recorded 5,959 new jobs.

The total new jobs for Q1 of 2014 was 240,871, representing a decrease by 10.3 per cent from the previous Q, which recorded 265,702 jobs and lower than the 431,021 jobs created in the corresponding Q in 2013.

2015: Bring Back Jonathan group to embark on groups have now come out daily campaign in Nigeria that mobilised that to organise rallies to compel our

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AGOS—THE Bring Back Goodluck 2015 campaign, has called on Nigerians to gather at different venues in their localities from 3pm to 6pm daily and plead with President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year's presidential elections.

The group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Chinedu Okpalanma in a statement said: ‘’We were the first organisation

Nigerians to march on our streets as early as March this year, showing solidarity for this administration and calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to run again in 2015. When we started, we continually encouraged other organisations like ours to do same in the face of stiff opposition and even threats to our lives.

"Today, we are indeed elated

President to declare, which shows that indeed Nigerians are gradually coming to terms that President Goodluck Jonathan is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria in a long while. ‘’So now, we are once again pioneering another value-added sensitisation and agitation movement for Nigerians to freely identify with us, whichisthe#BringBackGoodluck2015 sit-out."

16— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NERC sets up dispute resolution mechanism for NESI

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By Chris Ochayi

BUJA—THE N i g e r i a n Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has appointed members of the Dispute Resolution Panel, DRP, for market participants ahead of the expected evolution of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI. These market participants are specifically the Distribution Companies, Discos, Generating Companies, Gencos, the System Operator, the Market Operator and the Transmission Service Provider.

NERC, via a statement by Dr. Usman Arabi, its Head, Public Affairs Department, yesterday in Abuja, explained that this development would enable NERC to foster the development of a robust mechanism for the settlement of disputes in NESI. Twelve members of the panel, drawn from engineers, economists and legal practitioners, include Nnenna Ahakannah, Ejekam Nnenna, Adeyemi Oyedele, Hussani Mohammed, Boma Ozobia, Adeyemi Akinsanya, Tamuno George, Sadiku Folorunsho, Olufunmi Roberts, Okechuckwu Joseph Chiazor, Ezekiel Osarieme and Augustine Mamadu

20 houses submerged as flood wreaks havoc in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—NO fewer than twenty houses were last weekend submerged in flood, following a heavy downpour that took place in four communities, including Ndibe, Ngodo, Amuro and Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The disaster affected over 20 houses as household properties among other items were seen carried away by the flood.

The rain, which started around 11:30pm, poured ceaselessly till the following day.

Narrating her ordeal, a victim, identified as Mrs. Ikechi, stated that her family had gone to bed when the rain started, adding that the bleating of their goats was what woke them from sleep.

“By the time my husband rushed out of the house, the flood had already destroyed the pen house where the goats were kept as our

BUJA—THE Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency, NACOJSP, Dr. Ben Irikefe, has lauded the Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Professor Rufai Alkali, over the ongoing verification of the groups rooting for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Irikefe, in a statement yesterday, described the initiative of the presidential adviser as a “welcome development and commendable,” adding that Alkali had handled the task with utmost transparency and thoroughness.

Irikefe said: “As a leader of the largest NGO rooting for President Goodluck for 2015, one can confidently say that Prof. Alkali did an excellent job. The process was very thorough, transparent and inclusive.

I am not surprise because Prof.

rainstorm, called on the state government to come to their aid.

Reacting, the State Coordinator of NEWMAP, Dr.

Philip Echiegu, stated that an action plan to assist the flood victims was already ongoing as the news about the incident had got to his office.

MEETING: From left: Strategic Communication Officer, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, Mr Anyanwu Ogueri, Chairman, Mr Victor Chinemerem, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr Oduntan Olumide, and Head, NPA Abuja Office, Mr Yahaya Bukar, at a meeting with the NPA team in Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

2 injured in Abuja airport road auto crashes A

By Henry Umoru

BUJA—TWO persons were seriously injured on the Umaru Yar’ Adua road (former Airport road) yesterday in a multiple accident involving four vehicles.

The accident occurred by Pyakasa on Airport road at 10am as the driver of C4 Runner SR Limited Sports Utility Vehicle with number

Irikefe lauds verification of pro-Jonathan groups

A

compounded was flooded,” she explained.

An indigene of Ngodo (names withheld), whose vehicle was damaged by the

Alkali has an enviable and proven track record of excellence and achievements.

“I can unequivocally say that the groups are very satisfied with the performance of Prof.

Alkali within the short time he has come on board.”

Irikefe expressed optimism that Jonathan would be reelected by Nigerians in the 2015 general election, adding that the number and quality of Nigerians rooting for him were pointers that he was generally accepted by majority of Nigerians.

“With over 10,000 viable groups rooting for President Jonathan, it is crystal clear that the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan is already a self fulfilling prophecy come 2015," he said.

plate, Abuja EL 645- ABJ lost control and summersaulted after one of the tyres pulled off the vehicle.

Following the accident, a truck driver with number plate, Lagos KTU 577XD who was trying to avoid a major accident, veered into the drainage by the side of the Airport road.

Another Honda car with number plate Katsina AE 834 MLF also ran into a drainage when trying to avoid the 4 Runner Jeep, just as a Range Rover Land Cruiser with number plate, Lagos GGE 743 LX, was also hit by the truck, with one of its front tyres pulled off.

An eyewitness, Chidozie Udogu, said the driver of the vehicle became confused and struggled with the car steering until it overturned and got badly damaged.

Udogu told Vanguard that if the driver of the heavy truck had not veered into the drainage, the accident would have been worse.

Consequently, other motorists pulled up to assist in the rescue of occupants of vehicles involved in the multiple crash.

Glasses, some parts of the damaged vehicle as well as blood of the victims were seen on the tarred road at the scene of the crash.

Soon after the accident

happened, one of the injured persons who was at the passenger ’s seat of the Jeep was on the floor with blood gushing out of his nose and ears until men of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, arrived the scene to convey the injured

persons to the hospital in Abuja.

Men of the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO and Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were on hand to take the necessary documentation and remove the vehicles from the scene.

NANS under fire over visit to Jonathan

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA—THE Yinka Gbadebo-led National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, came under fire, yesterday, for paying solidarity visit on President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former President of NANS, Daniel Onjeh, described the visit as politically motivated, adding that NANS leadership did not mention how Jonathan will rescue the Chibok girls and resolve the security challenges facing the country, among other issues.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Onjeh vowed that Nigerian students would resist any attempt by the leadership of NANS to ridicule the association henceforth.

He said: “They should have used the opportunity to

challenge the First Lady to use her immense influence and the President to use his innermost powers to address the Chibok girls issue and the rot in the education sector which requires the declaration of an emergency.

“Only 31 per cent of the students who sat for the General Certificate of Education, GCE, recorded passes in 5 subjects and above including English and Mathematics.

The Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education only resumed recently from their prolonged strikes.”

The conferment of the Grand Commander on Jonathan, Onjeh said was null and void, saying it lacked the requisite legal backing of the appropriate organ of NANS charged with the responsibility.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 17

W

E need to admit the truth; Nigeria no longer has an army worth its salt. The Nigerian army of today is a pathetic shadow of its glorious past. This explains why it is proving grossly inadequate at checkmating a Boko Haram army of some 10,000 men. As a matter of fact, ranged against the insurgency in the NorthEast, the army is now staring abject defeat in the face.

Gone are the glory days when the Nigerian army was at the forefront of international peacekeeping efforts, only surpassed

by Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The C.V. of Nigeria single-handedly initiating the ECOMOG (ECOWAS Monitoring Group) and orchestrating peacekeeping and peace-enforcement operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone is now in a dismal state of disrepair.

Coup-proofing the military The Nigerian contingent sent to Mali in 2012 was disgraceful.

It lacked equipment and training. Assessing their capability, a source told London Guardian: “The Nigerian army is in a shocking state. In reality there is no way they are capable of forward operations in Malitheir role is more likely to be limited to manning checkpoints and loading trucks. The Nigerian forces lack training

Help! We are losing the war against Boko Haram tactics and equipment. Lacking this, the Jonathan administration declared a classical state of emergency in the North-East, and then embarked on a scorched-earth military strategy.

Attacks on the innocent; illegal searches and torture; extra-judicial killings; wrongful and indefinite detention of suspects without trial; random burning of homes and farms; and revenge attacks on the innocent was the order of the day. This became a veritable blueprint for losing the war. As a result, the military successfully alienated the local population it is sworn to protect; making it all the more difficult to fight the insurgency.

Western governments would not sell counter-insurgency

,

,

The Boko Haram is now reported to pose imminent threat to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State

and kit, so they simply don't have the capability to carry out even basic military manoeuvres.”

Now the chicken has come home to roost with the Nigerian army deployed against Boko Haram. When you have a military that specialises in overthrowing civilian governments, you don’t empower it after civilians finally manage to come back to power after donkey years. Therefore, it is not surprising that, since the advent of civilian rule in 1999, the Nigerian military has been intentionally starved of funds and diminished by every successive administration.

Today, it is a shell of its muchvaunted past. From the height of a 350,000 man army during the 1967-70 Civil War, the Nigerian military now has only 76,000 malnourished men lacking motivation, training and weaponry. While the military budget has been beefed up in the last few years of the Jonathan administration, much of this has been pocketed by the military top brass, as usual.

Counter-insurgency deficit: The earlier plaudits of the Nigerian army were in fighting conventional wars. But counterinsurgency is something new requiring new sets of skills,

weapons to Nigeria given the dismal human rights record of our army. Indeed, the sale of lethal weapons to Nigeria is specifically prohibited by law in the United Kingdom because of such concerns. A 1997 law also prohibits American forces from working with foreign military units that have been accused of chronic human rights violations.

There is also a problem with sharing highly-sensitive intelligence information with Nigeria because it is widely understood that the Nigerian military includes a fifth column of local Boko Haram sympathisers. The means the Nigerian army cannot even be trusted to safeguard sensitive information from falling into the hands of the insurgents.

Politics of insurgency: President Jonathan has been caught on the horns of a dilemma. He is a minority South-South president facing re-election in 2015. No Republican has even been elected president of the United States without winning Ohio.

No Nigerian can be elected president of Nigeria without getting a substantial number of Northern votes. But now a major segment of Northern leadership is insisting six years

of Jonathan presidency is enough.

This makes the handling of the security situation in the NorthEast a very delicate matter if Jonathan is not to lose vital Northern votes and support.

Indeed, it has put the president in a Catch 22 situation. When he declared emergency rule and clamped down on the insurgents in the North, his Northern political opponents accused him of genocide. They maintained his Chief of Army Staff was mischievously from the South-East.

Some even threatened to take the matter to the International Court of Justice. But when Jonathan soft-pedals on the insurgency, he is accused of incompetence.

It has not helped that Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the three states in the fore-front of the insurgency, are all controlled by the opposition APC party. In declaring emergency rule, Jonathan was careful to leave their APC governors intact, as chief security officers of their states. However, they have not been inclined to cooperate with the federal government and, until more recently, have tended to see the insurgency as a means to undermine it.

Resurgent Boko Haram In the middle of all this, the Boko Haram has gone from strength to strength. From a rag tag group of ill-equipped local thugs who engaged in hit-andrun bombings, it now operates with armoured personnel carriers, rocket launchers and advanced weaponry that match, if not best, those the Nigerian military has to offer. Indeed, it is Nigerian military that has now become rag tag, as the Boko Haram has continued to build up its arsenal of weapons.

It even attacks Nigerian policestations and military-barracks whenever it needs a new cache of arms.

One of the initial sponsors of the Boko Haram was Muammar Gaddafi, who wanted Nigeria to be balkanised into a Christian South and a Muslim North in his bid to promote Libya regional supremacy in Africa.

The decision of the United States and its allies to overthrow

him further succeeded in unleashing radical Islamic terrorist groups in North Africa, including the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, now armed with Gaddafi’s cache of sophisticated weapons.

These groups moved down the Sahel from Libya; through Algeria into Mali and Nigeria, where they have linked up with their “brothers” in the Boko Haram. Today, the Boko Haram has come of age. In the last few weeks, it has become so emboldened that it has embarked on a new daredevil strategy different from its guerrilla warfare of the past. Its fighters have come out of their hideouts in the Sambisa forest and Mandara Mountains to establish a foothold for their Islamic Caliphate right on Nigerian soil; according to the horrific blueprints of the ISIS in Iraq.

New Islamic Caliphate Last week Monday, Boko Haram militants seized control of Bama, the second largest city in Borno State. They put up their flag over it, forcing an estimated 26,000 of the residents to flee, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The remaining residents were then force-fed with a strict diet of the Boko Haram version of Islamic law, on pain of death.

They did not stop there, but are also now reported to have taken over other major towns including Damboa, Gamboru Ngala, Banki and Gwoza. As a matter of fact, they are now reported to pose imminent threat to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, which is barely 65 kilometres (40 miles) away from their new acquisition of Bama.

Australian hostage-negotiator, Stephen Davis, who is currently making waves as a result of some controversial pronouncements, says: “When (the Boko Haram) attack a town, they empty the treasury of the banks. That is another source of funding for them. They are gradually depopulating many villages in the state, taking them over and foisting their flag. They are very well

organised and becoming very good strategists. By the time they are done with the villages, they will have a very good base from where they will launch attacks on Maiduguri, with the aim of taking it over and proclaiming the caliphate that they desire.”

Army in disarray: Instead of putting up a fight, Nigerian soldiers are reported to have fled into Cameroon, with the army making a face-saving declaration that it was a tactical manoeuvre. A recent report by Chatham House, a Londonbased think-tank, points out that soldiers in the North-East are bedeviled by equipment failure, low morale, desertions and mutinies.

The military budget has been increased and increased, but the money has clearly not made its way to the military rank-and-file in terms of equipment and supplies. The government is talking of taking a one billion dollar loan to fight the insurgency. Why would we need as much as that to fight the Boko Haram? What has happened to all the monies spent till date? In spite of the huge outlays, the report from the foot-soldiers remains the same: inadequate weaponry and poor logistics.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s sovereignty is now at stake. An eye-witness reports that: "In Bama now there is no single police, soldier, civil defence, or state security service personnel.

They have all run away for fear of being killed, even the civilservants are not spared from attack, if you are a government worker they kill you.”

Apparently, no less than seven emirs have fled their palaces in Borno and Yobe States.

New map of Nigeria?

Andrew Noakes of the London Guardian, who co-ordinates a so-called Nigeria Security Network of Analysts, warns that: “Unless swift action is taken, Nigeria could be facing a rapid takeover of a large area of its territory reminiscent of ISIS’s lightning advances in Iraq. If Borno falls to Boko Haram, parts of Yobe and Adamawa can be expected to follow. Parts of Cameroon along the border area would also probably be overrun.”

This means it is wake-up time.

The PDP and the APC must stop playing politics with the Boko Haram. Neither can the insurgency be filed away until after the election. If we are not careful, the damage would have been done long before then.

Nigeria is in danger of becoming a banana republic.

As Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs warns: “The reputation of Nigeria's military is at stake. But, more importantly, Nigeria's and its children's future is in jeopardy.”

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 LESS than two weeks after Governor of Lagos, Mr Raji Fashola, led some members of his cabinet to inspect the long abandoned rail system at the Marine Beach in the Apapa axis of Lagos, the federal government appears set to bring the Apapa rails back to life.

The Director of Mechanical/Electrical Signals and Telecommunications of the Nigerian Railways Corporation, Engineer Fidel Okhiria, recently conducted an inspection of the site on behalf of the CEO of the Corporation, Engineer Adeseyi Sijuade. He outlined a comprehensive revamp plan, which has already started.

He told newsmen that within the next three months, N1.6 billion contracts awarded to CCECC, the Chinese construction giant, will see to the rehab and upgrade of the Apapa rail loop to facilitate the evacuation of petroleum and other products from the various tank farms.

According to Okhiria, the contract also includes the upgrade of the already worn out rail tracks from the 60 pounds gauge installed by the colonialists over a century ago to 85 pounds, which will enable heavier loads to be evacuated without

Positive action on Apapa rails stress.

Even though some political controversy is developing around the issue, with some insinuating that Governor Fashola’s visit must have goaded the federal government to wake up to its responsibility, we would rather focus on the fact that both sides have taken positive actions which will be beneficial to the economy and the Nigerian public. Both governments have taken commendable steps, which is what we called for in an earlier editorial when the matter became topical about a week ago.

The act of development in any democracy is a concert of efforts between governments

at all levels and members of the public.

We should always put politics aside and combine our efforts to move our country forward. After all, politics is a means to an end, the end being the overall development of the country and wellbeing of its people.

The importance of this revamp and upgrade is obvious. It will not only ensure that the reconstructed Apapa – Oworonshoki Express serves the economy for a long time, it will also remove the traffic snarls and great pains to the people which arise from the blockage of the roads into Apapa by tankers, trailers and trucks from all over the country. The ensuing madness makes law enforcement almost impossible. It also exacts great toll on the numerous companies and businesses in the Apapa areas, the nation’s premier economic gateway.

We want to see the rails revamp come to fruition on schedule. This country has been mired in infrastructural decay for too long.

We welcome all efforts to bring Nigeria back to normalcy through the restoration of collapsed and neglected public amenities.

OPINION

By Bobson Gbinije Continued from yesterday's Viewpoint pg 47

T

HE democratization of democracy will be consolidated if we hold elections between 9am-10am till 12 noon.

A voter can come for accreditation, confirm his name in the voters' registers and goes home. From 11 am voters queue up, collect ballot paper, go into the closet, do the thumb printing there and then bring the thumb printed ballot paper to the open and drop it in the ballot box. The voting process can be over in just one hour.

The votes are then counted and the result sheets are given to everybody. This process will not allow professional vote riggers to manipulate the voting process.

The electoral reform process is critically crucial if our democracy must survive beyond 2015. The electoral process is the barometric gauge with which any democratic system is measured and our political history has shown that the electoral process in Nigeria is still submerged in the tortuous labyrinth of gross imperfection. In the federal election of December 1959 which was meant to usher in the political independence of Nigeria, the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) won 148 eats, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC) and the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU) won 89 seats, the Action Group (AG) and the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) won 58 seats. No party won majority vote. This led to grotesque coalitions, political manipulations and

2015 and the democratisation of democracy (2) ward alliances that culminated in Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, former premier of Eastern Nigeria being sworn in as the first indigenous president of Nigeria under a parliamentary system of government.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of western Nigeria became the leader of opposition at the federal level. The Sardauna of Sokoto remained the Premier of Northern region, Chief Akintola who was deputy leader of the Action Group became premier of Western region and Dr. Okpara became Premier of Eastern region.

Setting a strong matrix for a political system based on insecurity, mistrust and Parochialism because of massive election rigging and manipulations. The political bad blood between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Akintola continued. This soured political feud led to a spiral of political bellicosity and Cartesian maneuver, which plunged the whole of the Western region into anarchical entropy (The Wild, Wild West).

However, our long sought after independence finally came, but it turned out to be a “Barmecidal dish”, as our leaders were staple chasing in the abyss of self-destruct, because of their nepotistic and narcissistic proclivities. The Nigerian Nation (1960 – 1966) was wallowing in the dungeon and crypts of unthinkable corruption, indecent opulence, ludicrous antics, ethno-bigotry, political farrago and social ills. The international community, the Nigeria electorate and nay the

military institution was disturbed by the dubious machinations, the fundamental error of judgment and the culpable omission of our leadership and our politicians. One thing led to the other giving rise to the putsch of January 15, 1966. In the resultant coup de tat the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Armadu Bello, the Chief Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Okotie – Eboh (Omimi – Ejoh) etc were assassinated.

These historical adumbrations have become necessary to remind our leaders and our politicians of the dangers inherent in the antics of elections rigging, corruption and the schismatic signals in the 2015 elections without adequate electoral reforms and their total attitudinal reorientation. One of the arrowheads of the coup, Major Kaduna Chukwuma Nzeogwu said ‘the military has taken over to bring an end to gangsterism and disorder, corruption and nepotism. My compatriots you will no longer be ashamed to be Nigerians”.

However, many political analysts saw the spate of killings to be in favour of the East (Igbo) and called it an “Eastern Coup”. It will be recalled that politicians of Igbo extraction like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Akanu Ibiam, Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe etc were not killed or assassinated in the coup and furthermore an Igbo Major General J. T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi took over as Head of State.

These selective killings sent the wrong signals to the Northerners. The rest is a sordid and hideous history for the Nigerian

Nation.

Finally, we must learn from our past and endeavour to reshape our nation through fundamental change in our electrical process. Our democracy will be lifted from paleolithic backwardness to progressive heights if we sincerely make positive review of the electoral process through electoral reforms. We call on members of the legislative arm of government at all levels to rise to the occasion. We commend the efforts of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), the NBA, the Labour Congress and the Nigeria electorate etc for their efforts so far. But they must continue to agitate for the democratization of Democracy and make sure that our democracy is not reflective of Lenin’s argument in his book “State and Revolution’ that “No, Democracy is not identical with majority rule. Democracy is a state which recognizes the subjection of minority to the majority, that is, an organization for the systematic use of force by one class against the other, by one part of the population against another”. This is not our model and mode of true democracy. On true democracy Nigerians must trust and stand.

Concluded *Mr. Gbinije, a social critic,wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—19

I

N the course of the battle of August 25, at Gamboru-Ngala, a twin town at the border with Cameroun, our soldiers found themselves inside Cameroun territory, four hundred and eighty of them. It reminds one of the Ukrainian soldiers that crossed over to the Russian territory.

Whether it was enforced withdrawal or 'tactical maneuvering', we give thanks to the Almighty God, at least, they arrived safely. If it is a tactical withdrawal, it is also well, those who fight and run away, live to fight another day. More so, it affords us, the opportunity to retrospect and assess the capabilities of our combined Armed forces, to curtail insurgencies and to institute corrective measures, where necessary.

Amidst all the gruesome killings and calamities that have befallen families, there is one positive to take away and that is; we now know the actual capabilities of our army. It is a good thing that, this country had not made the mistake of going to war with any of our neighbours, it wouldn't have been easy for us. In today's war, it is not the size of the army that determines victory, but, other factors such as; technology, strategy applied, intelligence, compactness, quality of troops/ recruitments, geographical terrain and so forth. Indeed, our dead did not die in vain.

Some months ago, the governor

of Borno state came out openly, to say that; the Boko Haram insurgents have superior ammunitions and are better motivated than our troops. In fact, those of us who doubted KashimShettima, owe him a big apology, for doubting his statement. The Chief of army staff said recently that; the barge of equipment to defeat Boko Haram would soon arrive in the country.

In other words, we do not have them on ground yet. So, how have we been coping? We must, indeed, give credit to our soldiers for, their gallantry in holding back the rampaging Boko Haram forces, with the little they have got.

Since1970, after the civil war, our military have never faced any major threat, apart from, pockets of resistance, here and there, along our borders and mainly, containment of coups and civilian uprisings. They never anticipated any revolt of the scale at which the Boko Haram has elevated it today and they have been caught napping.

The principal cause for this, rests squarely at the door steps of our military in politics. Since the military, whether deliberately or inadvertently joined the fray of partisan politics in this country, its capabilities to function to its true calling dwindled. They were unable to build the Nigerian army into a model force for Africa and we have become the laughing stock of our neighbours. There is none of our neighbours that is afraid of going into battle with us and that is why, they have been

apathetic to the insurgents' use of their territories, as base to launch deadly attacks against Nigeria and Nigerians - Niger, Chad. Benin, Cameroun and Mali, indeed, all of them- no one bothers about the effect of Nigeria's collapse, failing to realise that; the collapse of Nigeria will collapse the whole West Africa- nay African region.

Our military had engaged in coups and counter coups, which have bred so much distrusts amongst its rank and file; favoritism, ethnicity became a factor for recruitments and retrenchments. For example, after the Orkar coup, Officers of the Middle Belt and mid-western regions, were heavily targeted for dismissals, many, unfairly.

When appointments and promotions are not done on the basis of merit, you can never get the best from such institutions and that, was the situation with our army. The Air Force became almost grounded, after the attempt to use its personnel to carry out coup against the Babangida regime, trainings for Air Force officers was stalemated, new

Stephen Davis and the sponsors of Boko Haram

By Chuks Iloegbunam

T "

HE first casualty when war comes is truth." This quote is credited to Hiram W. Johnson, a Californian politician who served in the US Senate from 1917 to 1945, when he died. This was the first thought that came to mind when a certain Stephen Davis, said to be an Australian hostage negotiator, started throwing around the names of certain Nigerians he claimed are sponsors of the terrorist group Boko Haram.

According to news reports, Dr. Davis mentioned a “senior official at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)”, former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Onyeabo Ihejirika, as three of the culprits in the nefarious and treasonous business.

Alhaji Sheriff called a press conference in Abuja to deny Davis’s accusations and profess his innocence. General Ihejirika also repudiated the label of terrorism sponsorship. Expectedly, there is no word from the “senior official of the CBN”, either in corroboration or refutation, giving that his or her accusation is little other than a pebble thrown into a pool. It will create some ripple without disturbing any living thing inside the pool. Are senior CBN officials not in the hundreds? That is where the puzzle begins.

Why did Stephen Davis mention Ihejirika and Sheriff by name but not the senior official at the CBN? “Dr. Davis told SaharaReporters that he did not want to name the CBN official as this may prejudice investigation by Nigeria’s security services”!

This simply points to something uncoordinated or disarticulated about Dr. Stephen Davies. The naming of the CBN

C M Y K

,

official complicit in the sponsorship of Boko Haram may prejudice investigations but not the naming of both Ihejirika and Sheriff.

How rational.

What are Stephen Davis’s antecedents? The Internet yielded precious little on this fellow, save the report that the late President Yar’Adua had hired him in connection with Niger Delta militancy. If, as his promoters are saying, Stephen Davis was contracted by the Nigerian President to negotiate the release of the abducted Chibok girls, would the right procedure not be for him to first report his findings to the Nigerian leader, rather than go singing in the media? If Stephen Davis was indeed contracted to negotiate the release of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, he would have earned a tidy sum for his troubles. Yet he purportedly spent four months in Nigeria without negotiating the release of even a single girl.

Were his fees not money down the drain?

Was his signal failure to achieve anything not down to his questionable credentials?

Of course, Nigerians are adept at searching for things in Sokoto that are in their sokoto trousers. Davis is Australian, from Down Under, therefore, he must be an expert on the subject at hand. But his story is laughable. Dig this: ““Boko Haram commanders told me they would be prepared to release some as a goodwill gesture towards a peace deal with the government, so I went to Nigeria on the basis of being able to secure their release. The girls were there, 60 girls. There were 20 vehicles with girls. We travelled for four-anda-half hours to reach them, but 15 minutes before we arrived, they were kidnapped again by another group who wanted to cash in on a reward.”

Of course, the above is fairy tale. Why would Boko Haram require 20 vehicles to

aircrafts purchases were put on hold, so, we ended up with an Air Force that is not up to date, running mainly civilian type errands. The same is true of our Navy. People say; what happened to the trillions that have been allocated to defense, all these past years? The answer is the same as our refineries, power industry, pension funds, NNPC, and banks et al.

Corruption. The Boko Haram war has just exposed the defense part of it. It was quiet before now because, no one dares to ask questions under military dictatorships. I think, our ability to ask questions now, is one of the gains of democracy.

As it is now, the army does not have the capabilities and until the correct equipment arrive, the Boko Haram war will still linger on. The government and defense authorities must therefore; make haste, no time to waste, if we are to avoid further loss of lives. It is time for the country to come against the activities of the Boko Haram, very decisively; they seem to be getting bolder. As I write this piece, we are told that their flag is hoisted in the Gwoza region of the Nigerian soil, meaning that, they are de facto in control of that land. This is unacceptable. Equip the military Air Force, ground troops, Navy and save the country from further embarrassment. A country that cannot, militarily, defend itself from both internal and external aggressions can never be said to be a sovereign state.

Added to the above, must be our ability to assert our strength amongst our neighbours. They needed to be put in check. It is along the Nigerian coasts and borders that one finds all sorts of unscrupulous elements - oil thieves, pirates, smugglers, illegal immigrants and so on. With a

,

By Sunny Ikhioya

,

And our soldier o soldierss stra strayyed int into Cameroun

Members of the Boko Haram are very well motivated to die, maybe, through their drugged minds and misplaced religious brain washing.

What could make our Nigerian forces face them with equal or more passion?

It is obvious that a new attempt is on to calumniate General Ihejirika, and also distract attention from the efforts to identify and apprehend the real sponsors of terrorism

,

transport 60 girls? After travelling for nearly five hours, Davis was just 15 minutes away from the hostages when they were rekidnapped by “another group who wanted to cash in on a reward”. How did Davies know this? He was told by Boko Haram!

Since he never got to where the girls were kept, how did he know their number? And how did he come about the number of vehicles that conveyed them? Boko Haram had also told him! Thus, we have in Stephen Davis no more than a megaphone, a repeater station, regurgitating the hogwash force-fed him by his sponsors.

H

ow is it credible that Davis, said to have a PhD in political geography, discussed journeys that ran into hours without mentioning the name of a single location, town or village; without reference to state boundaries and without discussing distances in terms of miles or kilometres? Critically examined, the quantum of his submission would be disgraceful even for someone whose highest academic qualification is the Ordinary National Diploma! It is embarrassing that Nigerians of the orthodox and social media have donned the “All Weather” toga. Any inanity thrown in their

modern day army in place, all of these negative activities will be put in check and we can begin to enjoy our peace and respect as citizens of the Federal republic of Nigeria, as for now; we do not enjoy the respect of our neighbours.

Furthermore, the issue of soldiers' morale must be seriously considered, the question is frequently asked; can one die for Nigeria? What should the country do, to encourage its citizens towards this path? Members of the Boko Haram are very well motivated to die, maybe, through their drugged minds and misplaced religious brain washing. What could make our Nigerian forces face them with equal or more passion? The answer is giving them a sense of belongingness. Situations where they are made to face a devilish enemy, without sufficient ammunitions are discouraging.

Boko Haram should not have superior weapons over our army and the federal government must do everything possible to correct this anomaly now.

In addition to that, their allowances and other entitlements must be paid promptly and all battle gears must be up to date. If it requires the National Assembly's consent, that should be done quickly. The fall of our army is the fall of the whole country.

On the part of the military, they must begin to take the calibre of personnel they recruit into their fold very seriously. Today's army is not for area boys and drop outs. It is the era of intelligence, compact, focus and technologically savvy army personnel; these are what the authorities should target.

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

direction is greedily lapped up.

Personally, am not sleepless about Davis’s other speculations. But, for two reasons, his accusation of General Ihejirika, deserves closer attention. One, Ihejirika is not a politician and, therefore, may not dabble in the doublespeak of, say, a Nasir el Rufia, the partisan politician who first splashed Stephen Davis’s ordure through cyberspace.

Again, the charge of terrorist complicity against a former head of the Nigerian Army should elicit prompt reaction. Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika (58) is from Ovim in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State. A member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18th regular combatant course, he received his Army commission in 1977.

Before his appointment as Army Chief in 2010, a position he held for three and a half years, he had been Chief of Defence Logistics at Defence Headquarters, former GOC of 81 Division in Lagos and former Director of Engineering at Defence Headquarters.

Boko Haram “triumphs” were at their lowest when Ihejirika ran things. He fought the terrorists with incisive military resolution, so much so that many northern politicians threatened to drag him to the International Human Rights Tribunal on “war crime” charges. To date, the threat has not been carried out, not even at the Maidugiri Magistrates Court. But it is obvious that a new attempt is on to calumniate General Ihejirika, and also distract attention from the efforts to identify and apprehend the real sponsors of terrorism. Of the 28 officers, both foreign and indigenous, that have headed the Nigerian Army, Ihejirika is only the second Igbo, the other being General Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was murdered in the counter-coup of July 1966. Detractors have found it impossible to live down Ihejirika’s attainment.

*Mr. Iloegbunam, author of Ironside, thje biography of Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 , 2014

The blind see again in Niger community, courtesy of corps member

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

JOURNEY to Abu chi Padama Community in Suleja Area Council, of Niger State is certainly not for the fainthearted. This is more so for a first time visitor as he or she will do well to prepare to be confronted by such challenges that are sure to task him both physically and mentally, a test to his endurance similar to what lies in wait for a participant in a Gulder Ultimate Search. This is because Abuchi community could easily be mistaken for a jungle, especially given the hilly and indeed rough terrain of the only access road to the area.

In fact, during Vanguard Metro’s recent visit to the place, there were clear indications that civilization was alien to the community, with basic social amenities absent due to decades of neglect by successive governments, both at local and state levels. But the most glaring and disturbing, in VM’s estimation, was the

surgery, distribution of eye glasses, blood sugar and high blood pressure tests for the community.

Dr. Ebeogu, an optometrist and a Batch A corps member serving at the General Hospital Suleja, said as a professional: “I felt that through this project I can reach out and meet the eye care needs of the people. When I came to Suleja, I decided to take this humanitarian service down to this remote and neglected community because the people can hardly come to town for their eye treatment”.

She said her target was to reach out to only 1,000, but more persons came knocking for the service.

“As part of my CD pogramme, I felt that I will make more impact in the community by providing free eye screening and surgery to the people as well as educating them on healthy living. I went with a team of other eye care providers to assist in checking the eyes of those afflicted, conducting evaluation for them and providing free medi-

,

I believe that blindness is not a curse; the people here suffer from reversible blindness that can be taken care of by either inspection or medication

total lack of modern health care treatment for the medically distressed.

That was until recently when Dr. Wisdom Ogochukwu Ebeogu, a participant in the current National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme, did the unusual by taking free eye care services to the community. Tagged: “Niger Save Sight Project”, the young corps member said the humanitarian gesture was initiated as part of her contribution to the Community Development Service, CDS, requirement of the NYSC. The Niger Save Sight Project comprised a free eye screening, cataract

,

cation for those diagnosed with ailment, including reading glasses to those who needed them. For those that have cataract, we will carry out a free cataract surgery.

We will report such patients to the secondary hospital before they are referred for surgery at the General Hospital Suleja eye Centre,” she said.

Absence of government Decrying the absence of government in the area, she said she sacrificed her comfort to make the project a reality. “The first time I came for community assessment, the ruggedness of the terrain

*The medical and NYSC team flanked by beneficiaries of the Niger Save Sight Project. INSET: Dr. Ebeogu attending to a patient made accessment to the place very difficult. And even on getting to the community, I had language and culture barriers to contend with. But I was very determined to overcome all these.

Avoidable blindness Dr. Ebeogu who frowned at the increasing rate of avoidable blindness in the country said: “I believe that blindness is not a curse. The people here suffer from reversible blindness that can be taken care of by either inspection or medication.”

She advised her fellow corps members to see the service year as an opportunity to reach out to people, particularly those that do not have gainful means of livelihood.

The Chairman, Suleja Local Government Area, Yunus Adamu London, represented by the house leader in the Suleja local government, Abdullahi Abubakar Balla, expressed gratitude to Egbogu for her hard work and commitment to serving her father land in this manner. “We thank God Almighty for this kind of programme because we have never witnessed

such in this community in the past. We are very grateful to the NYSC, more especially the corps member who initiated it.

We are confident that this singular action will make a huge impact in reducing the number of people going blind in the state.

“About 99.5 per cent of the villagers are farmers, but due to the awareness created and the importance they attached this programme, no one went to farm today. The District Head, women, children, youth are all present. As a government, we promise to encourage the youth corps members by providing them healthy accommodation. As time goes on, we will provide them jobs, irrespective of their state of origin,” said the London.

Giving back to humanity Speaking on the rationale behind the project, the representative of the head of medical team from Suleja General Hospital and Head of Ophthametrics Department, Suleja Eye, Dr. Kingsman Alozie, said the project was in line with the Federal Government’s Vision 2020 aimed at eradicat-

ing all avoidable blindness. He noted that the project will fish out people who have cataract so that they can be referred for surgery.

“It is good to give back to humanity what providence has given you and that is what Dr. Wisdom is doing here today. She has shown some sense of responsibility to the rural people. At this point in time, she has brought the services so that they can benefit. I am impressed with the team which cuts across corps members, doctors, scientists, nurses, volunteers. No man could have done it alone.

This is one of the youth corps members who have shown that they can initiate ideas that can lift some communities from the bondage of illness and poverty. Other corps members should emulate her, even if it is not in the medical profession but in other areas,” he advised.

The representative of the NYSC, Mrs. Jane Bello, commended the corps member for her foresight and determination to bringing succor to the less privileged people. “The NYSC is happy with what she has done because she has

made us proud by giving sight to the blind. For us, eye is the window through which the whole body sees and with this programme, I am sure many potential blind persons will no longer become blind.

Many sponsors and supporters The Project Coordinator, Emmanuel Agada, said the project, which though was personal, attracted many sponsors and supporters because of the importance they attached to it. He explained that the project was aimed at helping the underprivileged persons in the society to have a sense of belonging, despite their neglect by government.

One of the beneficiaries of the project, Ibrahim Garba, expressed appreciation to Doctor Egbogu for her kind gesture.

The project was sponsored by the Suleja Emirate Council, local government, General Hospital management, Nigerian Optometric Association, Niger State Free Eye Care Programme, and a volunteer team of eye care professionals.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 21

Nigeria loses N75bn annually to textile materials smuggling — Labour

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

O

RGANISED Labour has raised alarm that Nigeria is losing over N75 billion annually to smuggling of textile materials into the country.

National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, in a communiqué at the end of a three-day workshop in Ilorin, Kwara State, for organisers and self-employed Tailors and Small Scale Garment

makers, organised in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES, said the cost of manufacturing textiles in Nigeria was too high, allowing room for cheap foreign goods to be imported.

Participants also came from co-affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union in Nigeria, namely Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Chemical and NonMetallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSA).

The communiqué by President and General Secretary of the union, Oladele Hunsu and Issa Aremu, respectively, commended the Federal Government for the intervention fund for the textile industry, but noted that financing was just one of the numerous challenges facing the textile industry in particular and manufacturing industries in general.

According to ithe communique, “key problems are infrastructural inadequacy,

REVIEW: From left, Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale; Chairperson of the committee, Prof.

Sarah Anyanwu and Head of Department, Real Sector & Household Statistics, Mr Isiaka Olanrewaju during the inauguration of the Review of Definition and Methodology for Computing Unemployment Statistics in Nigeria, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Manufacturers decry multiple taxation, seek review of tax system

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

HE Lagos State Government has been called upon to review and put in place an acceptable tax administration system in order to encourage more investments within the state.

They also charged the state government to outlaw the use of unorthodox means of collecting taxes and levies in the state and educate the public on the published list of approved/authorised taxes and levies in the state, local governments and its Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. Making the call at the 2014 Business Luncheon for CEOs and MDs organised by Ikeja chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, the chairman, Prince F. Oba Okojie, said presently, most businesses consider the tax environment in Lagos unfriendly and disincentive to businesses.

He explained that in addition to the taxes payable to the state government

under Act CAP.T2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, a total of 10 other taxes/levies are being collected by the Lagos State Government, saying that the incidence of multiple taxation and astronomical increase in taxes and levies has led to disruption of businesses in Lagos.

“The growth of the Nigerian economy has remained slow as a result of many factors, one of which is the challenge faced by businesses in the form of un-coordinated tax administration leading to what is referred to as “multiple taxation”, Okojie said.

He stated that multiple taxation discourages both local and foreign investment and makes locally manufactured products uncompetitive compared to imported ones.

According to him, it portrays a lawless and carefree society and also restricts business expansion.

Speaking on the theme of the luncheon, ‘Multiple Taxation: A Disincentive to Industrialists’, the Commissioner for Economic Planning

& Budget, Lagos State, Mr. Ben Akabueze, assured that the state government will pursue further reforms of its tax administration system with a view to further simplifying assessment and payment process.

He said that the state government would consider eliminating power of discretion in the hands of revenue officers, as well as harmonisation of taxes and levies collectible and reduction in the cost of compliance.

He, however, called on MAN to assist in sensitising its members towards a tax compliance culture and to also censor and sanction members that act in defiance of well established laws. He said, “While some employers of labour and tax payers comply voluntarily with provisions of the law by paying their taxes as and at when due, some are not tax compliant.

“Employers of labour must in line with Section 81 of Personal Income Tax Act LFN 2004 as amended to date deduct taxes from their employees’ income and render same to the government coffers.”

raw materials, electricity supply, smuggling, counterfeiting and faking among others which need to be urgently addressed by the government. The performance of the Nigerian textile industry remained at low ebb in the first half of 2014 due to lack of an enabling environment and inconsistency in government policy. There are 25 textile mills employing about 24,000 workers.

Capacity utilisation in the industry remains below 50% and growth has been stagnant since 2012.

The government had talked about a new textile policy in February 2013, however there has been no progress.

Unless effective steps are taken by the government to revive the industry, gains achieved in 2010 will be lost and result in job losses, thus aggravating the unemployment situation.

“Smuggled products occupy over 90% of the market. It is estimated that Nigeria imports N300 billion worth of textiles and garments annually, most of which are illegally imported without paying any duties and taxes.

“The total amount of revenue loss on account of customs duty and VAT on this volume is estimated at N75 billion. Such rampant evasion of taxes through smuggling when the government is mobilising revenue should be an eye opener. There is a crisis in the textile industry due to huge backlog of Negotiable Duty Credit certificates (NDCC) accumulated over the last two years.

“This has been caused by an arbitrary suspension imposed by the Federal Ministry of Finance on utilisation of the certificates, issued by the same ministry, for duty payment. Textile manufacturers who exported their goods by factoring the grant in their price are facing a severe liquidity crisis.”

196.00

-1.45

3,102.00 -29.00 15.04

-0.09

100.97 -0.86 93.45

- 1.16

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.73 STERLING 252.6896 EURO 200.4682 FRANC 166.1253 YEN 1.4701 CFA 0.2880 WAUA 233.3903 RENMINBI 25.1953 RIYAL 41.2558 KRONA 26.9152 SDR 232.7139

155.23 155.73 253.5061 254.3227 201.116 201.7638 166.6631 167.1999 1.4749 1.4796 0.298 0.308 234.1445 234.8987 25.2772 25.3591 41.3891 41.5225 27.0022 27.0891 233.4659 234.2179

CBN Exchange Rate as 08 /09 / 2014

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

One of the major concerns about the new charge, however, is that customers may end up paying for the inefficient I.T network of banks, which is usually manifested via network down turn

INVESTORS , Bank customers and the new ATM charge (2)

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CWG’s change in business strategy impacts Q2 financial report

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

he Computer Warehouse Group (CWG Plc), at the twilight of a five year strategic plan to take the company in a different direction into a more robust subscription business model, paused to evaluate the progress achieved, and the impact on its hitherto traditional business, underpinned by technology sales and support to major enterprises in Africa.

According to Austin Okere, Group Chief Executive Officer, ‘we crafted the plan code named CWG2.0 in 2010, realising back then the pervasiveness of cloud computing, and the major enablement for this in our region following the increase in broadband access from 0.65tb to a combined capacity of 9Tbits per second.

We have partnered with a company in India to provide a key solution to address the technical and non-technical loses in power distribution.

,

We were very clear that while our tremendous growth over the years had been propelled by our traditional businesses in hardware and software sales and support, and VSAT bandwidth vending, these represented mature and declining margin businesses, the import of which have been evident in our recent Financial Statements’.

The uptake of the company’s New Cloud products not only in Nigeria but also in Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda proves that her emerging business model of providing cloud services on a subscription basis is scalable, repeatable and transferable, albeit relatively more sustainable and profitable.

Following her listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in November last year, the company has vigorously pursued her CWG2.0 initiative with the commissioning of a tier 3 Data Centre and the release of many products, which have been solely locally developed, or in collaboration with other innovative Companies such as MTN Nigeria, Diamond bank and Ericsson among others.

According to James Agada, Chief Technology Officer of the group, ‘CWG2.0 is all about the freedom to dream and the passion to execute.

CWG2.0 defines the future direction

C M Y K

of our company. In summary it is a social impact investment initiative directed towards empowering the African Entrepreneur.’

CWG2.0 comprises products such as SMERP, an online resource planning solution that enhances proper business inventory management by business owners; Openshoppen, an e-commerce site that provides multiple shop owners the opportunity to open virtual shops online, complemented by an integrated secured payment gateway, thereby allowing online buyers to pay for products and services with their cards. CWG2.0 also includes a Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP) smart grid solution, and various cloud services which promote the Cashless policy initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

I

N the last edition, it was indicated that the ATM charge of N65 for Remote-on-Us transaction is avoidable. Definitely, that is what some bank customers should try to do. However, there is the risk of paying more than the N65 in a bid to avoid it. For example, you are at home on a weekend and suddenly, you need cash more than you had prepared for. The nearest branch of your bank is some twenty minutes walking distance from your residence. On the other hand, the branch of another bank is just about five streets or ten minutes walking distance from your residence. But because you have a mindset of avoiding the charge, you set out to walk the twenty minutes to the nearest branch of your own bank. Without realising it, you have spent ten extra minutes in order to avoid paying the N65 charge. So watch it before trying to avoid the charge.

One of the major concerns ab charge, however, is that customer paying for the inefficient I.T netw which is usually manifested via n turn. There have been occasions w ers have been compelled to use th er banks because either there is a the ATM of their own bank or si their own bank is experiencing n turn. That is why the limit of free R ATM charge per month is consid customers. Ideally, customers sho access their money especially wh the fault of their own bank. CBN started with two free Remote-onwithdrawal per week and gradua limit.

Furthermore, as indicated in “ATMS can encourage or discoura

,

The company’s SMERP product has received increasing interest, with different channel partnerships being developed for rapid deployment of the product.

There is a lot of interest for this service from individual merchants, banks and other organizations that support SME business.

CWG is currently nurturing relationships with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry, as well as other Agencies charged with the support and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria to take advantage of her vast offering.

In addition, CWG has entered into strategic partnership with SES Astra, a Satellite Services provider to provide teleport and platform services for the pioneer satellitebased free to Air and free to View digital Television system that will launch commercially in Q4 2014.

According to Gbadebo Adesina, head of Power Business at CWG, ‘the audacious plan to privatize the power sector has unveiled a new revenue opportunity for us, as we have partnered with a company in India to provide a key solution to address the technical and non-technical loses in power distribution.

MARKET NEWS

Seplat, Nestle in losing streak, deplete market capitalisation by 0.8%

S

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

EPLAT Petroleum Development Com pany Plc and Nestle Nig. Plc recorded the most share price losses in the month of July to lead 58 other companies that depreciated in price within the month.

Seplat, an oil exploration and production company that recently got listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, after a dual public offer on the London Stock Exchange and NSE, lost N30.00, closing at N650.00 from N700.00 at the beginning of the month.

Nestle, which at the moment is the most priced equity on the NSE, recorded N30.00 loss to close at N1,120.00 from N1,150.00 per share.

Their combined losses resulted in deple-

tion in total market capitalisation by 0.78 percent to N18.943 trillion from N19.092 trillion in the month of June.

Investment analysts are of the opinion that price correction is gradually setting in the market, and overpriced stocks are beginning to be fall back in shape.

Julius Berger, Dangote Cement and Total followed on the flip side, losing N13.45, N10.00 and N8.05 to close at N63.00 from N76.45, N230.00 from N240.00 and N171.55 from N179.60 in that order a month earlier.

MRS Nig. Oil Plc, Cadbury Nig. Plc and Skye Shelter Fund were the next with N8.01, N5.75 and N5.00 share price declines to close at N61.99 from

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 23

the series on age cashless”,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Delay in dividend payment by quoted companies and intended penalties

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

V

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

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

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

Excerpt:

W

N70.00, N74.25 from N80.00 and N95.00 from N100.00 in that order.

Guinness Nig. Plc and Unilever Nig. Plc closed the list of top losers in the month, declining by N5.00 and N4.75 to close at N195.00 from N200.00 and N49.25 from N 54.00 respectively.

On the other hand, Mobil Oil Nig. Plc led the gainers chart in the month, rising by N23.55 to close at N161.10 from N137.55 in the month of June.

7-Up Bottling Company was the next with N14.00 price appreciation, closing at N107.00 as against N93.00 it recorded a month earlier. Forte Oil followed with N11.70 increase, closing at N107.00 from N93.00 per share; Lafarge Wapco gained N8.11 to close as the fifth most active stock in the month of July. It started the month at N111.00 and closed at N120.00 per share.

Nigerian Breweries, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Presco were the next with N5.24, N3.00 and N2.97 price increase to close at N180.10 from N171.99, N31.24 from N26.00, and N38.01 from N35.01 in that order.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria and Ashaka Cement closed the list of top gainers with 2.97 and N2.57 increase to close at N14.18 from N11.21 and N31.08 from N28.51 per share respectively.

,

illiam ADEBAYO, Chairman, Greenwich Shareholders Association of Nigeria (GSAN): This has been in existence for long, but the truth of the matter is that we must give the Stock Exchange kudos for this. A situation whereby companies do not pay their dividend after declaring and promising shareholders they will is not good and they should be panalised for that.

As soon as this law is promulgated, efforts should be made to follow it up to the letter because most of the companies are known for this bad attitude, making it very imperative that any company that is found culpable should be dealt with accordingly.

You find out that after the AGM, the dates you find in the Annual Reports for payment of dividends are not kept to. This implies that the financial controllers of such companies are very funny human beings caring out dubious acts with those dividends.

B

oniface Okezie, Chair man, Progressive Share holders Association of Nigeria: It is important for companies to honour the obligation to pay dividend after it is declared. And because you don’t have to borrow money to pay dividend, since it is a product of the company’s good performance in terms of profit made during a financial year, payment of dividend

•Williams Adebayo

•Boniface Okezie

should be at the Board’s discretion. A company can make all the money in the world and still decide not to pay dividend. If a company does not have money, it does not have to pay, but once it had proposed such dividend, why the delay in crediting the shareholders’ account. Expect today when it has to do with the third party, the clearing houses that help in the processing of the e-dividend through the registrars often cause delay.

,

bout the new rs may end up work of banks, network down where customhe ATM of othlong queue at mply because network down Remote-on-Us dered unfair to ould not pay to hen it is due to N should have -us ATM cash ally reduce the

the reason why people need to withdraw cash all the time is because the industry is still lagging behind in the deployment and efficiency of PoS terminals. Also, mobile payment is still far from being widely accepted and used.

Hence, people have to pay with cash, and as a result, they have to withdraw cash from ATMs. The CBN should have taken these into consideration in determining the limit for free cash withdrawal using the ATMs of other banks.

The only good thing that may come out of the new charge is that it may stimulate banks to increase their ATM network, and also improve on their efficiency. This is premised on the fact that the since the banks would not be paying for the cost of their customers using the ATM of another bank, they would have more resources to buy more ATMs and also maintain them. This, however, might be a mirage since there is no regulatory directive that banks should increase their ATMs, or any penalty for network down turns that compel customers to use the ATMs of other banks.

,

FORUM

What the Nigerian Stock Exchange should do is not to panelise because the penalty will imply that they have to part with additional money regardless of the fact that they declared dividend and have not been able to pay it.

Registrars must update shareholders’ names and accounts before the closure date so that they don’t run into problems

,

If there is something that brings about delay, for instance, a system breakdown, that is understandable. In that case, the company should not be penalised. What the Nigerian Stock Exchange should do is not to panelise because the penalty will imply that they have to part with additional money regardless of the fact that they declared dividend and have not been able to pay it.

Anytime a company delays in caring out this resolution shareholders assume that it is having liquidity problem. And the question will then be why such company is going to be sanctioned if the cash is not there. Where will the money to service the fine come from when the shareholders have not

been paid what the company promised?

This are the issues, but what we think they should do is to emphasise to companies that when they declare dividend at that date set out, it must be paid. You also work with the registrars so that they can furnish you with information on whether the cheque has been deposited.

This is because the stock exchange says they are protecting the investors, and the same companies that have no money to pay the dividend to these investors will as a matter of force be made to cough out money to service fines.

For me, without threat of sanction, a company should carry out their obligations to shareholders especially after approval of dividend at the AGM. Sanction should be out of the way.

What they should do is to make it unlawful for any company to withhold the money if the money is there.

Also, some of the registrars are not up and doing; they also need to sit up because even till today, we are still having problem with e-dividend. For instance, I have had course to call some of the registrars to credit my account even after the payable date. In such situation, they will tell you that the money has not been released, or that they are having problem or that the money has been paid into a wrong account. The registrars are not the service provider; they are just third parties helping to channel the payment. But if those who subscribe for e-dividend cannot receive their dividend after a week of the approval at the AGM, then it will take those that did not subscribe to e-dividend up to a month before they will receive theirs.

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Marginal fields contribute 2.41% to Nigeria’s crude production

By Michael Eboh

T

HE dwindling fortunes of marginal fields’ operators in the Nigeria’s oil and gas sector continued, as the subsector contributed 2.41 per cent to Nigeria’s total crude oil production in the month of March 2014.

According to data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on oil and gas activities for the month of March 2014, the marginal fields’ operators produced 1.645 million barrels of crude oil, representing a daily average of 53,086.26 barrels.

This is against a total of 68.367 million barrels produced by all the operations in the sector in the month under review. This translates to an average daily crude production of 2.205 million barrels, showing that the marginal fields’ operators are yet to make significant impact on Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The Joint Venture, JV companies dominated crude production in the period under review, accounting for 41.18 per cent of the total production with 28.156 million barrels of crude oil per day or an average of 908,272.32 barrels per day.

Production Sharing Companies, PSCs, followed with 27.338 million barrels, representing 39.99 per cent of total crude oil production or an average daily crude output of 881,885.10 barrels.

According to the NNPC data, Oriental Energy recorded the highest crude production in the marginal fields segment, accounting for 1.33 per cent of the total crude production, which is 911,224 barrels or 29,394.32 average daily crude output.

Midwestern Oil followed with crude oil production of 329,903 barrels of crude oil for the month, representing

0.48 per cent of total crude production.

This translates to average daily production of 10,424.46 barrels.

Waltersmith accounted for 0.17 per cent of total crude production with 115,790 barrels of crude, translating to 3,735.16 barrels per day.

Others in the marginal field segment are: Energia — 95,185 barrels; Niger Delta Petroleum Resources — 72.016 barrels; Platform Petroleum — 65,568; Pillar Oil —54,679 barrels; and Brittania-U — 1,309 barrels.

According to the report, Movido Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited did not record any production in the month under review.

Paucity of funds In his reaction on the minimal contribution of marginal fields’ operators to crude production, General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Mr. Bayo Olowoshile, noted that a number of the indigenous investors are financially handicapped.

According to him, the financial challenges faced by the indigenous operators Mr. Mohammed Wakili, Minister of State for Power and Mr. James Olotu, Managhave, over the years, made ing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited operators to act as fronts or (NDPHC), during a courtesy visit of the NDPHC boss to the minister in Abuja. proxy for foreign investors, who end up buying the assets.

He said, “Oil production is highly technical and capital intensive. And it goes with a lot of risks, especially as it because they have not put appropriate affects the investment layout.

On the challenges of oil exploration, measures in place to achieve their proMore so, access to the colossal he said, “Competition for natural rejection. I found out that the government amount of funds required for sources has driven companies to exhas allowed a lot of failures to happen oil and gas business is plore and produce in harsh, remote in reforming the sector. They talked becoming a big challenge and even hostile locations, where even about distribution companies, which going by the difficult the simplest of logistical tasks can be belong to the cronies of the people in environment that Nigeria difficult and costly.” power and that has not allowed the econposes to investors and On the justification for the creation omy of Nigeria to grow because we need financiers from the outside of the Ministry of Energy, Power and electricity for so many things. world, who want to partner Mineral Resources, Ogunyemi, not“Some people thrive in this failure bewith the indigenous owners ed that many minerals are mined evcause of their gains. For as long as they and operators of marginal erywhere in the state, and the Minisallow the importation of high powered field. try is driving the sustenance of provigenerators, there is no way we can have “This status is compounded sion of power for the state. good power generation,” he said. by the ongoing actions by the He added, “We have power plants Also speaking, Hon Mufutau EgInternational Oil Companies, like Alausa Power Plant, which supberongbe representing Apapa 1 constitIOCs, who are now plies electricity to Alausa Secretariat uency called on the Federal Governabandoning and/or divesting and some parts of Obafemi Awolowo ment to support and facilitate the relowith wild excuses of Way, and it is good for the health of cation of tank farms from Apapa to Leksupporting government’s the people since we have eliminated ki, which is designed for such purpose. efforts at relinquishing more generators in these areas.

According to him, “Tank farms are comoil fields to indigenous “We will soon launch the Maryland bustible and highly inflammable and investors.”

Power Plant to power government ofshould it go up in flames, the whole Also speaking, Mr. Debo fices and other MDAs, we have LaApapa would be totally razed. Besides, Fagbami, Chief Operating gos Island Power Plant too,” he addLagos State has a master plan and in Officer, Xenergi Limited, ed. that plan, tank farms are designed for explained that funding is Speaking on the persistent power the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and as such, paramount for the operators failure in the country, Ogunyemi exthey should be moved to that area.” to achieve increased plained that there is a systemic failHe explained that Lekki is not as contribution to the country’s ure in the sector, which is linked to densely populated as Apapa, adding crude production. corruption. that there are virgin lands in Lekki begHe said, “We have systemic failure ging for occupiers.

Alternative Funding Joint Venture companies accounted for 11.41 per cent of total crude production with 7.804 million barrels of crude oil, an average of 251.736 barrels per day.

Independents/Sole Risk companies produced 3.148 million barrels, representing 4.6 per cent of total production and a daily average crude production of 101.55 million barrels.

Lagos to commence oil exploration in 2015

By Ebun Sessou

L

AGOS State will likely commence oil and gas exploration by next year, following the large deposit of oil found in some parts of the state like Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, and the Badagry axis.

The Chairman, Committee on Energy, Mineral Resources and Waterfront Infrastructure, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, who disclosed this in Lagos , explained that the state House of Assembly has enacted an enabling law to that effect.

He said: “The Folawiyo Group is partnering with the Ministry of Energy in the state and very soon, Lagos would join oil producing states. Exploration trends will follow the industry’s perception of the next best resource base to explore and develop, which incorporates both the scale and quality of the resource and the cost of its development.

“Through exploration, acquisitions, strategic partnerships and technological expertise, Lagos State is in pursuit of the growth strategy. Natural gas is a future-oriented resource in global energy supplies and there are sufficient supplies of this climate-friendly, cost-effective, and safe fuel.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 25

Nigeria, 7 others set for oil, gas boom — Report

BRIEF Power transmission open to investors — FG

By Sebastine Obasi

By Chris Ochayi

T

N

IGERIA and seven other African oil producing countries could experience boom in the coming years, with Mozambique and Tanzania set to emerge as new frontiers, if they can attract enough investment, a report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers has stated.

The report also stated that six of the top 10 global discoveries in 2013 were made in Africa, with more than 500 companies now exploring across to the continent. Large gas finds in Mozambique and Tanzania would make the world “take note of east Africa as an emerging player in the global industry,” said the report’s advisory leader, Mr. Chris Bredenhann.

It further stated that the boom has brought investment opportunities, despite the lingering challenges of corruption, lack of infrastructure and regulation, as transactions worth some $1 billion (760 million euros) occurred every 17 days in Africa’s oil and sector last year.

Still, the continent faces fierce competition for vital investment from other parts of the world, the PWC report cautioned. “A huge obstacle to growth in Tanzania and Mozambique is the cost of the infrastructure required, which neither country can afford without help from foreign investors,” it said.

Nearly nine million barrels of crude were produced every day in 2013, more than 80 percent of which came from established players such as Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Angola.

Demand for oil in Africa was also expected to “ rise significantly” over the next 20 years, driven by population growth, urbanisation and the emergence of a middle class, the report said.

The report also stated that in gas that is even more concentrated, with nine tenths of annual natural gas production of 6.5 trillion cubic feet coming from Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Egypt.

The report seems to offer a glimmer of hope for Nigeria’s gas sub-sector, which has not been fully utilised for the nation’s domestic electricity supply.

Nigeria exported 19.8 million metric tonnes per annum, MMTPA of liquefied natural gas, LNG in 2012, accounting for more than eight percent of globally traded LNG, and making it the world’s fourth largest LNG exporter.

But this is way much lower than the ambitions of Africa’s largest holder of natural gas

From left: Dr. Brown Ogbeifun, Manager, Employee Relations, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Comrade Igwe Achese, President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG); Mrs. Akitoye, Group General Manager Human Resources, NNPC, Comrade Francis Johnson, President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Comrade Isaac Aberare, NUPENG , General Secretary at an event marking the conferment with the Doctor of Science, Honararis Causa, (Hon. D. Sc.) in Human Resources Management and leadership by the European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica, in Lagos.

reserves (2013 reserves estimates: 182 trillion cubic feet, Tcf).

The country has had three LNG projects, with capacity for 23 MMTPA, on the drawing board for upwards of nine years. None of them - Olokola LNG (10MMTPA), Brass LNG

(5MMTPA), and the seventh train of the Bonny LNG (8MMTPA), looks likely to be sanctioned before 2015. The Olokola project seems to have collapsed even before takeoff.

However, Mozambique could become a major player in the Asian market on a par with

Australia, the United States and Papua New Guinea when it starts exporting gas, expected in 2020, the report said.

Already majors such as Eni, Chevron, and BP, have invested in its gas fields, some of the largest discovered in the past decade.

Kainji, Jebba rehabilitation to gulp N72bn

By Michael Eboh

N

IGERIA’S power supply capacity is expected to increase by 1,300 megawatts (MW) as Mainstream Energy Solution Limited and RusHydro International AG, has reached an agreement to commence the rehabilitation of Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants, worth $452 million, about N72.32 billion.

This is in furtherance of a five-year cooperation agreement, reached between Mainstream and RusHydro in 2013 with regard to the modernisation of the Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants in Nigeria.

Mainstream Energy, in a statement obtained from RusHydo’s website, noted that its Board of Directors has approved the Capacity Recovery Plan (CRP) prepared

by RusHydro, for the rehabilitation of the Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants in Nigeria.

Mainstream Energy had earlier said it will spend $452 million for the project and would pay RusHydro a fixed fee

for rendered services and additional remuneration for organisation of tenders.

The concession conditions, Mainstream Energy said, provide for rehabilitation and modernisation of the power plants and bringing their capacity back to the design level.

According to the statement, the next step for RusHydro International will be to assist Mainstream Energy Solutions to prepare tender documentation and commence procurement (tender) procedures for the supply of equipment, construction, and assembly work.

Mainstream said the engineering services provided

by RusHydro International AG include development of project documentation, organisation of tenders for equipment supply as well as for installation and construction works and also consulting on operation and maintenance of the plants.

“RusHydro International AG implements the project in partnership with Institute Hydroproject (RusHydro Group), Pöyry and Mott MacDonald,” the company

said.

The Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants are located on the River Niger and have installed capacity of 750 mega watts (MW) and 578 MW, respectively.

Currently available capacity of the plants is substantially below their installed capacity.

RusHydro International AG had in April, declared that it has completed feasibility studies for the reconstruction of both dams.

In August 2013, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and multilateral financial institution, Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, provided a $170 million (N27.2 billion) facility to Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited Consortium, MESL, for the acquisition of Kainji Power station, one of the former assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Sani Bello, Chairman, MESL, said that the facility is for the purpose of part- financing the concession of Jebba Power station and Kainji Hydro Electric Plc.

HE Federal Government has declared that the transmission segment of the Nigeria’s power sector is open to investors under a Public Private Partnership, PPP model.

The Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, disclosed this at a meeting with top stakeholders in the sector and investors from China, last week. He added that investors who invested in the Nigerian power sector are guaranteed of adequate returns and safety of their investments.

According to him, “I urge you all to participate in the planned transmission project expansion in Nigeria. The government of Nigeria is working out participation of private sector in the transmission sector under a public private partnership.

This has worked so well in other sectors of our economy,” he said.

The minister, who recently visited the Huawei Company headquarters in Shenghen, said the potential for profitable investment in Nigeria is very high, describing the opportunities in the transmission and renewable energy sector as very attractive and sustainable.

Tanker drivers decry road leading to Port Harcourt refinery

By Godwin Oritse

P

ETROLEUM Tanker Drivers (PTD) have decried the deplorable state of the Eleme/Onne road junction leading to the Port Harcourt refinery saying that “ the road has become a death trap”.

In a statement, the national Public Relations officer of the Union, Comrade Atanda Adebayo said that the group has several times brought the bad state of the road to the attention of both the Rivers state and Federal governments all to no avail.

Adebayo said that majority of members of the group have suffered various degrees of injury and lost their trucks in accidents that would have been avoidable.

He exlained that the road is the only one leading the refinery adding that as a result of the bad state of the road most of the tanker drivers were now coming to Lagos to load products.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Petroleum industry, catalyst for employment generation T

By Ediri Ejoh

HE petroleum industry has been identified as a catalyst for employment generation and economic development, especially in the areas of the gas, petroleum refining, petrochemical and fertilizer.

This is one of the observations made at a recently concluded international conference on the gainful employment potentials in the oil and gas sector, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking more on the success of the conference, Prof Godwin Igwe, of the Centre for Gas, Refining & Petrochemicals, Institute of Petroleum studies, University of Port Harcourt, said a number of other observations were made.

According to Igwe, the following observations were made: • That the gas, petroleum refining, petrochemical and fertilizer industries provide the catalyst which ensures the country ’s growth and sustainable development through diversifying the revenue stream and growth in other sectors rather than continuing to depend on costly importation and the resultant drain on our foreign exchange earnings.

• Many natural resource-rich countries are diversifying and transforming their economies using the hydrocarbon value chain for wealth creation like the SABIC (Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation). It focuses on manufacturing, using

oil by-products as feedstock. It is a Holding Company, with investment in Joint Ventures with oil majors (SADAF). It is not an operator and does not have 100 percent ownership. The structure ensures commercial operations and commercial viability of its business arrangement across the world.

Its investments are not only domestic, but international, to secure markets for its oil byproducts.

SABIC’s diversification strategy includes market diversification.

•There are many opportunities for Nigeria to harness and maximise the oil and gas value chain, and that these

opportunities will significantly improve the revenue streams from the downstream sector as well as have multiplier effect on the nation’s economy.

• For tremendous success in employment generation and wealth creation to be made, more needs to be done in enhancing the enormous opportunities that abound in the oil and gas sector.

Likewise, the absence of strong entrepreneurial activities in any Nation makes the country to be perpetually import-dependent with the resultant adverse economic and security consequences.

• That a very high gross domestic product, GDP figure

means very little if it does not translate into jobs and wellbeing for the youths and teeming masses of our people. What matters is the GDP per capita, where we stand on the human development index, in quality of life for our people. This is the challenge for industry and the Government.

• The Conference particularly noted the enormous opportunities that abound in the gas industry vis-à-vis gas-forpower; gas-for-industries; gasfor-fertilizers etc.

Against this backdrop, Igwe also said the conference therefore recommended that: • There is urgent need for

Oil exploration activity

GE supplies Flour Mills with 12.5MW engines

By Sebastine Obasi

G

E has said its U.K.based distributed power provider, Clarke Energy, is supplying GE’s new diesel engines to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, to boost the company ’s industrial operations.

GE said in a statement that the project represents the first sale of GE’s new 616 diesel engine globally, which will deliver higher fuel efficiency and extended service intervals than many other diesel engines today.

The announcement was made

by Clarke Energy at this year’s, East African Power Industry Convention, recently concluded in Nairobi, Kenya.

“As Nigeria continues to grow its industrial might in the global economy, we have opted to invest in GE’s new 616 diesel engines to deliver higher fuel efficiency at our sites in Lagos and Kano. We have been working with Clarke Energy

since 2005, and we are confident in its ability to support us in the engineering installation and maintenance of the units,” said Paul Gbededo, chief executive officer, Flour Mills of Nigeria, plc.

The Flour Mills project will include five of GE’s 616 units, delivering up to 12.5 megawatts, MW, of electrical power or enough to power 33,000 Nigerian homes. Two of the units will be used at the Kano facility in northern Nigeria, where natural gas access is limited and older, less-efficient diesel units have been used in order to maintain power for production. The new GE engines will deliver 5MW of baseload electrical power, with an expected capital payback in less than 12 months on diesel fuel cost savings alone.

The other three GE engines will be at Flour Mills’ facility in Apapa, Lagos, where Clarke Energy opened its first subSaharan Africa site nearly a

decade ago, and features 11 of GE’s J620 gas engines. The diesel units will provide backup power generation capacity in the event of maintenance on the site’s existing power generation equipment or in the event of a gas supply failure.

“The sale of these engines to our valued long-term customer Flour Mills of Nigeria demonstrates the significant benefits of reduced fuel consumption and extended maintenance intervals from GE’s new 616 diesel platform,” said Alan Fletcher, main board director, Clarke Energy.

Clarke Energy has had a long history in sub-Saharan Africa.

Its first office opened in 2005 in Apapa, Lagos, and over 250MW of gas-fueled power plants have since been installed to meet expansion of Nigeria’s domestic gas supplies.

GE’s 616 diesel engine is based upon the highly successful Jenbacher Type 6

reciprocating engine and GE Transportation’s P616 locomotive diesel engine. The engine’s design is characterised by its world-class efficiency and extended maintenance intervals, which result in lower fuel consumption and higher levels of availability.

“Our new 616 diesel engine is the first high-speed model for power generation, allowing us to serve customers with a wider reciprocating engine portfolio,” said Cory Nelson, general manager diesel engines of GE’s Distributed Power business.

“We are honored by the trust Flour Mills of Nigeria has extended to Clarke Energy and GE as collaborators in providing power generation for their growth. Flour Mills will benefit from the 616, which couples medium-speed engine fuel economy with the lower costs of high-speed engines and helps customers improve their total life cycle costs.”

massive investment in the Nigerian Refining & Petrochemicals (R&P) industry.

Development in this sector will not only diversify and transform the Nigerian economy, but also provide an alternative market for the country’s crude oil and natural gas resources. It will make the country less susceptible to the vagaries of the international oil and gas market.

• There is need to create a national focal point for developing industries beyond fuels. Public-Private-Partnership has worked at Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, IEPL, and NOTORE Chemical Industries Plc. This model should be extended to all public and private industries in Nigeria for sustainable development and employment generation.

• A necessary fiscal system that is supportive of high value hydrocarbon spin-off industries, but not dependent on cost recovery from upstream oil activities is advocated. The Conference calls on government to provide various incentives to enable this sector to operate optimally.

• Appropriate incentives and enabling environment should be provided by Federal and State Governments to support a commercial framework for the development of gas, petroleum refining, fertilizer and petrochemical industries.

In Nigeria, diversification should involve varying the energy mix (from oil to gas) and from fuels to non-fuels.

Diversification will result in wealth creation through employment generation, import substitution, and GDP growth.

To achieve the following, the conference equally urged government to take the following steps: The creation of a national focal point for developing industries beyond fuels and institution of clear fiscal incentives to promote investment in the midstream oil & gas sector, industrial parks with preinvestment in infrastructure by the state.

Others are that grassroot industries should be encouraged in the agricultural sector and an urgent need for more farmer education especially on fertilizer application and the use of improved seedlings, to further provide employment along the value chain.

There is need for greater connection between University researchers, government policymakers, and the industry.

The Federal Government needs to invest in research and knowledge generation for innovation and development, and to ensure continuous integration and collaboration.

Specific sponsorship should be provided for human capacity building in research centres by government, and internship of students in companies.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 27

AEDC assures customers of improved power supply

By Chris Ochayi

T

HE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has assured electricity consumers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, of improved electricity supply to their homes and business premises.

The Executive Director, Commercial Services, AEDC, Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, gave the assurance while making a presentation at a Customer Consultative Forum in Abuja, held for electricity consumers in Apo, Lugbe, Kuje and Gwagwalada districts in the FCT. Mupwaya, who represented the AEDC managing director, listed some of the post privatisation challenges to include inadequate, weak and obsolete infrastructure resulting in epileptic power supply, non-payment electricity bills, power theft, and vandalism.

He however revealed that in line with the company ’s commitment to improved service delivery, it acquired and installed 140 transformers at the cost of over N200 million to replace faulty ones.

He added that additional 200 distribution transformers with a combined capacity of 80MVA, estimated at about N260 million are in the process of procurement.

The executive director also listed other network improvement projects carried out by the AEDC since privatisation in November 2013. They include upgrading of a transformer at Lokoja in March 2014, which added 15MVA to the network; completion of a field base at Suleja in February 2014, which also added 15MVA capacity.

Others are the construction of a total of 49.5 kilometres of high tension lines between January and March this year, to enhance network reconfigurations and reinforcements. There is also the completion of a 33KV power evacuation project in Gwagwalada, which led to the addition of 80 megawatts, MW, to the network to boost power supply in Kwali, Yangoji and Abaji, among other communities in the area.

He also told customers of the establishment of a call centre, which is operational 24 hours every day, through which they can channel their complaints for speedy action.

Uquo gas plant: Raising the bar on indigenous capacity

By Clara Nwachukwu

E

XPECTATIONS were high when in 2003 the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, awarded the Oil Mining Lease, OML 13, among 23 others as part of the Federal Government’s Marginal Field Programme.

This is because the programme is meant to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production, reserves addition, employment generation and above all, indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.

In view of the data provided

by DPR on the field prospects, the field owners expected to

Power via a 62km 18-inch pipeline that runs from Uquo to Ikot Abasi.

Gas distribution Under the development terms, the gas produced from the Uquo Field is sold to Accugas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Energy Group. The initial customers were two – the Ibom IPP and the Calabar IPP. The first gas to the Calabar IPP is scheduled for before year end through a 37km 24inch pipeline from Uquo to Oron.

To ensure the security of investment, the company said

domestic gas market.

With the largest population and one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, there is now an increased focus by the Nigerian Government on developing power infrastructure through gas to support economic growth.

This is because the demand for gas is projected to grow from 1.8 billion cubic feet per day, Bcfpd in 2012 to 6.7 Bcfpd by 2025 (equivalent to 11.4 percent per annum, p.a.).

The increase is buoyed by the significant energy price difference between domestically produced gas and imported refined

Gas Plant commence development and start crude production as soon as possible.

The development of the field was to be carried out under a joint venture between Frontier Oil Limited (operator), and Seven Energy, as the technical partner and sole financiers.

Change in plans However, expectations did not turn out as anticipated, as the field was not an oil field as indicated by the DPR data, but a gas one. This presented a different kind of challenges, as gas development is not something industry operators look forward to, at last, not way back then.

The nature of the resource found required new plans for the field development altogether with regard to what to do with it and how to harness the gas.

After a long gestation, spanning almost a decade the prospects began manifesting, which debuted in the Uquo Gas Plant. Accordingly, by December 2012, the first gas was produced for testing and commissioning.

Located in Uquo, in Akwa Ibom State, the initial gas production from the field was dedicated to supply the Ibom

it began “a focused education programme along the pipeline’s right of way to ensure the safety of the communities located along the route and the security of supply to the Ibom IPP.” While Accugas completes the construction of the pipeline, Frontier Oil completes the commissioning of Train 2 of the gas plant. The facility is billed to provide additional capacity to supply 131MMcf to the Calabar IPP. Consequently, Frontier Oil and Accugas will be supplying gas to generate about 750 megawatts of power from the Ibom and Calabar IPPs, the equivalent of 10 percent of Nigeria’s generating capacity.

Harnessing gas resource The discovery of gas at the Uquo Field made Seven Energy decide to become a leading supplier of gas to the Nigerian market for power generation and industrial consumption.

Its integrated business model is designed to capture the full value chain from upstream exploration appraisal, development and production, through ownership of processing and distribution infrastructure and marketing to end users in the growing

petroleum products (in particular diesel) and the expected growth in demand for domestic energy.

Under the Gas Master Plan, the Nigerian Government is seeking to facilitate an increase in installed power capacity to 40 GW by 2020 (currently 6 GW) with the majority expected to come

,

BRIEF

processing and distribution infrastructure in secure and strategic locations.

• Acquire strategically located oil reserves with near-term cash flow potential and gas resource upside.

Operations and alliances Seven Energy’s core areas of operation are located in the north west and south east onshore Niger Delta with net production and resources of about 363 million barrels of oil equivalent, which includes over 2 trillion cubic feet, Tcf of gas.

The company’s assets include OMLs 4, 38, and 41 under various partnerships through indirect interest through Strategic Alliance Agreement with the National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, and Seplat Petroleum as the operator.

The group also has interests in other marginal fields including OML 56 - 49 percent (Operator - Chorus Energy); OML 13 - 40% (Operator Frontier Oil); OML 14 – 51 percent (Operator - Universal Energy, which is 62.5 percent owned by Seven Energy).

Upstream operations Seven Energy also has a number of upstream operations including: • Over 1Tcf of gas under contract to supply the Ibom Power station and the Calabar NIPP power station • 200 MMcfpd Uquo Gas Processing Facility • 62 km Uquo to Ikot Abasi pipeline (completed) and 37 km Uquo to Oron pipeline (under construction) Over the years, the company has shown significant growth in financial performance, continued investment and

Consequently, Frontier Oil and Accugas will be supplying gas to generate about 750 megawatts of power from the Ibom and Calabar IPPs, the equivalent of 10 percent of Nigeria’s generating capacity

from new gas fired power plants.

Setting new strategies In view of the above, Seven Energy developed new targets to: • Create long-term growth by exploiting first mover advantage • Acquire controlling interests in low cost undeveloped gas fields with clear near term monetisation opportunities.

• Secure long-term off-take agreements with credit worthy customers.

• Build and operate

,

strengthened capital structure such as: • 18.0 percent increase in revenue to $102.4 million and EBITDA increased by 340.2 percent to $33.9 million in 2012.

• Upstream and midstream investments worth about $232 million in 2012.

• strengthening capital structure with over $340 million and additional $280 million arranged since the beginning of 2012, through a combination of equity, refinanced and enlarged long term project finance, listed convertible bonds and short term working capital.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 , 2014 — 29

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30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 , 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

By Theodore Opara

2015 Discovery Sport sets new standards T

HE Land Rover Discovery Sport has never looked this good. It has transformed in every respect, design, space, performance, comfort, equipment, versatility, safety, just name it. Land Rover says that the all-new Discovery Sport will be available in Sub-Sahara Africa early next year, and it is worth waiting for.

Pretty like the Range Rover Sport but with some unique features that stands it out as the world number one versatile and capable premium SUV, the Discovery Sport sets a new standards in the SUV segment.

Land Rover recently revealed the new Discovery Sport, the world’s most versatile and capable premium compact SUV. The first member of the new Discovery family, Discovery Sport, features 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than existing 5seat premium SUVs. Discovery Sport’s progressive new design approach defines the new Discovery family with optimised volume, proportions and stance.

Its design leadership combines with engineering integrity to result in a dynamic profile, the ultimate use of interior space and 5+2 seating configurability.

“Our challenge has been to combine premium design with exceptional versatility; the

two attributes must work in harmony,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer.

“I’m proud to say we’ve achieved that; Discovery Sport’s dynamic design will resonate on an emotional level with consumers, and this vehicle is more versatile than any other premium compact SUV on the market.”

Land Rover digitally revealed the new Discovery Sport at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA. This spirit of adventure is reflected in Discovery Sport’s interior, which has been designed with customers at its core. It features highquality materials and a strong vertical centre console graphic to reflect the premium design of the exterior, while the core Discovery value of versatility is evident everywhere. Storage solutions are integrated into the cabin and up to four 12V power points and six USB charging sockets can be specified for all three rows of seating, allowing multiple electronic devices to be charged simultaneously.

A host of innovations has allowed Discovery Sport to introduce the versatility of 5+2 seating into the premium compact SUV class for the first time. An all-new multilink rear axle not only provides engaging driving dynamics but it also

provides ample and flexible cabin space behind the second row.

Coupled with supple long-travel suspension, the innovative rear axle also ensures the Discovery Sport is comfortable, refined and rewarding to drive on-road, while retaining the breadth of all-terrain capability for which Land Rover is renowned. In fact, with approach, departure and breakover angles of 25, 3 1 and 21 degrees respectively, Terrain Response® technology,

and the ability to wade to 600mm, Discovery Sport offers class-leading capability in all conditions.

As with every new Land Rover, safety has been a key priority in the development of the new Discovery Sport, resulting in autonomous emergency braking, and a state-of-the-art bodyshell featuring both ultrahigh-strength steel and lightweight aluminium.

This represents a fraction of the advanced equipment available in

Discovery Sport, which also includes an all-new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and tilt-and-slide row-two seating for maximum interior configurability.

At launch the Discovery Sport will be equipped with a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. Both the all-alloy Si4 2.0-litre petrol engine and the 2.2-litre turbodiesel feature high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and

smart regenerative charging for outstanding performance and economy. The 9-speed automatic transmission is are fitted, along with four-wheel-drive.

“Not only does Discovery Sport mark the introduction of the first new member of our expanding Discovery family, it also brings the versatility of 5+2 seating to the compact premium SUV market,” said Phil Popham, Jaguar Land Rover Group Marketing Director.

16th Abuja Motor fair to bring govt, stakeholders together

T

HE Managing Direc tor of BKG Exhibitions, organisers of the Abuja and Lagos annual Motor Fairs, Mr.. Ifeanyi Agwu has disclosed that this year’s Abuja Motor Fair which is the 16th edition will provide a very good platform for the government to further explain its new automotive policy to Nigerians and stakeholders in the auto industry.

Mr. Agwu who spoke during a courtesy call to Kia Motors head office, Lagos, explained that they are getting government more involved in this year’s fair being the first, after the announcement of the federal government's new auto pol-

icy. He disclose that the Vice President, Arc Namadi Sambo may flag off the event. “We are getting the government involved because of what they are doing in the industry presently. That is the introduction of an auto policy and the revolutonalisation of the Nigerian auto industry by the Presdient Goodluck Jonathan’s administration,” he said.

“We want to bring everyone together. We would like government to use the opportunity to further explain the new policy to Nigerians which is aimed at making new cars affordable and available to Nigerians,” he stated.

According to him, the

fair will be a good platform for all stakeholders to showcase their products to the people and a common place for the government to see what is on ground in the country.“This time around, we want to use the opportunity, beyond the exhibition, to ensure that stakeholders meet with the government,. because it is when government sees that everyone is together that they will listen to them more.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Motors (KIA), Mr. Sandeep Malhotra advice the organisers to improve on the promotion and publicity of the fair, as well

as add some side attractions that could encourage families to the fair ground. He noted that Kia has always attended the show to promote its products in the past and will continue to support the show.

Meanwhile, the BKG Exhibition boss, while explaining the challenges facing them in holding the fair noted that late booking by participants usually affect their planning.

“Most companies don’t book early. They don’t disclose the size of space they want to take. But we have been trying our best to manage the situation and keep the fair alive all the year.

TUESD AY, SEPTEMBER 9, 20 14 TUESDA 201

VOL. 1: NO. 14

PUBLIC STIGMA:

Stop calling us ‘Ebola’ community—Oduoha monarch •People abuse us for accepting Ebola quarantine ward — Villagers ByDAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

O

DUOHA-EMOHUA: THE people of Oduoha, an Ikwerre community in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, are piqued that some members of the public are castigating, mocking and calling them ‘Ebola’ community for allowing the State Government to site an Ebola Quarantine Ward, EQW, in the locality.

It was learned that since the government converted the Oduoha Health Centre to Ebola ward and promised to build them a new one, people from other communities have been avoiding meeting with anybody from Oduoha, saying they did not want to contact Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Why we accepted to host Ebola ward Paramount ruler of the community, Chief Dr. Ferdinand Agbandu Ogbuehi, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice on the irritating development, said people should stop addressing Oduoha as Ebola community, as it permitted government to locate the

Continues on Page 7

•Elders of Oduoha community after a meeting

A-B-R-A-C-A-D-A-B-R-A: Politicians vanish with money for road project •Job status: 50% mobilization collected; Work done = 21% •Ibaa clan urges Gov Amaechi to call contractor to order •I’m not the contractor, didn’t enrich myself — Hon Gowon, ex -councillor ByDAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

I

BAA- COMMUNITIES at Ibaa clan, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, have accused politicians in the clan of collecting and disappearing into thin air with Continues on Page 4

IN THIS EDITION PODIUM

AGENDA

sexual connection

Water refuses to flow from govt borehole 2 years after completion

FERMA takes action on collapsed road to President's countryside

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

Wild animals invade FG Leboku: Yam College in festival with Akwa Ibom

PAGES 3

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2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

UDO: The only sovereign municipality in Bini Kingdom •Respected by every Benin monarch

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

U

DO – UDO community, located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State is living up to the proper denotation of its namePacesetter. It is a town distinctively steeped in the history of the ancient Bini kingdom, consequently, every Oba of Benin Kingdom accords it due reverence.

Unlike other communities in Benin Kingdom where the people are ruled by Enogies, appointed by the Benin monarch, Udo is ruled by an Iyase, who is more powerful than the Enogies because of the exploits and awesome physical prowess of one of its progenitors.

Exception to the rule It is a notorious fact in Benin Kingdom that the Oba of Benin has the exclusive power to give chieftaincy titles to people, but there is exclusion to the exclusivity. The Iyase of Udo can also crown chiefs in his domain, which no other ruler can dare in the kingdom.

Why Udo is powerful Giving reasons why the community is powerful in Bini kingdom, the Iyase of Udo, His Royal Highness, Patrick Ekhoeutomwen Igbinidu JP, said, “You cannot compare the Enogie to the Iyase of Udo. Udo comprises of many villages not only in one place. Before, it was from that Ovia Bridge to Ufoso to Usen and many other villages around here then, such as Ofunama, Jakurama and Okomu- Ijaw, they all belong to the Udo community. ” “Since then, no Oba has sent any of his representatives to this area we are talking about now, but Oba Erediauwa happened to send three of his brothers, he made one the Enogie of Siluko and the Enogie of Siluko took care of all those villages

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

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around Siluko area. He made one of the Enogie of Evbonagbon, who took care of Ugbogui and other villages around that area.

Oba consults Iyase of Udo, Uwangue “He also made the last one the Enogie of Obayantor, who stayed at Igbuelahor covers Igbuelahor, Ezidemwonke, Ezideomwanmen, Iguerahon and many other villages even up to Ofunama andJakurunama. He was covering that area, but the remaining places were for the Iyase because the Oba seeks the opinion of the Iyase and the Uwangue then before taking such decisions,” HRH Igbinudu said.

No Enogie can rule Udo Asked why Udo cannot be ruled by an Enogie like other Benin communities, he said, “Iyase of Udo never joins the meeting of Enogies. He is more or less autonomous on his own.

The Enogie is just like Odionwere, Enogies are taking care of very small villages unlike the Iyase of Udo, who extends to Iguobazuwa, Okada

junction. Many areas the Iyase is taking care of, you cannot compare the Iyase to any Enogie at all. No Enogie will ever stand before the Iyase to say I am more than you, the Oba knows that. “ Iyase of Udo next to Oba of Benin His words, “The Enogie is under the Iyase of Udo. When you are in Benin, after the Oba of Benin, you get the Iyase of Benin. That is within them.”

“But when the Oba moves from Benin to this place, Ovia South West, where we are now, when the Iyase of Udo is there, he is next to him because the Oba is in his domain. When he

gets here, the next person to him is the Iyase of Udo. So Udo is like a kingdom of its own that pays homage to the Oba directly,” he explained.

Conferment of titles “In Benin, the Oba gave the Enogie two titles, Iyama and Enabore. Like the Iyase, I have more than 62 chiefs, different names and the Oba recognizes all of them because as he is giving title in Benin, the Iyase gives title too here. When the Oba does his Igue festival in Benin, we will not do our own at that particular time, when the Oba finishes his own festival that is when the Iyase of Udo starts his own.

Iyase of Udo community

KPANISA: Bayelsa countryside where women rule jointly with men

Kpanisa women paramount chief

By EMEM IDIO

K

PANISA- IN sundry African communities, females are not recognized in the scheme of affairs in governance, but at Kpanisa, a rustic Ijaw community in Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, power is vested in the men and women as paramount rulers in a diarchy system of government.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that an election was held recently in the community to fill the vacant positions of women paramount rulers after an interregnum of four years following the deposition of the erstwhile female leaders.

Kpanisa women deputy paramount chief

New paramount women rulers: Just like it is when a king is to be enthroned, election is held among the families to determine the women paramount chiefs, but a caretaker committee held forth for four years before the new leadership of Chief (Mrs.) Adevuya Otobo and Chief (Mrs.) Enisueze O. John emerged.

Old as the community: Paramount ruler of Kpanisa, His Royal Highness, Chief Preye Wilfred, said the position of women paramount chiefs is as old as the community and is rooted in the kingship structure of the people of the area, adding that the leadership

structure of the community rests on a tripod of a paramount ruler, women paramount chiefs and youths leader.

He noted, “The position of women chief is significant in the sense that it is only the paramount ruler and the women paramount chiefs that occupy their positions for life.”

Sense of belonging: HRH Wilfred explained that elected women paramount chiefs act as representatives and the spokespersons of the women, stressing that the position was conceived to assist the paramount ruler in running the affairs of the community and to give the women a sense of belonging.

He said the powers of the women chiefs are subsumed under the authority of the paramount ruler.

How I emerged- Otobo On how she emerged, Chief (Mrs.) Adevuya Otobo told Niger Delta Voice that the Electoral Committee made up of women, mandated the 10 families that make up the community to nominate an aspirant each, adding that it was only five families that were able to nominate candidates, who tested their popularity and acceptance in a keenly contested, but free and peaceful election, which she won with 85 votes.

Eligibility: She said to qualify for the position of a paramount women chief, one must be a daughter of the soil or legally married in the community and literate, as well as being fluent in the indigenous dialect.

Power: Her words, “As the women chief, I take orders from the traditional ruler and act on behalf of the women, I have powers over all women and serve as their representative and mouthpiece, but we are under the main paramount ruler. ” Agenda: Top on the agenda of the women chiefs, according to the new leaders, are skills acquisition, empowerment and aggressive women adult literacy programme to build the capacity of women in the community.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 3

Wild animals invade FG Girls College in Akwa Ibom •Parents cry out to Fed Govt, NDDC, PTF •Weeds grow on roofs of dormitories; buildings dilapidated

AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

By TOM MOSES

I

KOT-OBIO ITONGTROUBLED parents have raised the alarm that wild animals and reptiles have invaded the dormitories of their daughters at the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, AkwaIbom State.

They said since the Teacher Training College, TTC, IkotObio Itong, was transformed to a federal girl’s college, 22 years ago, no fence was built to separate it from the neighboring forest, thus giving room for violent animals to

swoop on the students.

Bad shape When Niger Delta Voice visited the school, it was observed the structures were in various conditions of disrepair besides the palpable security problem. It was gathered that no new structure has been added to the structures of the former school inherited by the federal government.

The sign-post bearing the name of the school was covered by weeds and unwanted plants have grown on the roofs of the halls of residence, while waste littered everywhere.

Fear of the unknown A member of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, of the school, Mr. Bassey Eyo, who spoke to our reporter,

Dilapidated college building at Ikot Obio Itong lamented that their children were subjected to fear of the unknown because of the

danger they were exposed to by the unwarranted invasion of the students’ dormitories by wild

Some of the destroyed houses in Fugar

Thunderstorm hits Etsako communities •Deputy gov, Otubu dazed, promises govt assistance

EDO...

THE HEARTBEAT

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

F

UGAR— DEPUTY Governor of Edo state, Dr Pius Odubu, has expressed shock at the devastation caused by rainstorm in some communities in Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state, saying that the state

government will urgently provide relief materials to the victims.

He gave the assurance when he paid an on- the- spot assessment visit to the rainstorm victims in Fugar.

Over 100 houses were destroyed at Ivinone, Ulumohie, Iviocha, Iviavia and other affected communities.

He was accompanied by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James,

Special Adviser on Special Duties and Executive Director, Office of the First Lady, Hajia Maimuna Momodu and other key government functionaries.

Odubu, who expressed shock over the devastation, urged the victims to be calm as government perfects plans to cushion the effects of the devastation through the provision of relief materials.

According to him, “This is shocking but unfortunately, this is a natural disaster that

we have no power over. All we can do as a government is to cushion the effects by providing relief materials to our people so that they will not suffer. The Comrade Governor of Edo state has assured that the matter will be tackled with all seriousness”.

Some of the victims, who spoke through an interpreter, thanked the state government for the on-the-spot-assessment visit and its willingness to provide relief materials to them.

animals.

Parents perplexed “On behalf of the worried parents of the Federal Government College, IkotObio Itong, I want to say that the deplorable state of infrastructure in the school it gives us great concern and worry. The dormitories, staff quarters, the principal’s office and even the classrooms are in terrible condition,” he said.

His words, “It is difficult to imagine that this is where government wants to produce future leaders; people that will lead Nigeria to the much expected Eldorado’.”

Appeal “I am appealing to the authorities of this college, especially, the federal government, which happens to be the proprietor, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, to come to the aid of the school.

“We, the parents have done much by providing certain facilities here and there are limit to what we can do as parents, especially as the school belongs to the Federal Government. We understand that government has done a lot to revamp the educational system and we want such gesture to be extended to the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong,” Eyo appealed.

Another member of the PTA, Mrs. Hozzana Effiong, told the Niger Delta Voice that they had been appealing to the federal government to come to the assistance of the school, but without positive response.

She renewed the call of the parents on the federal government again to come and remedy the school from collapse.

The Principal of the College, Mrs. Eno Obot, could not be reached for comments.

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4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Politicians vanish with money for road project farm produce people know Ikwerre for come from Ibaa, but today, there is shortage of food in the state since the road cannot be accessed.”

“In the city, prices of foodstuffs have increased because it is very difficult for motorists to come into the community and transport things out to the city,” he added.

Sunday Amadi, Ibaa CDC chairman

•The abandoned road in Ibaa Continues from page 1 money for the construction of Rumuji- Ibaa- Obelle Road, awarded by the State Government.

Suspicion: Chairman of the principal Community Development Committee, CDC, Ibaa clan, Mr. Sunday N. Amadi, told Niger-Delta Voice that the people suspected that something was fishy about the project because the politicians were all talking tongue-in-cheek.

He lamented: “The abandonment of that road project is purely political; the politicians in Ibaa claimed they will do the road, till now, we have not seen anything about the road.”

“The councillor claimed the contract was awarded to him directly, when I tried to protest against it then, some people shouted down at me that they will do the project. Now, there is controversy and the project has been abandoned, who do we blame? Amadi, who is also the chairman of the Community Trust of the clan said.

Amadi said, “People that call themselves politicians in Ibaa claimed that they are coming to do the road, but I do not believe them. They said I should forget that they will do it, this thing happened when Hon. Gowon Wokea was the councillor representing Ibaa ward 14 at the Emohua Legislative Assembly.”

“If it rains, we do not pass that road into Ibaa. It is shameful and painful that Ibaa, which is at the heart of the state does not have a road. The road is giving a lot of challenges to the Ibaa people. In fact, that road is a death trap.

Before the Joint Task Force, JTF, men came; armed robbers used the bad road as a big advantage for their activities,” he said.

Contractor showed up, disappeared - Gowon Hon. Gowon, a former

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councillor, who confirmed that he was the representative of Ibaa Ward 16, 2008 to 2010, when the government in its magnanimity to the people, awarded the contract for the construction of the 9.45 kilometres Rumuji - Ibaa Obelle Road, said he was not the contractor and did not enrich himself with money meant for the contract.

His words, “I am not the contractor for that project, so I did not eat any money. I saw at the site a construction and a Nigerian company whose office is around Iguruta axis. They actually commenced with the cleaning of the drains in 2010, but after a very short time, the company went to thin air, till today we have not seen that company again. “

No equipment brought to site “They did not bring equipment to the site, not even a hammer that is the least tool in construction. That contract was awarded by the state government, Ministry of Work to one of the top politicians in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area,” he stated.

Gowon emphasized, “My role in the whole thing was just legislative supervision. As a government elected officer in my constituency, it was my duty to monitor the activities of government in my place to ensure peace, safety, completion of projects according to standard and to ensure that the projects brought by the government were executed well. I did same to other contracts awarded to the community during my tenure.”

He revealed, “Within this period, I was privileged to attend a stewardship account of the Governor of the state in his usual character. There, I saw on record up to 50 per cent mobilization on this construction project.”

“I also discovered that the level of completion is 21 per cent, which is below expectation. 50 per cent mobilization should have taken the project to at least 45 per cent completion. May be the 21 per cent completion is for the drains cleaned because there is no construction what so ever on that road,” he asserted.

Why foodstuffs’ prices have soared Gowon said: “An Ibaa man is not the contractor of the project. We are at the benefiting end, so our duty is to function as catalysts to ensure its completion. That road serves as a route to the farm gate of the state because most of the

Re-assess, re-award contract “We want the state government, irrespective of who plunged us into this problem, to reassess and re-award this contract while they pursue the other issues arising from their earlier contractor to ensure that Ibaa shares from the goodwill of His Excellency. We are in support of this present administration.” Gowon added Appeal to Gov Amaechi According to Amadi, “Road is a basic infrastructure that government provides, it is missing in Ibaa clan. We are cut off from other Ikwerre communities and the state capital.

Ibaa clan, one of the economic backbones of the state, has contributed enormously in the economic development of the state. We have about seven oil wells and plays host to some oil

facilities.”

He disclosed, “About two years ago, the clan entered into a Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU, with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Here, we call it Emohua Cluster Development Board, ECDB. SPDC started by coming for sensitization in Ibaa and we appointed 10 members to represent the clan on matters concerning projects of the community.”

Shell asked us to name another project - Amadi “When SPDC asked us to present our demands, we presented road as the number one thing, which we need most as well as electricity, market and human development. A time came; SPDC said they cannot reconstruct our road because the money budgeted for the clan each year cannot execute the project.

They said money voted to the community each year multiply by five cannot put the road in order.

“They asked us to choose another thing in our list. We even pleaded that they should only take care of the spoilt sections of the road; they insisted that they cannot do it. The community and the Royal Highness, Eze Sampson Ovuah made amend and chose town hall, so you can imagine our frustration over what is happening to the contract government awarded for the road,” he asserted.

After 25 yrs inertia, Warri/Effurun ADB-assisted water project ready — Oghenechovwen •24-hr water supply soon

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

ARRI – GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has given the kiss of life to the African Development Bank, ADB- assisted water project at Effurun/Warri, in the state, which had lingered for 25 years.

Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen, who inspected some of the houses already connected with taps from the water project, said supply of potable water to residents of Warri, Effurun and part of Udu on a 24-hour basis would commence shortly.

His words, “We have been working seriously to see that this project, started in 1989 gets working, but it is only when the water comes out that people know how much we have done. Now, we are ready to give people in Warri, Effurun and parts of Udu 24- hour potable water, purer than any water you can find around.”

Difficulty surmounted: Oghenechovwen said with the completion of rehabilitation of damaged pipes, which had been the major obstacle to the take-off of the abandoned project, treatment and electronic plants and 17 boreholes were being commissioned, as lines were also being flushed for people to

•Residents of Eda Street, Okumagba layout fetching water from a public tap have water.

Attention: He, however, cautioned already connected residents not to drink water from the taps while the flushing of the lines lasts, explaining that it is unsafe for few days because of chemicals being employed in the task of flushing the lines.

Asked how much the current administration has spent in its intervention at realizing completion of the project, he said, “It is when we have fully completed the project that we will be able to give a clear line on figures, but, I can assure you that the figures are within acceptable

limits.” He said the second phase at extending distribution network to the total planned 189 km has met 60 per cent completion.

Apology: The commissioner apologized to residents for the inconveniences suffered as a result of the damages exacted on major roads in the area while the project consultant repaired ruptured underground pipes and laid fresh ones in course of getting through phase one, assuring that all the affected road portions would be fixed soonest.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 5

cause it signals that the maiden is 'ripe' and eligible suitors can 'whisper' to her. The black indigo patterns drawn into beautiful designs on the bodies of the maiden represents the people’s artistic and aesthetic value and skills.

In the past, the maidens paraded the town naked, but the inception of the missionaries ensured that delicate parts of the female anatomy are covered though scantily. The maidens wrap round their waists just one yard loin cloth and heap on the cloth ornamental beads. The manila rods shaped into oral bearings and worn on the legs, which are somewhat heavy, demonstrate the extent of a maiden’s strength and perseverance to farm work and domestic chores.

The 2014 celebration which ended on August 24 was the cynosure of all eyes as the array and columns of maidens gyrated round the Ugep Township stadium in traditional Leboku costume.

Enchanting moments

•Maidens celebrating the Leboku festival in Ugep

Leboku: Yam carnival with sexual charm

By EMMANUEL UNA

U

GEP- YAKURR in the Central senatorial district of Cross River State comprises of several communities, including Mkpani, Agoi, Agoiekpo, Nko, Idomi and Ugep touted to be the largest native town in West Africa.

These communities are said to have emigrated from a Bantu tribe, Umor Tutu in the Central African Republic and the people came with a unique festivity, spanning the months of July and August, which is the Leboku festival.

32 –day affair Leboku is the annual new yam festival, which out of the variety of crops- cassava, cocoyam, plantain, yam and rice cultivated in the several Yakurr

•Leboku festival

communities; yam is regarded as the “king” of them all and, therefore, celebrated. Thus each planting season, much efforts and time and money were invested in the cultivation and nurturing of yam to sustain a bumper harvest The festival is celebrated by both those at home and in the diaspora. Outside the merriment, splendor, festivity and counting of blessings, Leboku is said to be the time the goddess of the land, Etan Umortutu, hands out children to barren women. It usually spans 32 days and the sexes go cozy within the period.

Essentially, it is an expression of the importance attached to hard work and how Etan Umortutu, the goddess, has chosen to bless everyone based

on her assessment of what each individual deserves.

For the eating of yam to take place, a lot of communing is done with the goddess by the Binas (traditional priests).

“The actual day and date for general participation and celebration normally arrives from answers received by the priests after a series of consultation with the earth goddess and ancestral spirits of the land, " the paramount king of Ugep, Obol Lopol Ubi Ojong Inah told Ni-

•Leboku festival

ger Delta Voice.

Maidens’ spectacle It climaxes with the maidens’ parade as they wear spiral brass on their legs and arms.

They decorate their bodies and adorn two full stretched ostrich feathers on top of well-designed and plaited hair in line with the pride and elegance the Yakurr people.

The maidens’ parade is the most attractive and most celebrated part of the festival be-

Decked in thick spiral brass bangles that stretched from the ankles of their feet up to their knees, the one-yard cloth gave them ample room to freely move their waist regions to the drum beats while their mid region displayed firm buds of womanhood .

This appealing traditional dress form which left most parts of their bodies bare, shone with the reflection of the sun and spewed forth the allure and brightness that pervaded the arena of the festival.

As they wriggled their waists to the sound of drum beats with spectacular dance steps, round the stadium, the place was engulfed in electrifying moments as cheers and screams of joys resounded round the town.

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

PODIUM…

2 YRS AFTER SOLAR WATER BOREHOLE EXECUTION:

We’ve not drank a cup of water — C-River Monarch •Community seeks Gov Imoke’s intervention •Mix-up over project sponsor •Any project not functional is caused by vandals- RUWATSA CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S P ARADISE PARADISE

By IKE UCHECHUKWU

O

BIO NNOR- THERE is a worrisome development at Obio Nnor community, Eki West clan, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, which the villagers think the governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, is unaware of, otherwise, the problem would have been tackled.

Two years after a government agency allegedly completed a solar water borehole project in the community, the people have not drunk a cup of water from it. They believe that officials had not told Governor Imoke the home truth about the project.

Monument Clan head of Eki community, HRH Etinyin Asuquo Asuquo Okon, who conducted Niger Delta Voice round the project, said, “This solar water borehole project that you are looking at was completed in 2012. It is just a mere monument because we have not drunk even a cup of water from it, we have not even seen water come out from the tap, the structure is just situated here as a monument”

A wooden bridge at Obio Nnor

The solar powered borehole at Obio Nnor

Muddle Investigation by NigerDelta Voice showed there was confusion not only over the government agency that executed and abandoned the project, but the time it was purportedly finished.

The Programme Manager, Cross River State Rural Water Supply Sanitation Agency, RUWATSSA, Mr. Patrick Emori, said there was no reason why a water project, certified to be completed by the appropriate authorities would not be functional, except it was vandalized.

His words, “Our project in Obio Nnor was completed in 2010 and not 2012 as the people are claiming, unless such projects were initiated by MDGs, River Basin Authority, but definitely not RUWATSA, we always have a structure for continuity on ground to ensure that the facility remains functional even after we have

A portion of the road at Obio Nnor

HRH Etinyin Asuquo Asuquo Okon left the area.”

“We do not give certificate of completion to the local government unless we have test run the facility and this is not done only by us, but by our counterparts like UNICEF, EU and other officials,” he added.

Vandalization Emori explained, “Any of our projects that are not functional is definitely due to vandalization. There is a syndicate that goes round, especially when it is raining heavily to perpetrate this evil and the arm of the law is gradually catching up with them.”

According to him, “Any component removed by these hoodlums renders the facility useless, we have also

sensitized our people especially the clan heads and paramount rulers on the need to ensure that their neighbourhood watch is stepped up to check these miscreants, who also live amongst them.”

He said, “We have trained area mechanics and some artisans, both men and women on how to do repairs and maintenance and the initial challenge of spare parts have also been solved by the coming of TULSI CHI Foundation; we now have supply chain across the local governments.”

Appeal to Imoke: Whatever and whoever is responsible, HRH Okon said the villagers were appealing to Governor Imoke to come to their rescue by revamping the

abandoned solar water project and commissioning it.

“Since they have already taken the job to this level, they should come and commission it so that our people can start drinking water from it, drinking water from a source that is not safe has serious health implications with new diseases springing up every day,” Okon asserted.

Besides the abandoned water project, the monarch pleaded with the governor to extend the on-going construction on Okuru Ikang to Esuku Obio Iyop road, designed to traverse the entire Eki clan to Obio Nnor.

He said that by the present contractual arrangement, the construction will terminate at Obot Ekpo, cutting off Obio Nnor.

Said the monarch, “We are very grateful to Imoke for what

he has done for us but we are appealing that they should help construct the Atan Eki – Obodio- Obio Nnor road. From Atan - Eki to my village there is no road; we have been totally cut off from the outside world, we just want them to help us and we know that he will do it for us because he is a listening governor. ” “They should help us complete this road so that we too can feel a sense of belonging,” Okon stated.

Road‘ll get to Obio Nnor — Source On the road project, an unofficial source told Niger Delta Voice that the construction was in phases and that would soon get to the area, adding that there was no deliberate attempt by government to exclude Obio Nnor.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 7

Stop calling us ‘Ebola’ community—Oduoha monarch Continues from page 1 quarantine ward in the interest of the entire people of Rivers state and Nigeria.

He said, “I am not happy that people have changed the name of Oduoha Junction to Ebola Junction. I am using this opportunity to tell the public to stop any act that may tarnish the image of this peace- loving community. ” “The community has not done anything wrong by accepting that the Ebola ward that will help to save the lives of our brothers and sisters who may contact the dangerous virus be sited in our place. Our junction remains Oduoha Junction and not Ebola Junction,” he warned His words, “I do not think the government brought the Ebola ward here because they want us to die, I think they did that because they have discovered that Oduoha is the land of solution in the state. That problem that is bigger than the carrier is always relieved on getting to Oduoha community. ” “As Ebola Ward has arrived this community, its cure is now guaranteed, the community has agreed that even if they will bring 1000 patients, we will not chase them away, rather we will work with the government to ensure that all of patients regain their health. Our ultimate desire is that Nigeria will never sink.”

He asserted, “We have accepted the decision of the government to use our health centre for EQW, and there is no going back. Oduoha is not a weak community in Ikwerre and in the state at large. We can refuse or resist moves by anyone against the community.

We can say no and stand by it.

But we have said yes, our yes remains our yes no matter what critics will say or do.”

“We allowed the government to use the facility because we saw the need. We have understanding,” he added.

When Niger Delta Voice visited the community, it was learned that the people were worried by the public humiliation, while the EQW had been cordoned by soldiers to prevent needless access to the centre.

A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving in the area, Wisdom OnuUgorsi, said the quarantine

CDC secretary, Oduoha

centre “is like a dent to the image of the community now.

Ebola village!

Onu-Ugorsi Wisdom a Corp member serving in the community said the quarantine centre is like a treat to the image of the community now, adding that people from outside the community are saying a lot of negative things about Oduoha.

He said, “They have changed the name of the village to Ebola village and it is wrong. They see anyone coming from the community as a carrier of the deadly disease.”

Humiliation According to him, “When I went back to my state, my people could not welcome me warmly because I told them that Ebola Quarantine Ward was brought to where I am serving.

I have to undress, take my bath and sanitize myself before they could allow me in.”

“People have misinterpreted the whole thing that immediately you go to that community, you are already infected. But I want to tell the people of the state not to think negative because the Oduoha people are a healthy set of beings,” he said.

•Clearing of the site of the new OduohaHealth Centre

Ebola people A fresh NYSC member, Martins Zuaianga, said he was flabbergasted at the way people were sneering at people from Oduoha and calling them Ebola people. “I entered motor with some persons as I stopped at Oduoha Junction, the people in the bus shouted that if they had known that I live in Oduoha, they would not have allowed me join the bus.

“I am not happy with that level of sentiment. Because of that I am even afraid now, say for like three days now; I have not gone out because I think if I do, I will contact it. I do not want anybody to touch me. As I am still new in the community, I do not want to shake hands with anybody. I am going by Ebola greeting as people do say,” he asserted.

No-go-area An Oduoha youth, Friday Igbudu, said: “I am unhappy about the whole scene that is playing out. That area where the EQW is located is now a no-go-area in the state. Now, nobody goes close to that place

A corps member

•Oduoha junction now nicknamed Ebola junction again. There are some security operatives in that area. They ensure that nobody comes close. There is one ambulance there with bold inscription, DON’T TOUCH. The thing is frightening.”

Mockery Igbudu stated, “People are now making mockery of the community that we saw N300, 000 and accepted to die. People should not be misled because Oduoha community is not a poor community in the state.

We have people who can give the community even more than N1 million if the need be.”

CDC secretary, Mr. Honest Chukundah, who is also peeved at the allegation, said the N300,000 given to the community was not a bribe as misinterpreted by some media houses, rather it was an appeasement made to the land.

He cautioned those making

Another corps member

jest with the name of the community over the matter to desist from their ill-considered action.

Fresh storm Earlier, last week, the community was thrown into confusion over the land that the new health centre promised in exchange for the EQW will be built. The source said the land to be used for the project was, in the early hours of Tuesday, sealed with Omu nkwu (tender palm frond), which threw spanners in the works yet again.

Our source revealed that when the community discovered the land, which the new health centre is to be sited had been fastened with Omu, the paramount ruler summoned the elders, Ezes, Community Development Committee, CDC and youths at the town hall.

The source alleged that the politics rocking the state has crept into the community, suggesting that those who do not support the efforts of the state government may have fueled the action of the family that owns the land.

Controversy settled He, however, said that at the second meeting the next day, Wednesday, the family that owns the land accepted that the land be used for the intended purpose, but maintained that their initial action of sealing the site with palm frond was not politically

motivated.

Confirming the resolution, the paramount ruler told Niger Delta Voice, “What happened has nothing to do with the political crisis in the state; an Oduoha man does not use politics to destroy the existing peace in the land. We are peace lovers. We have all the political parties in our community, but we do not use it to fight ourselves.”

“We are brothers so we have met and discussed, there is no problem in Oduoha. The contractor has come and we have discussed with him. Now the work has started and the bulldozer is working,” he added.

Govt begins work Meanwhile, the community has applauded the state government for immediately commencing action on the new health centre.

Youth president of the community, Mr. Gift Ordu, who could not hide his excitement, said: “I am very happy that the government has come to deliver their promise to the people. They have started the first stage of the project, which is the grading of the site. The government of Hon Chibuike Amaechi is delivering on its promise.”

He asserted: “The community in our own way gave what has already been given to us back to the government and today, the same government has proven to the people that it is still trusted. I only want to use this opportunity to tell the government not to let the people down by abandoning the project.”

“I want them to ensure that the project is sustained till completion. There are other projects in the community that were abandoned. The good government of Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi should ensure the completion of this project,” he said.

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

LANDMINE TO JONATHAN’S COUNTRYSIDE!

FERMA begins work on collapsed Edepie-Imiringi Road •Following Niger Delta Voice report; residents happy, laud Vanguard

BA YELS A - THE BAYELS YELSA GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA

A

FTER several months of agonizing wait, relief is on the way for citizens and motorists plying the unspeakable Edepie-Imiringi Road, Ogbia Local Government Area, one of the motorways to President Goodluck Jonathan’s birthplace in Bayelsa State, as the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has commenced reconstruction of the collapsed bridge and road.

Niger Delta Voice drew public attention to the road, which it described as a landmine to the President’s country home in its June 10 edition. The exposure reportedly embarrassed some highly placed officials and since then, the Bayelsa State Government mounted pressure on FERMA to rise up to its responsibility.

Quickest route to Ogbia for commuters The road, which is the quickest route to Ogbia for commuters coming from the University town of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw local government area and communities in the Gbarain-Ekpetiama axis of the state, was completely washed off by the 2012 flood that ravaged the state.

President Jonathan is from Ogbia local government, where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity by Shell D’Arcy, now Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCo, in 1956, thus launching the country into the petro-dollar club.

Prior to the 2012 flood which wreaked havoc across the state, the road had shown signs of great decay due to the

FERMA on site

many years of neglect as it was riddled with several dangerous potholes while its major connecting bridge was rickety and on the verge of collapsing.

Many had wondered why Mr. President who is from the council area would watch the road deteriorate to such a sorry state.

A senior F E R M A official, who p l e a d e d a n o n y m i t y, Niger told Delta Voice that the project e n t a i l e d emergency replacement of the collapsed Construction work on the Edepie-Imiringi road bridge as well as of 1 km approach on either state government.

“Kudos to FERMA for taking Niger Delta Voice steps to rehabilitate the road. side on Edepie-ImiringiOtuasega Road and Link Road correspondent, who visited the It would have been a national road, weekend, observed that embarrassment if nothing was on Mbiama-Yenagoa.

Though, he refused to state the makeshift wooden channel done to fix this important road, the cost of the projects, being that was erected by some which also serves as link to handled by Niger Construc- youths to eke out a living after some oil facilities on the tion Nigeria Limited, the main bridge collapsed in route,” said Collins Ebitari, a popularly known as Niger Cat, the wake of the devastating resident of Edepie. the FERMA official, none- flood had been dismantled theless, said the government with the route closed to traffic. Thumbs up for A massive pilling work was Niger Delta Voice intervention was to mitigate the suffering of commuters and ongoing where the collapsed the strategic importance of the bridge once stood while heavy Another Bayelsan, Otazi route to the nation’s oil duty machines were seen Jones, said, “We are happy excavating the muddy earth to that government has finally industry.

The project is expected to be get to a stable base before sand answered our prayers by completed in the first quarter filling same due to the starting work on the road, we of next year to ensure free swampy terrain. know the major challenge is Residents laud FERMA movement of goods and the collapsed bridge but thank Some residents, who spoke God, Niger Cat is doing services.

The construction firm to Niger Delta Voice , pilling work at the site. We mobilized to site, last month, lauded FERMA intervention must also commend it has again Vanguard for showcasing after it was awarded the job by saying FERMA, Abuja, following reawakened their fate in the plight of commuters and alleged pressure from the government. others on the road.”

Imiringi has suffered enough - Commissioner Meantime, the state government has also commenced reconstruction work on another collapsed bridge at Imiringi town. The bridge which links the old and new Imiringi settlements was also washed off by the 2012 flood.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development, Mr. Lawrence Ehwrudjakpor, who inspected work at the project site, decried the damage caused by the flooding in Imiringi, saying, “It is a major project that government wants to make sure we complete, because we know what Imiringi people have been suffering.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 33

By Theodore Opara

I

N a bid to offer cus tomers, complete model line up of the legendary Jeep Wrangler, Weststar Associates Ltd, authorised distributors of Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge and Ram brands in Nigeria has added the allnew Jeep Wrangler three door model to its line-up in Nigeria.

The all-terrain conquering Jeep Wrangler joined the five door model, the Jeep Wrangler Sahara which has become a common sight on Nigerian roads at the moment.

Chrysler Group, now under the umbrella of FiatChrysler Automobiles, constantly adds more features targeted at satisfying customer needs as well as maximizing comfort. Weststar’s decision to bring in the three-door Wrangler to Nigeria was based on its desire to deliver a variety of choices to its customers, says Mr. Mirko Plath, Managing Director of Weststar.

The three-door Wrangler Sahara comes with a rugged but refined interior, boasts a 5-speed automatic transmission, and a black 3-piece removable hard top.

There’s ample storage space, thoughtfully designed ergonomics and improved Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH). Protection, comfort and convenience features like: Sahara embroidered front seats, illuminated cup holders, lighting in the foot well and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with integrated LED are part of the attractive package. Also available is

Weststar unveils three-door Jeep Wrangler

the Uconnect System with its entertainment features, phone, web, Uconnect Voice Command with Bluetooth, an Audio Jack Input for mobile devices, plus Remote USB Port.

The available wide

range of safety and security features still come standard, along with its powerful 3.6L Pentastar V6 VVT engine. This 285-horsepower engine is ready to provide you with power, satisfying fuel efficiency with up to

600 km on a tank of fuel, and will deliver up to 260 pound-feet of torque, justifying it being voted as one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines for 2013.

A particular selling point of the three-door

Wrangler Sahara is its Short Wheel Base. This makes it lighter, and when fitted with the right kind of modifications, they are the perfect choice for off-roading.

Command-Trac 4WD

system, which helps deliver more control and more torque at the wheels to enable you go virtually anywhere you point your vehicle is another unique feature of the Wrangler.

Stallion, Diamond Bank start centenary sales bonanza for VW Skoda cars S

TALLION Motors Limited in collaboration with Diamond Bank PLC has come up with new sales offer for Volkswagen and Skoda passenger cars in a

commemorative sales bonanza - tagged ‘Nigeria Centenary Celebration Bonanza.’

According to a statement by the auto company, the bonanza is ongo-

ing offers for sale of select Volkswagen and Skoda models including Volkswagen Polo, Jetta, Passat and CC variants as well as Skoda Rapid and Octavia models. Mr. Manish Daryapani, Sales and Marketing Manager, Stallion Motors, explained in the statement that the bonanza is designed with a seamless repayment sequence to ease the process of vehicle ownership.

According to him, "customers can walk into any of Stallion Motors’ Volkswagen and Skoda

showrooms nationwide to place their orders.

Volkswagen and Skoda are part of the Volkswagen Group marketed in Nigeria under the Stallion Motors franchise. Skoda World head of sales and marketing, Mr. Sanjay Rupani also noted in the statement, the scheme is open to all customers including those with or without functional account at Diamond Bank PLC. He said the trio of Volkswagen, Skoda and Diamond Bank PLC have cautiously designed the scheme to

enable beneficiaries’ access interest free funds without necessarily paying processing fees or showing collateral.

And as part of the bonanza, “customers will be eligible to one year free service and one year comprehensive insurance cover couple with other benefits as special anniversary pricing, free registration and one free Samsung Galaxy Note 3 NEO phone for any Volkswagen and Skoda cars purchased during this campaign,” Mr. Rupani explained.

Ford adds three new Transit Variants

F From left: Assistant Digital Marketing Manager, Dana Motors (KIA), Mr. Peter Ayewoh; Head, Marketing Operations, BKG Exhibitions, Ms. Franca Igwe; Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Motors (KIA), Mr. Sandeep Malhotra; Chairman Organising Committee 16th Abuja International Motor Fair/MD BKG Exhibitions, Mr. IfeanyiAgwu and Public Relations Executive, Dana Motors Mr. OlawaleJimoh during a courtesy call to the Dana House, IsoloLagos, by BKG Exhibitions management.

ORD’s all-new Transit van and chassis cab variants, along with new Tourneo people movers, will become the backbone of small and large businesses, the company’s award-winning commercial vehicles.

The two-tonne version of the Transit panel van is available to customers in both medium wheelbase (MWB) or extended long wheelbase jumbo configurations to suit customers’ load-carrying needs.

Both versions also retain

the smart load space features that have made Transit a household name abroad. These two vans are joined by the MWB and Jumbo versions of the Transit chassis cab, which businesses can tailor to fit their needs.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Why we ventured into production of 32.5 grade cement —Dangote

By Jude Njoku

W

ITH barely two weeks to the expiration of the 60day window given by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to cement manufacturers in the country to comply with the new cement standards, Dangote Cement Company PLC, which has been in the vanguard of the crusade for cement standardization in Nigeria, last week, unveiled plans to launch its own brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade.

The announcement which was made by the company’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Devakumar Edwin at a media briefing in Lagos, attracted mixed reactions from journalists who recalled that the company had insisted on the production of the 42.5 grade of cement because the 32.5 mpa is considered to be of lower quality.

Edwin however rose to the defence of his company, insisting that they ventured into the production of the 32.5 grade because SON had clearly stated that it should be used only for plastering purposes. According to him, Dangote Cement’s concern for safety of end-users has been addressed by SON with the newly rolled out standards. He noted further that the pressure from its numerous customers, compelled the company to commence the production of the 32.5 grade which would sell at N200 less than the price of the 42.5 grade. The reduction in prices, according to him, shows that those manufacturing it (32.5) had been profiteering because the cost of production is lower when compared with the cost of producing 42.5 grade.

The new product which has been branded “Dangote Cement 1X”, Edwin stated, was in response to popular demand from the customers as well as in full compliance with the SON directive encouraging production of all grades of cement but with clear labeling on the use.

He explained that the entrance of the 32.5 cement grade from Dangote would ensure that the consumer pays the appropriate price for the right value rather than paying more for lower grade as is presently the case in the market.

According to the Dangote

Cement GMD, the 32.5 cement grade would be clearly marked in the colour prescribed by the SON with the uses for which it should be applied, which is purely for plastering.

Vanguard Homes & Property recalls that both the National Assembly and SON has endorsed the new cement standards. According to SON, “ the 32.5 grade is for plastering only while the 42.5 grade could be used in

casting of beams, slabs and block moulding. Similarly, the 52.5 grade is meant for the construction of bridges, and specialised applications.

The Dangote Cement boss disclosed that the company is currently reviewing the selling prices of its products with intent to reduce them and make the products available with the recent commissioning of additional six million metric tons per annum lines 3 and 4 in Ibese,

Ogun state and another three million metric ton capacity additional line 4 at Obajana, Kogi state.

His words: We have significantly increased the supply of cement to the market and as it is expected the enhancement in supply of the product to the market has also resulted to a reasonable reduction in the price of the product.”

The company is also pushing out the 52.5 grade for

specialised construction of high strength structures such as bridges, flyovers among others.

Edwin also informed that it will continue with its nationwide campaign and capacity building which it initiated and has sustained for the past 3 years, to ensure that the different grades of cement are easily identified by users and used only for their prescribed purposes.

He allayed fears that the

•Ago-Palace Road last week

Lagos govt commences work on Ago link road

By Hugo Idiogor

E

NDURING Tax payers in Ago area of Isolo Local Development Council in Lagos are watching with optimism as earth movers tear through and excavate the soil while pre- cast drainage are placed to create water ways in an environment known for perennial flooding and failed road.

It is still too early to heave a sigh of relief on the 3.5km Ago- Amuwo Odofin link road where some residents have left their homes while shopping complexes, Petrol filling stations and other businesses have been forced to close down owing to massive flooding that has created an artificial river on a motor way.

Work on the expansion of the road and provision of palliative measures to the users of the road began seven weeks ago with excavation, blinding and setting of the precast drainage going on all at once.

The Chinese Construction firm, CCEC has maintained all- round the clock construction

work on the site which has been a source of consistent public criticism for the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola which was seen to be discriminating against the residents of the area.

An official of Lagos state government who is supervising the work said the target of the government is to complete the right hand side of the road by the end of September and move over to the left side to avoid creating further hardship to the road users.

The road work has seen the channeling of the massive volume of water on the road to the canal and for the first time in over seven years residents driving on that road can see the dry surface and the crater filled road.

Lagos state government said the Ago road had been a source of concern but budgetary constraints had caused the delay in completing the linking of the Amuwo end of the road. The attempt

by Gov. Fashola to justify the

abandonment of work on the road by linking it to litigations by landlords whose property were earmarked for demolition provoked wide spread criticism from other tax payers who felt short changed by the scotched earth policy of the state government.

A resident of the area Chief Ben Okonkwo said the commencement of work on the road is a welcome development but there is the need for cooperation from residents especially those who are conveying containers and put heavy duty trucks on the road which is under construction. Chief Okonkwo said put such heavy trucks on the road would facilitate early failure of the road.

Mrs. Caro Umeano said the media should be commended for putting relentless pressure on the government which claimed that it had 68 other project sites and Ago was not seen as a priority.

She said “we thank God that we have so many media people here, if not, they were not prepared to save the residents of Ago of the pains inflicted on them by bad road.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 35

Dry construction is solution to Nigeria’s housing deficit — Nigerite MD igerite Limited, a complete building components solution company, has been in N the fore front of manufacturing quality building solutions in the Nigerian market. In a bid to expand its market and solidify the company’s pedigree as a

complete housing component solution provider, Nigerite introduced dry construction solutions with the belief that this will make housing deficit in Nigeria a thing of the past. The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Frank Le-Bris, in this interview with KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE says dry construction is the answer to housing deficit in Nigeria. Excerpts:

N

IGERITE Limited has been at the forefront of developing building solutions tailored towards solving Nigeria’s housing deficit.

Tell us how your organization arrived at the dry construction technique?

First, we have a new organization. Then, we set up a new business unit for dry construction because in the past, all our salesmen were together. So, we started from the scratch and hired new people, mostly architects and engineers who worked exclusively on dry construction. Apart from that, we also got support from our Nigerite partner; Etex group, which is involved in the production of dry construction in Europe, Asia and South America. Our people got trained in Belgium and we also got some bench marks from Etex, South America where people massively went from classical brick and mortar construction to dry construction. Altogether, we created the added value for Nigeria and for Nigerite.

Dry construction has been in use in the developed world for some time now. Why are you bringing it to Nigeria at this time?

Well, it could have been earlier, but the markets are slightly different. So, we have to wait a bit more for a time when people can welcome dry construction. When we looked at projects, especially on Lagos Island and Federal Government financed projects, we saw some new interests and that is why we started it.

How well have Nigerians embraced the dry construction technique?

Change is always difficult for everybody to embrace. When we want to change something, it will take time because every human being prefers routine.

I will say the classic Nigerian market is still 95 per cent brick and mortar. There is some level of reluctance because you will think that if you start with dry construction your building will not last for years so you are a bit reluctant. However, professionals like architects, contractors and so on are more open to try new technologies.

Besides, the dry construction is coming from architects like them.

Your organization, in partnership with Selavip and Etex, has just dedicated a 24

•Mr. Frank Le-Bris housing unit using dry construction. Can you briefly tell us what the project is all about?

It was financed by Selavip and it was a CSR project for Etex. Etex also directly financed a lot of things and Nigerite gave a high discount for the building materials. Some other organisations are also involved. It was a very quick project. We started discussing the financing last year between November and December but the project proper started in March this year and ended two months after. It was 24 units of one-bedroom flats with living room and the cost is between N1.6 million and N1.7 million but it is being sold to people at about N360, 000. So, it is a way of developing a new house in a very short time. I will say that the walls, roofing and ceiling are made of what we call cladding which is made of a special formula; Kalsi plasterboards. So, the flooring was left to the new owner to do.

Do you have any intention of reducing the cost of purchasing dry construction so that it will be affordable for an average Nigerian?

We are working on it every day. First, we will reduce the cost of boards because we produce here in Nigeria. The

boards were formerly imported from other countries, mainly Indonesia. We are working daily on the process to decrease the cost but I insist; it will never be against quality.

What is Nigerite doing about reducing resistance to-

wards dry construction?

We are still talking about few months, and 24 small houses.

At a point in South America, like in Colombia, Peru, Chile and so on, people were initially reluctant to use the system.

So, they would build a house and when they want to add another floor, they were looking for something cheaper and faster and then they started using the dry construction. Dry construction is now very popular in South America because people saw that it works. I must tell you that it will take time, years probably. It is important to stress the point that dry construction is not in competition with brick and mortar.

Instead, it is complementary to it. For example, the basis, which is the basement of the house, is a brick and mortar, first floor and ceiling constitute dry construction cement boards. There is a future for it.

In the next 10, 20 to 40 years from now, we will see more and more houses built of dry construction technology.I see Nigerite being more involved in CSR projects linked to dry construction system to help people, state and federal governments to build houses.

Earlier, you mentioned that the use of dry construction is limited to highbrow areas in Lagos. What is Nigerite doing to expand the market so that people in other parts of the country can have access to it?

We organised launching campaigns to explain the advantages of Kalsi dry construction. We trained our distributors and we trained carpenters

and technicians too. On top of that, each distributor will get a new point of sales to display the new product. We also give this information to architects and contractors. We also took part in housing exhibitions here in Lagos and in Abuja.

We built a small house in Abuja. It is about explaining, training and showing.

Is there any involvement with the Federal Ministry of Housing on using dry construction to solve the deficit housing problem in this country?

There is none yet. We are ready to cooperate with the government. We have big projects with state governments like Osun State in what we call Osun schools. We also have the one we call the Samsung Centre project in Ekiti State. I also hear of some interest from the Bayelsa or Enugu region for dry construction at the local government level.

What challenges did Nigerite encounter in developing dry construction?

I will say the challenges are around fake products. If we talk about dry construction, we have two types of boards. First are the cement boards which have no problem with faking because we are really the pioneer for it. If, however, you talk about plaster boards, you have a lot of fake products imported from China and Asia. They are nothing compared to the boards we import from the Etex Group. For me, I will say it is a challenge because with fake products, prices are very low and this is quite difficult for us to compete in plaster boards and that is why I don’t see a high development of production of plasterboard in Nigerite in the next year. We’ll concentrate on walls, floor, roofing and ceilings.

Kogi govt, developer seal deal on Civil Servants’ Estate

By Kingsley Adegboye

K

OGI State’s civil servants are on the verge of becoming home owners following a deal between the state government and Messrs Kenmas Properties Development Nigeria Limited under the Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) arrangement to build affordable homes for them.

In the arrangement, the state government is providing the land coupled with infrastructure such as road as equity contribution while the developer is expected to provide fund for the construction of the housing units and to also process the National Housing Fund (NHF) for the subscribers.

Already, the deal has been sealed, land allocated, while

the developer is expected to move to site before the end of September. The developer will be presenting its construction schedules for the state government anytime from now.

The estate, located in Lokoja West, sits on 25.6 hectares of land and its construction is expected to be completed in three years. The PPP arrangement , according to the Managing Director of Kenmas Properties Development Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adams Kehinde, would provide 2,500 housing units, adding that about 1,400 subscribers have been pre-qualified.

He added that he is working towards the process of constructing between 100 and 250 housing units by February 2015.

According to Kehinde, “What we are trying to do in Kogi state is to build a workers’ estate that

is well equipped in terms of infrastructure such as school, intercom, shopping mall, street light and many more”.

He disclosed that approval of the state government has been secured to commence construction, adding that his technical partners and the banks will come in before the end of this month.

He said: “ We are going to move to site massively for the preparation.

For the subscribers, once the government approve our layout, we are going to give them letters of allocation of the land. We will allocate the land for them off-plan. They are expected to acquire the land/ property through a long-term financing.

“The letter of allocation to the land clearly stated that between 3 years, it must be completed.”

36 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 , 2014

U.S. and the ISIS challenge HIS is how U.S. vice president Joe Biden last week articulated his country’s resolve to deal with the increasingly vicious fundamentalist, jihadist group of militants known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS: “We came back after 9/11. We dusted ourselves off and we made sure that Osama bin Laden would never, ever again threaten the American people. We came back Boston strong, blaming no one but resolve to be certain that this didn’t happen again….As a nation, we’re united, and when people harm Americans, we don’t retreat. We don’t forget. They should know we will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice, because hell is where they will reside. Hell is where they will reside.”

Biden was reacting to the barbaric beheading of two American journalists by ISIS. He was not alone in this resolve to get even with ISIS. There is public indignation and a fairly common agreement that by killing the defenceless journalists and putting their execution on Youtube for all to see, ISIS had

overstepped the boundaries of what even their silent supporters would tolerate. The vice president was not playing to the gallery for indeed the U.S. has the capability to hound ISIS to the gates of hell. The killing of Osama bin Laden appeared to be a mission impossible at some point,

,

T

While driving ISIS to the gates of hell as suggested by Biden might be pleasing to his audience, accomplishing this task may not be as easy as it was spoken by the vice president but the U.S. Special Forces pulled it off in the end. Last week, al-Shabab felt the razor-sharp reach of the U.S. when its leader, Ahmed Godane, was taken out in an air attack in Somalia. The new al-Shabab leader, Abu Ubeid Ahmed Omar, also knows that his death clock is already ticking.

There is no doubt, therefore, that sooner or later, ISIS will recognize that pursuing it to the gates of hell as proclaimed by Vice President Biden isn’t something to be dismissed as merely imaginary or an empty sound of fury. The problem

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—37

though is that this time, ISIS might not be an easy opponent.

Here is why. Unlike several terrorist organizations all over the globe, ISIS occupies a territory, a land mass appropriated from both Iraq and Syria, hence the organization’s name. That gives it a base from which to prepare and launch its attacks. The problem which Al-Qaeda faced under Osama bin Laden and now under the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri, is that it does not control any territory in any meaningful way. I imagine that this is a logistics nightmare for alQaeda and similar organizations with the predicament of no territorial occupation.

With a territorial base comes the other significant advantage: a well-trained and fairly wellequipped army with foot soldiers

,

that come from as far as European countries and the United States.

The world saw what the ISIS army could do when its soldiers practically overran a lot of territory in Iraq and were matching toward capital city Baghdad. The forces were reported to have also captured an airport from the Syrian army that had to flee against the onslaught of the ISIS soldiers. It has also been reported that ISIS militia are fighting with weapons captured from the Iraqi army, weapons supplied by the U.S. to fight the al-Qaeda forces.

The third advantage is that ISIS

is not a financially poor organization. Not only does it have secret financiers in the Middle East and beyond, the organization controls territory with oil and other resources which it sells to make money. Then, there is the ransom money it collects by kidnapping Western journalists and nationals. These advantages are further helped by the fact that the U.S. is reluctant to put troops on the ground because the Obama administration does not want to engage the U.S. in another war with severe human and financial consequences. It is true that the current U.S. air strikes on ISIS territory have halted the jihadists’ military victories. But, all experts agree that you cannot win a war without boots on the ground. The U.S. might rule the air, but ISIS is the king on the ground.

Even more complex is that the U.S. finds itself in a fix over allies to do the ground fighting against ISIS. President Obama is expected to address this issue is his speech this week. Putting a coalition together might not be

easy since the U.S. is reluctant to partner with Syria against ISIS because of its opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.

Neither will the U.S. send ground troops to Iraq. Besides, ISIS has a great deal of Sunni Moslem sympathizers. Since former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki began persecuting Sunnis in Iraq, any partnership against ISIS might be misconstrued as an anti-Sunni coalition. This, in turn, will help ISIS in its recruitment exercise.

The U.S. has a complex problem over how to deal with the ISIS challenge. There is the fear that as more U.S. citizens join the jihadists, the threat of them returning to the U.S. to spread terror increases. If ISIS is not contained and immobilized, it might grow into a group that will pose more intractable problems to the U.S. and its Western allies.

While driving ISIS to the gates of hell as suggested by Biden might be pleasing to his audience, accomplishing this task may not be as easy as it was spoken by the vice president.

The Nigerian equation and the imperative of national ideology (2) The first part of this discourse was published last Friday

By Yusufu Ameh Obajei WE often forget the fact that what matters most to God, is not our religious affiliation or identity as either Christians or Muslims, but the extent to which we reverence him as one and only God, as well as the love we have for him and our fellow human beings, regardless of which religious tradition we belong to in this world. We are all his creatures and he demands that we fear him, worship him and live as brothers and sisters, as we render selfless service in his name to one another, our Country and to the world at large. The denial of this understanding of religion became a major contribution to the situation where the one time united North became a divided North of all kinds of self-asserting ethnic kingdoms, with resultant broken pillars of Northern Unity and the weakening of the strength of whatever remains of the political power ideology of the North.

It is one thing to have an ideology and it is another thing to sustain the ideology.

In this case, it is the North that has failed in her control of political power in Nigeria and we must not blame others but ourselves.

In another dimension, the

sustainability of political power for a given region within a country is equally subject to the direction of the wind of democracy. It blows in favour of the majority and the political will of the custodians of political power in a given democratic climate.

Therefore, what the North needs today is not a threat to do anything unduly, if political power is not returned to the North, but to recreate more conducive religio-economic and sociopolitical environment for a new alliance with the Nigerian masses, drawn from all parts of the country. This is fundamental because modern democracy is a game of numbers and not an inheritance of any individual or group.

Challenge of sustainability It is interesting to note that the East faced the challenge of sustainability in the Nigerian Equation by sheer hard work, undying survival spirit at all costs, undiluted passion to excel by all means and effective mixture of the pepper of republican spirit and the salt of mentorism. It is a philosophy of you are on your own and yet an attitude of you are not your own in the business of money-making or wealth generation.

The successful businessman or woman has the responsibility of mentoring others. The older generation in the business of creating wealth saw the inevitable need to pass on the knowledge and the technique to the younger generation. They were so successful that others in the Nigerian Equation admired them and nicknamed them as the lovers of money. Whatever may be the undeserved title or well-deserved categorization, the East has reasonably maintained their own share of the Nigerian Equation.

To be continued

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 9, 2014

Abia 2015: Will charter of equity prevail?

F

IVE months to the 2015 governorship election in Abia, the question of which senatorial zone should produce Governor Theodore Orji’s successor is generating intense debates across the state.

By Charles Kumolu

A

T the centre of these debates is the Abia Charter of Equity, ACE, an assumed power sharing arrangement reported to have been initiated by the founding fathers of the state.

The ACE, which was occasioned by the need to assuage the fear of domination by any section, provides that the governorship of the state be rotated among the three zones.

Accordingly, power is expected to be shared among two power blocs, which are the old Bende Zone and Aba Division.

Of the two zones, the old Aba bloc is yet to produce the state governor since 1999.

On the strength of this, the popular expectation is that Orji’s successor will hail from old Aba zone, which is also known as the Ukwa/Ngwa bloc in line with the ACE. The document, it was gathered, specified the sharing of political offices in a manner that none of the divisions at the time of creating the state would dominate the other.

The old blocs Accordingly, the zones at the time ACE was adopted were Afikpo Division, Bende Division and Aba Division.

It is believed that the ACE made the creation of the state from the old Imo State possible, and had guided the emergence of two state chief executives so far.

That may have informed Governor Orji and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) decision to zone the governorship seat in 2015 to Abia South Senatorial Zone, which is dominated by the

•Orji

•Nwaogu

Ukwa/Ngwa people According to Orji, the ACE remains sacrosanct and will be implemented in the interest of peace and equity.

Orji said he would not like to take any decision that would plunge the state into political crisis, hence the decision to respect the charter.

Since the governor made this known, divergent reactions have been trailing the decision, particularly from those, who are opposed to the

idea. The promise also brought about a debate on which part of Ukwa/ Ngwa

Continues on page 39

...With Wabara, Ndoki raises stake

By Uduma Kalu

T

HE political understanding that Ukwa/Ngwa in Abia South Senatorial Zone will easily produce the next governor has been put on the scale with the entry of Sir Marc Wabara into the race.

Wabara is an Ndoki, Abia South, a zone made of mainly two ethnic groups-the Ngwa and the Ndoki. While the Ngwa are in the majority, Ndoki are in the minority. Politically, the two distinct groups and neighbours are lumped in the political lexicon, Ukwa/Ngwa, to form a bloc.

The Ngwa, in the three councils of the Central Zone and the South where they have four councils: Aba North,Aba South, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo LGA number over a million, while the Ndoki, also found in Rivers and Akwa Ibom occupy only two LGAs in AbiaUkwa West and Ukwa East. They are therefore in a minute position to challenge the Ngwa dominance for the state’s 2015 gubernatorial race.

Based on this numerical difference, it was therefore taken for granted that the Ngwa would easily pick the gubernatorial post while the Ndoki would remain the underdog.

Indeed, that has always been the position of

the Ndoki in their relationship with the Ngwa in this region. While the Ngwa had consistently complained of northern and central dominance of the state’s affairs, the place of the Ndoki in the state has not been fully highlighted. But a close check will show that except Senator Adolphus Wabara, perhaps, the Ndoki have not really held much significant position in Abia state and in the country.

But the entrance of Wabara may change all that as nothing is predictable today. For the Ndoki, with a person like Wabara, they stand a good chance to wrestle Ngwa for the Abia plumb job.

The Ndoki have a reason to feel hopeful. Wabara has a strong political background, being the brother of former Senate President Adolphus Wabara. He was former executive chairman and CEO of defunct Hallmark Bank, and has been a high flying professional with decades of executive and administrative competence in development economics.

Wabara therefore has the capacity to deny the Ngwa their gubernatorial dream. He can match his opponents

financially, politically, grass roots mobilisation, connection and network.

On August 26, Wabara declared his intention to run at the PDP local government headquarters in Ndoki, and State Party Headquarters in Umuahia.

Buoyed by Wabara’s entrance and pedigree, the Ndoki people have vowed to stand beside their man to capture the Abia gubernatorial job.

Wabara had a tumultuous reception by the party top brass led by Senator Emma Nwaka.

Wabara explained to the mammoth crowd the reason for his declaration.

He extolled the founding fathers of the PDP for the vision that powered the creation of the party in 1999 as a veritable political platform that has metamorphosed into the biggest in Africa while paying special tributes to the likes of President Goodluck Jonathan,former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Orji because of his legacies in Abia.

Wabara said his vision as governor will be team work, unanimity, mutual respect and understanding of each party.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMPER 9, 2014—39

only one house in his home town, he has no other house anywhere in the world. Even President Goodluck Jonathan attested to that, he commended him; he is not a corrupt person.

Also, people like Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwakwanso; Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are good materials and can rule this country effectively.

In 2015, there 'll be calamity if... — Tobun MR Tobun Abiodun, represents Epe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. In this interview, he expresses concern over the state of the nation and declares that calamity may befall Nigeria in the absence of free, fair and credible elections. Excerpts:

By Ebun sessou

H

IS assessment of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, performance in the conduct of recent governorship elections.

INEC was able to live up to its expectation reasonably in the just concluded elections because it had no choice. INEC can only manipulate where the presence and interest of the people do not count. It had no option than to dance to the tune of the people.

For the just concluded elections, there was no room for manipulations despite the victimisation. The people fought for their rights and they got what they wanted. They were

mobilized, they were ready to stand by their votes and defend the votes and that was what happened. If we want this country to move up, we should be ready to defend our votes.

On the chances of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 polls.

Yes. If you go by the will of the people, the APC would win, this is because people are tired of the government at the centre. The lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government has put most people off the track. With due respect to Mr. President, the principle of good governance is lacking in Nigeria and everything is in shambles. The education sector, health, communication, power, absence

•Tobun of good roads, many things are not working. The PDP has been there for about 16 years now and nothing is working, so let us try another party.

Do you think the APC has the right candidate for the presidency now?

We have credible candidates, with respect to the party and the

stalwarts of the party, I am not canvassing for anybody but Gen. Muhammed Buhari (rtd.) is a good candidate. He is an incorruptible person having served as Head of State of Nigeria. How many Nigerians would head the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and not be corrupt?

Someone once said, he has no house in Abuja, and that he has

Abia 2015: Will charter of equity prevail?

Continues from page 38 zone should produce the governor in 2015.

Instructively, the Ukwa/ Ngwa zone comprises of nine council areas of which Obingwa, Aba South, Aba North, Ugwunagor, Ukwa West and Ukwa East fall under Abia South senatorial zone while Osisioma Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South councils make up the Abia Central zone with the Umuahia/ Ikwuano bloc.

Complaint and opposition The opposition and complaint are hinged on the argument that Ukwa-Ngwa people are found in three Local Government Areas in Abia Central.

The reason for the debate is that the Ngwa component of the Ukwa/Ngwa political bloc is distributed across two senatorial districts. Five of the seven local governments that constitute Abia South zone are located in Ngwa land, namely, Aba North, Aba South, Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwanagbo. The remaining two local governments, Ukwa East and Ukwa West, are constituted by Asa and Ndoki clans.

Following demands for clarity on the proper interpretation of power shift to

Despite the euphoria generated by the preference of an Ngwa indigene to become the next governor, there is uneasiness in the camp of those, whose argument is that zoning should not overwhelm competence.

To this group, the best man, who could be trusted for continuity should emerge from any part of state.

•Wabara Ukwa/Ngwa, analysts, opined that power sharing in the state remained between the old Bende bloc and Aba bloc.

Political heavy weights like Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Acho Nwakanma, Chief A.C.B Agbazuere, Chris Akomas among others, are of Ukwa/Ngwa origin, but hail from the Central Senatorial zone.

As gathered, the larger concentration of the native Ngwa are believed to be found in Abia Central Senatorial District.

Capability to serve While where the pendulum would swing to, is still left to be seen, analysts are of the opinion that if the disaffection arising from the governor’s support for the Ukwa/Ngwa is not addressed, the Ukwa/ Ngwa people might lose the opportunity of producing the governor come 2015.

Amid the ensuing permutations, the entrance of the senator representing Abia Central District, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, has altered the political calculation, as she comes in with vigour and great sense of accomplishment.

Nwaogu is believed to be in a good position of representing Ukwa/Ngwa people.

A two-time Senator and a former House of

Representatives member (2003 – 2007), she is known for her wealth of experience in administration and resource management.

With this seemingly robust profile, the mood of the people outside and within the state, suggests that she stands a better position of representing Ukwa/Ngwa people.

Before now, her aspiration existed in the realm of speculation, but the two-time senator, recently put the doubts to rest.

Nwaogu, at the PDP secretariat in Umuahia, formally declared her interest to govern the state on the platform of the PDP. The lawmaker, who holds two records of being the first woman from Abia to take a seat at the House of Representatives and the Senate, insisted that her gender would not be a disadvantage in her quest to succeed Orji.

“If my party will support me I will run for the post of governorship. It is my aspiration, my desire. I have the qualification and experience to pilot the affairs of Abia State if given the mandate to govern Abia,’’ she stated.

You mentioned Muhammad Buhari, but some are of the view that the old guard should give way to the younger generation.

What is your take on this?

Of course, that is what the youths of this country are clamouring for. They say youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, but when will the time of the youth come? The question now is have those elders provided an enabling environment for the youths to grow? The answer is no.

So, if they are the ones to put us back on track, then they should do so. In some states, where youths have been governors, they were corrupt, so it is neither here nor there, let us look for the best candidate that would take this country out of the doldrums.

The future of Nigeria is in our hands. We must look for a credible candidate, either male or female that would salvage this country. Let us all sit down and restructure this country because, the sovereignty belongs to us, let us agree that this person is credible enough to lead us and put him or her there.

How do you determine who a credible person is?

President Jonathan is leading us now, is he leading us well? To me, the answer is no. He is not credible to go ahead. Gen. Buhari has led us before, did he lead us well? To me, I would say yes. He can go ahead. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos State, did he rule us well?

Yes. Governor Raji Fashola is ruling Lagos State, is he doing well, yes, Governor Rotimi Amaechi is ruling Rivers State, is he open to the people, yes. If you look at it, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State, they are in the PDP, but they are doing well. Let us look for credible people, from their antecedents, we can know credible people.

Do you think we should vote for a party or candidate in the elections?

We can vote for the party whose candidate is credible. This is why every party must look for a credible candidate, who would do the bidding of the generality of the country, not a self-centered leader.

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

LAGOS STATE BROKE:

As Works Corporation abandons Iyana-Ejigbo road * Residents lament fate U

sers of Ejigbo Ikotun road including residents of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, and by extension the old Alimosho Local Government Area, will have to wait indefinitely for relief to come their way as government agency handling the re-construction of the deplorable Iyana-Ejigbo road, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, has stopped work.

They are waiting for allocation of not less than N100 million from the cash-strapped government to move back to site.

The route serves as link road for residents of Ikotun, Iyana-Iba, Idimu, Egbeda and Ipaja-Ayobo among others, all in the old Alimosho axis.

The situation in the area is more than a nightmare as commuting is usually hellish. It takes several hours to ply a route that should ordinarily take less than 10 minutes, because of the deplorable condition of IyanaEjigbo road.

When Vanguard visited the area last week, frustration and anger could be read from the countenances of the people who were apparently rushing

,

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

They are waiting for allocation of not less than N100 million from the cash-strapped government to complete the work

to work. A journey from Isolo or Cele Bus bus stop, which before now took between 15 to 20 minutes to Ikotun through the area, now takes hours depending on the time of the day.

The situation, which has become a source of worry especially at the commencement of the road reconstruction in the second quarter of last year, gets worse daily.

Reconstruction of the Iyana-Ejigbo road was originally awarded to a contractor by the state government because of the perennial flooding of the area whenever it rained, which often resulted into total traffic log jam.

The contract was however revoked

,

and LSPWC asked to take over.

The scope of the multi-million road project also covered the construction of drainage from Iyana-Ejigbo to Ejigbo-Ikotun Link Bridge.

While the road is being handled by Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, the drainage is being handled by the state Ministry of the Environment.

According to a source who preferred anonymity; ‘’The LSPWC stopped work for two reasons, firstly, the rain which is not friendly with road construction and lack of adequate fund to carry on with the project.

“That is why you can no longer find

any of the workers on site. The work has been abandoned until when the fund will be available.

“However, the Iyana Ejigbo intersection used to harbour stagnant water, but like I said it clears after a few days, usually before another rain.

“The turn of events got worse when the Lagos State Government awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road to an incapable firm. The contractors brought their heavy equipment and opened up the earth since last year under the guise of digging drainage .

“Driving through the Ejigbo intersection even before the rehabilitation has been a tug of war because of the stagnant water at the spot as vehicles usually break down inside the water whenever it rained” Mr. Ibrahim Adewale, a resident, accused the former contractor of channelling the flood water through the market, directly opposite the intersection, because of what he termed ‘vested interests’.

Also, the road from Orilowo EjigboIdimu axis that connects the intersection is unpassable because of its bad state “People living in this axis are going

through untold hardship trying to eke a living every day. Here on this road, unlike elsewhere in Lagos, there is no rush hour, the traffic is ever present.

The economy of the area is totally paralyzed.

“Regular motorists along this axis must visit their mechanics every other day because of one fault or another after plying the road. We deserve to be treated better.

“The inner roads are filled with gullies and puddles, reducing modes of transportation to motorcycles and tricycles and even at that, those motorcyclists have to glide through the puddles carefully, otherwise both passengers and the motorcycles may end up in the dirty water with lifetime injuries” Mr. Kunle Ajala, a motorist captured his ordeal thus;. “The difficulty I encounter on this road has to do with the traffic snarl. I spend hours for a journey that should not last more than 25 minutes. We really don’t know when we our getting out of this mess.”

Effort to speak with the LSPWC officials was unsuccessful at press time.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 41

Mile 12-Ikorodu road: Residents table fresh demands

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

A

s the Lagos metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, the agency handling the ongoing expansion works on the Mile 12Ikorodu road and the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation, CCECC are striving hard to handover the road at the end of the year, residents have dumped their previous demands for new ones. About two years ago in the early stages of the construction, the residents unanimously asked for fly-overs at the Ikorodu roundabout.

The fresh demands But the residents have shifted ground to ask that the state government construct more pedestrian bridges that would afford the numerous communities located on both sides of the road to link their neighbours.

Mr. Jamiu Osun-Oba, Baale of Owode-Elede, said; “In our community we have more than 4,000 residents including school pupils. And with the expansion of the road, it will be difficult for them to cross the road without being knocked down by vehicles. We want the state government to increase the number of pedestrian bridges at the junction of the expanded road linking the community.”

drive at high speed because the road is now motorable just as he called for more pedestrian bridges to complement the number already earmarked.

According to him; “We need to caution motorists, especially commercial bus drivers popularly called Danfo drivers on speed limit and enlighten the school pupils on how to cross the road pending the construction of the pedestrian bridge. This will ensure there are no causalities on the road.”

LAMATA’S response Responding, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola who was represented at the forum by the Director of Public Transportation, Mr. Olugenga Dairo said; “We know there are communities on either side of the road and that was why we have earmarked pedestrian

bridges for this road. If we have the opportunity, we would have constructed pedestrian bridges at every 50 meters but we cannot.

“We implore the residents to accept the number of pedestrian bridges provided . It is even an opportunity for the residents to exercise their body. We have the intention of building 10 bridges.

But where we cannot provide pedestrian bridge, we will ensure that facilities are provided to allow pedestrian crossing,” he added.

The Managing Director acknowledged that speeding on the road has increased, saying; “There is a need for us motorists to reduce it. It is not our joy to embark on such project like this and fix speed breakers, but with the speed by motorists, we may have to provide such facilities pending the construction of the pedestrian bridges.” He explained that,“When we

Construction Corporation, CCECC, the contractor handling the Majidun – Ikorodu axis.

started the construction, residents complained over the traffic snarl but today, the complaint is over. And if people continue to over speed how will the residents who live far away from the pedestrian bridges cross the road?’’ ’The 13.5 km road was a nightmare to road users before the re-constrution as the entire stretch was in a state of disrepair and it could no longer serve the explosive population in the axis. The state government however took over the road from the Federal Government who constructed the Mile 12-Ikorodu road over 50 years ago; and redesigned it into six-lanes adding two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors.

Today, the expansion works which commenced in August 2012 is more than 80 percent completed, said by Mobereola at the forum on the road expansion held at the premises of Chinese Civil Engineering and

There, the residents expressed satisfaction with the pace of the expansion works with series of songs to appreciate the effort of LAMATA and CCECC. They argued that the new road has reduced travel time and boosted business activities in Ikorodu. Mr. Sheriff Anipole, a resident said; “Things have changed for the better on the road. Businesses have returned.

The travel time has reduced. The difficulties experienced on the road few years ago have ceased.

We do not exercise fear of traffic because we now know the specific minutes we should spend from one end of the road to the other; as against what we went through before the state government took over the road.” Another resident, Mr. Ade Agbolahan, added, “This shows that the state government officials do not travel to other cities for merriment but to copy good things.”

Representing the Nigerian Police Force at a forum, Superintendent Emmanuel Ugbuaja lamented that motorists

State of work on Ikorodu road

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

T

HE Lagos state government will soon resume legal action against hotels operating in the state in contravention of the Hotel Licensing law.

According to the Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway, not fewer than 1000 hotels operate in Lagos without obtaining license from the Lagos State Licensing Authority.

The websites of the agency responsible for regulating hotel and tourism, 1,328 hotels, event centres, bars and restaurants are yet to comply with the law as opposed to the 1162 that have complied. This figure represents more than 50 percent of tourism establishments domiciled within Lagos.

In the exercise of its powers to license and regulate hotels, the Lagos State House of Assembly enacted the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law. The Law imposes a 5% tax on consumption of goods and services in hotels, hotel facilities, event centers and restaurants. According to Holloway the Supreme Court ruling on the agency with regulatory power over the hotels operation in 36 states of the federation is unambiguous, noting that the registration and licensing of hotels are the responsibilities of the individual states.

“It should be added that the Law defines the word ‘hotel’ to include ‘any building used as a guest house, inn, lodge, motel, tavern, night club, events centre, fast food outlet, restaurant in the State’. By not complying it means that they are illegal operators, he said “The hotel that are failing to comply are in breach of Section 4 of the Hotel Licensing Law (as Amended) 2003 which states that ‘No person shall carry on or keep a hotel or tourism establishment in any premises in Lagos State without a license granted by the Authority in respect of that premises’.

Licensing Law: Lagos goes tough with 1,328 hotels, others

“Additionally, the Ministry embarked on a campaign awareness drive by implementing series of door-to-door monitoring exercises. We have also recently been invited by the Hotel Association of Nigeria to participate in their forth coming state wide fora which are aimed at fostering communication and raising awareness.”

He said the ministry would continue with its ongoing strategy and show hoteliers the benefits of registration.

He added: “Previously, we initiated legal proceedings against those hotels that were non compliant. That action increased the level of compliance and we intend to recommence legal proceedings against a new set of establishments once the new Legal Year begins in September.”

Before the Supreme Court’s judgement the federal government challenged the right of Lagos State to make laws on tourism specifically where the National Assembly had already legislated on the same issue through the NTDC Act. The issues for determination were whether matters pertaining to tourism fall under the exclusive legislative list of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Whether the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Lagos State Government can enact and promulgate laws on matters within the exclusive legislative list.

Whether the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Lagos State Government can enact and promulgate laws which directly conflict with the provisions of an existing law of the National Assembly and if it can supersede the National Assembly law.

The apex court dismissed the federal government’s suit and delivered its judgement in favour of Lagos state. It was the view of the court that the NTDC Act went beyond its powers as stated in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution which is to regulate “tourist traffic”.

This effectively challenged the constitutionality of the NTDC’s powers to unilaterally regulate and control of hotels and tourism in Nigeria. The court therefore validated the respective laws of Lagos State.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

How health worker shortage, poor financing undermine Ebola response

By Sola Ogundipe

H

EALTH worker shortages, weak health systems and poor health financing have been identified as factors militating against the effective response to the Ebola Virus Epidemic, EVD, in Nigeria and other countries in the west African sub-sector. In the last few weeks since the EVD outbreak occurred in Nigeria, the Federal Government as well as the Lagos state government has continually expressed concerns about the acute shortage of health workers in the national response to the emergency.

Similar concerns have been reported in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other countries within the West African sub-region.

A major reason for the shortage, according to investigations, is that majority of countries do not train enough health workers to meet their needs.

Findings from the 2014 Africa Factsheet on Ebola Epidemic and Human Resources for Health in Africa as well as the 2014 Africa Health Workforce Scorecard, show that in countries with fewer than 23 physicians, nurses and midwives per 10,000 of population and skill mix of health professionals, generally fail to achieve adequate coverage rates for key primary health interventions prioritised by the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs framework (WHO/WHR 2006).

The factsheet, a product of the Africa Health, Human and Social Development Information Service (Afri-Dev Info) Global/ African Human Resources for Health Crisis At A Glance showed an global estimated shortage of four million health workers required to achieve the MDG Goals by 2015.

“The Ebola crisis demonstrates Africa’s health workforce shortages will not disappear without improved long term multisectoral coordination, planning and

• Summary of Nigeria’s epidemic resilence profile showing sample of population-based, health, human, social and economic development indicators, reflecting resilience to epidemics, disruption to life expectancy and socio economic activity. Source: Afri-Dev.Info 2014 investment across education, labour, human resources and health sectors. It also underlines that health goals cannot be met without health workers – and that distinct health goals including targets on human resources are required for success of the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the AU 2063 goals,” the Afri-Dev Report stated.

Warning from the past

The World Health Report 2006 had warned that: “Health crises of epidemics, natural disasters and conflict are sudden, often unexpected, but invariably recurring. Meeting the challenges requires (advance) coordinated planning...”

Commending efforts of the health sectors in Ebola affected countries, ECOWAS, AUC and development partners, Rotimi Sankore, Editor, Afri-DevInfo however cautioned on the importance of promptly looking into the prevailing challenge.

Sankore, who recalled that, historically, levels of health financing have been a fraction of required investment, argued that a key reason why the World Health Organisation, Doctors Without Borders and other health groups have warned the epidemic will take months to bring under control and may affect up to 20,000 people is health worker shortages and weak health systems.

“Health workers are the core of every

Ebola: FG procures vehicles for border patrol

By Gabriel Olawale

T

OWARDS halting the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the country the Federal Government has procured five Toyota Hiace Ambulances, 17 Toyota Hilux pick up vans and 32 motorcycles for use by the Port Health Services for effective monitoring of all ports of entry in the country and conveyance of suspected EVD cases.

Director/Head Port Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos, Dr. Alex Okoh said the development was part of ongoing strategies in place for containing the EVD. Recieving the vehicles, she said strategies for containing the EVD in Nigeria include, focusing on appropriate information, education and communication; sustaining surveillance systems; provision and equipping of isolation wards/centres; provision of adequate care for confirmed cases; active and aggressive contact tracing; and reduction in harmful practices that among others.

Continues on page 44

• From left: Officer-in-charge, Port Health Services, PHS, Seme border, Emmanuel CAPTION: FROM DR(MRS) AJALA; Officer CHAIRMAN OF THE Nigeria NIGERIAN Onile with Director/HeadPIX PHS, Lagos, Dr.L-R: Alex Okoh;TAYO Logistics Elizade VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LAGOS CHAPTER, DR. ALAO MOBOLAJI; Limited, Banji Oladipupo; Chief Nursing Officer, PHS, Ikeja, Mrs Victoria Bolajoko DR. AROSO OLUFEMI AND DR. BENEDICT OKONKWO DURING THE NVMA during the hand over ofOFFICAL the newly vehicles by the Ministry POSTIONprocured ON THE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE FROM THE BITE OFof A Health for effective containment of EVD in the country, weekend.

SUSPECTED RABID DOG.

health system, but most African countries have only between 5- 40 percent of numbers and required mix of health workers.

“Ebola, and the ongoing challenges of HIV, Malaria, TB, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Reproductive, Maternal or Child Health will not be sustainably resolved without the necessary long term population based planning, multisectoral coordination and investment across the Education, Labour, Human development, Finance, Economic development and Health sectors."

Health worker shortages undermine fight against Ebola

"Liberia with about fourmillion people has only about 50 doctors compared to over 12,000 doctors for roughly the same population in Croatia. Sierra Leone with almost six million people has 136 doctors compared to over 18,000 in Denmark for roughly same population. Guinea with about 11 million people has just over 900 doctors compared to over 76,000 doctors in Cuba for about same population, and Nigeria has just under 59,000 doctors compared to 295,000 doctors in Japan which has 40 million people less than Nigeria. It is not a coincidence that Ebola has devastated Liberia and Sierra Leone which are two of the five countries globally with the lowest numbers of doctors.

Decades of poor health financing have left Nigeria and several other countries in the west African sub-region unprepared for the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD and without necessary improvements.

Post 2015, and Africa 2063 Goals: Health worker shortages are also a key reason why most African countries will not meet health and related MDG's, and unlikely to meet the Post 2015 and regional 2063 development goals unless this is addressed through a distinct health goal,

Continues on page 44

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 43

Esther, 8, seeks N1.5m for cancer treatment

Ebola: Don’t reject patients, and they are God-sent. And the operation Ogun warns

By Chioma Obinna

A

FTER 10 years of childlesness, and countless treatments to have a child, imagine being on the verge of losing that child? This is exactly the plight of the family of Adolphus and Jennifer Osheku whose only child, Esther, eight, is down with cancer of the kidney.

Adulphus, a security guard and Jennifer, a housewife are running from pillar to post looking for N1.5 million required for a follow-up surgery for their daughter at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos Cap-in-hand, the family has been on the road in search of the sum. Esther is determined to live. Though, she underwent successful surgery at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Esther urgently requires a post-cancer surgery and continuous chemotherapy and radiotherapy to stay alive. But her parents are severely cash-strapped.

Ordeal

Narrating their ordeal, Jennifer, Esther’s mother said it began precisely on July 6, 2013. Esther’s belly was swollen, hard and abnormally large . The following day rather than improve, her condition deteriorated.

“So, I took her to Oluyide General Hospital.

There they recommended x-Ray the next Monday. Before that Monday, she was not the same Esther we knew. She would feel like going to toilet about three times, but was unable to defecate. That was when I knew there was serious problem.

“So, I called someone at LUTH and told her about the girl’s condition. She said I should bring her immediately, I had no money for treatment but she insisted I should bring her. So, I took her to LUTH and she was admitted at the children’s emergency ward.”

Initially, doctors suspected intestinal obstruction and recommended several tests before treatment. “As we were doing the tests, my daughter was crying, shouting and writhing in pain, I was begging them to please give this girl something to kill the pain. But they refused and said they would not give anything until the cause of the pain was known.

Chemotherapy

“After two weeks, the first scan revealed there was a growth on the kidney. We were referred to do a CT scan which revealed cancer. That was how the doctors recommended chemotherapy to help shrink the growth. She started it and continued till July. After one week break, her tummy began to swell again.

“So I rushed her to the hospital to continue with the chemotherapy until last month when surgeons in LUTH carried out surgery.”

“She is usually on admission every three weeks. But, during her February admission, again her belly did not go down at all as normal. I told the doctor the chemotherapy was not effective any longer”. And he saw that after five days chemotherpy, the stomach was just as I brought her. He then said we should go for another CT scan to find out what is there. It was the scan that revealed that the growth is increasing and spreading radically.

“It has gotten to the pelvic and crossed to the lower parts of the abdomen. He then said it has become an emergency case for operation. And he gave the surgeon two weeks to do it. And God provided money for the surgery through an NGO, Children Living with Cancer Foundation, CLWCF,

• Ailing Esther Osheku.

was successful.

“Depending on her condition, when we come for chemotherapy, we spend 60,000.00 – N70, 000.00 for five days. If there is no complication, we could spend N55,000.00 – N60, 000.00. Sometimes, if it just admission, it could be N25,000.00 – N30, 000.00.

Speaking on the issue, President, Children Living with Cancer Foundation, Dr. Nneka Nwobbi said for 100 percent success, Esther must continue chemotherapy. One chemo session is roughly N60, 000.00 and she would require radiotherapy.”

Nwobbi explained that the treatment would run every three months for at least six months. She also requires Radiotherapy at N150, 000.00 for five courses.

“Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are aspect sof cancer treatment. To treat cancer, you may need to do surgery, chemotherapy and or radiotherapy. They’re part of the treatment.

“Though, not every type of cancer is radiosensitive. This one, we’re hoping that it will be radio-sensitive so that it can clear up whatever the chemo has not cleared up. She appealed to Nigerians to come to the aid of the only daughter.

• If you are touched by the plight of Esther, you can or 0803 315 6908 and 0812 710 5904, or donate through Children Living With Cancer Foundation, Diamond Bank, Account no. 0001180414

Don’t hide suspected Ebola patients, Nigerians told

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

S part of the complementary efforts to the Lagos State Government, members of the National Association of Seadogs, NAS, otherwise known as Pyrates Confraternity, Hawkins Deck, have urged Nigerians, especially, doctors not to treat any suspected case of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in private because of its highly dangerous nature, rather take the suspect to the nearest health centre for appropriate medical treatment.

President of the Association, Mr. Ojo Eboreme, and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Anyanwu, who led a medical mission to Egbeda Market, weekend, said the need for the sensitisation exercise was primal."

“As Nigerians we don’t have to run away from anybody. In case of any suspected case of Ebola, we should try as much as possible to take the person to the nearest health centre rather than running to private doctor s. It will not help when you are hiding, because it is not every Ebola case that leads to death. Early detection improves the chance s of survival.”

“We want people to know what Ebola is, its prevention and transmission mode.

Right now everybody is running away because of EVD, and we want to create the awareness to kick out the disease.”

Assessing the exercise, Eboreme said participants that didn’t know what Ebola was all about before were better informed.

On plans to sustain the exercise, he said: “Yes, one of our maxims is the humanistic ideals and we always think of others before ourselves. This not going to be one off things, about from Ebola sensitisation we

have always engage in other campaigns geared towards letting people know their rights. So it’s a continuous exercise.

During the exercise, the group educated market women, men, motorists and passersby on prevention of EVD, and distributed sanitisers, educative leaflets, and demonstrated the proper washing of hands.

“If you have sanitiser, you should wash your hands regularly to avoid contacting the disease. And you can shake hands with as many as possible but you should not forget to wash your hands or use a sanitiser afterward,” he urged residents.

H

EALTH workers in Ogun State have been warned against rejection of patients because of the fear of the Ebola Virus Disease.

Director, Hospitals Services, State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Nurudeen Aigoro, who gave the warning during the EVD Outbreak Response Training package held for health workers at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, warned that defaulting workers would be sanctioned even as he urged all hospitals to have Infection Control Committees.

In his presentation, the acting State Epidermologist, Dr. Yufuf Akeem advised the health workers to discard used gloves in an appropriate waste receptacle and never wash or reuse disposable gloves.

The Assistant Coordinator, Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Services, Dr. Sedagbe Zeal Hunkokoe, said at the end of the training, health workers should be able to identify suspected Ebola cases, as well as determine and appropriately utilise Personal Protective Equipment kits.

NOHL focuses on sports injuries

T

HE role of pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy in the rehabilitation and proper diagnosis of sports injuries will be in focus during the forthcoming annual scientific conference/workshop of the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, NOHL. The event slated for September 24-26, 2014, will also highlight issues concerned with referrals from poor resource settings along with arthroscopic diagnosis and management.

Target participants include health professionals and surgeons seeking to update their knowledge of these conditions. Others are sports enthusiasts, general practitioners, trainee surgeons, including Arthroscopic surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, and other health care professionals with similar interests.

The discussion will be led by selected and experienced resource persons in direct management of sports injuries bothe locally and internationally. Pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment companies, sports equipment sellers and other product marketers as invited.

• Members of the Nigeria Association of Sea-dogs, NAS, Hawkins Deck Medical Mission on Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, during an awareness campaign, out at Egbeda, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos at the weekend.

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NAFDAC investigates herbal medicines ...Urges herbal practitioners to register

By Chioma Obinna

O

N this year’s African Traditional Medicine Day, ATMD, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, said fewer than eight Nigerian herbal products have been approved for verification claims even as it urged traditional medicine practitioners to register their products in line with the law.

The Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii who spoke in Lagos said a National Committee called the Expert Committee on Verification of claims by herbal practitioners is currently investigating the products, even as guidelines for the verification of claims of herbal medicines in Nigeria have been adopted.

Director, Laboratory Services, Mrs. Stella Denloye, who represented Orhii said based on global resurgence of interest in traditional medicine there is need to institutionalise the branch of medicine in the health systems worldwide including Nigeria.

Orhi urged traditional medicine practitioners to register their products as this would help in the integration of complementary and alternative medicine into the country's health care system.

Already, there are established standards and guidelines for regulating herbal medicine products, being implemented by the Agency in collaboration with stakeholders.

Speaking, NAFDAC Director, Drug Evaluation and Research Directorate, Mrs. Titilope Owolabi noted that with 80 percent of people depending on traditional

medicine it is an excellent opportunity for stakeholders in the delivery of healthcare services, including government among others.

She appealed to stakeholders in healthcare delivery system to collaborate with one another with a view to ensuring disease control.

On his part, Director, Special Duties, NAFDAC, Dr. Jimoh Abubakar said: "We want to give traditional medicine the awareness it deserves though it has been with us since history.

Shortage of health workers Continues from page 42 including human resources for health.

“The poor investment in overall education and human resources development; combined with other determinants including poor actual per capita investment in the health sector translates into huge differences in life expectancy between African and other countries.

Liberia invests only $18 per capita in health compared to Croatia's $818; Guinea $7 compared to Cuba's $573; Sierra Leone $13 compared to $5,563 in Denmark; and Nigeria $29 compared to Japans $3,824.

Consequently and in tandem with other related determinants - the difference in life

expectancy between Liberia and Croatia is 16 years; between Guinea and Cuba 21 years; between Sierra Leone and Denmark 34 years; and between Nigeria and Japan 30 years.”

Disruption to Society and Economy: With experts estimating that a one year improvement in life expectancy can result in an increase in GDP of up to 4 percent, low life expectancy in the Ebola affected and other African countries underlines an important reason for persistent economic under development.

Ebola - with higher visibility, rapid mortality and pandemonium - than other long standing but equally serious health challenges – has disrupted education, farming, food production and supplies, banking, mining, manufacturing, airlines, tourism, retail markets and supply chains, with predictions for heavy economic losses in affected countries.

Ebola, girls and women: The Ebola response must take account of the special situation of women and girls, and take necessary measures to protect them.

Disaggregation of case’s and mortality indicate that women tend to be disproportionately affected. Women account for 55 to 60 percent of the deceased in the current epidemic in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, according to UNICEF.

Ebola vehicles Continues from Page 42 • (L-R) Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, General Manager, External Affairs & Communications, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc; Bryte Oghor, General Manager, Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Community Relations, SEPLAT; Mrs. Florence Emeribe, Director, Nursing Services, First Consultants Medical Centre, Lagos; Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri, Chief Medical Director, First Consultants Medical Centre; and Simon Nnamdi, Director, Hospital Administration, First Consultants Medical Centre, during SEPLAT presentation of N30 million cheque to the management of the hospital as part of the company’s contribution to the eradication of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.

“Today I have received the vehicles procured by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health on behalf of the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Since the outbreak in July, 2014 the Federal government has taken several steps to and this is just an added measure to scale up activities and facilitate logistics.”

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—45

ADAMAWA GUBER: PDP urges party members to unite before election ...hails conduct of successful primary

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — AHEAD of the October 11 Adamawa State gubernatorial election, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, pleaded with party members in the state to close ranks as one family and support the Acting governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is the candidate of the party to ensure the success of PDP in the election.

In a statement, yesterday, by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party leadership, while congratulating acting Governor Ahmed Fintri for his emergence as the party’s candidate during last Saturday’s primary election, also commended other aspirants for their rare show of the spirit of sportsmanship and unwavering commitment to the party throughout the nomination process.

According to Metuh, party leadership is “satisfied with the level of camaraderie and sense of purpose that characterised the primary election.”

He praised the delegates and all major stakeholders in the state for the orderly manner they conducted themselves during the exercise.

The party attributed the success of the exercise to the “spirit of oneness within the fold in Adamawa State, effectively

harnessed through the insistence by the national leadership on strict adherence to the tenets of internal democracy which provided accommodation for all in line with the ideology of the PDP and principles of fairness, justice and equity.”

In the same vein, the leadership of the party also congratulated its candidate, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, for emerging victorious at the Niger East senatorial by-election.

The PDP described the outcome of the election as a confirmation of the popularity of the PDP among the people at the grass roots, adding that Niger State remained “a stronghold of the PDP.”

RE-LAUNCH: From left, Walter Drenth, Marketing Director; Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director/ CEO; Hubert Eze, Sales Director, and Hendrik Wymenga, Technical Director,all of Nigerian Breweries Plc, at the bottle re-launch of Gulder Lager Beer & Final Selection Party for contestants for Gulder Ultimate Search 11, at the Oceanview Grounds, Lagos, weekend.

NIMP: First phase implementation to gulp N166bn — NPC Minister

By Emmanuel Elebeke

M

INISTER OF National Planning and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, NPC, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, has disclosed that the first phase of the N485 trillion National Integrated Master Plan, NIMP, which is to cover between 2014 and 2018, would gulp N166

billion.

The minister, who disclosed this, yesterday, at a function, said of the said sum, the private sector would take care of the 48 per cent of the 30-year developmental plan, while the public sector finances would take care of the remaining 52 per cent.

It will be recalled that the Federal Executive Council, FEC,

NCAA issues Air Operators’ Certificate to Air Peace ...says safety regulations violators'll be grounded'

By Kenneth Ehigiator

A

NEW airline, Air Peace, yesterday, secured its Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to operate domestic passenger service in the country, even as the regulatory agency threatened to ground carriers owing salaries.

This brings to three the number of airlines licensed by the NCAA to operate domestic services this year, with earlier certification of Discovery Air and Air Azmar.

Air Peace got the OAC after satisfying all statutory requirements to operate scheduled operations in Nigeria.

Speaking while presenting the licence to the airlines’ management, acting DirectorGeneral of NCAA, Engr.

Benedict Adeyileka, explained that Air Peace was given the licence after its management team met all the requirements in record time ahead of commencement of operations.

He said the airlines

demonstrated capacity with its team of indigenous professionals, and urged it to ensure adherence to all safety and technical regulations to run a successful airline.

According to him, NCAA will not hesitate to sanction airlines that violate security and safety regulations.

“The NCAA now has power to sack people in any airlines, if the person is dangerous to safety.

Whether they are pilots, engineers, we would pull them out. NCAA will go after airlines that are not doing well. That is our commitment to safety,” Adeyileka vowed.

He said the agency was impressed with the quality of aircraft and spare parts acquired by the airlines ahead of commencement of operations.

Adeyileka urged the airlines’ management to ensure issues of staff training, aircraft maintenance and crew matters were settled to achieve the growth and development of the industry, warning that it would not hesitate to sack any staff of any airlines

involved in dangerous operations.

He said the reason NCAA would go after errant operators was to ensure safety, describing the foundation laid by Air Peace as very solid, in view of measures put in place for maintenance of aircraft and spare parts’ acquisition.

Chairman of the airlines, Mr. Allen Onyema, assured that Air Peace was set to change the face of air travel in the country, having acquired seven aircraft to start off operations.

According to him, job creation for teeming indigenous professionals and not moneymaking drove the establishment of the airlines.

He assured that Air Peace was committed to safety, even as it would not defer the maintenance of its aircraft.

Noting that Air Peace would continue to invest in Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers to reduce capital flight, Onyema spoke of plans to train more professionals, including pilots and aircraft engineers to attain global certification .

last week ratified the plan (20142043), following its adoption by the National Economic Council, NEC, two weeks earlier.

Dr. Sulaiman, who described NIMP as a policy document, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the initiative, and assured that it would be made sustainable by the administration.

“The plan is starting in earnest and between 2014 and 2018, about N166 billion is to be expended on covering major infrastructure like transport (roads, railway, sea and airports), power, that is talking about oil and gas, housing, water as well as Information and Communication Technology, ICT. “The good thing about it is that it is going to be private, public driven. While the public financing which covers 52 per cent of the financing is expected to come from Sovereign Wealth Fund, Debt Management Office, DMO, among others, the private sector will take the remaining 48 per cent,” he said.

Speaking on the benefits of the plan, the minister pointed out that the level of Nigeria’s infrastructure today stood at 25 per cent, compared to Japan, Singapore and China with over 70 per cent.

He added: “There is need for planning and that is why over 1,000 stakeholders, including foreign consultants and those within, politicians, irrespective of political affiliations, technocrats, bureaucrats and all others, were brought into the picture by Mr. President to ensure the right environment is provided."

2015: Ijaw group gives Jonathan 30 days to declare

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA — THE Abuja chapter of Ijaw National Congress, INC, has given President Goodluck Jonathan 30-day ultimatum within which to declare his re-election bid for 2015 presidency.

Immediate past Chairman of INC, Abuja, Dr. Godknows Idaminabo, who gave the declaration at the inauguration ceremony of his successor, Mr. Ebizimoh Okolo, in Abuja, confirmed that President Jonathan would contest the 2015 presidential poll.

Idaminabo said the ultimatum became necessary because of the torrents of calls on Jonathan

by Nigerians to declare his intention to seek re-election for second term.

According to him: “Having considered all the appeals from the North, East, West and South, the Ijaw National Congress, Abuja chapter hereby demands that President Jonathan should declare for a second term for the office of president within the next 30 days.”

Calling on Ijaw nation to be vigilant in the face of current challenges, Idaminabo said: “To the entire Ijaw nation the battle is not for the strong alone, it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. There is no retreat. Still, let us not be over-confident of a speedy final triumph."

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Party scribe counsels Bauchi APC on winning 2015 polls

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Kaduna govt pays N6.738bn pension to retired civil servants K

By Luka Binniyat

ADUNA—KADUNA State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero yesterday paid N6.738 billion backlog of pensions and gratuity to 12,484 retired civil servants and next of kin of deceased workers in the state.

Speaking during the distribution of cheques to batches 3 and 4 of the beneficiaries, the Governor said since assumption of office about 20 months ago his administration had paid retirees and next of kin of deceased staff, some of whom were owed since 2005.

He said the state government had cleared all pension arrears owed retirees in the state civil service and was at the verge of settling all gratuity to retirees and next of kin of deceased civil servants.

Governor Yero said: “We will soon settle all outstanding gratuities which amount to about N1.4 billion. I want to assure you that the fund for the payment of batches 5-8 is ready and very soon all documentation will be completed. 206 retired and next of kin of deceased workers are to benefit from the N628

By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Bauchi State, has been advised to put its house in order for it to wrestle power from the incumbent People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015 general elections.

Bauchi APC Interim Secretary, Dr. Danjuma Adamu Dabo who gave the advice yesterday in an interview, noted that the most disturbing phenomenon was the party’s growing list of gubernatorial aspirants to the forthcoming general elections.

Dabo, contended that there was urgent need for the APC to prune down the number of party ’s gubernatorial aspirants towards a healthy and rancor-free primaries.

According to him, “Let the State APC Executives provide a forum for the multiple gubernatorial aspirants to sit and iron out their differences in such a way that only two or three aspirants will go for the primaries. I am also appealing to any APC stalwart in government aspiring for elective offices to honorably resign from the government and face their electioneering campaigns.

“I observed situations whereby party executives aspiring for various elective offices create rancor, political bickering or misunderstanding in a selfaggrandize bid to actualize their ambition.”

million which was distributed through cheques to beneficiaries.

My administration has paid entitlements to some workers dismissed during the military era. The dismissal of some of the staff was later committed to termination and this administration has paid N27. 42 million as their pension arrears.

“In addition to this, we have made payment of N73 million as promotion and salary increment arrears of primary and secondary school teachers in the State for the period between 2010 and 2011. We have also paid the 2014 increment. It is pertinent to inform you that teachers’ promotion in Kaduna State from 2006 was only on paper, it was

never backed by the required financial benefit until now."

Earlier, Acting Head of Service, Mr. Habila Kyong, hailed the Governor for his commitment to the welfare of civil servants.

“At this time when the economic fortunes of the state have dwindled, salaries are now consistently being paid at and when due; promotion of deserving civil servants are effected without delay."

BIRTHDAY: From left: Former Governor of Ogun State and APC chieftain, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, former Governor of Kwara State and husband of the celebrant, Senator Bukola Saraki, the celebrant, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Saraki, Mr. Femi Otedola, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tanbuwal, President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former Acting Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, during the celebration of 50th birthday of the wife of former Governor of Kwara State in Ilorin.

Don't join PDP, APC chieftain urges Ikimi B ENIN CITY— FOLLOWING the resignation of the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi from the All Progressives Congress, APC, a chieftain of the party in Edo Central senatorial district, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, yesterday, urged the former APC leader to quit politics rather than return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Inegbeneki gave the

advice after a meeting of leaders of the APC at Ebhossa, in Igueben Local Government Area, home town of Chief Ikimi, where the leaders disassociated themselves from the exit of Ikimi from the party and vowed not to follow him to the PDP. The leaders declared that they are not joining Ikimi to PDP because “he left because he was not made the National Chairman of the APC, and not

that the APC led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole has not delivered the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.”

According to Inegbeneki, “if you recall, when Chief Anenih who also is an Esan man was removed as BoT Chairman of the PDP by Obasanjo, Anenih did not leave the party; he remained and today, is he not the chairman of BoT of PDP? So Ikimi should emulate Anenih if he wants to have respect in

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Esanland. That is why I am advising him that rather than rejoin the PDP as being rumoured, he should quit politics.

“APC members in Igueben have echoed that they are not following him to PDP if he decides to return, and he is alone. He is blaming Bola Tinubu. If Tinubu had left for PDP, will Nigeria today have a strong opposition like the APC, no. The only way we would have followed him to PDP is if he had told us that Oshiomhole has not performed, but he did not say that."

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Ebola control in Nigeria

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UARANTINE is not a death warrant. When people in quarantine are not fed, denied medicare and ostracized, they may take up cudgels and missiles to express their disapproval. So that should be looked at properly in tackling the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Pastor Nelson Azubuike — Clergy

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HERE must be some kind of conspiracy on this issue of Ebola because the way outsiders from Africa are spear heading the campaign of this Ebola in Africa. How can Ebola case happen in West Africa and in a matter of days is in East Africa?

Mr. Ogwu Nwachukwu — Student

I

think in other not to create panic about this Ebola of a thing, the press should apply caution in the way they report the news.

Any yet unconfirmed case of Ebola should not be reported, there have been other diseases which the symptoms is also high fever and vomiting. Mr. Femi Igwe — Sound Engineer

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HE closeness of EVD symptoms to those of malaria fever until it reaches very advanced stage makes it an unfortunately difficult disease to contain.

Let us be conscious, vigilant and careful in handling disease situations.

Mr. Immanuel Jannah — Businessman

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E still have polio and cholera which have been eradicated in most non-African countries and they are easier to deal with.

So we know have Ebola, which is much worse, how then do we contend with it? But I believe that God will see us through. Mr. Adesoji Shiyanbola — Worker

W

E also do not have the personal discipline to control Ebola. Look at the nurse who ran away, then the diplomat. Let’s be honest about ourselves.

Only a few Nigerians would want to sacrifice their life for others to live, and that few are just too scarce.

Mrs Morayo Iyoke — Bisinesswoman

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 —47

IPMAN out-going EXCO denies misappropriating N500m

Adamawa guber: Jibrilla wins APC ticket

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By Umar Yusuf

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OLA — SENATOR Mohammed Bindow Jibrilla, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for the October 11 by-election.

He won the APC governorship primary held Sunday with 2,718 votes, beating Ibrahim Mijinyawa, who polled 2,268 votes.

Announcing the results of the election at APC state secretariat, leader of the National Committee that conducted the poll, Dr. Garba Abari, declared: “By the powers vested in me by the guidelines of our party, the electoral guidelines and the National Leadership of APC, it is my honour to announce Senator Mohammed Bindow Jibrilla having scored the highest number of votes as the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress, for the Adamawa by-election slated for October 11 2014.”

Other aspirants in the primaries were Senator Ahmed Barata Hassan, 452 votes; Emmanuel Bello, 50 votes; Mr. Boss Mustapha, 515 votes and Mr. Yakubu Tsala, 187 votes.

PDP vows to probe APC govts in Lagos if...

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AGOS— The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State Chapter has vowed to carry out what it described as a “deep allencompassing and forensic probe” of the APC-led governments in the state if it comes into power in 2015 general elections.

This was one of the farreaching conclusions and decisions arrived at after a lengthy strategic session held in Lagos, weekend, by top hierarchy of the PDP in Lagos State.

The meeting was called to perfect strategies aimed at unseating the APC from power which it has held since 1999, and to design strategies to curb Alhaji Bola Tinubu’s overbearing influence in Lagos politics.

A chieftain of the Lagos PDP who was at the strategic meeting but wanted to be anonymous, disclosed that upon wresting control from the APC in Lagos State in next year’s general elections, the PDP will probe these regimes thoroughly.

From left: Chairman, Hon. Musa Khali, Secretary, Alhaji Rilwanu Abdullahi and Mrs Abigail Maisamari at a press confernce of Coalition of Northern Youths Forum for Namadi Sambo, in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

2015: PDP North-West insists on Jonathan/Sambo ticket

By Luka Binniyat

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ADUNA — PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders in the North-West geo-political zone of the country, yesterday, insisted on its earlier endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo for the 2015 presidency.

The party was reacting to the denial of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State distancing the state from the party’s resolution in the expanded stakeholders meeting at the late Gen. Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna penultimate Sunday.

Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, in statement in Kaduna said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication widely circulated in the media purported to have emanated from the Jigawa State Governor challenging the resolution of our expanded stakeholders meeting where he claimed that Jigawa State was not part of the resolution.

“It is against this backdrop that we deemed it necessary to clear the air on this and other sundry issues raised by the deputy governor in his press briefing at his office in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.

“Let me firmly and explicitly state that the decision to hold the expanded stakeholders' meeting was a culmination of several meetings held among the key stakeholders of the zone and Jigawa State was always represented by the deputy governor in such meetings.

"It was also agreed at such fora that each state must first hold its stakeholders meeting before the expanded meeting, which we believe was complied with by each state chapter of the party.

“The outcome of the meetings by the state chapters gave rise to the North-West Zone meeting. The expanded stakeholders resolved to urge President Goodluck

Jonathan to contest for the office of the President come 2015. This decision was the position of the majority of the stakeholders present at the meeting, therefore to concretise it.

"Amb. Aminu Wali was directed to read the communique and make it public as prepared and submitted by the party. This accounted for the presence of the governors and deputy governors including that of Jigawa State standing behind Amb. Aminu Wali while he was reading the communiqué to demonstrate their

support and endorsement of the outcome of the meeting.

“Therefore, for the deputy governor to return to Jigawa State and to summon a press conference dissociating himself and the Jigawa State Governor from the communiqué is an afterthought and rather very unfortunate.

“We have no atom of idea as to the reason for such denial.

We, therefore, find it necessary to put the record straight by confirming that we stand by the contents and outcome of our communiqué.”

Microsoft joins ISPON, forges strategic partnership

By Emeka Aginam

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AGOS — AFTER extensive discussions and mapping out of strategies on how to collaborate towards the development of the Nigerian software ecosystem, Microsoft Nigeria has officially formalised its corporate membership of the apex body for software developers in Nigeria, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON. The discussion for membership started early in the year at the Tinapa business district, Calabar when Microsoft organised a Innovative Forum 2014.

With this development, there has been an official presentation of certificate of membership to Microsoft Nigeria along with a handover of a white paper on the sustenance of a strategic partnership between the two at an event last week between ISPON and Microsoft.

President of ISPON, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr. who spoke at the event reiterated the resolve of ISPON to build indigenous capacity by bolstering software local content as well as protecting and advocating intellectual property rights as it

concerns indigenous software development through its various channels and events.

Expressing his pleasure on the approach ISPON addresses key industry issues, Mr. Kabelo Makwane, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria noted that the partnership should be on a long term basis given the enormity and importance of the issues identified.

HE outgoing executive of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Mosimi Depot, has denied an allegation by one Mr. Adeleke Dada that, it misappropriated N500 million belonging to the association.

Speaking through its lawyer, Mr. Yinka Oyetunde, in Lagos yesterday, the association described the allegation as malicious, spurious, a tissue of lies and a cheap blackmail to drag the names of the executive members into the mud.

The allegation, the lawyer explained, could not be substantiated by any fact or document by the said Mr. Dada against the outgoing executive and asked Mr Dada to explain how he got the N500 million he referred to in the said publication.

Mr. Oyetunde from Gazzallo and Co, a firm of legal practitioners, Ikeja, referred to a news story of Friday, September 5, 2014 in which Mr. Dada claimed to have been elected as new chairman of Mosimi Depot of the association.

He said the purported election was unlawful and therefore Mr. Dada has no locus standi to speak or act for the association.

According to him, "Alhaji Dele Tajudeen Lamidi is still the authentic and bonafide chairman of the IPMAN Mosimi Depot whose tenure would end in October this year and not Adeleke Dada."

He called on members of the public to disregard the said publication, stressing that the national body authorised by law to organise the election had no hand in the election.

"Therefore, Mr. Dada should stop parading himself as the chairman of IPMAN Mosimi Depot forthwith," Oyetunde warned.

2015: Kwara youths back Gov Ahmed for 2nd term

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN — AS the 2015 election draws near, the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has continued to receive endorsement from various groups and associations, the latest being the Kwara State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN. Chairman of the NYCN, Kazeem Adekanye, in his address during a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House in Ilorin, said over one million youths in the state had unanimously

endorsed Governor Ahmed for a second term in office.

Adekanye attributed the endorsement of Governor Ahmed for a second term to the governor’s achievements in the area of youth empowerment and employment He said: “I have the mandate of the over one million teeming youths of the state to commend your administration for the excellent work you have done or initiated for the overall development of the state especially in the area of youth empowerment/employment through the KWABES, QuickWin, Entrepreneurship Scheme, Payment of Bursary and Provision of scholarship to the students."

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

HANDING-OVER: From left; Vice chairman of Air Peace, Mrs Alice Onyema; Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema and the acting Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Engr Benedict Adeyileka, during the handing over of Air Operator' Certificate (AOC), to the airline in Lagos.

(BELOW) COMMISSIONING: From left; Nokia Gear Accessories Distributor, Sholaja Oluwafemi; Nokia Care Rep, S-South and SEast, Anthony Okafor; Nokia Care Channel Mgr, David Efanga and BIRTHDAY: From right; Wife of the celebrant, Omobola Omole; Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo Retail Team Lead, Nokia Nigeria, S-South, Modestus Igbosofulu, University, OAU, and celebrant, Prof Bamitale Omole cutting his 60th birthday cake, Ondo State during the commissioning of Nokia Care Centres in Port Harcourt Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, his wife, Olukemi and the governor's sister, Dr Joke Bestman, at and Aba. Omole's 60th Birthday celebration at OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

AGM: From left; Akin Laoye, ED, FTN Cocoa Processor Plc; Abiola Aderonmu, MD/CEO; Sir Simeon Oguntimehin, Chairman and Mr Philp Ola Afolabi, Company Secretary at the 6th Annual General meeting of FTN Cocoa Processor Plc held at Ibadan, Oyo State.

TOUR: Edwin Unoko, Zonal Business Manager, South Central Zone, Airtel Nigeria (left) with Ada Ruben, Rep. Sector Commander, FRSC Benue during Airtel’s ICT tour in Benue State recently.

(BELOW) INSTALLATION: From left, Asst Gov, Rotary Club District 9140, Rot Fab Uwaforo Okochi, President Rotary Club of Ojodu District 9110, Rot Chinedu Uche-Uka and Guest Speaker, Professor Polycarp Chinedum Obasi, during Rotary Club of Ojodu District 9110 Installation of the Decennial President and Board of Directors for 2014-2015 held in Lagos.

RECEPTION: From left; MD, Osun State Investment Co, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Najeemdeen Salam and Commissioner for Commerce, Mr Jaiyeoba Alagbada during a reception for Governor Rauf Aregbesola by the Ikire Muslim community at Nasfat ground, Ikire.

DONATION: Daniel Obiomah, Financial Secretary, Lumen Christi Old Student Associatiation, LUCOSA, Lagos Chapter; Chinomso Odocha, Sec Gen; Paul Usenbo, Deputy president; Ajoke Bello, Head Nurse, Heart of Gold Children's Hospice; Ugochukwu Uwajeh, PRO, LUCOSA, and Uyi Ojo, Welfare Officer, at the LUCOSA donation of cheque and items to the Heart of Gold Children's Hospice in Lagos.

(BELOW) PARLEY: From left; Vice Chairman, Board of Ibadan Business School (IBS), Chief Wole Olanipekun; Chairman and Former Head of Service, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi; President, Mr. Yinka Fasuyi; and Board member and GMD/CEO, Oodua Investment group, Dr. Bayo Jimoh, during a media briefing on the partnership between World Bank and IBS at Lagos Airport Hotel.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 49

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Nigeria's crude export drops by 6%

Microsoft Mobile opens care centres in P-H, Aba

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IGERIA crude oil export has recorded a drop of about 6 per cent over a period of one month over the importation of 1.83 million barrel per day of crude oil in October and with about 1.94 million barrel per day exported in September.

Some traders said Angolan crude grades should clear for October loading and for the current loading schedules, while Nigerian cargo appeared to be finding buyers more slowly.

Nigeria’s Qua Iboe offers to be at dated Brent plus $2.00, unchanged. A trader said “cargoes were likely to be sold at dated Brent plus $1 to plus $1.50.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Coordinator, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Dr. Tim Okon, who made the disclosure in June, this year, while speaking at the 21st world Petroleum Congress in Moscow, Russia, assured that Nigeria would not ignore any market in its quest to remain competitive in the global oil and gas market.

However, Europe was the highest buyer of Nigeria’s crude, with the 26.57 importation million barrels with Asia and other far East followed with the purchase of 15.3 million barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil; while South America imported 10.39 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria.

According to the Figures from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and it recently showed that Brazil had so far spent $990.09 million (N158.414 billion) on Nigerian crude oil.

According to the report, it shows that Brazil came up with about 9.442 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria in the first quarter of this year However, Brazil emerged as one of the largest buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil, overtaking India that occupied the position in the first quarter of this year.

From left: General Manager, Grenadines Homes, Mrs Nike Lanre- Ladenegan; Managing Director, Grenadines Homes Limited; Mrs Olatunji Noimot and Construction Manager, Mr Majid Mulani during the site handing over ceremony of Grenadines Homes to Cubic Construction Limited in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

We must not lose any part of Nigeria to insurgents, NLC warns

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday warned that on no account should Nigeria lose any of its part to insurgents, saying the ongoing violent attacks and reported seizures and subsequent declaration of Islamic republic was totally unacceptable.

NLC in a statement by its President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, called on the Federal Government to see these attacks and seizures as a declaration of war against the Nigerian state and must be dealt with using full military might.

According to Omar, “the NLC is worried about the recent incursion into some towns and villages, especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States in the North eastern part of the country by the Boko Haram terror group.

"These violent attacks and reported seizures and declaration of an Islamic republic remain unacceptable and must never be allowed as a republic cannot exist within a republic.

“While we appreciate the commitment of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the armed forces, to the battle against insurgency in Nigeria, we strongly warn that the consequence of allowing any part of the country to be seized by any group will be overwhelmingly harmful to our collective unity and socio economic advancement, just as it would also endanger the growth of democracy.

“We are worried at the speed with which the insurgents are taking over communities even in areas reported to have heavy security presence. It is time the Nigerian armed forces prove their preparedness to protect and defend the Nigerian people and their territories by using all within

their armoury to protect our territorial integrity.

"The credibility and professional image of our armed forces would be at stake, even in global ratings, if our forces who have been widely acclaimed to have performed so well during peace keeping operations in different parts of the world would allow themselves to be overrun by insurgents back home.

"While we commend the Federal Government for providing necessary human and

material needs for the battle against these insurgents, we believe the government can do more in ensuring the troops are well kitted with modern weapons and all that is required to fight contemporary wars as the situation has obviously moved beyond mere insurgency. We must never allow any part of Nigeria to be subjected to perpetual fear and nightmares, which the entire north east seem to have been boxed into.

OMMITTED to bringing premium after-sales services closer to its consumers across the nation, Microsoft has opened two after sales service centers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Aba, Abia State respectively.

The two outlets, known as Nokia Care Centres are managed by well trained and competent personnel.

The centres which formally commenced operations, weekend, would render inwarranty and out-of-warranty repairs services.

The new centres have technical personnel that can repair faulty devices, offer technical advice on how to handle devices in order to get the best out of it. Accordingly, the shops will also handle device swaps among other services Speaking to newsmen shortly before the launch, Nokia Care Channel Manager, Nokia West and Central Africa, David Efanga explained that extending the Nokia Care Centres to the two locations was in response to the yearnings of Nokia users in the areas and its environs.

“It is our delight to bring our premium after sales services to our customers in Port Harcourt and Aba. This will help to solve customers’ challenges," he said.

Jonathan signs NASS Service Act into law •Clerk position now equals Head of Service

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law the new National Assembly Service Act, 2014 into law for effective service delivery.

The law allows for the creation of four directorates that would be headed by permanent secretary status like what was obtainable in the civil service.

It will also place the Clerk of the

National Assembly at par with the Head of Federal Civil Service.

The passage of the bill into law has automatically repealed the National Assembly Service Commission Act Cap N7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to recognise the management and administrative structure of the National Assembly.

“Notwithstanding the provision of subsection(1) of this section, the commission, on the recommendation of the management to the National Assembly, shall establish such directorates, departments and divisions as exigencies may demand for effective and efficient administration of the service”, the law read.

Drop in revenue allocation not threat to devt—Dickson

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ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said his administration will continue to meet its financial obligations including payment of salaries, execution and completion of developmental projects, in spite of the drop in the allocations to the state from the Federation Account.

Giving the assurance at the monthly transparency briefing for the months of July and August at the State Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, yesterday, the governor said the drop in allocation was not peculiar

to the state alone but the state is worst hit because of its low Internally Generated Revenue base.

However, the governor assured that this development would not affect his administration’s development agenda, especially in the area of human and capacity building.

According to him, "all the projects embarked upon by the present administration will be completed while new ones will be embarked upon and this will not stop until all the communities

in the state feel the impact of the government.

"Bayelsa state is on course in spite of the nationwide drop in revenue allocation. The state is still meeting up its salaries and contractual obligations, though not at the pace we actually wanted.

Explaining the shortfall in the revenue allocation, the governor stated: "In July and August, the shortfall is almost N2 billion and it has been consistently so for the past two years. Though it is nationwide, Bayelsa State is worst hit because of its low IGR base."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 51

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

APC inaugurates Northwest Zonal Committee •PDP transformed health and brought Ebola—Oyegun, others •Nigerians want to return to production — Gov Oshiomhole

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ByBashir Adefaka

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, kicked off its zonal rally in Sokoto, Sokoto State with inauguration of Northwest Zone Committee, at a very elaborate gathering attended by well meaning Nigerians in the party, including the chairman and former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Yari; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, and Governor of Imo State,

Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and other leaders of the party. They were hosted by the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

Inaugurating the Northwest Zone leadership, the APC Chairman, Oyegun, said, “My job here is brief and it is to inaugurate the Northwest Zonal Committee and leadership of the APC. Therefore, in my capacity and responsibility today, September 8, 2014, I declare that the Northwest Zonal Committee

of this party is hereby inaugurated.”

Oyegun had earlier distinguished between the transformation of the PDP-led Federal Government and the change a APC-led Federal Government would bring. He said, “Transformation is different from change. Look at the result of transformation. When they transformed the economy, there were no jobs and factories closed down. When they transformed security, we are almost losing the entire North east and when they transformed health, they

brought Ebola.

“If they then ask you what we stand for, tell them to go to Sokoto State and they will see what we stand for. Tell them to go to Kano, Zamfara, Imo and they will see what we stand for.”

The APC chairman, therefore, charged the newly inaugurated Northwest Zonal leadership, whose details were not announced, with the responsibility of delivering the Kano’s over five million votes and votes of other Northwest states for APC come 2015. He added that, “Northwest Zone is critical to the victory of APC. And I want to repeat it, Northwest is critical to the victory of APC.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Wamakko said, “Nigerians are tired of bad governance. I am confident that we will win good governance back for Nigerians come 2015. APC is determined to win.”

Governor Yari of Zamfara State, noted that it was no longer a tale by the moonlight to say that the Northwest was APC zone but that, “Today, we can see that it is a reality. No doubt that Northwest is APC and we will win 2015 elections because Nigerians are taking records of democracy in the past 15 years and they know what they party in power has done." We are going to win to bring security and all the good things of development back to the domain of Nigerians.”

Dubai firm buys $300m equity stake in Dangote Cement

By William Jimoh, with agency report

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RRANGEMENT has been finalised for the Investment Corp of Dubai, ICD, the state fund that holds stakes in some of the emirate’s top firms, to buy a $300 million stake in Dangote Cement, said Carl Franklin, Head, Investor Relation, Dangote Group.

With this development, ICD will take up a stake of about 1.3 per cent in Dangote Cement According to stockbrokers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, 243 million shares of Dangote Cement have been transferred to ICD at N200 each, a 12 percent premium to Dangote Cement’s price of around N223 on Monday. This followed an initial sale of 1.5 percent of its 95 percent stake to South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation, PIC, for $289.3 million last year.

“ICD is diversifying its portfolio ... into the West African market through a minority stake in Dangote Cement. We believe this bodes well for future investments into Nigeria from the Middle East,” Akinbamidele Akintola, an Africa equity sales executive at Renaissance Capital, said. The company had earlier revealed its plan to expand its operation beyond Africa to countries in the Middle East and Latin America with targeted increase capacity to 62 million metric tons by 2017, up from a projected 42 million tons this year.

The move as hatched, is expected to rank Dangote Cement among the top ten global cement producers .

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 53

BRIEFS

AU troops accused of raping Somali women

Ebola: Liberia faces huge surge — WHO E

BOLA is spreading exponentially in Liberia, with thousands of new cases expected in the next three weeks, the World Health Organization ,WHO, said yesterday.

Conventional methods to control the outbreak were “not having an adequate impact”, the UN’s health agency added.

At least 2,100 people infected with Ebola have died so far in the West African states of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria this year.

The WHO says 79 health workers have been killed by the virus.

Organisations combating the outbreak needed to scale-up efforts “threeto-four fold”, the WHO said.

It highlighted Liberia’s Montserrado county, where 1,000 beds were

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NTERNATIONALLY funded African Union troops in Somalia have gang-raped women and girls as young as 12 and traded food aid for sex, Human Rights Watch, the US-based rights group, says. The 22,000 AU force, called AMISOM, with soldiers drawn from six nations, have been fighting alongside government troops against the alQaeda-linked al-Shabab fighters since 2007.

“Some of the women who were raped said that the soldiers gave them food or money afterwards in an apparent attempt to frame the assault as transactional sex,” HRW said in a report on Monday. AMISOM said the alleged rapes were “isolated” incidents and called the report “unbalanced and unfair”.

The vulnerable women largely came from camps in the capital Mogadishu, having fled rural Somalia during a devastating famine in 2011.

UK: Royal couple thrilled over pregnancy A street artist paints a mural informing people of the symptoms of Ebola in the Liberian capital Monrovia needed for infected Ebola patients but only 240 were available, leading to people being turned away from treatment centres.

Transmission of the virus in Liberia was “already intense”, and taxis being used to transport

infected patients appeared to be “a hot source of potential virus transmission”, the WHO said.

However, they appeared to be more effective in “areas of limited transmission” such as

Nigeria and Senegal, it added.

Local communities, especially those in rural areas, had been able to slow the transmission when they put in place their own protective measures, the WHO statement said.

Iran arrests fighters bound for ISIS

RAN says it has arrest ed Afghan and Pakistani citizens who were trying to join Islamic State (IS) jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani said the foreigners planned to cross Iran but did not specify how many had been arrested, or where.

Shia Iran is opposed to the Sunni extremists of IS, who have undermined its allies in Iraq and Syria.

Iran is said to be prepared to work alongside the US against IS in Iraq.

Sources in Tehran told BBC Persian last week that Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had authorised his top commander to co-ordinate the fight against IS with US, Kurdish and Iraqi forces.

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However, Iran’s foreign ministry denied that it would co-operate with the US against IS. Iran has

traditionally opposed US involvement in Iraq, an Iranian ally. Recently however, both the US and

Iran have offered military assistance to combat IS in Iraq, while refusing to place their troops on the ground.

Former US Presidents launch programme for effective leadership

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor

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OUR former United States Presidents have launched Presidential Leadership programme, with the goal to encourage and develop practical leadership skills through an unprecedented collection of resources from their presidential centers.

A statement released by the Clinton Foundation in Washington said the programme is a partnership between the presidential centers of William J. Clinton, George W.

Bush, George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson which have decided to pull their resources together to help participants develop the skills needed to become highly-effective leaders. The inaugural programme is expected to commence in February 2015.

The Chair of the Clinton Foundation’s Board of Directors, Bruce Lindsey said the: “Effective leadership is important skill for individuals looking to make a positive difference in the world and change lives.”

Consequently, “The Presidential Leadership

Scholars Program is designed to foster the next generation of leaders, whether they choose to work in government, business, or philanthropy.

Lindsey said:”The programme’s unique curriculum includes an unprecedented assembly of leaders across four presidential administrations, spanning over 45 years.”

The Presidential Leadership Scholars Programme will focus on a variety of facets of leadership skills, including vision and communication, decisionmaking, persuasion and influence, and coalition building.

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RINCE William says he and the Duchess of Cambridge are “thrilled” they are expecting their second child.

Kensington Palace said the duchess was suffering from a severe sickness - as she did when she was pregnant with Prince George.

Speaking at a visit to Oxford University the duke said it had been a “tricky few days” but was “great news”.

The couple’s second baby will become fourth in line to the throne, behind 13-month-old Prince George. Asked about the duchess, Prince William said she was “feeling okay” and that he was “going to go back and look after her now”.

He told journalists the couple were “immensely thrilled”, but said it was still “early days”.

Scottish independence worries NATO

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RITISH Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday a number of NATO partners had used last week’s summit of the alliance in Wales to raise concerns about Scotland’s Sept. 18 vote on independence. Asked by a lawmaker in parliament if he had discussed the implication of potential Scottish secession on both the defense of the United Kingdom and of NATO, Cameron said: “Of course a number of people raised their concerns about the referendum.”

“The overwhelming view of people who wish our country well is to say of course it is a decision for the people in Scotland but they hope we stay together,” Cameron told parliament.

UKRAINE: Rebels free 1,200 captives

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RO-RUSSIAN rebels in Ukraine have released 1,200 prisoners, President Petro Poroshenko has said.

The releases followed Friday’s ceasefire deal, he said, which included an exchange of prisoners.

He was speaking during a visit to the strategic south-eastern port city of Mariupol, which has come under shelling from pro-Russian rebels in recent days.Mr Poroshenko announced his arrival in a tweet: “Mariupol is Ukraine. We will not surrender this land to anyone.”

Libya accuses Sudan of Israeli police bust messianic prostitution ring arming rebels ETAILS have emerged from Israel about a pros

L A pro-independence supporter wearing a “Yes” tshirt shouts slogans as Scottish MP Jim Murphy addresses crowds in support of the pro-union “Better Together ” campaign in Edinburgh yesterday ahead of the upcoming Scottish independence referendum.

IBYA has intercepted a Sudanese military plane loaded with ammunition in its airspace, and declared Sudan’s military attache persona non grata, amid growing accusations Khartoum was supporting Islamist rebels in the country.

Libya’s newly elected

government accused Sudan on Sunday of breaching its “national sovereignty,” by flying in ammunition destined for ”terrorist groups”.

Sudan confirmed it had sent a military plane but said it had only carried equipment for a joint Libyan-Sudanese state border force.

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titution ring in which Jewish women were allegedly forced into having sex with non-Jews by a messianic sect.

Two men and two women are being detained on suspicion of exploitation.

Police say the victims were brainwashed into believing that having sex with non-Jews would “save the Jewish people and bring about redemption”.

They were also made to become dependant on alcohol and drugs, and have sex under their influence, police say.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

2015: Ojougboh okays Delta North's guber quest

By Emma Amaize

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S A B A — N AT I O N A L Vice Chairman, SouthSouth, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has said that the quest by the people of Delta North senatorial district (Anioma), Delta State, to produce the governor of the state in 2015 was justifiable, challenging and achievable.

Ojougboh, who was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Akinuwa (leader) of Anioma nation

by Anioma royal fathers at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, said that Central and South senatorial districts have occupied the governorship position, adding that it was reasonable for them to support Anioma in 2015.

He said, “Anioma people are peculiar people with a cause that is justified, the struggle is difficult, but not impossible, it is achievable.”

Ojougboh charged the political class in Anioma, especially the governorship aspirants, to put their personal interests behind and work together for the overall objective of Delta North.

Mariere lauds Clark over vocational centre

By Festus Ahon

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GHELLI—A member of Delta State House of Assembly, Samuel Mariere, has commended Chief Edwin Clark for the effort he put in to ensure that the SouthSouth Vocational Training Centre was sited in Evwreni, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

Mariere in a chat with newsmen shortly after the Evwreni community led by its traditional ruler, HRM Eruvwedede, III, the Ovie of Evwreni Kingdom, paid a thank you visit to him (Clark) in his Kiagbodo country home, Burutu Local Government Area of the state, said they were happy that the South-South Vocational Training Centre was sited in their community.

He said “Chief Clark played a vital role in the siting of the project in Evwreni by the Federal Government; so our visit was to appreciate him for his gesture.” He described Clark as a special gift to the South-South region.

Attah backs zoning of guber race to Eket district •Warns against imposition

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BONG Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, has supported the zoning of the state's governorship seat to Eket senatorial district.

Attah, who championed power shift from Uyo senatorial district to Ikot Ekpene senatorial district in 2006, has keyed into the popular push for the zoning of the governorship seat to Eket senatorial district which is the only senatorial district yet to produce a governor for the state.

Most of the governorship aspirants are from Eket senatorial district with Mr. Umana Umana, former secretary to state government and Obong Bassey Albert, former finance commissioner only aspirants from Uyo senatorial district, which governed Akwa Ibom through Attah from 1999 to 2007.

Attah, who broke his silence on political development in the state, spoke a reception for him by the Ibibio, the largest ethnic group in the state, and installation as the Ibibio leader at Asan Ibibio, Uyo. Said he, “As I look round, I see a number of faces here that are aspiring to the high office of

governor of this state. A large number of those aspirants are from Eket senatorial district. This should be expected because of sequential logic that after Uyo and

Ikot Ekpene it should be Eket.”

But Attah warned against imposition, charging that “there must be a level playing field for all aspirants.”

While backing zoning, Attah also made a case for other factors to be taken into consideration in addition to zoning.

Former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere (left) with former Governor, Obong Victor Attah, during the reception for Attah by Ibibio Nation in Uyo

Pro-Amaechi group cautions aspirants for a governor of Rivers State, who is not for an ethnic group, not for ORT HARCOURT— A pro- a cabal or myopic interest but one Governor Rotimi Amaechi that will drive Rivers State to group, Rivers State Leadership greater heights."

Advancement Foundation, RIVLEAF, has urged Rivers people to ignore ethnic sentiments while choosing a

By Gabriel Enogholase governor for the state come 2015.

Speaking, yesterday, in Port ENIN— A SENATORIAL Harcourt at a roundtable aspirant for Edo North organised for its ward executives in the state, president of the body, senatorial district in Edo State, Mr Alex Wele, said Rivers people Mr. Pascal Ugbome on the should ignore sentiments and platform of the Peoples make sure they vote a governor Democratic Party, PDP, has that will promote the good of the promised to use his position as senator, if elected, to create state.

“We call on Rivers people to employment and human capital disregard any primordial development for his constituents sentiments and join in the search and ensure that their voices were

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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The group hailed the achievement of Amaechi so far in the state, saying “We appreciate and acknowledge the monumental development

strides and other visible accomplishment of Amaechi for the period he has piloted he affairs of Rivers State.” It also enjoined youths in the state to shun violence, stressing that they should promote peace at all times.

Senatorial aspirant pledges to create jobs in Edo

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heard far and near in the country.

Ugbome, who is also the Edo State PDP Director of Operations and Organisation made the pledge during his tour of Edo North senatorial zone to solicit support for his party’s candidates in the forthcoming primaries to nominate who represents the zone in the 2015 general elections.

He said,“I have a passion for using lawmaking as a tool for social re-engineering and to

6 Bayelsa LGs endorse Jonathan, Dickson's re-election bid

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—SIX out of the eight local government areas in Bayelsa State have endorsed the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson in 2015 and 2016 elections, respectively.

Though Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas are yet to join in the endorsement of the duo, it was learnt that the delay might be due to logistics.

One of the two councils located on the Atlantic fringe of the state is the home to the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd). It is also the council

of former governor, Mr Timipre Sylva.

The other councils, including Sagbama, Ekeremor, Ogbia, Kolokuma-Opokuma and Yenagoa have passed a vote of confidence on the President and Dickson, insisting that their decision was based on their outstanding performance.

Speaking at a rally by Restoration Forum, the principal executive secretary to Governor Dickson, Douye Diri, explained that the rally by the people and elders of Kolokuma-Opokuma council was based on their conviction that the President, must be prevailed upon to declare his intention as “he has

performed and improved every sector of the country.”

Diri, who was supported at the event by notable leaders of the council, including the state commissioner for sports, Ebikitin Diongoli, former member of House of Representatives, Boulous Ndiamowei, the director general of the State Arts Council, Mr.Ineye Dudiefa, also announced the decision of the political leaders and traditional rulers of the council to adopt the state governor, Dickson for second term in 2016.

“The people of the council have decided that they must both come for second term in office,” he said.

generate employment for our people. Unemployment is a cause of worry and we need to do more both at individual and governmental levels because poverty is an acknowledgement of disability.

“You don’t need to have a white collar job before you can be employed. The government has to create an enabling environment which it has been trying to do and much needs to be done in this regard.

"But the psyche of the people has to been changed to begin to see unemployment beyond being administrators; we should be creators. That is one area we have issues as a nation because the middle class has been totally wiped out.

“So, as a senator, I will join hands with other well meaning Nigerians to help revive the middle class to be able to restore confidence in the Nigerian people. The Nigerian people should not see themselves as pigeon holed, that if you read English and Literature as a course, you must end in the classroom because there are other innate abilities which God has endeared you with which you must exploit and unlocked."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—55

Industrialists lament poor electricity supply, multiple taxation in Anambra

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA — INDUSTRIALISTS in Anambra State have lamented poor electricity supply in the state, even as government has concluded the privatization of power to boost supply in the country.

Managing Director of AfroAsia Automobile and Plastic Limited, a member of Chicason Group of Companies, Nnewi, Anambra State, Alex Ojukwu, who stated this at the end of a two-day sensitization workshop on Original Equipment Manufacturing, OEM requirements for automotive local component manufacturing, ALCM at Nnewi, said to worsen the matter, various government agencies were fond of imposing multiple taxation on industrialists.

Ojukwu regretted that apart from the poor electricity supply and multiple taxation, government also allowed importers to flood the country with inferior goods, and dump them in Nigerian markets, with their attendant low prices, thus pushing the local manufacturers with their superior products out of business.

He further regretted that with the poor electricity supply, Nigerian industrialists were now

left with the only option of buying diesel and other petroleum products to feed their generators in order to produce at full capacity.

He added that with intermittent power supply, some of the factory machines required to heat up for at least seven hours before production, could not be connected to electricity, to avoid

damaging the goods at the production stages, when the power eventually goes off without notice, as usual.

He disclosed that Afro-Asia, as a member of Chicason Group consumed a minimum of 70,000 litres (two full tankers) of diesel per week to remain in business, adding that in 2013, the company consumed a total of about 457

million litres of diesel per annum.

Insisting that he had never noticed any progress in power supply so far since the privatization took effect, he lamented that government was bent on increasing the tariff structure at the point of importing their raw materials and exporting their finished goods.

VISIT: Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Plateau Command, Mr. Raymond Akrah-Jaja (left), being received by Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Da Buba, during his courtesy visit, in Jos, yesterday.

Uwazuruike appoints new officers for MASSOB

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA — FOLLOWING the recent crack within the top echelon of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has announced the appointment of new officers to replace those sacked from the group.

Uwazuruike, in a press statement issued in Onitsha, Anambra State, by his Media Assistant, Mazi Chris Mocha, last weekend, noted that he had personally taken over the affairs of information, pending the appointment of a new officer to replace the sacked National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu.

He disclosed further that Mr. Sunny Okereafor had been promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Information, while Chief Isaac Nwanosike Igbo replaced Mr. Ikechukwu Ekwe who was on indefinite suspension from MASSOB, as the Enugu West senatorial district leader.

The appointments, according

to him, are with effect from Monday, September 1, 2014.

He added that MASSOB would continue to adopt the principle of non-violence as the only panacea to actualize Biafra.

It further added that violators of this cardinal principle would be arrested and handed over to police for prosecution.

Meanwhile, Anambra Central senatorial district leader of MASSOB, Prince Jahway Okosi,

yesterday said his members had thrown their weight behind Uwazuruike in the current crises rocking the organization.

Rising from the group’s zonal meeting at Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area, the members declared: “Forward ever with Uwazuruike means light at the end of the struggle, but going back means death and darkness.”

Prince Okosi explained further

in a statement that for about 13 of their national security officials to be sacked for acts of indiscipline and disloyalty would not in any way adversely affect the running of MASSOB. Urging politicians to stop prying into the internal matters of the body for their own good, Okosi gave a clean bill of health on its national leader, saying Uwazuruike had no comparison.

Poor WASSCE results worry Imo indigenes

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — ANGRY reactions have continued to trail the reported poor outing of Imo students in the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC. What troubled most respondents, yesterday, was the fact that the poor outing came at a time the state government was boasting of its free education programme.

A teacher, who pleaded anonymity, lamented that government’s directive was that no pupil should be sent out of school for not possessing the required textbooks and writing materials.

“The sad thing is that the textbooks, writing materials, uniforms, school bags, sandals, chairs, tables and other needs of the students, promised by the state government, are yet to go round nearly four years after the free education programme took off,” the teacher said.

While wondering how people

expected teachers to perform miracles on a student with these palpable deficiencies, the educationist also appealed to government to critically review its performance in the education sector to effect changes where necessary.

Speaking when he played host to women leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, Owerri zone, the Commissioner for Internally Generated Revenue and Pension Matters, Mr. Nick Opara-Ndudu, expressed displeasure at the output of educational institutions.

Anglican clerics plan protest over damaged church building

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA — ALL the Archdeacons in Anglican Diocese on the Niger have given Anambra State 30 days within to bring to book those who destroyed their church building or face protest.

Consequently, they also unanimously resolved to shelve their proposed rallies and demonstrations which would have taken place, yesterday, and next Monday, September 15.

The Archdeacons, in a statement by the Archdeacon of Oyi Archdeaconry, Venerable Joseph Nweke, and SubDean of the All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha, Venerable Obiora Uzochukwu, said after their crucial meeting, yesterday, at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, to review their ongoing struggle to save the church from unwarranted attacks from those they identified as agents of darkness, they decided to calm down for now.

“Government should stop protecting the hoodlums who pulled down our church building at OyoluOze in Nkwelle-Ezunaka on Monday, August 11, 2014, but rather to arrest, investigate and prosecute them without delay.

“Government should also stop any provocative comments and actions against the Anglican Church forthwith.

“We have suspended all the proposed rallies for a period of one month from today. After the one-month grace from today and the state government still manifests insensitivity to our demands, we shall have no other option than to commence our strategic actions to reclaim our land where the church building was demolished on the fateful day,” the Archdeacons warned.

They said the decision to shelve the rallies for a period of one month from now was due to the intervention of the state government and individuals of the state.

The Archdeacons added that they decided to allow the state government ample time to look into their grievances as it concerned what they described as marginalisation and oppression of the Anglican Church in the state.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014—57

Orile-Agege chairmanship aspirant assures Tinubu, APC leader, Mr. youths on projects

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RILE Agege Local C o u n c i l Development Area, OALCDA, chairmanship aspirant, Olatunji Temiloluwa Kamorudeen, has assured the youths and aged people of more from dividends of democracy, if elected as council chairman.

Kamorudeen who spoke with newsmen in Agege during the meeting of the All Progressives Party, APC, described APC as a great party with good manifestoes for the people of Nigeria.

He promised to build on the legacy of Adaranijo, the outgoing chairman of the council and vowed to do better on social services, infrastructures, sports and indoor games. He also promised to empower the youths, who are jobless by the provision of soft loans to start their own business.

The aspirant said that the aged people especially widows and widowers will be catered for, while the staff welfare will be improved.

Kamorudeen who had visited many countries, promised to use the knowledge acquired to run his administration.

Asked to name his mentors, the Awori born young politician fondly called “Enjoyment has come” by his admirers said, “My political mentors are Asiwaju Bola Ahmed

Babatunde Raji Fashola, governor of Lagos State, Hon Kayode Opeifa, Lagos State commissioner for transportation and Hon. Taofik Adaranijo, OrileAgege LCDA current chairman."

NATCOMS rejects N65 per transaction on ATMs

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HE National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, has described the new Central Bank Governor's directive that N65 (Sixty Five Naira) per transaction will be charged for using ATM Cards on other Banks’ ATM’s on the fourth withdrawal in a month as anti consumers.

The association said in a statement by its national president, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, that by this action, the new Central Bank governor, to say the least was not consumercentric. It said the action does not portray him as a CBN Governor that will care for consumers of banking services in Nigeria.

NATCOMS said the ATM charge regimen was not in line with international best practices, IBP, and was

definitely not in the interest of consumers of banking services in Nigeria.

The statement said "N65 ATM withdrawal charge is punitive, excessive profitdriven, exploitative and totally unacceptable as well as being a terrible welcome gift from the new Central Bank Governor to consumers of banking services in Nigeria.

The welcome gift the new Central Bank Governor should be thinking of giving consumers of banking services in Nigeria is bank account portability as it is currently done in other developed economies. He should take a cue from his colleague in the Nigerian Communication Commission – Dr. Eugene Juwah who introduced mobile number portability in Nigeria’s Telecoms sector in line with international best practices.

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

By Kingsley Omonobi, Victor Ahiuma-Young, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Emmanuel Elebeke

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CTING Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered a thorough investigation of the immediate and remote causes of the death of the Deputy Chairman of The Sun Newspapers Publication, Mr. Dimgba Igwe, who died on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. A statement from Force headquarters in this regard said, “The IGP has ordered the immediate and thorough investigation into the death of the late journalist, assuring that the Police will leave no stone unturned in their investigation towards unraveling the circumstances surrounding the late Dimgba’s death”.

He allegedly died following injuries suffered from a hit and run vehicle at Okota, Lagos State while he was said to be performing a keep fit exercise.

Recalling the many worthy contributions of the late journalist to nation building, the IGP expressed deep regrets over the death of the journalist, noting that ''Dimgba’s death is regrettable coming at a time when his highly cerebral ideas and ingenuity are very much needed in the country.''

He expressed heartfelt condolences with the Igwe family, The Sun Newspapers and the entire nation on the death of the irrepressible, versatile and courageous journalist of note, promising that his killers would not go scot-free.

NPAN laments his death Meanwhile, Newspapers Proprietors’ Association, NPAN, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr, among other Nigerians and groups, have continued to mourn his sudden and tragic death.

NPAN, in a condolence message to Chief Orji Kalu, Publisher of The Sun by its General Secretary, Dame Comfort Obi, while decrying the tragic manner of his death, asked “How do we explain that Dimgba was knocked down by reckless driver as he jogged around his neighbourhood in the Okota area of Lagos. His cheap death has exposed our incompetence as country, and the sorry state of our health sector. ''Where were police men around that stretch? There was no street camera in spite of the millions of Naira allegedly spent on project.

48 hours after this numbing death, there is still no clue as to the make of car, and/ or the plate number.

The first two hospitals Dimgba was rushed to could not handle the situation. ''It was after he had painfully bled for hours that he was taken to an averagely competent hospital by which time he had lost so much blood, and was unable

DIMGBA IGWE: IG orders full investigation as NPAN, others mourn to survive the surgery carried out on him. The hours between the time of the incident and the surgery were very crucial to his survival. Unfortunately were wasted. And he died.''

The body described him as “A versatile journalist with a career spanning over 30 years which were in the critical period of the Nigerian media history that the late Dimgba was to define tabloid in journalism in the country alongside his professional twin, Mike Awoyinfa.”

We are concerned that his death will create a yawning void in the Nigerian media and we feel the best tribute to him is for the younger generation of Nigerian journalists to take up from where he left.

“Lagos APC charges the country’s security agencies to put in everything to track the killer of Igwe and do a thorough investigation to unravel what actually happened. We urge that no stone should be left unturned to determine the circumstances that led to his untimely death.

We commiserate his family, his friends and colleagues especially in The Sun and urge them to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude. We pray that God will grant Igwe a deserved rest in His kingdom”.

CAN condoles family, Sun newspaper Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in a statement by its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor expressed shock and sadness at his tragic death “of such a consummate journalist and condoled with the family and professional colleagues of the fallen prolific writer, praying God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable the loss.”

Oritsejafor said words fail him to describe sense of loss he feels, urging the acting InspectorGeneral of Police to compel the Lagos State Police Commissioner to do everything possible to fish out the driver of the alleged hitand-run car that killed Pastor Igwe at his prime while jogging in his neighborhood.

According to the CAN president, “this is one case that must not be swept under the carpet, because Pastor Igwe through his writings has positively affected several lives across the country, adding “the Police must fish killers of the gentleman and find out the motives or their dastardly act.”

Stating that Pastor Igwe died “when his expertise is needed most, Oritsejafor lamented that the African values of being our brothers’ keepers which we used to cherish have been eroded and people can just mindlessly take human life they didn’t create, warning Nigerians to desist from such barbaric acts because life is sacred.''

A colossal loss — Adenuga On his part, Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr, said his demise was a tragic and colossal loss, not only to journalism and the nation.

In a condolence message to the Management of The Sun Newspapers, Dr. Adenuga said the nation had lost a gem with the death of Pastor Igwe.

“Pastor Igwe was a gentleman and an excellent professional who discharged his duties with rare candour. He was a prolific columnist and constructive critic who used his writings to dissect

the challenges facing the society and was always positive in his postulations.

The Globacom Chairman said he received the news with deep shock and conveyed his commiserations and prayers to The Sun Newspapers and the family of Igwe on the monumental loss.

“We are however consoled by the fact that Pastor Igwe lived a fulfilled life and left his footprints on the sands of time, especially in the journalism profession. He will be sorely missed,” he said.

He prayed that God would grant Igwe’s family, colleagues and associates the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

Maku mourns, condoles Sun family Similarly, Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, said he was deeply saddened over how Mr. Igwe lost his life in an accident caused by a hit-and-run driver in Lagos.

Mr. Maku said the death of Mr. Igwe was a huge loss not only to the pen profession but the nation at large.

He described Mr. Igwe as a consummate journalist, a columnist, an author and a public commentator on national issues who acquainted himself satisfactorily as a professional by upholding the tenets of the journalism profession.

Mr. Maku said ''as the nation mourns the loss of Mr. Igwe, the deceased would remain evergreen in the memory of Nigerians as a celebrated journalist and author who utilised his talents in promoting the truth and mobilising the entire nation to pursue a common cause of peace, unity and development.''

The Minister commiserated with his family, the Sun Publishing Limited and the entire media industry over the colossal loss and urged them to take solace in the

fact that he lived a purposeful life that impacted on the nation.

A pace-setter in journalism —Lagos APC Also, Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, described him as a pace-setter who played a leading role in charting the course of journalism in Nigeria.

However, expressing its sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of the late journalist, APC urged the Nigeria Police to thoroughly investigate the death of Igwe.

The party described his death as shocking and a big loss to the journalism profession, which is in dire need of competent professionals to steer it from a tempestuous present state.

According to a statement by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, the party was shocked by the way and manner the veteran journalist was killed by an errant driver while joggling near his house.

“We were shocked by the death of Dimgba Igwe, a man who wrote his name in the journalism profession by his profound commitment to excellence, creativity, truth and objectivity. We recall that Dimgba Igwe played a pivotal role in the Weekend Concord success story and was central to the success story which The Sun has become as a leading tabloid in Nigeria. We can attest to his devotedness to truth and objectivity helped mark him out as a dependable professional that will say it as he sees it.

“Dimgba Igwe is a pace setter who affected the face of Nigerian journalism for good. He has a midas touch and this worked well to project the type of tabloid journalism he pioneered in Nigeria. We see the loss of Igwe as a monumental loss to the journalism profession, the Nigerian media, the Nigerian nation and indeed mankind.

Death, a big loss, says Textile Union In the same vein, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, yesterday said Saturday tragic death of Vice Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Dimgba Igwe, was a great loss to those who lived on their sweat and labour.

Mr. Dimgba died as a result of the injuries he suffered from a hitand-run driver, as he jogged in his Okota, Lagos neighbourhood.

The union in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Issa Aremu, recalled that “the late Mr. Dimgba was a pioneer staff of The Sun Newspapers in 2003 alongside Mike Awoyinfa as Managing Director/Editor-inChief and Deputy Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in-Chief respectively after their illustrious days at the Weekend Concord which they set up in 1989. ''As a Youth Corper at Concord Newspapers in late 80s, I bear witness that late Mr. Dimgba was a prolific writer, seasoned columnist and administrator.

“His death is a great loss to all those who live on their sweat and labour. He was an epitome of hard and smart work and enterprise.

His death once again raises the noise level of reckless and murderous drivers on our roads.

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) needs to identify and apprehend killer drivers for prosecution. Lastly, we need road safety literacy and inculcation of respect for all road users including pedestrians.

“On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union and the generality of our members, we sympathize with the family of the deceased in particular, the Chairman, Management and Staff of The Sun Publishing Limited and the Nigerian Guild of Editors for this irreparable loss.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 59

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Mashaba has never lost against West Africa Blatter confirms E

PHRAIM ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has never lost against West African opposition while coaching Bafana Bafana and believes his team can do it again against Nigeria on Wednesday.

Mashaba faces a major test in his second fulltime tenure in charge of the national team when they face Nigeria in an Africa Nations Cup Qualifier in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.

After overseeing a comfortable 3-0 away win over a poor Sudan side on Friday, the prospect of facing the reigning African champions Nigeria seems a much more difficult challenge, especially as the Super Eagles surprisingly lost 32 at home to Congo on Saturday and will be determined to bounce back strongly.

“I know that Nigeria does not like it when you press them and mark tight and this is how we will approach the game.

I am confident that my team has what it takes to win, and I hope they can

take what we have done at training to the game,” Mashaba said.

Mashaba has never overseen a Bafana Bafana team in a match against Nigeria, but he has come up against West African opposition on three occasions and is yet to taste defeat.

The first was a 2004 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Cote d’Ivoire in September 2002. The match was hosted in Abidjan and is best remembered for being Elephants legend Didier Drogba’s international debut.

Next up was a friendly against Senegal in November of the same year for the Nelson Mandela Challenge. The match ended 1-1 after goals from Shaun Bartlett and Mamadou Niang.

Shakes’ last match against West African opposition was the return AFCON qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire in June 2003. South Africa won 21 in Polokwane thanks to goals from Bartlett and Siyabonga Nomvethe.

Keshi Continues from BP while, are brimming with confidence following their 3-0 win in Khartoum on Friday, but will face a different challenge all together when the Eagles land on South African soil.

Keshi’s men famously won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa while the West Africans trounced Bafana 3-1 in the 2014 CHAN tournament at the very stadium where the two rivals will meet on Wednesday.

“This Nigeria team has been giving us nightmares, but we will fight in every game,” said Mashaba.

“When two Elephants meet, it is grass that suffers. Watch out, brace yourself for war that day [when Mashaba meets

Keshi], because, like I have indicated earlier on, they [Nigeria], have given us sleepless nights.”

Mashaba, who took over from Gordon Igesund in July, feels a win on Wednesday would change a lot of things football in South Africa for the better.

“This is one time they must brace themselves for war up to the fullest, it won’t be an easy walk in the park for both teams, but what we are looking for is to come out victorious and that win will change a lot of things in our football, both in administration, media wise, any structure that you talk about,” Mashaba added.

“We win that game [and] things will change for the better.”

SAFA Continues from BP usually beat us, but this is a new dawn and we want to change that history,” he adds.

Tickets are still

available at Computicket and Shoprite stores.

Fans are asked to arrive at the game as early as possible. Kick-off is at 20h00.

re-election bid

F

EMOTIONAL VICTORY.......Serena Williams celebrates her women’s singles final win over Caroline Wozniacki on September 7. Photo: AFP

Enosoregbe, Adegoke win Ikoyi Club Tennis Challenge

C

L I F F O R D Enosorogbe, Dala Hard Court defending champion, will be in very confident mood when he steps out for his first match at the tier three Davis Cup Zonal Championship which starts in Cairo. The Benin based tennis star edged Mumuni Babalola 6 - 2, 57, (10 - 5) - with the third set decided by a 10 point tie-breaker - at the first ever tennis challenge which took place at the Ikoyi Club on Friday. .

Onosoregbe who was picked ahead of Babalola for the Davis Cup assignment was obviously under pressure to justify his selection and he did

with some scintillating ball stroking and speed around the court that overwhelmed his more accomplished opponent.

Babalola, however, rebounded with some serve and volley display that gave him the edge in the second set.

Onosoregbe then took advantage of a tiring opponent to win the tiebreaker.

In the women’s match, Sarah Adegoke 16, proved too strong for Ronke Akingbade the 2013 CBN Open Champion winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.

It was a day the members of the Ikoyi club, which has not hosted a such a high level tennis match in recent memory, will not forget in

Eagles Continues from BP The team made up of 21 players, technical officials and backroom staff was led into South Africa by NFF, Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme. The team flew into Johannesburg from Lagos in a South Africa Airways plane. The flight from Lagos lasted six hours before it took another flight to Cape Town for the duel.

Among the 22 players that prosecuted the illfated game against Congo Brazzaville, only Elkanemi FC goalkeeper, David Obiazor, did not make

the trip. Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi decided to keep faith with the same squad and the team will have its first training session for the match at 8pm local time, which is 7pm Nigerian time.

Keshi who did not travel with the team on Sunday night due pressing personal issues will link up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday morning. In his absence, Dan “the Bull” Amokachi, will handle Monday work-out. The team is quartered at the serene Southern Sun hotel on the outskirts of Cape Town.

a hurry as most of the spectators expressed surprise at the very high level exhibited by the cream of Nigerian tennis.

IFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed he will run for a fifth term in next year’s elections.

The Swiss, who has headed the footballing body since 1998, is expected to gain reelection following Uefa chief Michel Platini’s decision not to stand.

“I would make an official declaration definitely in September now when we have the executive committee,” Blatter told the Soccerex convention by way of video interview. “I will inform the executive committee. It’s a question of respect also to say then to the football family, ‘Yes I will be ready. I will be a candidate.’”

He continued: “You see a mission is never finished, and my mission is not finished. And I have told the Fifa Congress, I have told the congresses of the confederations.

Serena Continues from BP plus a $1 million bonus for having had the best results during the North American summer hardcourt circuit.

At the time, Williams was coming off a third-round loss at Wimbledon, which followed a second-round loss at the French Open, which followed a fourthround loss at the Australian Open - and, when Grand Slam success defines a legacy, that simply wouldn’t do. The quest to match Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 was weighing on her.

“It was definitely on my shoulders,” Williams could acknowledge after that burden was gone. “It was definitely like, ‘Oh, get there.

Get there. Get there.’”

She knew, of course, there was one more big event left in 2014, and a finite amount of time to turn things around before heading to Flushing Meadows. In some ways starting from scratch, Williams regrouped and stopped her minislump, never dropping more than three games in

Continues from BP

any set, including a 6-3, 63 victory over close friend Caroline Wozniacki in Sunday’s final.

“When Serena is on her game,” said the 10th-seeded Wozniacki, who admitted she was nervous in her second Grand Slam title match, “there’s not much we can do.”

Williams matched Evert’s total of six U.S. Opens and became the first woman to win three in a row since Evert’s four-title run from 1975-78.

Add in Williams’ five titles apiece at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, plus two at the French Open, and only three players have more Slams: Margaret Court with 24, Steffi Graf with 22, and Helen Wills Moody with 19.

Ranked and seeded No. 1, Williams let Wozniacki keep things competitive for about five games but wound up compiling a hard-to-believe 29-4 edge in winners. Until a crosscourt backhand in the final game, the only winners registered by Wozniacki came on aces.

NFF

campaign should they fail to play the fixture.

“It has been a difficult

time for our football but everything is over now,” Musa Amadu told BBC Sport.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 61

Eagles face bumpy flight against Bafana N

IGERIA’s quest to defend their Afcon title could possibly be over by Wednesday night when the Super Eagles face the Bafana Bafana in Cape Town. If the Super Eagles want to defend their title, there will have to be a remarkable improvement in the team’s play from the showing they put out over the weekend in Calabar.

Sitting pretty on top of the table, South Africa will look to gain one over Nigeria for only their second win ever against Nigeria, which has consistently proved to be a bogey team of sorts for the Bafana Bafana.

Nigeria, however, will look to bounce back from the opening match day defeat and continue

President Jonathan tourney starts Nov 20

their domination over South Africa and get back on track towards qualifying for Morocco 2015.

Match day two promises to be much more interesting. Nigeria know a point in South Africa is the only way to keep hopes alive while South Africa will look to consolidate on their near perfect performance at the El Merriekh Stadium.

Stand-in goalkeeper Austin Ejide will keep his place in goal while Emmanuel Emenike might get a look in from the start after his impressive display coming off the bench against Congo in Calabar.

•Emenike

Vilakazi: We’ll rewrite our history against Eagles

B

EGINNING from November 20, 2014, all eyes will be on selected sports facilities on Ogbia Kingdom, Bayelsa State for the maiden edition of President Jonathan Ogbia inter-community football tournament sponsored by the George Turnah Foundation, GTF. The 32-team competition is divided into eight groups of four teams each, ranging from Group AGroup H and two teams are expected to qualify from each group to the round of 16.

The kick off of the tournament is designed to coincide with the birthday of President Goodluck Jonathan on November 20 and will last for three weeks.

The draw for the competition, which was held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital and was graced by great footballing personalities like Nwankwo Kanu and Sampson Siasia.

Also in attendance were the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah, Prof. Allison Oguru, Secretary to the state government, SSG, Beremaobowei Ebebi, former Bayelsa deputy governor, King A.J Turnah, who was the royal father of the day and a host of other dignitaries.

•Vilakazi

B

AFANA Bafana and Bidvest Wits midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi insists the national team are determined to “bring pride and happiness” back to the country’s supporters.

“They are prepared to die for a just cause, work for each other and want to bring pride and happiness to the country. That is the type of

task any responsible citizen needs to carry to make a difference in society.

“We know our history against Nigeria but we are determined to change all that. History is always there to be rewritten and I am confident that come Wednesday, we will put smiles on most South Africans,” he added.

Eagles won’t be easy — Bafana captain

B

AFANA Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa has called for discipline as Bafana Bafana prepare to take on African champions Nigeria in their next Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cape Town "Every player wants to see himself progress in life, so seeing myself as captain is a big achievement and an honour. It is motivating “Nigeria is a big country and we know playing them won’t be easy. We need to keep the discipline, like we did against Sudan,” added the 26-year-old.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NUJ MEDIA GAMES 2014: Kirikiri rumbles for Warriors

Kirikiri Warriors with the Vanguard management team.

Coach 'Tony Ubani presenting trophy to Vanguard's News Editor, Mr. Kayode Matthew.

Team captain, Joseph Sunday presents trophy to Vanguard's Production Co-ordinator, Mr. Tom Anaduaka.

Team Manager, Prince Osuagwu presents trophy to General Editor, Mr. Kunle Adekoya.

Weekend Editor, Mr. Onochie Anibeze (4th left) rejoices with the team.

Vanguard's Financial Controller, Ms. Titi Jolaosho (2nd right) poses with the cup in her office.

NUJ Chairman, Innocent Anaba presenting the trophy to Vanguard's Transport Manager, Mr. Solomon Emori.

Team Coach, Mr Tony Ubani presenting trophy to Photo Editor, Joe Akintola (2nd right).

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NFF row ‘over’ as Giwa steps aside

N

IGERIA look to have avoided an international ban as a row over the leadership of its football federation seems to have ended.

Chris Giwa looks to have given up his claim to be Nigeria Football

Federation (NFF) president in a move that coincides with a deadline set by Fifa.

The ultimatum was set last week for him to step aside or face a Fifa ban.

A suspension could have led to Nigeria miss-

ing Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in South Africa.

The Confederation of African Football said last week that the Super Eagles would be kicked out of the 2015 qualifying

Continues on page 60

We'll intimidate Eagles — SAFA S

AFA has asked the people of Cape Town to come out in numbers when Bafana Bafana host Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

Tickets for the clash are still available and Safa’s head of communications Dominic Chimhavi wants the fans to create an electric atmosphere when South Africa take on the Super Eagles.

“We are asking the members of the public to go out and buy tickets,” he told KickOff.com.

“The tickets are going for R50, R100 and R150.

Capetonians have never disappointed, especially when Bafana are playing, and we want them to create an electric atmosphere.

“We want to intimidate the Nigerians and we know that the Nigerians Continues on page 60

NUJ Media Games Kings

Keshi must brace up for war – Bafana coach

B

AFANA Bafana head coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has warned Nigeria boss Stephen Keshi that he must ‘brace himself for war ’ ahead of their clash in Cape Town on Wednesday.

South Africa welcome the Super Eagles to the Cape Town Stadium in

Vanguard's Kirikiri Warriors, winners of the NUJ Media Games presented the gold trophy to Vanguard's management yesterday. Mideno Bayagbon (Editor) 2nd left) receives trophy from NUJ chairman, (Vanguard chapel) Innocent Anaba while others look on. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Eagles ready for Bafana battle R

EIGNING African champions, the Super Eagles yesterday

landed in Cape Town, South Africa, ahead of tomorrow’s all important

Nations Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana.

Continues on page 60

the second round of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers in midweek.

The Group A clash will see a confident Bafana take on nemesis Nigeria, who are wounded by their 3-2 opening weekend defeat to CongoBrazzaville in Calabar.

South Africa, mean Continues on page 60

Serena wins 3rd US Open, pockets $4m

A

couple of months before Serena Williams capped her dominant run to a third consecutive U.S. Open championship and 18th major singles title Sunday night, she sat down

with coach Patrick Mouratoglou to decipher why the season had been such a struggle by her standards.

Williams earned $4 million, a record in tennis $3 million for the title, Continues on page 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Bucket (4) 4 Sicken (3) 6 Clutch (4) 9 Butt (3) 10 Perplexed (8) 11 Absent (4) 14 Through (3) 16 Revolt (5) 19 Announced (8) 21 Storehouse (5) 23 Relegation (8) 24 Renovate (5) 27 Illuminated (3) 31 Box (4) 33 Infantile (8) 34 Sheep (3) 35 Ran off (4) 36 Managed (3) 37 Acid (4)

DOWN 2 Soon (4) 3 Existence (4) 4 Replied (8) 5 Woman (4) 6 Class (5) 7 Uncooked (3) 8 Astound (5) 12 Viper (5) 13 Deride (5) 14 Cushion (3) 15 Repulse (5) 17 Start (5) 18 Inclined (5) 20 Realm (8) 22 Child (3) 25 Evict (5) 26 Strayed (5) 28 Blemish (4) 29 Revise (4) 30 Employer (4) 32 Wonder (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Bought 5, Unsafe 8, Standard 9, Near 10, Hot 12, Stern 15, Old 17, Rip 18, Elf 19, Lei 20, Evade 21, Fad 22, Tea 23, Die 24, Due 26, Reedy 29, Roe 33, Stun 34, Exploded 35, Priest 36, Dodder.

DOWN: 2, Outdo 3, Gang 4, Trait 5, Under 6, Same 7, Frail 10, Holed 12, Spear 13, Erase 14, Needy 15, Offer 16, Dodge 25, Utter 27, Eject 28, Duped 30, Obese 31, Once 32, Fold.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.